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.
Of the 2009 reports, 11 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 5 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
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
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: steering
35 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Jul 15, 2010
WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN IN MY 2009 MAZDA 3, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE STEERING WHEEL STIFFENED UP SEVERELY AND I HAD TO PULL OVER TO RESTORE THE POWER STEERING. A MILE UP THE ROAD, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT. *TR
Steering, Jul 12, 2010, crash
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE NAVIGATING A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 MPH POWER STEERING FAILED AND DASH LIGHT CAME ON. WAS UNABLE TO TURN VEHICLE IN TIME AND HIT A CURB, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE RIM AND TIRE. *TR
Steering, Jul 7, 2010
JUST COMPLETED A TRIP OF APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES. UPON TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE LOST ITS POWER STEERING. VERY HARD STEERING WHEN TRYING TO FINISH PARKING THE VEHICLE. WAITED ABOUT AN HOUR, STARTED THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WAS AGAIN OPERATIONAL. *TR
Steering, Jul 7, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE TEMPERATURE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED WAS OVER A 100 DEGREES. WHEN HE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED STATING THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS AND THAT HE HAD TO PAY THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 25,000.
Steering, Jul 3, 2010
MY 22 YEAR OLD SON WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT WITH OUR 2009 MAZDA3, WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. A LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED AT THE SAME TIME. IT WAS A VERY HOT DAY IN THE 90'S WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ALSO ON. HE DID NOT SHUT OFF THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME, WITH SOME DIFFICULTY, WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. WHEN I WENT TO LOOK AT IT LATER, AFTER THE CAR HAD COOLED DOWN, IT WAS FINE. THE CAR PURCHASED USED AND HAS 42K MILES; SO IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. WE DID NOT HAVE IT LOOKED AT. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN TO MY WIFE ON A CURVY ROAD IT COULD OF BEEN A SERIOUS ISSUE. THIS ISSUE HAS ONLY OCCURRED ONCE SO FAR. *TR
Steering, Jul 2, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA, MAZDA3. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN SUDDENTLY THE POWER STEERING FAILED, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, FOLLOWED BY THE "POWER STEERING" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, RESTARTED AND BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 13,000.
Steering, Apr 25, 2010
MY MAZDA 3 SEDAN LOST ITS POWER STEERING. I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD AND SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND DEBRIS IN THE STEERING FLUID. THEY REPLACED THE FLUID, THE FLUID LINES AND OTHER EQUIPMENT TO THE COST OF $1,400 COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. MY CAR IS APPROXIMATELY 16 MONTHS OLD - PURCHASED JANUARY 31, 2009. *TR
Steering, Apr 13, 2010
I WAS DRIVING MY 2009 MAZDA3 AS NORMAL. I WENT TO TURN AT A LIGHT AND MY POWER STEERING FAILED. I WAS ABLE TO BARELY COMPENSATE BUT ALMOST HIT A CAR BECAUSE THE STEERING DIDN'T REACT AS I EXPECTED. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND IT WAS RESET. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN CRACKS IN THE TUBING ALLOWING MOISTURE INTO THE SYSTEM THAT SHORTS OUT THE PUMP AND CAUSES THE FAILURE. THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WAS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN IF NOT CORRECTED. THEY REPLACED THE TUBES AND THE PUMP AT NO COST TO ME BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHY THIS ISN'T A RECALL OR AT LEAST BEEN REPORTED AS A POSSIBILITY TO OWNERS. THIS IS HIGHLY UNSAFE AND IF IT HAPPENED AT THE WRONG TIME SUCH AS ON AN EXPRESSWAY COULD HAVE LED TO A SEVERE CRASH. I THINK A RECALL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. *TR
Steering, Mar 2, 2010
POWER STEERING GOES OUT ON 2009 MAZDA M3. HAD TWO OCCURRENCES, AND TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. AUTO WAS CHECKED VIA COMPUTER AND I WAS BASICALLY ACCUSED OF BEING DISHONEST. 1 MONTH LATER, WHILE ON AN EXIT RAMP THE POWER STEERING AGAIN WENT OUT (CAR GOING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH), TOOK A PICTURE OF DASHBOARD TO ELIMINATE BEING DISMISSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. HAVE ANOTHER APPT WITH SERVICE DEPARTMENT. *TR
Steering, Jul 1, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK, THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING BEGAN TO PERFORM CORRECTLY WITHOUT ANY FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COMPANY THAT MANUFACTURED THE PART WAS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW WHEN THE VEHICLE WILL BE READY. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,240 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,270.