2008 Mazda MAZDA3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
303 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
40,046 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 256 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 109 of 303 complaints (36.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 124 | 40.9% |
| Braking behavior | 39 | 12.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 5.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 4.3% |
| Engine operation | 11 | 3.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 109 |
| Wheels | 33 |
| Tires | 27 |
| Air Bags | 19 |
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Engine | 16 |
| Exterior Lighting | 16 |
| Power Train | 13 |
Steering: 109; Wheels: 33; Tires: 27; Air Bags: 19; Electrical System: 17; Engine: 16; Exterior Lighting: 16; Power Train: 13
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 62 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 89 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 40 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 34 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 25 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 62; 25,000 to 49,999: 89; 50,000 to 74,999: 40; 75,000 to 99,999: 34; 100,000 to 149,999: 25; 150,000 and above: 6
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (89). 47 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 14 |
| 2009 | 18 |
| 2010 | 89 |
| 2011 | 41 |
| 2012 | 21 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2014 | 23 |
| 2015 | 18 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 14 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2007: 2; 2008: 14; 2009: 18; 2010: 89; 2011: 41; 2012: 21; 2013: 18; 2014: 23; 2015: 18; 2016: 15; 2017: 14; 2018: 11; 2019: 5; 2020: 9; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 124 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 39 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 15 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10235157 · 2008-07-21 (July 21, 2008)
DURING PARALLEL PARKING PRACTICE WITH BRAND NEW (LESS THAN 500 MILES ON CAR) MAZDA3 SEDAN (2.3) FOR A DRIVER LICENSE EXAM, ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES, RENDERING STEERING COMPLETELY INOPERABLE (CANNOT EVEN STEER MANUALLY SINCE STEERING RESISTANCE IS EXTREME). NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS INDICATING A PROBLEM. UPON TURNING IGNITION OFF AND THEN IMMEDIATELY RESTARTING CAR, STEERING WOULD RECOVER BUT THEN FAIL AGAIN SEVERAL MINUTES LATER. CAR ALSO DEVELOPED HIGH-PITCHED WHISTLING SOUND, SOURCE UNCLEAR. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED CAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 497 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235157 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10237580 · 2008-08-10 (August 10, 2008)
MY DAUGHTER NOTICED AT WHEN STOPPING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHACK. UPON HAVING THE DEALER LOOK AT THIS ISSUE THEY SAID IT WAS DUE TO HI-SPEED STOPPING, AND THAT IT COULD BE CORRECTED BY REPLACING THE ROTORS AND PADS WITH OEM PARTS. I THINK THAT AT JUST 17,000 MILES THAT THIS SHOULD NOT BE A ISSUE. I COULD ONLY SPEAK TO A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AND NOT A DISTRICT REP, AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CHECK INTO THIS AND GET BACK TO ME. THIS NEVER HAPPENED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10237580 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10276739 · 2009-07-14 (July 14, 2009)
MAZDA 3 2008 PARKING BRAKE FAILED AND THE CAR ROLLED DOWN A SLOPE AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 9 miles reported. Look up ODI 10276739 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10285863 · 2009-09-30 (September 30, 2009)
AFTER DRIVING ON SNOW COVERED ROAD, ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND ABS IS NON-OPERATIONAL. THE ABS WOULD RESUME FUNCTION AFTER AT LEAST 30-45 MIN OF DRIVING. DEALER STATED THAT SNOW BECAME TRAPPED IN ABS SENSOR BUT PROBLEM CANNOT BE RESOLVED. ABS FAILURE OCCURRED 3-4 TIMES OVER THE PAST WINTER WHEN ABS WAS ESSENTIAL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10285863 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10341371 · 2010-07-04 (July 4, 2010)
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2008 MAZDA 3 HOME FROM VACATION. SHE WAS IN NEW YORK CITY WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. SHE STOPPED CAR. RE-STARTED APPRX 30 MINUTES LATER IT WAS OK. THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN WHILE STILL IN NEW YORK. SHE WAS ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. SHE COULD NOT STEER CAR AND HAD TO STOP IN THE HOV BUS LANE. SHE WAS ALONE IN THE CAR WITH HER NEWBORN BABY. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 38000, LESS THEN 3 YEARS OLD, ALWAYS MAINTAINED AT 3000 INTERVALS. WE HAD TO PAY OVER 600 TO HAVE FIXED AND WERE …
Owner-reported narrative. 38,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10341371 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10350593 · 2010-08-19 (August 19, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING A TURN AT 10 MPH IN SNOWY WEATHER WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO SEVERAL BUSHES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS AND STEERING PUMP FAILED AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,367 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,500. UPDATED 12/01/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/07/10
Owner-reported narrative. 12,367 miles reported. Look up ODI 10350593 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10392670 · 2011-03-23 (March 23, 2011)
UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION WHEN VEHICLE IS STANDING STILL (STOP SIGN, TRAFFIC SIGNAL) HAVE FOUND IT NECESSARY TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL UNTIL ENGINE REVS DOWN TO NORMAL RPMS, AND THEN PROCEED. THIS DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION (TOYOTA PRIUS). HAVE ELIMINATED "FLOOR MATS" OR FOOT SLIPPING ONTO GAS PEDAL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10392670 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10503426 · 2013-03-18 (March 18, 2013)
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO THIRD DEGREE INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE FIFTH GEAR. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, NOT TRACTION, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ALL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND ONCE IT WAS RESTARTED THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10503426 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10328716 · 2010-05-04 (May 4, 2010)
LOSS OF POWER STEERING: (2 TIMES) -- ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS I HAD LOST THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2008 MAZDA 3. THE FIRST TIME WAS DURING THE SUMMER OF 2009. AFTER THE CAR WAS IDLING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, I WENT TO DRIVE OFF AND THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND CHECKED THE BELTS. EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. I THEN STARTED THE CAR AND THE STEERING WAS WORKING LIKE NORMAL. THE SECOND TIME WAS IN APRIL OF 2010. I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC FOR A LITTLE WHILE. AFTER THE TRAFFIC CLEARED I WAS GETTING UP TO SPEED AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328716 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10341290 · 2010-07-02 (July 2, 2010)
1. WHILE THE CAR WAS STOPPED FOR MORE THAN 5 MINUTES THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING INCLUDING THE AIR CONDITIONER 2. LOSS OF POWER STEERING 3. STOPPED THE CAR AND WAITED FOR A WHILE AND THEN RESTARTED THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10341290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11449230 · 2022-01-28 (January 28, 2022)
2008 MAZDA 3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11449230 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11575037 · 2024-03-02 (March 2, 2024)
There is a plastic ring on top of the gas tank that holds down the fuel pump.I filled up my tank and looked under the car afterwards,at this time I noticed gas coming out from the tank until is was flushed with the top and then stopped.I pulled out the back seat,found the inspection plate and for sure this was and did happen,now nothing could be done at the time because the inspection plat hole was smaller than the ring,the tank had to be dropped.It had to be fixed,about $600.00 later and tank filled up it was repaired.I still have the ring an…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11575037 at NHTSA ↗