WITHIN 3 MONTHS, 2005 MAZDA 3S HAS HAD A SEIZED AC COMPRESSOR (NEAR FIRE) AND BLOWN PASSENGER SIDE ELECTRICAL JUNCTION BOX. *TR
2005 Mazda MAZDA3
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Mazda MAZDA3 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 108.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all MAZDA3 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
77 reports with mileage · 20 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
97 reports2005 MAZDA3 SEDAN, PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE MOUNT(#3), MOUNT CRACKED, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT, CAUSING ENGINE VIBRATION, POTENTIAL ENGINE DAMAGE. PART REPLACED BY DEALER. *TR
2005 MAZDA 3S WITH ONLY 39K MILES BROKE DOWN WITH HEAVY SMOKE, NEAR FIRE, FORTUNATELY AT DIA AIRPORT. TOWED TO LOCAL DENVER MAZDA DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED A SEIZED A/C COMPRESSOR. CONTACTED MAZDA NATIONAL CUSTOMER CARE, WHO COVERED THE $1K COST OF THE NEW COMPRESSOR, WITH ME PICKING UP THE LABOR. OUT OF WARRANTY, BARELY; THIS KI…
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2005 MAZDA 3S WITH ONLY 39K MILES BROKE DOWN WITH HEAVY SMOKE, NEAR FIRE, FORTUNATELY AT DIA AIRPORT. TOWED TO LOCAL DENVER MAZDA DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED A SEIZED A/C COMPRESSOR. CONTACTED MAZDA NATIONAL CUSTOMER CARE, WHO COVERED THE $1K COST OF THE NEW COMPRESSOR, WITH ME PICKING UP THE LABOR. OUT OF WARRANTY, BARELY; THIS KIND OF THING SHOULD NOT HAPPEN FOR A YOUNG VEHICLE, ORIGINAL OWNER, WITH PAMPERED PREVENTATIVE MNX PER SCHEDULE. I DO APPRECIATE THE FACT MAZDA STEPPED UP TO COMPENSATE A MAJORITY OF THE REPAIR COST. I CONTINUE TO BE VERY ANNOYED AT THE POOR BRAKE DESIGN, THAT SQUEALS MOST OF THE TIME, USING OEM PARTS, ESPECIALLY IN REVERSE IN COLDER TEMPS. *TR
AS I WAS READING IN YOUR MOST RECENT REPORT, MY SON HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL UNIT WITH THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD. HE TOOK THE CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A SENSOR. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. BROUGHT BACK THE CAR TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE DASH CLUSTER. …
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AS I WAS READING IN YOUR MOST RECENT REPORT, MY SON HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL UNIT WITH THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD. HE TOOK THE CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A SENSOR. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. BROUGHT BACK THE CAR TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE DASH CLUSTER. PRIOR TO TAKING THE CAR IN THIS HAPPENED ON AND OFF FOR A FEW MONTHS. IS THIS REIMBURSABLE BY THE MANUFACTURER? *TR
2005 MAZDA 3 AIR COMPRESSOR GOES OUT, LINES FRY UNDER HOOD AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE UNDER 60,000 MILES AND THE A/C NEVER WORKS TO MAXIMUM OUTPUT. CONTACTED MAZDA AND WHILE THEY SAY THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, NO RECALL HAS BEEN PROPOS…
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2005 MAZDA 3 AIR COMPRESSOR GOES OUT, LINES FRY UNDER HOOD AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE UNDER 60,000 MILES AND THE A/C NEVER WORKS TO MAXIMUM OUTPUT. CONTACTED MAZDA AND WHILE THEY SAY THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, NO RECALL HAS BEEN PROPOSED, THEREFORE I WAS REDIRECTED TO THIS SITE. CONTACTED MAZDA OVER A YEAR AGO UNDER THE ADVICE OF 2 MECHANICS WHO INSISTED THIS INCIDENT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO SUCH A YOUNG CAR. THEY SAID I'M LUCKY THERE WAS NO FIRE SINCE ALL MY LINES NEARLY FRIED AND MAZDA NEEDS TO BE MADE AWARE, ESPECIALLY AFTER MY MECHANIC DID HIS OWN RESEARCH ON MY BEHALF AND SEEM TO AGREE THIS IS TOO COMMON. I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING UP WITH MAZDA'S CUSTOMER CARE AND WHILE THEY ARE EMPATHETIC, THERE'S NO SOLUTION FOR ANYONE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. LAST SPOKE TO JENNIFER AT MAZDA X1170 ON 6-29-29 WHO SUGGESTED I FILL OUT THIS FORM! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP. *TR
I PURCHASED MY 2005 MAZDA 3S DURING THE WINTER OF 2005. FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS I HAVE RELIGIOUSLY HAD MY CAR SERVICED BY MAZDA DEALERSHIPS CONSISTENT WITH THE RECOMMENDED SERVICING SCHEDULE. DESPITE THIS, MY REAR BRAKES SUDDENLY CEASED MONDAY. AFTER HAVING MY CAR TOWED TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY REAR CALIPERS…
