2008 Mazda MAZDA3
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 303 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 22 MAZDA3 model years with reports.
Of the 2008 reports, 29 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 20 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Visibility, windshield wiper/washer, motorJun 15, 2011
MAZDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 MAZDA3 AND MAZDASPEED3 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 7, 2008, THROUGH NOVEMBER 28, 2008. THE GROUND TERMINAL OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN INADVERTENTLY BENT DURING ASSEMBLY. IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS THEN OVER TIME THE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE OF THE MOTOR CIRCUIT MAY INCREASE UP TO A POINT THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK.
THE LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION IN ADVERSE WEATHER COULD POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL GROUND HARNESS ON THE WIPER MOTOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JULY 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-222-5500.
Campaign 11V329000 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: tires
42 reports, newest first. Show all
Tires, Oct 31, 2011
2008 MAZDA 3 4-DOOR - TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR VALVE IS CORRODED AND SPLIT. A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON-LINE ABOUT THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WILL CHECK IF WARRANTY COVERS REPLACEMENT TPM, BUT FROM READING OTHER COMPLAINTS, PROBABLY NOT! I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY NOW. THE WARNING LIGHT GOES ON BECAUSE IT APPEARS AIR IS LEAKING FROM THE VALVE STEM. MAZDA SHOULD RECALL ALL THESE POOR QUALITY TPM'S. *TR
Tires, May 31, 2011
OWN A 2008 MAZDA 3. PURCHASED USED, BUT WAS SOLD NEW AND SERVICED LOCALLY TO ORIGINAL OWNER. TPMS INDICATED LOW TIRE. WHEN TRIED TO PUT AIR IN THE TIRE, VALVE AND SENSOR BROKE/CORRODED AND ALL THE AIR CAME OUT OF TIRE. FLATBEDDED TO DEALERSHIP OUT OF TOWN WHERE I WAS LOCATED.. NEW VALVE INSTALLED AND TIRE FIXED . PART WAS $120 FOR VALVE SENSOR PIECE. CALLED MY LOCAL MAZDA PLACE TO SEE IF THIS COULD POSSIBLY BE RIGHT FOR SUCH A SMALL PIECE AND TO SEE IF IT SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY. THEY CONFIRMED NO WARRANTY AND AVERAGE PRICE. NOW A SECOND TIRE INDICATED LOW, AND TRIED TO CHECK PRESSURE AND AS SOON AS THE TIRE VALVE CAP WAS TURNED AND REMOVED STEM/SENSOR BROKE AGAIN IN THIS DIFFERENT TIRE AND NOW HAS LOST AIR . NOW NEEDS REPLACING. AFRAID THIS WILL BE THE SAME ISSUE FOR THE REMAINING 2 TIRES. NEED TO STILL GET SNOWS OFF, BUT DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR THE STEM/SENSORS AT $120 A PIECE! HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE OF THIS ISSUE!! A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE ... THIS IS UNSAFE IF IT HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING AS MANY HAVE MENTIONED!! MAZDA DEALERS TOLD ME I MUST HAVE HIT A CURB OR FROM POTHOLES IN THE WINTER. THIS IS NOT THE CASE... NOT FOR ALL 4 TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN. *TR
Tires, May 28, 2011
TIRE VALVE STEM CORROSION ON 2008 MAZDA 3. ON 5/27/2011 TPMS INDICATOR CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT AIR INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE THAT WAS FLAT AND THE STEM VALVE WENT INTO THE TIRE. AFTER SEEING THAT, I CHECKED THE REMAINING VALVES AND ALL ARE CORRODED. THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE VALVE IS ABOUT TO GO INTO THE TIRE AND THE BACK TIRES VALVES ARE CRACKED. I NOW HAVE TO HAVE MY CAR PUT ON A FLAT BED BECAUSE MY HALF SPARE IS ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND NOT HAVING ANOTHER SPARE TIRE, THIS CAR IS NOW A DEATH TRAP AND IS VERY UNSAFE. I ALSO NOTICED THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS ONLINE WITH WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME YEAR AND MAKE. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS MY OTHER TIRES COULD GO FLAT AT ANYTIME NOW WHICH MAKES IT A HAZARD TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. *TR
