2009 Mazda Mazda3 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (31) · Wheels (19) · Tires:pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems (9)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mazda Mazda3 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
97 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer:motor 2011-06-15 · campaign 11V329000 · 103,300 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: THE LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION IN ADVERSE WEATHER COULD POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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.
Steering:electric Power Assist System 2010-08-12 · campaign 10V374000 · 215,000 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (226)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System 2026-09-11 · SA-041-26a · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
description if you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, dtc(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal mgss diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been installed. aftermarket devices may be the cause of the electrical con
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-20 · SA-055-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
product quality information (pqi) description service information mt-041/12 is no longer valid. it has been unpublished and superseded by the field quality information report (fqir) reporting system.
Visibility/Wiper 2026-07-29 · 09-022-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. the changes are noted in red text. 09-042/04 12/10/04 description some vehicles may exhibit inoperative electric rear window defroster grid lines, integral antenna concerns causing radio reception issues or terminal tabs pulled
Engine 2026-06-19 · SA-041-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this sa supersedes the previously issued sa(s) listed below. the changes are noted in red. sa-061/25 12/17/25 description if you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, dtc(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal mgss diagnosis by ask
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-21 · SA-029-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service alert supersedes the previously issued sa listed below: the changes are noted in red. sa-011/24 02/12/24, 06/06/24, 07/29/24 description mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. mazda recommends dealers follow the sch
Electrical System 2025-12-17 · SA-061-25 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
if you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, dtc(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal mgss diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been installed. aftermarket devices may be the cause of the electrical concern. below
Showing the 6 most recent of 226 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-03-24 · Service Brakes“brake pedal sinks to the ground d after abs is turned on due to hard braking or after hitting a dip…”
2025-01-21 · Fuel System, Gasoline · 102,212 mi“the contact owns a 2009 mazda mazda3. the contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed a puddle of fuel on the ground underneath the vehicle. the contact stated that previously there was an abnormally strong odor inside the vehicle and in the trunk. in addition, the contact stated that the odor was very strong, causing her to be…”
2023-04-28 · Steering“when driving and trying to negotiate a turn, or sometimes when going straight, the power assist steering simply fails (stops assisting the steering). i have to "muscle" the car off the roadway and either restart the engine or stop the car (off the road) straighten the steering wheel, restart the car, and the power assist is restored. this has hap…”
2023-04-28 · Service Brakes“for the past 9-10 months and on occasions, when i step on the brake pedal to either slow down or stop from a normal cruise speed, the engine rpm quickly jumps up to 2000 - 2500 rpm. i have to quickly brake harder and *place the auto transmission selector in neutral to fully stop the car from lunging forward*. the date below is the most recent date.…”
2022-03-24 · Exterior Lighting“brake lights are causing the top of the tail light to melt on the housing. …”
2021-11-04 · Fuel/Propulsion System“the fuel pump lock ring on my 2009 mazda mazdaspeed3 has failed which is causing two engine codes: p0442 and p0455. in addition there is a strong smell of gasoline fumes around the rear of the car after driving and parking. the fuel pump lock ring is a plastic threaded ring which secures and seals the fuel pump and fuel level sender to the fuel tan…”
2021-10-05 · Service Brakes“parking brake not working due to mechanism on rear caliper is rusted solid so it can not activate brake…”
2021-03-28 · Steering · 130,000 mi“this seems to happen as i'm slowing down, as you would to make a turn onto a street or driveway. i turn on my blinker, then the moment i press the brake, all of the power in the car dies, and comes right back on. i think of it as a quick reset it seems. however, when this happens, the power steering does not work, and i'm left finishing my turn wit…”
2020-03-30 · Steering · 96,600 mi“while driving on a public road (40 mph) march 2020, my daughter's 2009 mazda 3 lost power steering, and the power steering light went on her dashboard. she pulled off the road and called us for help. when the car was turned on and off the power steering returned. three weeks later the same problem occurred. i have read numerous cases on many websit…”
2019-06-27 · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · 9,650 mi“my airbag light on the dashboard keeps turning on and off. seems to depend on the weather, ie, rain and high humidity…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.