2008 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
47,803 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 30 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 33 complaints (63.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 42.4% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 9.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 3.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 21 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 |
Power Train: 21; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Suspension: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Wheels: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Horn: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 3; 2012: 7; 2013: 7; 2014: 5; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 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 10239375 · 2008-08-22 (August 22, 2008)
A MOTOR MOUNT BROKE ON MY 2008 MAZDASPEED3 CAUSING THE NEED FOR REPLACEMENT ON THE FOLLOWING PARTS: TRANSMISSION TWO MOTOR MOUNTS BYPASS VALVE VEHICLE WIRING HARNESS DRIVERS SIDE AXLE MY DEALERSHIP TOOK PICTURES AND SENT THEM TO MAZDA. MAZDA SAYS THE VEHICLE WAS OVER DRIVEN AND THIS IS WHY THE MOUNT FAILED. THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY THE DAMAGES AND REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN THREE MONTHS OLD. THE DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE THAT WAS ABNORMAL. THERE WAS AN APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED WITH T…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10239375 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10451330 · 2012-03-12 (March 12, 2012)
I WENT TO SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR FROM A STOP (AT A RED LIGHT,) AND MY SHIFTER FELL OFF IN MY HAND. UPON DISASSEMBLING THE CENTER CONSOLE AT THE LIGHT, I FOUND THAT THE CAST-ALUMINUM SHIFTER ARM HAD BROKEN AT THE INSERTION POINT FOR THE RETENTION PIN. NOT ONLY AM I NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT IT HAPPENED TO ANOTHER PERSON TODAY (WHOM I'M FORWARDING TO THIS SITE.) MAZDA SAID IT'S NOT UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY AND BECAUSE I HAVE AN AFTERMARKET TRANSMISSION MOUNT AND A COLD-AIR INTAKE, THEY WON'T MAKE A GOODWILL ADJUSTMENT (IN SPIT…
Owner-reported narrative. 58,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10451330 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274790 · 2009-06-24 (June 24, 2009)
THE ISSUE FIRST BEGUN (05/04/09) WHEN THE ENGINE MISSED FIRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY, WHICH CAUSE THE CAR TO FEEL AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL. AFTER THAT INCIDENT, A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS APPARENT. THERE WAS ALSO VIBRATION FROM THAT NOISE THAT CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE PEDALS OF THE CAR. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER, WHICH WAS SIERRA MAZDA OF MONROVIA, CA, AND I EXPLAIN THE WHOLE SITUATION, THEY ONLY LOOKED AT THE CAR FOR ABOUT 15MINS AND THEN SAID IT WAS A CLUTCH RELATED ISSUE THAT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. …
Owner-reported narrative. 27,769 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274790 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10452530 · 2012-03-21 (March 21, 2012)
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, SOMETHING IN THE TURBO EXPLODED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL AND A LOSS OF POWER IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 128,125 miles reported. Look up ODI 10452530 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10491617 · 2013-01-07 (January 7, 2013)
COMING UP TOWARDS A STOP SIGN ON PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL LIKE ALWAYS HIT BRAKES STOP AT THE STOP SIGH THEN ATTEMPT TO SHIFT TO 1ST AND THE SHIFTER JUST FALLS OUT. LUCKY FOR ME I WAS 2 STOP SIGNS FROM MY HOUSE SO I WAS ABLE TO PUT TAKE THE SHIFT BOOT OUT AND GET THE CAR INTO 2ND AND MAKE IT HOME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 46,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10491617 at NHTSA ↗