Tires, May 19, 2011
ON 4/19/2011 I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY TPMS WENT OFF. I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION TO PUT AIR IN MY TIRE. AS I PUT THE AIR PUMP TO THE VALVE, THE VALVE SIMPLY DISAPPEARED AND THE TIRE WENT COMPLETELY FLAT. I CALLED AAA AND TOOK THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP. THEY SAID THE TIRE WAS PERFECTLY FINE AND REPLACED IT (WITHOUT THE TPMS). I EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE TPMS, WHICH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. ON 4/25/2011, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE TPMS WENT OFF AGAIN. THIS TIME ANOTHER TIRE HAD GONE COMPLETELY FLAT. WHEN AAA ARRIVED, THE SERVICEMAN FOUND THE BROKEN PARTS OF THE PIECE THAT HOLDS THE VALVE STEM (AND THE TPMS) IN THE WHEEL. WITHOUT THIS PIECE, THE VALVE WAS ABLE TO SLIP INTO THE WHEEL (WHICH IS WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO ME ON 4/19). THE PIECES WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED AND HAD CRACKED IN 3 PLACES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TPMS (WHICH WAS NOT, AGAIN, COVERED UNDER WARRANTY). ONLY AFTER I INSISTED DID THEY REPLACE THE REMAINING TWO VALVE STEMS WHICH ALSO HAD CLEAR SIGNS OF CRACKING. THIS WILL MOST LIKELY HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE FUTURE AS THE TWO METALS OF THE VALVE STEM AND THE PIECE HOLDING IT ON BEGIN TO CORRODE. UPDATED IVOQ 06/28/11 *TR
Tires, Apr 28, 2011, crash
2008 MAZDA3 WAS TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE. UNIT 1 HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT CAUSING UNIT 1 TO LOSE CONTROL AND STRIKE THE MEDIA BARRIER. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0166-91)*JB UPDATED 05/11/11* BF
Tires, Apr 12, 2011
ON APRIL 8TH 2011, I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 MAZDA 3 WHEN THE TPMS LIGHT CAME ON. I STOPPED AT THE FIRST GAS STATION TO PUT AIR IN THE TIRE. AS SOON AS THE FILLING HOSE CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE VALVE STEM, THE VALVE STEM FELL OUT INTO THE TIRE, RESULTING IN SUDDEN LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE. AFTER BRINGING THE TIRE TO GET REPAIRED, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TPMS SENSOR WAS NO GOOD BECAUSE THE VALVE STEM IS CORRODED. IT WAS ALSO POINTED OUT THE 3 OTHER WHEELS HAVE CORRODED VALVE STEMS AND THE NUTS THAT HOLD THEM IN PLACE ARE ALL CRACKED AND THAT IF THESE NUTS CRACK OFF THE VALVE STEM CAN FALL OFF RESULTING IN SUDDEN LOSS OF AIR. IT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE ALUMINUM CAP CORRODING TO THE VALVE STEM FROM ROAD SALT. THE DEALER SAID "IT JUST HAPPENS" AND THAT THE PARTS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY. THE SENSORS ARE MADE BY SIEMENS VDO. I AM JUST GLAD I WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS! NISSAN HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM THAT TURNED INTO A RECALL. *TR
Tires, Apr 6, 2011
TPMS VALVE STEM BROKE WHILE CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE. *TR
Tires, Aug 18, 2010
PREMATURE TIRE WEAR OF NEW TIRES ON NEW VEHICLE. *TR
Visibility, Tires, Jul 18, 2010
