2007 Mazda MAZDA3
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 222 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 22 MAZDA3 model years with reports.
Of the 2007 reports, 28 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 28 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
Steering, electric power assist systemAug 12, 2010
MAZDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 MAZDA3 AND MAZDA5 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2, 2007 THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 2008. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.
POWER STEERING ASSIST IS SUDDENLY LOST REDUCING THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE AS TYPICALLY EXPECTED, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
MAZDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND LINES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-222-5500.
Campaign 10V374000 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: service brakes
16 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Air bags, Service brakes, Nov 27, 2022, crash
My daughter and I were on the way to O'Reilly when we turned at a short curve going under 20 miles and the steering wheel got loose and the brakes wouldn't stop us. The car just kept swerving all over the road and we ended up in a ditch the day after my husband purchased the car.
Service brakes, Aug 10, 2021
After a hard brake event to avoid a crash, brake pedal is soft and loses pressure. Identical to many, many Ford and Mitsubishi reports on models that use the same ABS equipment. ABS valves probably leaking internally. Dealer refuses to remedy and insists brakes are fine - they are not, significantly worse since hard brake incident. OEM ABS part no longer available (I wonder why?) so the only repair option is a used part that is probably also defective in manufacture.
Service brakes, Engine, May 8, 2019
THE CAR IDLES VERY HIGH WHICH PREVENTS IT FROM SHIFTING INTO GEAR MOST OF THE TIME. THE IDLE AND RPMS WILL ALSO ACCELERATE WHEN NO ONE IS TOUCHING THE GAS WHILE DRIVING MAKING THE CAR SPEED UP WHEN YOU ARE NOT SPEEDING UP. WHEN THESE ISSUES ARE HAPPENING THE CAR ALSO SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING IT (WHILE IT IS STILL ON AND BEING DRIVEN DOWN THE ROAD) OR SOMETIMES WILL REV UP WHEN YOU PUSH ON THE BREAK CAUSING IT TO LAUNCH FORWARD. MY CAR HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE IT DIED WHILE DRIVING IT ON THE FREEWAY AND THE STARRING WHEEL LOCKED AND COULD NOT BE TURNED TO DRIVE ME OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT HAS ALSO LAUNCHED FORWARD WHILE BRAKING CAUSING ME TO ALMOST HIT CARS IN FRONT OF ME.
Service brakes, Feb 28, 2017
I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE MAY BE THE SAME AS INVESTIGATION PE 16-017. THAT MENTIONS ONLY FORD/MERCURY CARS, BUT I THINK THEY SHARE SOME COMPONENTS WITH MAZDA3'S OF THE SAME YEARS. AFTER AN INCIDENT WHERE ABS ENGAGED WHILE BRAKING ON A SLIPPERY CITY STREET, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME VERY "MUSHY" AND NOW THE BRAKES TAKE A WORRYINGLY LARGE AMOUNT OF TRAVEL (ALMOST TO THE FLOOR) TO SLOW THE CAR IN REGULAR DRIVING.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Oct 27, 2015
WHILE DRIVING, I SLOWED DOWN AND WHEN TURNING, MY WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I HAD NO CONTROL OVER MY TURN. MY ABS LIGHT FLASHED, ALONG WITH THE TRACTION LIGHT. THE RADIO TURNED OFF AND THEN CAME BACK ON. THE WHEEL UNLOCKED AND LUCKILY I WAS NOT TURNING WHERE SOMEONE WAS STOPPED.
Suspension, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Structure, Engine, Dec 11, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC, WHICH LOCATED A FAILURE CODE AT THE PURGE VALVE. THE VALVE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ADDITIONAL FAILURES. THE FRONT END VIBRATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE DEALER PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT WAS WORN, THE STRUTS LEAKED, AND THE EVAP SYSTEM FAILED. HOWEVER, THE VALVES WERE REPLACED. THE ENGINE MOUNT, STRUTS, AND EVAPORATING SYSTEM WERE NOT REPLACED. THE ROTOR ALSO WORE PREMATURELY AND COULD NOT BE RESURFACED. THE FRONT BUMPER CLIPS FAILED DUE TO DEFECTIVE PLASTIC. THE CLIPS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V295000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Nov 17, 2014
