2006 Mazda MAZDA3: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
166 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
71,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 124 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 166 complaints (16.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 34 | 20.5% |
| Braking behavior | 25 | 15.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 21 | 12.7% |
| Engine operation | 13 | 7.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 5.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.6% |
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 | 27 |
| Air Bags | 25 |
| Engine | 17 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Power Train | 15 |
| Tires | 13 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 12 |
| Suspension | 10 |
Steering: 27; Air Bags: 25; Engine: 17; Electrical System: 16; Power Train: 15; Tires: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling: 12; Suspension: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 23 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 20 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 22 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 22 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 26 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 22; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 11
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 42 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 18 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 18 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2006: 14; 2007: 12; 2008: 10; 2009: 10; 2010: 18; 2011: 10; 2012: 14; 2013: 10; 2014: 18; 2015: 14; 2016: 10; 2017: 7; 2018: 4; 2019: 5; 2020: 2; 2021: 4; 2023: 3; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 34 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 21 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10152284 · 2006-03-09 (March 9, 2006)
2006 MAZDA 3, 5DOOR AUTOMATIC PURCHASED NEW IN OCTOBER, 2005. CAR PULLS LEFT. ITS BEEN TO 2 DEALERS 7 DIFFERENT TIMES. THEY CANT FIX IT. I'VE GOT AN ATTORNEY NOW AND GOING THROUGH LEMON LAW PROCEDURES. WE DID GIVE MAZDA SEVERAL EXTRA CHANCES TO FIX IT AND HAVE THEIR ZONE MANAGER AND HIS TECH REP AND A MAZDA ENGINEER THAT DROVE DOWN FROM MICHIGAN, A CHANCE TO TEST DRIVE THE CAR. ON THE LAST VISIT THEY CONFIRMED 2 OTHER NEW MAZDA 3'S DROVE LIKE MINE DID, I.E. THEY PULLED LEFT. ON PREVIOUS VISITS I WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM WITH 3 OTHER NEW MAZDA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10152284 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158405 · 2006-05-23 (May 23, 2006)
2006 MAZDA 3 MAKES A NOISE AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. *TS THREE MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASE THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO HEAR AN ANNOYING CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT EH PROBLEM WAS NOT MECHANICAL AND THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE BODY SHOP FOR SEVEN WEEKS. THEY CLAIM THAT THE UNIBODY WELD HAD TO BE REPAIRED BUT WHEN THE CONSUMER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE THE NOISE WAS STILL PRESENT. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10158405 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160294 · 2006-06-20 (June 20, 2006)
I AM THE OWNER OF A MAZDA 3 2006. BOUGHT THE CAR 1 MONTH AGO AND JUST TWO DAYS AGO WHILE DRIVING IN A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE SIMPLY STOP WHILE IN GEAR AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. TODAY I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER SIMPLY CRASHED AND A NEW ONE NEEDS TO BE ORDER. WHEN I ASK THE REASON FOR THE COMPUTER CRASH, I WAS TOLD THAT THE TEMPERATURE WAS TOO HOT. HIGHEST TEMPERATURE REACHED THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT WAS 90 DEGREES. CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO EXPLAIN CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,046 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160294 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160949 · 2006-06-28 (June 28, 2006)
IN THE MONTH OF MARCH, I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT IN THE FIRST MORNING THE CAR WOULD HESITATE TO START. CONTACTED MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALER IN RENO AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THE PROBLEM. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THE PROBLEM HAD TO DO WITH NEVADA GAS. ON JUNE 17TH, WHILE VISITING LAS VEGAS, THE CARS ENGINE STALLED WHILE IN GEAR ON THE FREEWAY, IT TOOK TWO ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE CAR. I RETURNED TO RENO, AND CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE THREE MAJOR COMPONETS, THAT WERE ALL LINKED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM OF THE CAR. I CONTACTED THE MAZDA DEALER…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160949 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162766 · 2006-07-18 (July 18, 2006)
THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CENTER INFORMATION DISPLAY PANEL IS VERY POOR-TO READ IT REQUIRES THE DRIVER TO TAKE HIS EYES OFF THE ROAD TOO LONG WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD MY DEALER RECOGNIZES THIS PROBLEM BUT STATES THERE IS NO "FACTORY BULLETIN" TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 426 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162766 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162888 · 2006-07-19 (July 19, 2006)
HAD A RIM ON A MAZDA 3 COME APART AFTER HITTING A SMALL POTHOLE ON THE INTERSTATE WHICH THE RIM CLEARLY HAS TO BE DEFECTIVE TO CAUSE THIS MUCH DAMAGE FOR SUCH MINIMAL IMPACT. TOOK TO DEALER FOR REMEDY. SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THIS HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT FAILURE EXCEPT BUY A NEW DEFECTIVE RIM TO REPLACE THE OLD DEFECTIVE RIM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162888 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165198 · 2006-08-10 (August 10, 2006)
WHILE DRIVING IN "MANUAL" MODE ON MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, EXPERIENCED SUBSTANTIAL VIBRATION IN MY STEERING WHEEL AND VIBRATION COULD ALSO BE FELT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CAR, AS IF THE ENTIRE CAR WERE "WOBBLING". DROVE STRAIGHT HOME; HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT HAS BEEN (AS OF TODAY) FOR ELEVEN (11) DAYS. SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADVISED ME THAT THEY ARE CALLING IT "INTERNAL AXLE FAILURE" ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. THEY ARE WAITING FOR PARTS, WHICH THEY SAY WILL TAKE ANOTHER FEW WEEKS TO C…
Owner-reported narrative. 301 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165198 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166486 · 2006-08-24 (August 24, 2006)
AFTER USING AN EXTERNAL GPS 2-3 WEEKS AGO, THE CLOCK, REMOTE LOCKS, RADIO, AND OUTDOOR TEMP. GAUGE FAILED. AFTER THREE TRIPS TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN THE DEALER 'COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM.' THE SECOND AND THIRD TIME THIS OCCURRED NO EXTERNAL DEVICES WERE USED. I COULD NOT FIND A RECALL OR SERVICE ADVISORY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 12,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166486 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
21V494000 · Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 2021-07-01 (July 1, 2021)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2004-2007 Mazda3 vehicles. During air bag deployment, the plastic emblem on the steering wheel air bag module cover may shatter, and project plastic fragments into the vehicle.
Consequence: Plastic fragments can hit occupants during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the air bag module cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed between August 28, 2021 and October 28, 2021. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 4921G.
NHTSA campaign record ↗