2006 Mazda MAZDA3
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 166 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 22 MAZDA3 model years with reports.
Of the 2006 reports, 21 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 15 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
Representative owner complaints
166 reports, newest first.
Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Dec 18, 2014
CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING ,LOST POWER CANT TURN THE WHEEL. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Nov 14, 2014
I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND SUDDENLY A LOUD NOISE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR SHIFTED FROM 4TH TO 3RD WITHOUT LOSING SPEED (EXCEPT FROM ME TAKING MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS WHEN HEARING THE NOISE) ALL AT THE SAME TIME. MY MECHANIC SAID THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE POINTED TO THE "TURBINE SPEED SENSOR", SO THIS WAS REPLACED WITHIN 2 DAYS. THE SAME DAY I GOT THE CAR BACK, I DROVE IT ABOUT 30 MILES AND IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. NOW MY MECHANIC IS CHECKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION, POSSIBLY CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *TR
Tires, Nov 13, 2014
ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALL, PARALLEL TO THE RIM, CONSISTENT WITH PENDING TREAD SEPARATION FAILURE. TIRES WERE KEPT PROPERLY INFLATED AND ROTATED EVERY 7500 MILES. THEY WERE WELL CARED FOR AND SHOULD HAVE LASTED ANOTHER YEAR OR SO. THE DAMAGE DID NOT LEAD TO A CRASH DUE TO CAREFUL INSPECTION, BUT COULD HAVE EASILY GONE UNDETECTED. ALL TIRES WILL BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. *TR
Air bags, Oct 29, 2014, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A UNKNOWN SPEEDS, SHE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Engine, Oct 14, 2014
MOTOR MOUNTS FAIL. THERE IS ALREADY AN EXISTING COMPLAINT. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THREE OF THE FOUR MOTOR MOUNTS AT VARIOUS TIMES STARTING FROM 1,000 MILES TO 76,000 MILES. *TR
Power train, Sep 26, 2014
CAR WAS IN PARK AND WOULD NOT START. PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. HAPPENED ONE OTHER TIME TOO. THAT TIME I REPOSITIONED THE CAR TO PARK(TOOK IT OUT OF PARK AND PUT IT BACK IN PARK) AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. UPON TALKING TO A MECHANIC I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE "NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH" THAT IS FAULTY AND SHOULD BE REPLACED AS THIS PROBLEM WILL ONLY GET WORSE WITH TIME. I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED 2 YRS AGO FROM A DEALER. *TR
Air bags, Sep 23, 2014, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG DEFLATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEPLOYING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES AND CHEMICAL BURNS TO THE CHEST, ARMS, FACE, AND EYES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
Service brakes, Aug 28, 2014
TOTAL FAILURE OF BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CAUSED LOSS OF SERVICE BRAKES AT ALL WHEELS. NO PRIOR INDICATION OF BRAKE ISSUES BEFORE TOTAL LOSS OF FUNCTIONALITY. VEHICLE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL USING MECHANICAL EMERGENCY BRAKE. REPLACED WITH AFTERMARKET MASTER CYLINDER - EXTREMELY POOR BRAKE FUNCTION AT PRESENT, BUT VEHICLE STILL IN USE WITH DIFFICULTY. *TR
Air bags, Jul 30, 2014
AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINS ON , THE DASHBOARD, MAKING ONE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM. THERE WAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THIS IN FLORIDA CARS...IT NOW SEEMS TO BE A MORE WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM IN ALL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY. *TR
Suspension, Air bags, Structure, Jul 13, 2014, crash
ACCIDENT.
