2009 Mazda MAZDA3

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Steering is the leading concern among 119 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 10th highest complaint count among 22 MAZDA3 model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 119

Of the 2009 reports, 11 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 5 people were injured.

Primary concernSteering35 reports · 29% of complaints
Owner complaints119Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship4 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Steering35
  2. Tires27
  3. Wheels20
  4. Power train7
  5. Service brakes6
  6. Air bags5
  7. Electrical system5
  8. Exterior lighting5

Recalls and investigations

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. Electronic stability control (ESC)May 29, 2009

    MAZDA IS RECALLING 7,100 MY 2009 MAZDA3 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 126, "ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM". THE YAW RATE MEASURED AFTER COMPLETION OF THE SINE WITH DWELL STEERING INPUT EXCEEDED THE TEST STANDARDS.

    IMPROPER OPERATION OF THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL.

    DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND HAVE THE UNIT REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 14, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

    Campaign 09V187000 on NHTSA.gov

  4. 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: air bags

5 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 27, 2019

    MY AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD KEEPS TURNING ON AND OFF. SEEMS TO DEPEND ON THE WEATHER, IE, RAIN AND HIGH HUMIDITY

  2. Air bags, Dec 26, 2012, crash

    I WAS MERGING ONTO INTERSTATE 69 FROM CENTER ROAD IN FLINT, MICHIGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30 A.M. THERE WAS A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME MERGING AT THE SAME TIME. THAT VEHICLE MERGED IN FRONT OF A JEEP AND I MERGED BEHIND IT. THE DRIVER OF THE JEEP STATED THE VEHICLE MERGING IN FRONT OF HIM CUT HIM OFF CAUSING HIM TO BRAKE HARD AND SWERVE INTO CENTER LANE TO AVOID A CRASH. I BRAKED HARD TO AVOID REAR-ENDING THE JEEP. THE DRIVER OF THE JEEP ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE IN THE CENTER LANE SWERVED INTO THE LEFT LANE CAUSING THE VEHICLE IN THE LEFT LANE TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD AND UPON RE-ENTERING THE LEFT LANE OVER-CORRECTED AND SLID ACROSS CENTER LANE INTO RIGHT LANE HITTING THE VEHICLE I WAS DRIVING CAUSING IT TO HIT THE GUARDRAIL THEN GOING INTO 360 DEGREE SPIN AND COMING TO A STOP APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET FARTHER ALONG THE HIGHWAY AGAINST THE GUARDRAIL. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT. THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. I WAS INJURED IN THE CRASH. I HAVE A FRACTURED STERNUM AND BRUISES TO MY LEFT KNEE, RIGHT ARM AND LEFT SIDE OF MY NECK. [XXX] UD-10 SERIAL #77152 FLINT POLICE DEPT.- TRAFFIC DIVISION 210 E. FIFTH ST. FLINT, MI 48502 (810) 237-6890 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

  3. Air bags, Jun 29, 2012, crash

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CRASH CAUSED HEAD INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS ON FILE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 38,000.

  4. Air bags, Oct 19, 2009, crash

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH A TRACTOR TRAILER DRIVING 45 MPH CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE WERE NOTIFIED. THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION FACILITY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 29,700.

  5. Air bags, Oct 12, 2009, crash

    MY SON WAS HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE (T-BONED) AND NO SIDE AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED. *TR