2008 Mazda MAZDA3: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10208232 · 2007-11-08 (November 8, 2007)
VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE VIBRATIONS CAUSING A DETECTABLE NOISE AT THE EXHAUST FLANGE SEAL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 489 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208232 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10210785 · 2007-12-04 (December 4, 2007)
THE WARNING CHIME FOR SEAT BELTS NOT BEING USED IS INAUDIBLE ON THE 2008 MAZDA3 EVEN WITH ALL ACCESSORIES TURNED OFF. THE DEALER EXPLAINED THAT THEY WERE CHANGED DUE TO CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS THAT PREVIOUS YEARS WERE TOO LOUD AND PERSISTENT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND THE DEALER CHECKED IT OUT AND DECLARED "THAT'S THE WAY THEY ARE". *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10210785 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10220273 · 2008-03-06 (March 6, 2008)
TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR CONSTANTLY TURNING OFF ON RANDOMLY. DEALER SAYS THEY ARE CONSTANTLY GETTING COMPLAINTS. NO RECALL. SO WHEN THERE IS AN ACTUAL TIRE PROBLEM, YOU MAY NOT TAKE THE WARNING LIGHT SERIOUSLY. BECAUSE IT TURNS ON ALL THE TIME FOR NO REASON. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10224401 · 2008-04-14 (April 14, 2008)
ENGINE MAKES NOISE AND VIBRATION WHEN TRYING TO COOL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224401 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10224702 · 2008-04-16 (April 16, 2008)
PAINT OF INFERIOR QUALITY. VEHICLE PAINT FINISH APPEARS NORMAL IN MEDIUM TO DIM LIGHTING. HOWEVER, UNDER BRIGHT LIGHTING, MICROSCRATCHES ARE APPARENT OVER THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. NEW CAR STOCK AT THE DEALER I PURCHASED FROM AS WELL AS ANOTHER DEALER IN THE STATE SHOWS THE SAME DEFECTS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10224702 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10224858 · 2008-04-17 (April 17, 2008)
PRODUCT INVOLVED = 2008 MAZDA 3 PRODUCT BRAND NAME/MANUFACTURER = BUTCH OUSTALET MAZDA MANUFACTURER STREET ADDRESS = AIRPORT RD PLACE WHERE MANUFACTURED (CITY AND STATE OR COUNTRY) = GULFPORT, MS - FROM JAPAN PRODUCT MODEL, SERIAL #, DATE OF MANUFACTURER OR DATE CODEWHEN PRODUCT PURCHASED = 11/30/2007 DO YOU STILL HAVE THE PRODUCT? = YES USE YOUR NAME WITH THIS REPORT? = RELEASE NAME TO THE MANUFACTURER AND PUBLIC INCIDENT OR HAZARD DESCRIPTION = I BOUGHT A 2008 MAZDA 3, 4 MONTHS AGO. THE CAR BEGAN MAKING ME SICK - BAD HEADACHES AND LOSS…
Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224858 at NHTSA ↗
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 ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
10V374000 · Steering:Electric Power Assist System
Reported: 2010-08-12 (August 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗11V329000 · Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor
Reported: 2011-06-15 (June 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.
Consequence: THE LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION IN ADVERSE WEATHER COULD POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