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2008 Mazda MAZDA3

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most MAZDA3 years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Mazda MAZDA3 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 108.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

256 reports with mileage · 47 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 117 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Wheels. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

29 crash reports1 fire reports16 injury reports

Visibility complaints

14 reports
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49,000 miles · Oct 4, 2010
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED AGAIN. REFER TO ORIGINAL COMPLAINT # 10343804 14JUL10 WIPER MOTOR FAILED, $337.00 SECOND COMPLAINT # 10356107 17SEP10 HIGH SPEED OPERATION OF WIPERS FAILED. THIS SECOND COMPLAINT WAS RESOLVED ON 01OCT10, $880.00. THIS TIME THE CAUSE WAS A BAD RELAY ON WHAT THEY (DEALER) CALLED A FUSE BLOCK ASSY. RELAY…

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WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED AGAIN. REFER TO ORIGINAL COMPLAINT # 10343804 14JUL10 WIPER MOTOR FAILED, $337.00 SECOND COMPLAINT # 10356107 17SEP10 HIGH SPEED OPERATION OF WIPERS FAILED. THIS SECOND COMPLAINT WAS RESOLVED ON 01OCT10, $880.00. THIS TIME THE CAUSE WAS A BAD RELAY ON WHAT THEY (DEALER) CALLED A FUSE BLOCK ASSY. RELAY IS NOT REPLACEABLE YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY! I HAVE THE OLD FUSE BLOCK ASSEMBLY ALTHOUGH THEY BENT SOME OF THE CONNECTOR PINS ON IT! FUNNY I CAN NOT FIND ANY FUSES ON IT! I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WHAT WITH STEERING COMPLAINTS, EXCESSIVE REAR TIRE INNER EDGE WEAR I HAVE SEEN ON YOUR WEB SIGHT AMONG OTHER THINGS AND THE FOG LIGHT LENSES CRACKING ON BOTH SIDES (APP $125.00 EA TO GET A INSPECTION STICKER)ON MY CAR. MY WIND SHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER A CRACK DEVELOPED FROM A VERY MINOR IMPACT THAT LEFT A PIT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE CRACK RADATINF FROM IT IN TWO DIRECTIONS, I NEVER HEARD THE IMPACT. BUT WIPERS FAILING ON A 2 YEAR OLD CAR IS UNACCEPTABLE! LOSS OF VISIBILITY IS INSTANT IN HEAVY RAIN! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10359014

47,500 miles · Sep 17, 2010
Visibility

REFER TO PREVIOUS COMPLAINT 14 JULY 10, # 10343804. WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL AGAIN AFTER MOTOR REPLACEMENT IN MIDDLE OFJULY 2010, THIS MORNING 17SEP10. THIS FAILURE WAS NOT A COMPLETE FAILURE AT THIS TIME BUT THE LOSS OF THE HIGH SPEED FUNCTION OF THE WIPERS DURING A HEAVY RAIN STORM. AGAIN I CONSIDER WIPERS A SAFETY ITEM ON A …

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REFER TO PREVIOUS COMPLAINT 14 JULY 10, # 10343804. WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL AGAIN AFTER MOTOR REPLACEMENT IN MIDDLE OFJULY 2010, THIS MORNING 17SEP10. THIS FAILURE WAS NOT A COMPLETE FAILURE AT THIS TIME BUT THE LOSS OF THE HIGH SPEED FUNCTION OF THE WIPERS DURING A HEAVY RAIN STORM. AGAIN I CONSIDER WIPERS A SAFETY ITEM ON A CAR. THERE SEEMS TO BE A ON GOING PROBLEM OF THE WIPERS ON MAZDA 3 AROUND 2008 YEAR AS I HAVE HAD OTHER PEOPLE TELL OF TROUBLES THEY HAD OR HEARD OF SINCE MY FIRST FAILURE. AT THIS TIME I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WILL BE THE OUT COME OF REPAIR AS I HAVE NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER. I AM VERY CONCERNED EVERY TIME I DRIVE IN THE RAIN! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10356107

43,200 miles · Aug 23, 2010
Visibility

ON AUGUST 6TH, 2010 WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN AND TRAFFIC AT HIGH WAY SPEED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED. WORKING. VISION THROUGH WINDSHIELD WAS SEVERELY IMPAIRED AND I HAD TO STOP. I CHECKED THE FUSES AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FUSE WAS FINE. A REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THE WIPER MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VERY DANGEROUS THIS SHO…

