2009 Mazda MAZDA3: complaints, problems and recalls

TURBO SEALS LEAKING OIL CAUSING VEHICLE TO SMOKE AT IDLE. COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE VEHICLES AND ON MAZDASPEED6 AND ON THE CX7. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 5,178 miles reported. Look up ODI 10257058 at NHTSA ↗

WE PURCHASED A 2009 MAZDA 3 AND HAVE FOUND THE CAR/TIRE COMBINATION TO BE UNSAFE FOR WINTER DRIVING ON SHOW AND ICE. THE CAR HAS GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A TIRES WHICH ARE "ALL SEASON" RATED TIRES. THERE NEEDS TO BE STRICTER REQUIREMENTS FOR CARS SOLD IN NOTHERN STATES AND FOR TIRES THAT USE THE "ALL SEASON" DESIGNATION. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND NARROWLY AVOIDED A COLLISION WHILE DRIVE AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH BECAUSE THE CARS IN FRONT OF HER WERE ABLE TO STOP MUCH MORE QUICKLY. THIS CAR/TIRE COMBINATION PROVIDED EXTREMELY LOW TRACTION O…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10258672 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESTIATES TO ACCELERATE APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 QUARTER TO 1 1/4 BEFORE THE VEHICLE MOVED. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE AUGUST OF 2008. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE AUTO SHOP TWICE FOR THE ISSUE AND EACH TIME THE CONTACT IS ADVISED THAT IT IS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE AND NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THE CONTACT DISAGREES BECAUSE THOSE SECONDS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IF A CRASH WERE TO OCCUR. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1000. 4/01/09 *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITA…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259141 at NHTSA ↗

THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES ON MY 2009 MAZDA3 5-DOOR: GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A 205/50 R17 ARE SHOWING PREMATURE WEAR AT 12,000 MILES. THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES THAT GOODYEAR WARRANTIES THE TIRES. THE GOODYEAR PAMPHLET PROVIDED ONLY WARRANTIES "WORKMANSHIP" WEAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER "ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLATIONS". THIS IS THE SECOND SET OF GOODYEARS THAT HAVE COME AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND SHOWED PREMATURE WEAR. I FEEL THAT GOODYEAR DOES THIS INTENTIONALLY TO INFLATE THEIR AFTERMARKET SALES. WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, I ASKED THE DEALERSH…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10267397 at NHTSA ↗

CAR IS A 2009 MAZDA SPEED3, ONE MONTH OLD. I SET THE BRAKE OF THE CAR AND IT ONLY WENT UP 2 CLICKS. THE CAR ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY WITH NOBODY IN THE CAR AND HIT A TREE. EMERGENCY BRAKE HARD TO PULL UP TO SET PROPERLY. I DID A TEST ON A STEEP SLOPE, AND THE EBRAKE DID NOT HOLD. A HARD YANK WITH TWO HANDS MADE THE BRAKE HOLD, AND NOW THE BRAKE WILL GO UP 5 CLICKS WITH EASE AND HOLDS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10273580 at NHTSA ↗

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 WA…

Owner-reported narrative. 22,240 miles reported. Look up ODI 10275422 at NHTSA ↗

SAME ISSUE AS OTHER STATED. THESE TIRES PROVIDE LITTLE TO NO TRACTION ON ICE OR SNOW. I HAVE OWNED EIGHT MAZDAS AND NEVER HAD ON ISSUE LIKE THIS WITH ANY, I HAVE HAD VEHICLES OF VARIOUS SIZES. THESE TIRES ARE A SAFETY ISSUE. I NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT THE FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP WITH INABILITY TO SLOW AND STOP, AND TAKE OFF TRACTION IS NO BETTER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10277097 at NHTSA ↗

MY SON WAS HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE (T-BONED) AND NO SIDE AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10287069 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2009-05-29 (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.

Consequence: IMPROPER OPERATION OF THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL.

Remedy: 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.

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.

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.