2005 Mazda MAZDA3
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 103 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 14th highest complaint count among 22 MAZDA3 model years with reports.
Of the 2005 reports, 16 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 11 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-inactiveNov 22, 2004
ON TWO PASSENGER VEHICLES, A CRACK IN THE SOLDER CONNECTION ATTACHING THE ACCELERATION SENSOR IN THE SAS UNIT MADE CONTACT WITH THE BASE PLATE, DAMAGING THE SOLDER CONNECTION.
THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH AND IT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES.
DEALERS REPAIRED THESE VEHICLES. THE TWO VEHICLE OWNERS WERE CONTACTED BY TELEPHONE ON NOVEMBER 22, 2004, AND THESE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED.
Campaign 04V559000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: exterior lighting
6 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, Jan 3, 2017
I DRIVE A 2005 MAZDA MAZDA3 SP23I, FOUR-DOOR SEDAN. A FEW MONTHS AGO, WHILE PARKED IN THE STREET, MY SON HAD RECLINED THE PASSENGER SEAT ALL THE WAY BACK AND WHEN I ASKED HIM TO RETURN IT INTO THE UPRIGHT POSITION, A RED WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON MY DASHBOARD. THE WARNING LIGHT HAS NEVER GONE OFF SINCE AND I AM FEARFUL THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT.
Exterior lighting, Air bags, Seat belts, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 12, 2016, crash
WE WERE IN A FEW ACCIDENTS AND THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED AND THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AFTER AN OIL CHANGE THE CAR DOES NOT STAY IN PARK WE MUST USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND CANNOT TURN OFF THE CAR BECAUSE WHEN WE TURN IT OFF THE GEAR WILL NOT SHIFT TO DRIVE AND AS WE DRIVE THE CAR THE CAR WILL TURN OFF RIGHT THERE. SEATBELT STOPPED WORKING ON DRIVER SIDE.
Exterior lighting, Seat belts, Visibility/wiper, Jan 23, 2015
(VISIBILITY)THE HEADLIGHTS BOTH BLEW AT THE SAME TIME. I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK IN THE EARLY MORNING THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED SO I HAD TO DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES THE REST OF THE WAY TO WORK IN THE DARK, RUNNING LIGHTS ONLY. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS WAS APPROX. 35.00. I GUESSED A FUSE SINCE BOTH BLEW AT THE SAME TIME?? THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON MY WAY HOME. IT WAS DARK AND AGAIN I DROVE HOME WITH RUNNING LIGHTS. I THINK IT'S ODD THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME EVERY TIME. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DOESN'T WORK RIGHT. IT LOCKS UP, UNABLE TO PULL STRAP OUT TO BUCKLE UP. TOOK IT IN AND CALLED MAZDA. THEY PAID FOR REPAIR WHICH WAS QUOTED AT APPROX 89.00. ALL WAS GOOD FOR ABOUT A WEEK. I PICKED MY STEP MOM UP AND SHE WENT TO PUT HER SEATBELT ON AND IT WOULDN'T EXTEND. I HAVE FOUND THAT IF YOU WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND BEGIN DRIVING THE PASSENGER CAN USE THE BELT. IF WE DRIVE AND THE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED THE SEAT BELT DOESN'T COME OUT. NOT SURE IF THAT'S A COINCIDENCE OR NOT. DIDN'T HAVE IT FIXED AGAIN, WE DEAL WITH IT. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 6, 2014
THE ADAPTER IN THE HEADLAMP IS FAULTY. THE CAR REQUIRES THE H7 LOW BEAM BULB, BUT THERE IS A PLASTIC ADAPTER IN THE HOUSING UNIT THAT MELTS PERIODICALLY. I HAVE TO KEEP BUYING REPLACEMENTS ABOUT ONCE A YEAR AND HAVE TO CHANGE THE BULB ABOUT 4 TIMES A YEAR. I ALWAYS SMELL BURNING PLASTIC WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND WORRY THAT A FIRE COULD START (THE ADAPTER HAS BURN/MELTED SPOTS ON IT WHEN REMOVED). IT ALSO CORRODES EXTREMELY FAST CAUSING THE BULBS TO BURN OUT EXTREMELY QUICKLY. I'VE OWNED THE CAR SINCE 2008 AND IT'S BEEN DOING IT SINCE ABOUT 2010. *TR
Exterior lighting, Dec 4, 2012, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SOCKET ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SOCKET AND APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS LATER THE SOCKET CAUGHT FIRE AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
Exterior lighting, Apr 28, 2011
I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY MAZDA 3 2005 EACH YEAR SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR; EACH SIDE I'VE REPLACED 3 TIMES. I HAVE HAD THEM ALL INSTALLED BY THE DEALERSHIP, SO THAT I KNOW THE REPAIR IS BEING DONE CORRECTLY. NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE HEADLIGHTS, HOWEVER I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I'M SURPRISED THAT NO RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM. I PERSONALLY DO NOT WANT MY HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT WHILE I'M DRIVING AT NIGHT, WHICH HAS HAPPENED TWICE. *TR