ON 14JUL10 WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN AND TRAFFIC AT HIGH WAY SPEED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SLOWED NOTICEABLY THEN STOPPED. VISUAL SIGHT OF TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME WAS IMPOSSIBLE. AFTER MANAGING TO PULL OVER INTO THE BREAK DOWN LANE WITH OUT A COLLISION I PROCEEDED TO CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM. THE FUSE FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WAS NOT BLOWN NOR COULD I FIND ANY OTHER PROBLEM THAT WOULD HAVE ACCOUNTED TO THIS PROBLEM. AFTER THE RAIN LET UP I PROCEEDED TO CONTINUE MY COMMUTE HOME HAVING TO PULL OVER AND STOP NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN THE RAIN STARTED AGAIN. THIS WAS A NERVE RACKING EXPERIENCE! THE NEXT DAY I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT TO BE CHECKED OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE WIND SHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS BURNED OUT AND IT WOULD COST ABOUT $330.00 TO REPAIR IT AND THEY WOULD OVERNIGHT EXPRESS A NEW ONE AS THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY IN STOCK. THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETE ON16JUL10 AND I PICKED THE VEHICLE AT APP 3PM, TOTAL COST $337.00. MILEAGE WAS APP. 42900 SO IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I CONSIDER WIND SHIELD WIPERS IMPORTANT SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD. THIS VEHICLE IS A 2008 THAT I BOUGHT NEW! WIPER MOTORS BURNING OUT IN TWO YEARS??? I HAVE A 1994 FORD RANGER WITH 213000+ MILES ON IT WITH THE ORIGINAL WIPER MOTOR STILL IN IT!!! I BELIEVE MAZDA SHOULD MAKE GOOD ON THIS TYPE OF PREMATURE FAILURE ON SAFETY EQUIPMENT. I ALL SO HAVE EXCESSIVE TIRE WARE ON THE INSIDE EDGES OF MY TIRES, WORN DOWN SMOOTH AND SCALLOPING BUT DUE TO ROTATING OFTEN I HAVE MANAGED TO GET BETTER LIFE OUT OF THEM AND WILL REPLACE THEM SOON. I HAVE A NOISE THAT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE A WHEEL BEARING OR OTHER ROTATING PART WEARING OUT AND SHIMMY/VIBRATION THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL THAT THE DEALER CLAIMS IS RELATED TO THE WORN/SCALLOPED TIRES. I WILL SOON SEE IF THIS GOES AWAY WHEN I REPLACE THE TIRES. *TR
Tires, Wheels, Apr 27, 2010
2008 MAZDA 3 5 DOOR HATCHBACK. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALER. THE NUT THAT HOLDS THE VALVE STEM TO THE TIRE BECAME CORRODED AND CRACKED AND FELL OFF. THIS RESULTED IN A RAPID DEFLATION OF THE TIRE WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AFTER INSPECTING THE OTHER 3 TIRES, I NOTICED THAT 2 OF THE REMAINING 3 NUTS WERE ALSO SEVERELY CORRODED AND CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THIS OCCURRED AFTER I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 20 MONTHS. WHEN TAKEN TO THE MAZDA DEALER, THEY REPLACED THE VALVE STEM WHERE THE NUT HAD FALLEN OFF, BUT NOT THE OTHER 2 STEMS THAT WERE CORRODED AND CRACKED. *TR
Tires, Mar 15, 2010
THE TIRES ON MY MAZDA 3 5 DOOR, WERE WORN OUT BY 17,000 MILES. I BELLEVE THAT TO BE EXCESSIVE! IF THIS KIND OF TIRE WARE, WAS DISCLOSED WHEN I LEASED THE CAR, I WOULD NOT HAVE! *TR
Suspension, Tires, Dec 26, 2009
IN EARLY AUGUST 2009 AT APPROX. 21K MILES WHEN I PERFORMED MY 7500 MILE TIRE ROTATION I NOTICED THAT ALL THE 4 OE GOOD YEAR RSA TIRES WERE VERY WORN ON THE INSIDE, NOT THE THREAD AREA BUT THE AREA WHERE THE SIDEWALL STARTS. I HAD NOTICED THIS BEFORE BUT HAD NOT THOUGHT MUCH OF IT AS IT WASN'T TOO BAD. I DROVE ON A 500 MILE TRIP SHORTLY AFTER THIS AND BECAME MORE CONCERNED . I HAD THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED AT THE DESTINATION AND IT WAS WITHIN MFG. SPEC. THE ALIGNMENT PEOPLE SAID THE CAUSE WAS PROBABLY DUE TO THE NEGATIVE CAMBER ON THE REAR WHEELS WHICH AT -2.3 AND -1.7 WAS PROBABLY THE REASON FOR THE WEAR AND THAT I SHOULD REPLACE THE TIRES. MAZDA DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR ADJUSTING THE REAR CAMBER. NOT HAVING THE RESOURCES AT THE TIME, THINKING MAYBE IT WAS A OVERZEALOUS SALES EFFORT, AND TO ME THE TIRES STILL LOOKED USABLE I DIDN'T REPLACE THEM. NOW AT 27K MILES I HAVE THE RESOURCES TO REPLACE THEM AND THE AREA ON THE INSIDE CORNER IN MUCH MORE WORN. MAZDA GIVES NO EXPLANATION, ONE SAID SHOULD ROTATE @ 5K MILES, ANOTHER SAYS THEY PUT CRAPPY TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. ON THE INTERNET, PEOPLE WHO REPLACE THE TIRES SAY THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS CAUSED BY THE EXCESSIVE NEGATIVE CAMBER THAT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN THAT, WITH A SOUR ECONOMY MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD REPLACEMENT TIRES, MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OR PAY TO ROTATE TIRES AND MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT CHECK THEM AT ALL. AT THE MINIMUM MAZDA SHOULD PROVIDE FOR ADJUSTMENT OF THE REAR CAMBER. *TR