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ON AUGUST 6TH, 2010 WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN AND TRAFFIC AT HIGH WAY SPEED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED. WORKING. VISION THROUGH WINDSHIELD WAS SEVERELY IMPAIRED AND I HAD TO STOP. I CHECKED THE FUSES AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FUSE WAS FINE. A REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THE WIPER MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VERY DANGEROUS THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351378

42,900 miles · Jul 18, 2010
Visibility

ON 14JUL10 WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN AND TRAFFIC AT HIGH WAY SPEED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SLOWED NOTICEABLY THEN STOPPED. VISUAL SIGHT OF TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME WAS IMPOSSIBLE. AFTER MANAGING TO PULL OVER INTO THE BREAK DOWN LANE WITH OUT A COLLISION I PROCEEDED TO CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM. THE FUSE FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WA…

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ON 14JUL10 WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN AND TRAFFIC AT HIGH WAY SPEED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SLOWED NOTICEABLY THEN STOPPED. VISUAL SIGHT OF TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME WAS IMPOSSIBLE. AFTER MANAGING TO PULL OVER INTO THE BREAK DOWN LANE WITH OUT A COLLISION I PROCEEDED TO CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM. THE FUSE FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WAS NOT BLOWN NOR COULD I FIND ANY OTHER PROBLEM THAT WOULD HAVE ACCOUNTED TO THIS PROBLEM. AFTER THE RAIN LET UP I PROCEEDED TO CONTINUE MY COMMUTE HOME HAVING TO PULL OVER AND STOP NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN THE RAIN STARTED AGAIN. THIS WAS A NERVE RACKING EXPERIENCE! THE NEXT DAY I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT TO BE CHECKED OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE WIND SHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS BURNED OUT AND IT WOULD COST ABOUT $330.00 TO REPAIR IT AND THEY WOULD OVERNIGHT EXPRESS A NEW ONE AS THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY IN STOCK. THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETE ON16JUL10 AND I PICKED THE VEHICLE AT APP 3PM, TOTAL COST $337.00. MILEAGE WAS APP. 42900 SO IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I CONSIDER WIND SHIELD WIPERS IMPORTANT SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD. THIS VEHICLE IS A 2008 THAT I BOUGHT NEW! WIPER MOTORS BURNING OUT IN TWO YEARS??? I HAVE A 1994 FORD RANGER WITH 213000+ MILES ON IT WITH THE ORIGINAL WIPER MOTOR STILL IN IT!!! I BELIEVE MAZDA SHOULD MAKE GOOD ON THIS TYPE OF PREMATURE FAILURE ON SAFETY EQUIPMENT. I ALL SO HAVE EXCESSIVE TIRE WARE ON THE INSIDE EDGES OF MY TIRES, WORN DOWN SMOOTH AND SCALLOPING BUT DUE TO ROTATING OFTEN I HAVE MANAGED TO GET BETTER LIFE OUT OF THEM AND WILL REPLACE THEM SOON. I HAVE A NOISE THAT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE A WHEEL BEARING OR OTHER ROTATING PART WEARING OUT AND SHIMMY/VIBRATION THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL THAT THE DEALER CLAIMS IS RELATED TO THE WORN/SCALLOPED TIRES. I WILL SOON SEE IF THIS GOES AWAY WHEN I REPLACE THE TIRES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343804

Official recalls

2

11V329000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

Jun 15, 2011

MAZDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 MAZDA3 AND MAZDASPEED3 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 7, 2008, THROUGH NOVEMBER 28, 2008. THE GROUND TERMINAL OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN INADVERTENTLY BENT DURING ASSEMBLY. IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS THEN OVER TIME THE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE OF THE MOTOR CIRCUIT MAY INCREASE UP TO A POINT THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION IN ADVERSE WEATHER COULD POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL GROUND HARNESS ON THE WIPER MOTOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JULY 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-222-5500.

10V374000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System

Aug 12, 2010

MAZDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 MAZDA3 AND MAZDA5 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2, 2007 THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 2008. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: POWER STEERING ASSIST IS SUDDENLY LOST REDUCING THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE AS TYPICALLY EXPECTED, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: MAZDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND LINES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-222-5500.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE10021 · Loss Of Electric Power Steering Assist

Opened Jun 28, 2010 · Closed Nov 29, 2010

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:electric Power Assist System; Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System; Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections; Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:power Steering Fluid; Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:pump