Air bags, Jul 10, 2014
THIS IS WHAT I WROTE TO MAZDA REGARDING MY AIRBAGS: THE REASON I'M CONTACTING YOU IS BECAUSE I RECENTLY HEARD IN THE NEWS THAT YOU WERE RECALLING MANY CARS FOR FAULTY AIRBAGS FOR WARM WEATHER CLIMATES IN FLORIDA AND PUERTO RICO. I TRIED LOOKING AT THE RECALL INFORMATION ON YOUR WEBSITE BUT IT DOES NOT WORK. THAT WEBPAGE IS BLANK WHEN YOU HIT THE LINK. THE REASON I'M WRITING IS TO SEE IF MY CAR IS PART OF THE RECALL AS WELL. TWO WEEKS AGO MY AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON. I LIVE IN FLORIDA AS WELL. MY CAR IS ONLY FROM 2006 AND ONLY 8 YEARS OLD. I DON'T BELIEVE MY CARS AIRBAG SHOULD BE FAULTY AND NOT WORKING PROPERLY AT THE PRESENT AGE OF MY CAR. CAN YOU PLEASE ADVISE AND LET ME KNOW ABOUT THIS? I'M REALLY CONCERN ABOUT MY AIRBAGS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IF YOU NEED ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON MY CAR, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I'LL SEND IT RIGHT AWAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THIS IS THE RESPONSE I RECEIVED FROM MAZDA: THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CONTACT MAZDA. DUE TO A PROACTIVE, PREVENTATIVE INVESTIGATION BY MAZDA AND NHTSA, MAZDA WILL CONDUCT A SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM (SSP96) TO REPLACE CERTAIN AIR BAG INFLATORS ON SOME VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR REGISTERED IN FLORIDA, HAWAII, AND PUERTO RICO. THE DRIVER AND/OR FRONT PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS SSP IS TO COLLECT THE AIR BAG INFLATORS IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE THEM AND THE LIMITED AFFECTED AREAS FOR THIS PROGRAM WERE DEFINED BY NHTSA BASED ON THEIR INVESTIGATION THUS FAR. YOU WILL RECEIVE NOTIFICATION IN THE MAIL WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PROCEED SHOULD MAZDA DETERMINE THAT YOUR VEHICLE IS AFFECTED BY THIS CONCERN. SHOULD YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT THE NUMBER BELOW AND REFERENCE YOUR SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER. [XXX] REPRESENTATIVE, CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Structure, May 7, 2014
THE DASH IS STARTING TO CRACK NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE. ITS JUST GETTING LARGER OVER TIME. I'M AFRAID IT COULD POSE A PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE. MAZDA DEALER TOLD ME ITS A COMMON ISSUE ON MY YEAR, EVEN THE YEAR AFTER TOO. SEEMS PEOPLE ONLINE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME TOO. WHY WONT MAZDA RECALL? NOT THE FIRST ISSUE I'VE HAD. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Apr 3, 2014
2006 MAZDA 3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ELECTRONIC GAS PEDAL MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, IT WOULD STAY IN THE DOWN POSITION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE, AFTER HE REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE PEDAL. THE ENGINE REVVED TO 7000 RPM, WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM THE CONSUMER. HE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE NEXT DAY, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE ELECTRONIC GAS PEDAL HAD MALFUNCTIONED.*JB
Steering, Apr 2, 2014
POWER STEERING SEEMS TO QUIT - POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. SINCE WE WERE ON A FREEWAY, IT WAS SOME TIME BEFORE WE COULD GET OFF THE ROAD. STEERING WAS AVAILABLE, BUT VERY STIFF. WE TURNED OF THE ENGINE AND GOT POWER STEERING BACK/WARNING LIGHT OFF. SINCE THEN THE POWER STEERING WILL "FAIL" (GET STIFF) AS WE ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, IF WE WERE ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD ON A STEEP CURVE? WE DO NOT FIND MAZDA'S LITTLE FILM ON WHAT TO DO IF THIS PROBLEM TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM. MAZDA NEEDS TO RECALL CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM!! I AM TOLD THE REPAIR WOULD LIKELY RUN $1,400 TO FIX, WOW! NOT SURE I WILL BUY ANOTHER MAZDA, IF THIS IS NOT RESOLVED. *TR