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I PURCHASED MY 2005 MAZDA 3S DURING THE WINTER OF 2005. FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS I HAVE RELIGIOUSLY HAD MY CAR SERVICED BY MAZDA DEALERSHIPS CONSISTENT WITH THE RECOMMENDED SERVICING SCHEDULE. DESPITE THIS, MY REAR BRAKES SUDDENLY CEASED MONDAY. AFTER HAVING MY CAR TOWED TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY REAR CALIPERS AND BRAKE LINES HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND THAT THEY MUST BE REPLACED ALONG WITH MY REAR ROTORS AND REAR BRAKE PADS - FOR $2650 (NOT INCLUDING THE TOWING FEE). MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 38,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS ALWAYS WELL-CARED FOR. IT RAISES SERIOUS RED FLAGS THAT SUCH AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT COULD COMPLETELY CORRODE IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. IN MY EXPERIENCE, IN CARS WITH MUCH MORE MILEAGE, I'VE NEVER ENCOUNTERED SUCH A HAZARDOUS MECHANICAL FAILURE. *TR
I OWN A 2005 MAZDA 3 . THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS ALL LIT UP (CRUISE CONTROL, ENGINE, OIL, ETC, ETC. BROUGHT CAR TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS SENSOR. PAID 225.00 FOR REPAIR. TWO WEEKS LATER SAME ISSUE. BROUGHT CAR BACK TO SAME DEALERSHIP, KEPT CAR FOR A FEW DAYS TO DIAGNOSE. CLAIM TO HAVE COME UP WITH A NEW C…
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I OWN A 2005 MAZDA 3 . THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS ALL LIT UP (CRUISE CONTROL, ENGINE, OIL, ETC, ETC. BROUGHT CAR TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS SENSOR. PAID 225.00 FOR REPAIR. TWO WEEKS LATER SAME ISSUE. BROUGHT CAR BACK TO SAME DEALERSHIP, KEPT CAR FOR A FEW DAYS TO DIAGNOSE. CLAIM TO HAVE COME UP WITH A NEW CODE FOR FIX WHICH WAS FOR AN ADJUSTMENT COST. COST TO BE REPAIRED WAS 970.00. SHOULD THIS BE THE CASE WITH SUCH A NEW MODEL ONLY BEING 4 YEARS OLD? STILL NOT SURE THIS WILL TAKE CARE OF ISSUE, SINCE THE FIRST TIME IT WAS BROUGHT IN THE SENSOR WAS TOLD TO BE THE PROBLEM. CAN THIS BE REIMBURSED BY THE MANUFACTURER? PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP. THANK YOU! *TR
WE HAVE HAD A 2005 MAZDA 3 HATCHBACK FOR LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND A HALF. WE BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 30,000 MILES AND HAVE ADDED AROUND 26,000 MORE. REGULARLY KEEPING IT SERVICED ON OUR OWN ACCORD WITH OUT TAKING IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE THAT SEEMED TO BE GETTING WORSE WITH TI…
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WE HAVE HAD A 2005 MAZDA 3 HATCHBACK FOR LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND A HALF. WE BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 30,000 MILES AND HAVE ADDED AROUND 26,000 MORE. REGULARLY KEEPING IT SERVICED ON OUR OWN ACCORD WITH OUT TAKING IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE THAT SEEMED TO BE GETTING WORSE WITH TIME. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THEIR INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL AND THAT ENGINE WAS FAILING (IN 2005 CAR WITH ONLY 56,000 MILES ON IT) AND THAT IT WOULD COST 7000$ FOR A NEW ENGINE. WE BELIEVED THIS TO BE A FAULTY ENGINE RATHER THAN OWNER LIABILITY. WE TRIED TO CONTACT MAZDA CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY WERE RUDE AND BELLIGERENT. WHEN ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE SUPERVISOR, SHE WAS ALSO RUDE AND UNRESPONSIVE. WHEN ASKED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE ELSE AT THE COMPANY ABOVE HER, SHE DENIED US THE RIGHT TO COMPLAIN TO ANYONE FURTHER. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE HAD TO PARK THE CAR UNTIL ENOUGH MONEY CAN BE SAVED TO FIX AN ENGINE THAT IN OUR EYES IS DEFECTIVE, AND FURTHER DEAL WITH A COMPANY THAT IS NOT VERY HELPFUL TO IT'S CUSTOMERS. *TR
MOTOR MOUNT BROKE AND LEAKED IN 2005 MAZDA 3 5-DOOR. FIXED AT DEALERSHIP AT COST OF $220. *TR
2005 MAZDA3 CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW IS THERE A WARRANTY THAT COVERS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FOR 8 YRS/80,000 MILES. *NJ
Official recalls
221V494000 · Air Bags:frontal
Jul 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 & remedy
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.
04V559000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
Nov 22, 2004
ON TWO PASSENGER VEHICLES, A CRACK IN THE SOLDER CONNECTION ATTACHING THE ACCELERATION SENSOR IN THE SAS UNIT MADE CONTACT WITH THE BASE PLATE, DAMAGING THE SOLDER CONNECTION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH AND IT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES.
Remedy: DEALERS REPAIRED THESE VEHICLES. THE TWO VEHICLE OWNERS WERE CONTACTED BY TELEPHONE ON NOVEMBER 22, 2004, AND THESE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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