The subject vehicles have electro-hydraulic power assist steering (EHPAS).The complaint counts shown above alleged a loss of power steering assist in the subject vehicles.Usually, but not always, the loss is accompanied by the simultaneous lighting of an indicator light on the dash.The complaints include 14 alleged crashes involving 6 injuries.On Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles manufactured from April 2, 2007 through November 30, 2008, rust may have formed inside the EPAS high-pressure pipe during manufacture due to improper processing.If the rust is present it may damage the power steering pump bearings leading to an increased load on the electric motor; this results in an elevated operating temperature for the EPAS system.To prevent excessive overheating of the system, which could potentially cause permanent damage, afailsafe mode which de-powers the electric pump is implemented.This causes a loss of power assist making it more difficult to steer the vehicle, especially at lower vehicle speeds.Once the failsafe is implemented the EPAS system will remain disabled until the ignition is turned off.However EPAS will be re-enabled if the operating temperature is reduced (i.e., within an acceptable range) on a subsequent drive cycle.On August 8, 2010 Mazda submitted a Part 573 defect information report initiating Safety Recall 10V-374 to remedy the subject vehicles.The report, which contains additional details on the remedy repair, is available at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/.ODI notes that the affected population shown in that report includes approximately 8,000 vehicles Mazda repaired prior to initiating the recall.

Additional source detail variants (6)

Steering:electric Power Assist System

The subject vehicles have electro-hydraulic power assist steering (EHPAS).The complaint counts shown above alleged a loss of power steering assist in the subject vehicles.Usually, but not always, the loss is accompanied by the simultaneous lighting of an indicator light on the dash.The complaints include 14 alleged crashes involving 6 injuries.On Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles manufactured from April 2, 2007 through November 30, 2008, rust may have formed inside the EPAS high-pressure pipe during manufacture due to improper processing.If the rust is present it may damage the power steering pump bearings leading to an increased load on the electric motor; this results in an elevated operating temperature for the EPAS system.To prevent excessive overheating of the system, which could potentially cause permanent damage, afailsafe mode which de-powers the electric pump is implemented.This causes a loss of power assist making it more difficult to steer the vehicle, especially at lower vehicle speeds.Once the failsafe is implemented the EPAS system will remain disabled until the ignition is turned off.However EPAS will be re-enabled if the operating temperature is reduced (i.e., within an acceptable range) on a subsequent drive cycle.On August 8, 2010 Mazda submitted a Part 573 defect information report initiating Safety Recall 10V-374 to remedy the subject vehicles.The report, which contains additional details on the remedy repair, is available at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/.ODI notes that the affected population shown in that report includes approximately 8,000 vehicles Mazda repaired prior to initiating the recall.

Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections

The subject vehicles have electro-hydraulic power assist steering (EHPAS).The complaint counts shown above alleged a loss of power steering assist in the subject vehicles.Usually, but not always, the loss is accompanied by the simultaneous lighting of an indicator light on the dash.The complaints include 14 alleged crashes involving 6 injuries.On Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles manufactured from April 2, 2007 through November 30, 2008, rust may have formed inside the EPAS high-pressure pipe during manufacture due to improper processing.If the rust is present it may damage the power steering pump bearings leading to an increased load on the electric motor; this results in an elevated operating temperature for the EPAS system.To prevent excessive overheating of the system, which could potentially cause permanent damage, afailsafe mode which de-powers the electric pump is implemented.This causes a loss of power assist making it more difficult to steer the vehicle, especially at lower vehicle speeds.Once the failsafe is implemented the EPAS system will remain disabled until the ignition is turned off.However EPAS will be re-enabled if the operating temperature is reduced (i.e., within an acceptable range) on a subsequent drive cycle.On August 8, 2010 Mazda submitted a Part 573 defect information report initiating Safety Recall 10V-374 to remedy the subject vehicles.The report, which contains additional details on the remedy repair, is available at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/.ODI notes that the affected population shown in that report includes approximately 8,000 vehicles Mazda repaired prior to initiating the recall.

Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:power Steering Fluid

The subject vehicles have electro-hydraulic power assist steering (EHPAS).The complaint counts shown above alleged a loss of power steering assist in the subject vehicles.Usually, but not always, the loss is accompanied by the simultaneous lighting of an indicator light on the dash.The complaints include 14 alleged crashes involving 6 injuries.On Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles manufactured from April 2, 2007 through November 30, 2008, rust may have formed inside the EPAS high-pressure pipe during manufacture due to improper processing.If the rust is present it may damage the power steering pump bearings leading to an increased load on the electric motor; this results in an elevated operating temperature for the EPAS system.To prevent excessive overheating of the system, which could potentially cause permanent damage, afailsafe mode which de-powers the electric pump is implemented.This causes a loss of power assist making it more difficult to steer the vehicle, especially at lower vehicle speeds.Once the failsafe is implemented the EPAS system will remain disabled until the ignition is turned off.However EPAS will be re-enabled if the operating temperature is reduced (i.e., within an acceptable range) on a subsequent drive cycle.On August 8, 2010 Mazda submitted a Part 573 defect information report initiating Safety Recall 10V-374 to remedy the subject vehicles.The report, which contains additional details on the remedy repair, is available at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/.ODI notes that the affected population shown in that report includes approximately 8,000 vehicles Mazda repaired prior to initiating the recall.

Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:pump

The subject vehicles have electro-hydraulic power assist steering (EHPAS).The complaint counts shown above alleged a loss of power steering assist in the subject vehicles.Usually, but not always, the loss is accompanied by the simultaneous lighting of an indicator light on the dash.The complaints include 14 alleged crashes involving 6 injuries.On Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles manufactured from April 2, 2007 through November 30, 2008, rust may have formed inside the EPAS high-pressure pipe during manufacture due to improper processing.If the rust is present it may damage the power steering pump bearings leading to an increased load on the electric motor; this results in an elevated operating temperature for the EPAS system.To prevent excessive overheating of the system, which could potentially cause permanent damage, afailsafe mode which de-powers the electric pump is implemented.This causes a loss of power assist making it more difficult to steer the vehicle, especially at lower vehicle speeds.Once the failsafe is implemented the EPAS system will remain disabled until the ignition is turned off.However EPAS will be re-enabled if the operating temperature is reduced (i.e., within an acceptable range) on a subsequent drive cycle.On August 8, 2010 Mazda submitted a Part 573 defect information report initiating Safety Recall 10V-374 to remedy the subject vehicles.The report, which contains additional details on the remedy repair, is available at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/.ODI notes that the affected population shown in that report includes approximately 8,000 vehicles Mazda repaired prior to initiating the recall.

Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System

The subject vehicles have electro-hydraulic power assist steering (EHPAS).The complaint counts shown above alleged a loss of power steering assist in the subject vehicles.Usually, but not always, the loss is accompanied by the simultaneous lighting of an indicator light on the dash.The complaints include 14 alleged crashes involving 6 injuries.On Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles manufactured from April 2, 2007 through November 30, 2008, rust may have formed inside the EPAS high-pressure pipe during manufacture due to improper processing.If the rust is present it may damage the power steering pump bearings leading to an increased load on the electric motor; this results in an elevated operating temperature for the EPAS system.To prevent excessive overheating of the system, which could potentially cause permanent damage, afailsafe mode which de-powers the electric pump is implemented.This causes a loss of power assist making it more difficult to steer the vehicle, especially at lower vehicle speeds.Once the failsafe is implemented the EPAS system will remain disabled until the ignition is turned off.However EPAS will be re-enabled if the operating temperature is reduced (i.e., within an acceptable range) on a subsequent drive cycle.On August 8, 2010 Mazda submitted a Part 573 defect information report initiating Safety Recall 10V-374 to remedy the subject vehicles.The report, which contains additional details on the remedy repair, is available at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/.ODI notes that the affected population shown in that report includes approximately 8,000 vehicles Mazda repaired prior to initiating the recall.

Steering

The subject vehicles have electro-hydraulic power assist steering (EHPAS).The complaint counts shown above alleged a loss of power steering assist in the subject vehicles.Usually, but not always, the loss is accompanied by the simultaneous lighting of an indicator light on the dash.The complaints include 14 alleged crashes involving 6 injuries.On Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles manufactured from April 2, 2007 through November 30, 2008, rust may have formed inside the EPAS high-pressure pipe during manufacture due to improper processing.If the rust is present it may damage the power steering pump bearings leading to an increased load on the electric motor; this results in an elevated operating temperature for the EPAS system.To prevent excessive overheating of the system, which could potentially cause permanent damage, afailsafe mode which de-powers the electric pump is implemented.This causes a loss of power assist making it more difficult to steer the vehicle, especially at lower vehicle speeds.Once the failsafe is implemented the EPAS system will remain disabled until the ignition is turned off.However EPAS will be re-enabled if the operating temperature is reduced (i.e., within an acceptable range) on a subsequent drive cycle.On August 8, 2010 Mazda submitted a Part 573 defect information report initiating Safety Recall 10V-374 to remedy the subject vehicles.The report, which contains additional details on the remedy repair, is available at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/.ODI notes that the affected population shown in that report includes approximately 8,000 vehicles Mazda repaired prior to initiating the recall.