2006 Mazda MAZDA3 problems
Owners have filed 224 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Mazda MAZDA3. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 15% of complaints. After that come steering (13%) and air bags (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 224 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 15% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 29 and 4
- Injuries and deaths
- 21 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 71,000 miles 171 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 20 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 33 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 19 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 22 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 27 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 19 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 11 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 12 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 6 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 171 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 71,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 88,000 miles (30 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 29 complaints mention a crash; 4 complaints mention a fire; 21 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2006 ranks 12th most-complained-about out of 19 model years of the Mazda MAZDA3 with enough data (100 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mazda 3. While at a stop, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy and the driver, front passenger, and rear passenger seat belt restraints failed to retract. The driver, the front passenger, and the rear passenger sustained injuries to the head. The front passenger and rear passenger required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure.
Approaching a redlight at a highway intersection, my son pressed his foot down on on the brake and the brakes failed. The pedal went all the way to the floor and did not work at all and resulted in an accident that destroyed the car and injured the occupants of the car he struck. The car was purchased used. The previous owner had the brakes completely repaired when the same thing had happened while braking.
Following a rear end collision, my 2006 mazda3 mileage dropped from ~24mpg to ~8mpg, with no torque at all from ~20MPH. Significant steering trouble, awful tire noise, and loud knocking when turning were dismissed by the local dealer as "well within specs". Requested brake caliper and alignment check, refused by the same dealer; tech performed a road test, declared the problem due to tire feathering and demonstrated 120MPH tight curve as remedy.
The engine was cold. I entered the car, started the engine, shifted into reverse and the engine accelerated uncontrollably, screaming. I could not stop the car with full braking and shut off engine. I restarted and it worked normally. This also happen about a year ago and the dealer could find nothing wrong. Help!!!!