A FEW MONTHS AFTER WE BOUGHT OUR MAZDA 3 WE NOTICED THE BULBS BLEW OUT WELL COME TO FIND OUT OUR LENSES WERE MELTING AND IT GOT SO HOT THE SOCKET AND BULB BURST SO WE TOOK IT TO THE PLACE WE BOUGHT IT AND THEY WARRANTIED THEM OUT WELL GUESS WHAT THE TAIL LENSES WE GOT REPLACED MELTED AGAIN AND BLEW OUT THE BULBS. WE TOOK OUR CAR TO MAZDA AND THE TECHNICIANS FOUND NOTHING WRONG, NO GROUND PROBLEM. WELL WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE PLACE WE BOUGHT IT THINKING THEY'D BE ABLE TO WARRANTY THEM OUT SINCE THEY'RE LESS THAN A YEAR WELL THE LADY WOULDN'T DO IT. NOW I AM STUCK WITH MY SPOILER BRAKE LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER. SO WE DECIDED TO REPLACE THE BRAKE SWITCH AND SO FAR OUR PASSENGER SIDE HASN'T BLOWN OUT. I SUGGEST REPLACING IT AND SEEING WHAT HAPPENS. IT IS A $30 PART. TONIGHT I AM BUYING NEW LENSES AND PRAYING. I WENT THROUGH 4 BULBS IN THE DRIVER AND 3 BULBS IN PASSENGER. I NEED HELP FIGURING THIS OUT BECAUSE $8 FOR A PACK OF BULBS EVERY WEEK IS RIDICULOUS. *TR
Service brakes, Oct 11, 2014
THE ABS SYSTEM IS BROKEN. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Mar 20, 2014
THE BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING (AMBER LENS) WAS HEATED BY THE BULB TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT THE LENS ITSELF MELTED ONTO THE BULB. WE ARE NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND MAY HAVE BEEN ONGOING FOR QUITE SOME TIME. UPON INSPECTION BY AN EXPERIENCED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN, IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE BULBS WERE THE CORRECT MODEL AND HAD BEEN INSTALLED CORRECTLY. SOME OF THE PLASTIC HAD MELTED DOWN ONTO THE BULB ITSELF AND COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME A FIRE HAZARD. THIS PROBLEM IMPACTED BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES, WITH THE DRIVER SIDE APPEARING MORE SIGNIFICANTLY MELTED. AFTER A QUICK SEARCH ON MAZDA FORUMS, THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE EXPERIENCED BY MANY OWNERS OF 2007 MAZDA 3 MODELS, BUT ONLY THOSE IN THE HATCHBACK CONFIGURATION. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Electrical system, Air bags, Sep 30, 2011
IN MARCH 2008, MY VEHICLE HAD WARNING LIGHTS TURN ON FOR BOTH THE SEAT BELT AND ABS SYSTEM. THE DEALER CLEARED THE CODE AND CHECKED THE SYSTEM FOR ERRORS. NO CODES RE-OCCURRED AND THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME. SUBSEQUENTLY IN DECEMBER 2008, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THE DEALER ADJUSTED SOME WIRING AND CLEARED THE LIGHT/CODE. NOW IN SEPTEMBER 2011, THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 8, 2011, crash
EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE FAILURE I PARKED MY CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY AT MY MOTHER'S HOUSE AT THE TOP OF THE DRIVEWAY, WHICH IS RELATIVELY FLAT AND ONLY A VERY SLIGHT INCLINE. THERE IS A PORTION OF DRIVEWAY BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK AND THE HOUSE LEVEL WHICH IS STEEPER; HOWEVER MY CAR WAS PARKED ABOVE THAT AREA AND ON THE FLAT PORTION. THE CAR IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND I HAD SET THE CAR TO NEUTRAL WITH THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE ON. ABOUT 20 MINUTES AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED, IT ROLLED BACKWARDS- DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, OUT INTO THE STREET AND HITTING 2-3 TRASH CANS, AND ENDED UP JUMPING THE CURB ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET. THE REAR LEFT TIRE WAS UP ON THE CURB AND THE MAZDA 3 COLLIDED WITH THE REAR RIGHT CORNER OF ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE. I WITNESSED THE INCIDENT FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE AND THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER WITNESSES. WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE MAZDA 3 AFTER IT HAD COME TO A STOP ON THE OPPOSITE CURB, WE SAW FROM THE OUTSIDE THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS INDEED ENGAGED. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON VEHICLE USE: I ALWAYS FULLY ENGAGE THE BRAKES BEFORE PARKING AND SETTING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. WHEN PARKING ON ANY OBVIOUSLY SLOPED SURFACE, I ALWAYS PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR (INTO 1ST WHEN SLOPED UPWARDS, AND INTO REVERSE WHEN SLOPED DOWNWARDS) AND SET THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AS WELL AS TURN THE WHEELS TOWARD THE CURB WHEN PARALLEL-PARKED. I HAVE KEPT UP WITH NORMAL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND HAVE READ THROUGH THE OWNER'S MANUAL WHICH DOES NOT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT WHEN TO INSPECT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE'S EFFECTIVENESS. I HAD THE ISSUE INSPECTED BY THE MAZDA DEALER 2/7/11 AND THEY SAID THEY "COULD NOT DUPLICATE MY ISSUE", ALSO THAT EVERYTHING WAS IN PROPER WORKING ORDER. ALL THEY COULD DO WAS ADJUST MY PARKING BRAKE (WHICH DOES FEEL TIGHTER NOW). I ASKED IF THERE IS ANYTHING I SHOULD DO DIFFERENTLY WHEN I PARK. THEY ANSWERED THAT I HAVE BEEN USING THE CORRECT PARKING PROCEDURES.