Steering, Apr 1, 2014
OVER THE PAST 2 WEEKS, MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY AND THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH TURNS ON. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING LASTS FOR ANYWHERE FROM 5 SECONDS TO 5 MINUTES, AND TYPICALLY RESOLVES WHEN BRAKING AND/OR TURNING AND SPEED IS REDUCED TO BELOW 20 MPH. THE POWER STEERING LOSS HAS OCCURRED AT A VARIETY OF SPEEDS, RANGING FROM 25 TO 70 MPH, AND HAS LED TO A JERKING OF THE WHEEL AND A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE FREEWAY. ON AVERAGE IT OCCURS ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE PER DAY, SO ROUGHLY EVERY 20-30 MILES ON AVERAGE. I HAVE SEEN OTHER SIMILAR REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM FOR 2006 MAZDA3'S, AND A RECALL FOR THE 2007-2009 MODELS. THEREFORE I AM HOPEFUL THAT 2006 MAZDA3S WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AS WELL TO AVOID POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR, AND PURCHASED IT WITH ABOUT 42,000 MILES. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 9, 2014
WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN WHITE SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE ENGINE THAT SMELLED LIKE RUBBER. THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ALSO MAKING A LOUD NOISE. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT EVERYTHING OFF. CALLED THE DEALER WHO WALKED ME THROUGH AND WE VERIFIED IT WAS THE AIR CONDITIONER CLUTCH THAT BROKE OFF. NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH OR ANYTHING. AC IS NOW UNUSABLE UNTIL ITS FIXED. GLAD IT DIDN'T CATCH ON FIRE, WE PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY WHEN IT HAPPENED. NOW I HAVE TO GET IT FIXED, $1200+. *TR
Steering, Mar 4, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Structure, Feb 10, 2014
A MAJOR CRACK IN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASHBOARD, IT GOES RIGHT THROUGH THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR. I WOULD ASSUME IS DUE TO THE HOT WEATHER AND THE QUICK TEMPERATURE CHANGES WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO. DUE TO THE CRACK, A SLIGHT SINKING OF THE ACTUAL DASH HAS STARTED TO OCCUR, MEANING , YOU COULD TELL THAT SOMETHING HAS CRACKED AND THE SIDES ARE SLIDING DOWN. I HAVE GONE ON MANY THREADS ON FORUMS THAT ARE ALL ABOUT THAT ISSUE. 5 OUT OF 10 PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IT ALSO HAPPENS ON THE 2ND GENERATION AS WELL. LAST THING THAT MIGHT BE CAUSED BY THAT "CRACKAGE" ARE THE RETAINING CLIPS LOCATED RIGHT BEHIND THE WHOLE DASHBOARD MORE TOWARDS THE LEFT SIDE BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. IT MAKES A VIBRATING, MORE LIKE A DANGLING NOISE AS OF SOMETHING IS LOOSE OR IN THE WORST CASE BROKEN. *TR
Power train, Nov 29, 2013
I HAVE A 2006 MAZDA 3I TOURING SEDAN . I WAS DRIVING TO PICK UP A CAKE FOR MY ANNIVERSARY WHEN I PARKED THE CAR GOT OUT GOT THE CAKE AND LEFT THE PARKING SPOT JUST A FEW FEET DOWN THE ROAD I HEARD SOME NOISE THOUGHT IT WAS MY ENGINE UNDER BODY PLASTIC THAT PROTECTS THE UNDER PART OF MY ENGINE. WELL WENT HOME TOOK IT OFF DRIVEN IT AROUND STILL THE SAME NOISE GRINDING THE DEALER SAID TRANSMISSION AND 3OTHERS SAID POWERTRAIN PROBLEMS I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW IF IT HAS A RECALL ON THE POWERTRAIN/ CARRIER AND PINION BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE TO DRIVE MY CAR. *TR
Electrical system, Nov 1, 2013