Tires, Oct 29, 2009
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT EAGLE-RSA 205/50VR17 TIRES ON MY MAZDA 3- 5DOOR ARE SHOWING EXAGGERATED WEAR ON ALL FOUR TIRES. EVEN IF I DO THE TREADWEAR CALCULATION, I SHOULD HAVE REACHED 18,720 MILES BEFORE NEEDING REPLACEMENT. AT 17,MILES, THE TIRES ARE DOWN TO THE WEAR INDICATORS. EVEN BEFORE THAT, I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN TWO ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE EXTREMELY POOR WET AND SNOW TRACTION OF THE "ALL SEASON" TIRES. UNLESS IT IS DRY AND ABOVE 60 DEGREES, THESE TIRES HAVE LITTLE TO NO TRACTION. ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT OF MY STREET ON TWO RAINY DAYS HAS RESULTED IN UNNECESSARY WHEELSPIN AND NEAR LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS WAS BEFORE 10,000 MILES ON THE TIRES. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 18 YEARS AND HAVE ONLY EXPERIENCED WHEELSPIN IN THE RAIN WITH MY 1970 MERCURY WITH 300HP. AT A MINIMUM, GOODYEAR SHOULD BE HIT WITH A FALSE ADVERTISING SUIT FOR ADVERTISING THE EAGLE-RSA AS AN "ALL SEASON" TIRE. I AGREE WITH ANOTHER COMPLAINANT THAT GOODYEAR MIGHT BE INTENTIONALLY NOT GIVING WARRANTY'S FOR THE TIRES AGAINST WEAR BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE PRODUCT WILL NOT LAST THAT LONG. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST SET OF GOODYEARS THAT HAVE NOT MADE IT TO THEIR LIFE EXPECTANCY. I HAD ASKED THE DEALER TO SWITCH TIRES WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, BUT ALL OF THE MAZDA3- 5DOORS ON THE LOT HAD THE SAME AWFUL TIRES. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER SET OF GOODYEARS OR A VEHICLE THAT HAS THEM AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES. *TR
Tires, Oct 17, 2009
I OWN A MAZDA 3, PURCHASED 7/08, CAR HAS 20K MILES, THE GOODYEAR TIRES RSA 205-50R-17 NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A DEFECT IN A PART TO CORRECT A REAR CAMBER ISSUE, THE DEFECT CAUSED THE TIRES TO WEAR UNEVENLY AND HAVE VERY LOW TREAD LIFE. THE DEALERSHIP AND ZONE OFFICE WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART BUT I AM HAVING DIFFICULTLY HAVING THEM PAY FOR REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN EFFECTED BY THE DEFECTIVE PART THEREFORE THE WARRANTY SHOULD COVER THE FULL COST OF REPLACEMENT TIRES. I AM WAITING FOR THE DEFECTIVE PART TO ARRIVE AT THE DEALER, THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE REAR CAMBER PART ISSUE SINCE GOOD TIRES LEADS TO SAFETY. *TR
Tires, Aug 30, 2008
TIRE WAS ON RENTAL CAR PICKED UP FROM HERTZ AT CINCINNATI AIRPORT. NOTICED RIDE WAS ROUGH AND NOISY. ON ARRIVING AT DESTINATION (LEXINGTON, KY, ABOUT 70 MILES BY HIGHWAY), EXAMINED TIRES. SAW BULGE ON SIDEWALL ON PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT TIRE. RETURNED CAR TO HERTZ AT LEXINGTON BLUEGRASS AIRPORT TO BE EXCHANGED. *TR
Tires, Aug 27, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 3. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR ALL WEATHER TIRES, SIZE P205/15R17 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIRES AND ACCUSED THE CONTACT OF STRIKING SOMETHING WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 3,526.
Tires, Mar 6, 2008
TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR CONSTANTLY TURNING OFF ON RANDOMLY. DEALER SAYS THEY ARE CONSTANTLY GETTING COMPLAINTS. NO RECALL. SO WHEN THERE IS AN ACTUAL TIRE PROBLEM, YOU MAY NOT TAKE THE WARNING LIGHT SERIOUSLY. BECAUSE IT TURNS ON ALL THE TIME FOR NO REASON. *TR