2004 Mazda MAZDA3
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine and engine cooling is the leading concern among 170 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 22 MAZDA3 model years with reports.
Of the 2004 reports, 24 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 19 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontalJul 1, 2021
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2004-2007 Mazda3 vehicles. During air bag deployment, the plastic emblem on the steering wheel air bag module cover may shatter, and project plastic fragments into the vehicle.
Plastic fragments can hit occupants during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury.
Dealers will replace the air bag module cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed between August 28, 2021 and October 28, 2021. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 4921G.
Campaign 21V494000 on NHTSA.gov
EquipmentApr 2, 2009
THULE, INC. IS RECALLING 2,323 OWNER-INSTALLED ROOF-MOUNTED FIT KITS, MODELS 3068 AND 3069, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2008 AND FEBRUARY 28, 2009 THAT ARE USED WITH THULE PODIUM FOOT PACKS, MODELS 460 AND 460R. THESE FIT KITS WERE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE BOLT(S) USED TO SECURE THE FOOT TO THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED TO A HARDNESS THAT MAY CAUSE THE BOLT(S) TO BE BRITTLE AND POTENTIALLY BREAK UNDER STRESS.
THIS MAY RESULT IN THE BOLT(S) SNAPPING OFF DURING USE OR WITHOUT A LOAD. THE UNSECURED RACK AND LOAD CAN THEN COME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING CREATING A POTENTIAL ROAD HAZARD, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
THULE WILL MAIL A RETRO FIT KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS TO OWNERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE APRIL 13, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THULE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-238-2388.
Campaign 09E011000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, sensor/control module-inactiveSep 24, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A CRACK IN THE AIR BAG CRASH ZONE SENSOR HOUSING CAN ALLOW WATER TO ENTER THE SENSOR, CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT AND ILLUMINATING THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT.
IF THIS PROBLEM EXISTS, THE AIR WILL NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED IN CERTAIN TYPES OF FRONTAL CRASHES, INCREASING THE RISK OF DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CRASH ZONE SENSOR AND REPLACE IT, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.
Campaign 04V468000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: tires
10 reports, newest first. Show all
Tires, Dec 21, 2023, crash
The contact owns a 2004 Mazda 3 equipped with Hankook Tires, Tire Line: Ventus S1 Noble2, Tire Size: 205/50/R17, DOT Number: N/A. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, a loud explosion was heard. The contact's wife alerted him that the rear driver's side tire had blown out. The contact's vehicle was then rear-ended by another vehicle, causing his vehicle to turn 360 degrees. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was not injured, but his wife suffered from neck pain. Medical attention was not received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's workplace and was not deemed totaled by the insurance company. A body shop repaired the vehicle. The tire manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to send in the faulty tire. The tire failure mileage was unknown. The vehicle failure mileage was 150,000.
Tires, Jun 27, 2015
BOUGHT 4 NEW TIRES ON 3/23/12. THREE OF THESE TIRES DEVELOPED BUBBLES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.
Tires, Aug 28, 2008, crash
2004 MAZDA 3 WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT THEN THE DRIVER SPUN OUT AND STRUCK THE CONCRETE BARRIER. *NJ (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0278-89)*JB LETTER UPDATED 03/17/10*BF UPDATED 04/13/10 *BF
Tires, Sep 13, 2007
ALL 4 EAGLE RS A P205 GOODYEAR TIRES ON MY 2004 MAZDA 3 4 DOOR SEDAN ARE DEFECTIVE. ONE TIRE THE SIDEWALL TOTALLY CRACKED AND SEPARTED AND THE OTHER 3 TIRES ARE BEGINNING TO CRACK AND SEPARTE. I BELIEVE THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE AND ARE A SAFETY HAZZARD. THE GOODYEAR DEALER HAS REFUSED TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION. I KNOW THE TIRES ON THE NISSAN CARS ARE BEING REPLACED FOR THE SAME DEFECT. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE ONE TIRE AND THE DEALER DID NOT CHECK THE OTHER 3 TIRES WHICH WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO SHOWED ME THE SEPARATING SIDEWALLS AND TOLD ME THAT THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE LISTED AS THE ONLY OPTION FOR EAGLE RSA ON YOUR FORM IS P245. THESE TIRES IN QUESTION ARE P205 SO I AM NOT SURE HOW TO REPORT THIS DEFECT.
