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2008 Mazda MAZDASPEED3

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
33Owner complaints

Model-year median: 6

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
38
200733
20084
200932
20105
2011
Compare all MAZDASPEED3 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
23Engine And Engine Cooling
5Electrical System
2Suspension
2Unknown Or Other
2
All reported categories
Wheels
2Engine
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Seat Belts
1Structure
1Vehicle Speed Control
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

30 reports with mileage · 3 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

2 reports
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48,805 miles · Dec 18, 2011
Electrical System

MOST CARS HAVE TWO HORN TONES, A "LOW" AND A "HIGH." FOR THE US MARKET, THE MAZDA3/SPEED3 DELETES THE "LOW" TONE. THE REMAINING "HIGH" TONE IS TOO WEAK TO BE HEARD BY SURROUNDING MOTORISTS. I HAVE ADDED AN AFTERMARKET LOW TONE AND HAVE LOST COUNT OF HOW MANY TIMES THIS UPGRADE HAS PREVENTED A CRASH. WHICH MAKES ME WONDER HOW …

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MOST CARS HAVE TWO HORN TONES, A "LOW" AND A "HIGH." FOR THE US MARKET, THE MAZDA3/SPEED3 DELETES THE "LOW" TONE. THE REMAINING "HIGH" TONE IS TOO WEAK TO BE HEARD BY SURROUNDING MOTORISTS. I HAVE ADDED AN AFTERMARKET LOW TONE AND HAVE LOST COUNT OF HOW MANY TIMES THIS UPGRADE HAS PREVENTED A CRASH. WHICH MAKES ME WONDER HOW THE NHTSA ALLOWED MAZDA TO SELL CARS IN THE US WITH SUCH WORTHLESS HORNS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10440326

13,572 miles · Aug 1, 2008
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineFireInjury

WAS DRIVING MY 08 MAZDA SPEED 3 HOME FROM BEING OUT AND WHEN I GOT HOME SMELT SOMETHING BURNING SO I LOOKED AROUND THE INSIDE TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T DROP A CIGARETTE AND WHEN I DIDN'T SEE ANY I GOT OUT AND POPPED OPENED THE HOOD AND WHEN I DID THE MOTOR BURST INTO FLAMES GIVING ME FIRST DEGREE BURNS ACROSS MY FACE AND LEFT ARM. N…

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WAS DRIVING MY 08 MAZDA SPEED 3 HOME FROM BEING OUT AND WHEN I GOT HOME SMELT SOMETHING BURNING SO I LOOKED AROUND THE INSIDE TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T DROP A CIGARETTE AND WHEN I DIDN'T SEE ANY I GOT OUT AND POPPED OPENED THE HOOD AND WHEN I DID THE MOTOR BURST INTO FLAMES GIVING ME FIRST DEGREE BURNS ACROSS MY FACE AND LEFT ARM. NOTHING HAS BEEN BY MAZDA OR ANYONE TO FIND THE SOURCE OF WHY IT HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10236639

Official recalls

1

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.