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: fuel system
6 reports, newest first. Show all
Fuel system, Gasoline, Air bags, May 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, there was an abnormally strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, other individuals informed the contact that there was a strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or a dealer. Additionally, the contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the clock spring was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 220,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Aug 4, 2011
PLAGUE WITH FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM. 1ST TIME CHECK ENGINE CAME ON, WHEN CAR REACHED 44,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO DEALER, THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC, AND REPLACED THE O2 SENSOR. WARRANTY COVERED. 2ND TIME CHECK ENGINE CAME ON AT 51,000 MILES. DEALER REPLACED 2 OF THE FUEL INJECTORS. WHEN CAR REACH 85,000 MILES, ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING WHEN I PRESSED GAS PEDAL, ENGINE JUST DIES ON THE STREET. THIS TIME DEALER SAID FUEL PUMP MIGHT BE BAD. SO WE GOT IT REPLACED FOR $800. WHEN CAR REACH 100,000 MILES I HAD FUEL LINE CLEANED FROM FUEL TANK TO THE FUEL INJECTORS, AND REPLACED SPARK PLUGS. AT 105,000 MILES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I TOOK CAR TO AUTOZONE PARTS AND HAD IT READ. THE CODE SAYS, P2004 (VARIABLE TUMBLE SHUTTER VALVE STUCK OPEN). THE NEXT DAY I WAS GOING TAKE IT TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND HAVE IT LOOKED AT, BUT ON MY WAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WASN'T LIT ANYMORE, SO I DROVE STRAIGHT TO WORK. 3 DAYS AFTER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, SO I JUST IGNORED IT. AND 2 DAYS LATER, IT DISAPPEARED. ALL THESE TIME, SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR I NEVER MISSED A REGULAR MAINTENANCE, I.E., OIL CHANGE, AIR FILTER CHANGE, FLUSHED FLUIDS. THE CAR HAS GONE THROUGH TIRE REPLACEMENT, NEW BRAKES PADS, NEW BATTERY. RIGHT NOW, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT LIT.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Air bags, Seats, Jan 4, 2007, crash
MY WIFE SONDRA WAS STOPPED IN OUR 2005 MAZDA3 WHEN SHE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY AN INDIVIDUAL DRIVING A 2001 MALIBU. THE VEHICLE WAS DOING APPROX. 30 MPH WHEN IT STUCK OUR CAR. OUR CAR WAS THEN PUSHED INTO THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF HER. MY WIFE WAS INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL, INJURIES WERE, 8 STITCHES TO THE BRIDGE OF THE NOSE, BACK AND NECK INJURIES, SHE IS UNDER GOING THERAPY AND IS WAITING FOR MORE TEST TO BE PERFORMED. THE REASON THAT I AM CONTACTING YOU IS BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE CONCERNS I HAVE ABOUT THE FOLLOWING SAFETY THAT FAILED. 1. THE DRIVERS SEATBACK BROKE DURING IMPACT. 2. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN SHE STRUCK THE VEHICLE IN THE FRONT OF HER. 3. THE EMERGENCY SWITCH THAT SHUTS DOWN THE FUEL SYSTEM DID NOT ACTIVATE. OUR VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED FROM ALL THE DAMAGE, THE CAR IS VALUED AT $ 18,700.00. I EMAILED MAZDA APPROX. 10 DAYS AGO ABOUT MY CONCERNS AND STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. *NM
Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Jul 19, 2006
2005 MAZDA 3S WOULD NOT START. MECHANIC REPROGRAMMED THE MAIN RELAY AND REPLACED FUEL PUMP & GAUGE TWICE BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. *KB THE FUEL PUMP AND GAUGE WERE REPLACED A SECOND TIME BUT THE VEHICLE STILL FAILED TO START OCCASIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. MAZDA TECH SUPPORT WAS CALLED AND THE THEY SUGGESTED CHANGING THE FUEL CANISTER. IT WAS REPLACED ON JUNE 22, 2006. *NM
Fuel system, Gasoline, Dec 27, 2005
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON FOR THE FOURTH TIME SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. PROBLEM FOUND BY US, WAS GAS CAP LOOSENED UP AND WAS JUST SITTING IN THERE, WHEN WE WALKED TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE TO GET PACKAGES OUT OF THE TRUCK, SMELLED GAS. HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER EVERY TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ONE TIME THEY TOLD ME THE GAS CAP WAS LOOSE AND I INSISTED I PUT IT ON TIGHT. OF COURSE, I AM A FEMALE AND THEY TRY TO MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE AN IDIOT, SO I DIDN'T BELIEVE THEM, THOUGHT THEY WERE JUST SAYING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM AND RESETTING THE CODE, SO IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN WE SMELLED THE GAS AND CHECKED THE CAP AND IT WAS LOOSE. WE HAD ALREADY RUN HALF A TANK OF GAS OUT OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES SINCE FILL-UP. WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, IT IS ALWAYS FOR THE SAME CODE, WHICH IS AN EMISSIONS FAILURE. *JB
Fuel system, Gasoline, Oct 10, 2005
2005 MAZDA 3 SEDAN HAS HAD THE FOLLOWING FUEL/STALL FAILURES OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS. 1ST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY, CAR STALLED AND HAD TO PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES AND ATTEMPTS. 2ND INCIDENT, CAR WAS PARKED IN OWNERS DRIVEWAY AND FAILED TO START (LACK OF FUEL), 3RD INCIDENT CAR AGAIN PARKED IN OWNERS DRIVEWAY AND FAILED TO START (FUEL STARVATION). ALL THREE TIMES THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND NOTHING WAS REPAIRED. DEALERSHIP SERVICE ADVISORS CLAIMED THAT FUEL STARVATION/STALLING COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FUEL STARVATION/STALLING SEEMS TO HAPPENED RANDOMLY, BUT THE RISK OF IT STALLING DURING DRIVING IS A VERY UNSAFE HAZARD. *NM