Tires, Sep 13, 2007
SIDEWALL SEPARATION GOODYEAR EAGLE RSA TIRE ORIGINAL TIRE ON 2004 MAZDA 3 DRIVEN 21,400 MILES. PREVIOUSLY 2 UNEXPLAINED FLAT TIRES. TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO CHECK TIRES. NO CAUSE FOUND. FOR THE THIRD TIME, AIR WAS LEAKING FROM THE TIRE AND THE SIDEWALL SEPARATION WITH A LARGE DEEP CRACK WAS 3/4 AROUND THE TIRE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO A GOODYEAR DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT ONLY THE EAGLE RSA WERE BEING REPLACED ON THE NISSAN'S AND NOT THE MAZDA 3. NO FURTHER EXPLANATION WAS AVAILABLE. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE AT LEAST ONE TIRE AND PERHAPS ALL FOUR BECAUSE OF THIS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Tires, Jul 11, 2005, crash
I JUST HAD MY TIRES CHECKED AT 10,000 MILES DURING AN OIL CHANGE AT MY DEALERSHIP. NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. I NOW HAVE 11,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND TIRES. MY TIRES ARE MICHELIN RADIAL XSE P215/50 R17. I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND WITHOUT WARNING MY DRIVERS SIDE BACK TIRES BLEW OUT. IT SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND THE CORDS WERE SHOWING. I AM CONVINCED THAT THIS IS THE FAULT OF THE MICHELIN TIRE BECAUSE OF THE TREAD WEAR AND THE MILES ON IT. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING IN THE ROAD NOR WAS THE TIRE PUNCTURED. WHEN THE TIRE BLEW I WAS ON WEST BOUND ON I-70 TO DOWNTOWN INDIANAPOLIS AND WITHOUT WARNING I SPUN AROUND SEVERAL TIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF I-70 AND GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT AND HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE FOR NECK AND BACK INJURIES. MY MAZDA 6 RECIEVED 6,000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE THAT I KNOW OF SO FAR NOT TO MENTION THE PERSON THAT I CRASHED INTO. MY INSURANCE WILL NOT PAY FOR THE TIRE BECAUSE THAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE ACCIDENT. I THINK MICHELIN SHOULD PAY FOR 4 NEW TIRES OF A DIFFERENT BRAND, MY HOSPITAL VISIT, MY DEDUCTABLE AND MY RENTAL CARE EXPENSE AND MY LOST WAGES. ALSO MY TIRE PRESURE WAS CHECKED BY MY DEALER AGAIN THE WEEK OF JUNE 27,2005. I'M VERY LUCKY THAT I DIDN'T GET HURT WORSE OR SOMEONE GETTING HURT. I STILL DON'T KNOW THE EXTENT OF MY INJURIES BECAUSE I'M STILL HAVING A LOT OF PAIN SINCE THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON JULY 4, 2005. IS IT ANY WONDER THAT THE F1 DRIVERS DIDN'T WANT TO RACE AND FACE AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE YET DEATH?
Tires, Mar 25, 2005
CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, SHORTLY THEREAFTER ALL FOUR TIRES STARTED TO WEAR. THE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $700.00. THE TIRE DEALER STATED THE WEAR WAS NORMAL, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH THE SAME ORIGINAL TIRE HE WAS REMOVING FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER NOTICED ALL OF THE TIRES HAD BUBBLES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DRIVER'S, AND THEY ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOUND.*AK
Tires, Dec 22, 2004
MAZDA 3SP P205/50 ALL SEASON GOOD YEAR EAGLE RSA TIRES VERY POOR TIRE TRACTION ON WET & SNOW CONDITIONS TIRE TREADS SEEM TO WEAR OUT QUICKLY. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Tires, Jul 29, 2004
I BOUGHT A NEW MAZDA 2004 I SEDAN.THE BRAKES MAKE A RUMBLING NOISE AT ALL TIMES ESPECIALLY AFTER IT RAINS AND WHEN I BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY.WHEN I BRAKE THE NOISE IS WORSE. THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER TOLD ME THIS IS NORMAL.AFTER IT RAINS AS I WROTE IT IS MUCH WORSE.THE MACHANIC ALSO TOLD ME THE NOISE AT TIMES IS THE TIRES DUE TO THEIR SIZE 16 INCH.THE CAR ALSO WHEN I BRAKE AT A STOP GOES RIGHT OR LEFT AT TIMES.THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IF I GO DOWNHILL LEFT THEY WILL GO LEFT IF I GO DOWNHILL AND RIGHT AND BRAKE IN A RIGHT LANE THE TIRES WILL VEAR GO RIGHT. I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE THE CAR VEARING LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN I COME TO A STOP. *AK
Tires, Jun 19, 2004
ABOUT ONE MONTH AFTER MY PURCHASE OF MY BRAND NEW MAZDA3, I CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURES. ALL 4 TYRES WERE 50 PSI!! 18 PSI MORE THAN THE RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE AND 6 PSI MORE THAN MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE PRESSURE. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE, I MADE SURE THAT THE DEVICE WAS MEASURING ACCURATELY AND ALSO ASK SOMEBODY ELSE TO CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE. YES ALL FOUR TIRES WERE 50 PSI. I DROVE THAT VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 3000 MILES MOSTLY ON HIGHWAY WITH THOSE OVER INFLATED TIRES!!! I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. EITHER THE DEALER (COOK MAZDA IN MICHIGAN) OR IN SOME OTHER MAZDA FACILITY, THE TIRES WERE OVERINFLATED PROBABLY BECAUSE OF AN UNCALIBRATED TOOL. I BELIEVE MY CAR IS NOT THE ONLY MAZDA CAR WITH OVERINFLATED TIRES IN TRAFFIC. *AK