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 19, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA 3. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO WARPED BRAKE ROTORS WHICH WERE RESURFACED TWICE AT THE DEALERS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON A THIRD OCCASION WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE BRAKE ROTORS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AND COULD NOT BE RESURFACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL DEFECT RELATED TO THE PROBLEM AND THE DEFECT WAS NOT UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 30, 2009
MAZDA 3 BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT 18,000. MECHANIC SAYS THE PADS WERE WORN THIN AND THE ROTORS WARPED. HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANY THING LINK THIS FOR A NEW LOW MILEAGE CAR. REPLACED THEM ON THE SPOT OUT OF FEAR FOR SAFETY. MAZDA NEEDS TO OWN UP TO WARPED ROTOR ISSUE AND NOT BLAME IT ON DRIVING AND BRAKING. ISN'T A CAR SUPPOSE TO DRIVE AND BRAKE WHEN NECESSARY? ANY COMMENT FROM MAZDA ON RECALL WOULD HELP ME FEEL BETTER ABOUT BUYING THIS MODEL. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 26, 2008
1. NORMAL EVERYDAY DRIVING, CURRENT MILEAGE JUST UNDER 16,700. 2. OCCURS WHEN DRIVING THE CAR ABOVE 40 MPH AND THEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE CAR SHIMMYS HARD (STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND SO DOES BRAKING FOOT AS IT IS APPLYING BRAKES) 3. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY AS THE CAR HAS MORE THAN 12,000 MILES. DEALER INDICATED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS ARE WARPED AND NEED TO BE REPAIRED FOR $189. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MAZDA WITH MANY ROTORS WARPING WELL UNDER THE 12,000 MILE THRESHOLD ON THE WARRANTY. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS AND THIS IS THE ONLY CAR THAT I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED "WARPED ROTORS". *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 7, 2008
THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACIDENT, AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. THE CAR, A MAZDA 3 HATCHBACK GRAND TOURING HAS AN ONGOING BRAKE DEFECT. THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS BECAME WARPED AROUND 17,000 MILES. I "PAID" $300.00 TO HAVE THE ROTORS TURNED AND PURCHASED NEW BRAKE PADS AND HAD THEM INSTALLED. ACCORDING TO MAZDA IT WAS MY FAULT DUE TO "HEAVY BRAKING" AND THERE IS NO WAY MAZDA BRAKE ROTORS ARE FAULTY, AND IT IS NOT A WARRANTIED ITEM. THREE MONTHS AND 7,000 MILES LATER THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED AGAIN AND HAVE BECOME A BLUEISH-BLACK DUE TO EXTREMLEY HIGH TEMPERATURES, THE REAR DISCS HAVE THE SAME DISCORLOATION DUE TO EXTREME HIGH TEMPS AND ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF HEAVY BREAKING EXCEPT THE DISCOLORATION. THE NEW PADS I HAD INSTALLED AT 17,000 MILES STILL LOOKED NEW, THIS ILLUSTRATES I AM" NOT" A "HEAVY BREAKER" AND THERE IS A DEFECT. THIS TIME MAZDA DID NOT PUT THE BLAME ON ME FOR "HEAVY BREAKING" NOR DID THEY TAKE RESPONSBILITY. MAZDA SAID IF I WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE BRAKES WOULD JUST "LOCK UP" DURING BRAKING THEY'D CONSIDER IT A FAULTY PART AND REPLACE IT. APPARENTLY I MUST BE PUT IN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, LIFE THREATENING SITUATION BEFORE MAZDA WILL REPLACE ANY PARTS. AFTER MAZDA TOLD ME THIS I'VE BECOME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA OF DRIVING THIS CAR AND I'M AFRAID THE BRAKES COULD LOCK UP ON ME AT ANYTIME OR JUST QUIT WORKING. MAZDA ALSO TOLD ME "THIS IS NOT A WARRANTIED ITEM" AND IF I HAVE ANY PROBLEMS I NEED TO TAKE IT UP WITH THE "CORPORATE OFFICE" AND GAVE ME THE NUMBER. I HAVENT CALLED THE CORPORATE OFFICE YET I'M PRETTY SURE THEY'LL BLAME ME AND TELL ME ALOT CRAP I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU THE NHTSA DEAL WITH THEESE PROBLEMS, PLEASE KEEP ME INFORMED OF ANY PROGRESS MADE. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Seats, Feb 14, 2007
I HAVE SUSTAINED A PAINFUL ERGONOMIC INJURY TO MY RIGHT ACHILLES TENDON FROM THE POOR DESIGN OF THE ACCELERATOR/BRAKE AREA AND THE LIMITED SEAT ADJUSTMENT IN THIS CAR (2007 MAZDA SPEED 3). I HAVE TO ICE MY ANKLE EVERY NIGHT. WHEN DRIVING IT IS PAINFUL AND CAN BECOME NUMB, REDUCING MY ABILITY TO DO EMERGENCY BRAKING. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. THE ISSUE STARTED IN EARLY JANUARY WITH LESS THAN 100 MILES ON THE CAR - NOW I HAVE 1300 ON THE CAR AND EXPERIENCE THIS EVERY DAY I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *NM