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
103 reports, newest first.
Parking brake, Apr 18, 2005, crash
OWNER PARKED VEHICLE ON SLIGHT (20%) INCLINE AND PUT ON EMERGENCY BRAKES. VEHICLE PARKED FOR 15 MINUTES WHEN OWNER, STANDING NEXT TO VEHICLE, HEARD CREAKING NOISES. AFTER THE NOISE STOPPED VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL FORWARD, AND HIT A TREE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE ANY PROBLEMS WITH EMERGENCY BRAKES.*AK
Vehicle speed control, Apr 11, 2005
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER NEW MAZDA 3 (5 DR HATCHBACK) TO WORK. SHE APPLIED FULL THROTTLE ACCELERATION TO PASS A SLOW MOVING CAR. AFTER COMPLETING THE PASS, AND BACKING OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR STAYED AT MAX THROTTLE/RPM. SHE HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN NUETRAL TO SLOW DOWN AND AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF REDLINE RPM, THE THROTTLE CAME DOWN TO IDLE. I DROVE THE CAR A FEW DAYS LATER AND WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SAME PROBLEM. SUBSEQUNETLY, 2 DEALERS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR ISOLATE A FAILURE. WE ARE VERY LEARY OF DRIVING THIS CAR, AND ARE FEARFUL THIS WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 8, 2005
MADZA 2005 TRIBUTE, CCASIONAL BRAKE FAILURE - 3 TIMES - BRAKES WORK FINE, THEN GO NEARLY TO FLOOR WHEN FAILS. THE ENGINE SPEEDS UP SLIGHTLY, JUST LIKE HITTING THE CLUTCH BEFORE BRAKES. THE DEALER IS REPLACING THE MASTER CYCLINDER, BUT I THINK THE PROBLEM IS A RACE CONDITION BETWEEN THE AWD AND THE BRAKES - THE AWD MIGHT THINK THAT THE BRAKES ARE REALLY AN INDICATION OF SLIPPAGE, SO THE AWD TELLS THE ABS NOT TO ACTIVATE. THE DEALER CANNOT EXPLAIN HOW THE BRAKES RECOVER IF THE MASTER CYLINDER IS AT FAULT. I ALSO SUSPECT THAT THE DEALER "ERASED" ANY PREVIOUS INFORMATION CONCERNING REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAD BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE WITH 4005 MILES AND THE BRAKES FAILED ME THREE TIMES ALREADY IN THE NEXT 800 MILES. *AK