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I AM HAVING A PROBLEM. IT STARTED BY THE CAR NOT STARTING, THEN IT WOULD START AND BE FINE FOR A COUPLE MONTHS. BATTERY WAS NOT LOW, FLUIDS WERE PERFECT, EVERYTHING WAS TESTED AND NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. BUT THERE OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM. NOW, THE CAR STARTS BUT I CAN'T GET IT OUT OF PARK AND THE LETTERS DON'T LIGHT UP WHEN I SHIFT GEARS. IT'S A SECURITY PROBLEM I BELIEVE BUT THERE ARE NOT MANY MILES ON THE CAR AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SO LONG. IT'S RIDICULOUS. *TR
Equipment adaptive/mobility, Oct 25, 2013
MAZDA CONTINUES TO IGNORE MY COMPLAINT AND ADMITS MY CAR IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THEY WILL NOT REPLACE MY MAT AFTER THE BRACKET BROKE OFF DUE TO A WARRANTY ISSUE. THEY FIXED THE BRACKET BUT DID NOT FIX THE MAT. EVER SINCE THEN, IT GETS CRUMPLED AND STICKS TO THE BREAK AND PEDAL. ITS GETTING WORSE OVER TIME. LAST NIGHT I WAS WITH MY WIFE AT A DRIVE THROUGH. ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR ACCELERATED. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE PARKING BRAKE, THREW IT IN PARK, AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. WE ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. I THEN TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED. WHAT HAPPENED IS THE MAT GOT STUCK AND WHEN MY WIFE PUSHED THE BRAKE, SHE TAPPED THE GAS. I HAVE TOLD MAZDA ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS, THEY DENIED MY REQUEST TO FIX THE ISSUE, NOW THEY JUST IGNORE ME. NEXT TIME THIS HAPPENS IT COULD HAVE A WORSE ENDING. JUST BECAUSE THEY RATHER SAVE MONEY THEN FIX THE ISSUE FOR A LOYAL CUSTOMER. THEY ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE ISSUE PREVIOUSLY BUT FAILED. NOW THEY WONT EVEN RETURN MY CALLS AND IGNORE ME. THE DEALER EVEN TRIED BUT WAS DENIED THE WARRANTY. THE FACT REMAINS, MAZDA ADMITS MY CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND TOLD ME THEY WONT FIX IT, FOR AN ISSUE THAT HAPPENED UNDER WARRANTY AND NOTHING TO DO WITH ME. THEY ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE BUT FAILED, IN FACT, I COULD ARGUE IT MADE THE ISSUE WORSE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE DEALER TRIED TO FIX THE MAT THEY BENT IT EVEN MORE, AND NOW JUST IGNORE ME WHEN I ASK THEM TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AGAIN. *TR
Tires, Oct 17, 2013
DUNLOP SP SPORT SIGNATURE SIDEWALL SEPARATION. RISK OF SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR VEHICLE DAMAGE COULD RESULT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THIS MODEL OF TIRE ON WEB SITES SUCH AS: HTTP://WWW.VEHICLETIRE.COM/COMPLAINT/DUNLOP/SP+SPORT+SIGNATURE. *TR
Service brakes, Oct 8, 2013
DRIVING AT 35 MPH BRAKES GAVE OUT. BRAKES NEEDED TO BE PUMPED JUST TO STOP AND HAD 8 YEAR OLD CHILD IN THE CAR. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID BRAKE BOOSTER WAS BAD AND WOULD COST $625 TO FIX. FOUND ON-LINE ON FORUMS THAT MAZDA BRAKE BOOSTERS GO OUT AT ABOUT 50K MILES. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVER AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. HAVE OWNED 6 VEHICLES OF DIFFERENT MAKES AND NEVER HAD ANYTHING FAIL ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART FOR DRIVER SAFETY. *TR
Engine, Sep 13, 2013, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AS THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FLAMES ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AREA. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE SUMMONED TO THE SCENE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 134,000.
Tires, Sep 1, 2013
BOUGHT THE VIVIA AUTHORITY TIRES BACK IN 2010 MADE IT A OUT 40,000 MILES BEFORE THE PASSENGER SIDE WALL BLEW OUT AND THE OTHER THREE TIRES WERE DRY ROTTING SEVERELY. THESE TIRES TRULY NEED TO BE RECALLED. *JS