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2006 Mazda MAZDA3

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Mazda MAZDA3 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 108.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

124 reports with mileage · 42 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.

  • Steering. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

21 crash reports3 fire reports12 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

27 reports
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35,180 miles · Feb 24, 2016
Air BagsSteeringUnknown Or Other

PART 1 - 1. RE: COMPLAINT FILED ON 8/21/15 (ARFC/NHTSA ID NO: 10750380) (DENISE FROM ARFC REF NO: 902722). AS PER INSTRUCTION, I BROUGHT MY CAR TO AN OFFICIAL, AUTHORIZED REPAIR MAZDA DEALER ON 8/24/15 (LIBERTY MAZDA, WAKEFIELD, MA) FOR A DIAGNOSTIC REPORT TO BE DONE, WHICH WAS COMPLETED. AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT WAS COMPLETE…

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PART 1 - 1. RE: COMPLAINT FILED ON 8/21/15 (ARFC/NHTSA ID NO: 10750380) (DENISE FROM ARFC REF NO: 902722). AS PER INSTRUCTION, I BROUGHT MY CAR TO AN OFFICIAL, AUTHORIZED REPAIR MAZDA DEALER ON 8/24/15 (LIBERTY MAZDA, WAKEFIELD, MA) FOR A DIAGNOSTIC REPORT TO BE DONE, WHICH WAS COMPLETED. AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT WAS COMPLETED, I KEPT MY VEHICLE THERE FOR REPAIR OF THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY NOT WORKING. I FAXED AND MAILED TO THE NHTSA, THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT, THE TOTAL INVOICE OF REPAIR, PROOF OF PAYMENT IN FULL, AS WELL AS 3-4 MORE DOCUMENTS PROVIDED BY LIBERTY MAZDA, AND I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED ANY UPDATE AS OF YET. I WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO MY LOW MILEAGE, MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS BY 2006 MAZDA 3 OWNERS FOR THE SAME ISSUE HAVE BEEN FILED, AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT THIS CLEARLY IS A "SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE OR EQUIPMENT" (DIRECT QUOTE FROM ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV UNDER "WHEN IS A RECALL NECESSARY?, PAGE 6 OUT OF 20) WAS TOLD THAT REIMBURSEMENT FOR THIS COSTLY REPAIR WOULD BE ISSUED BY RECALL OR BY WARRANTY DUE TO MY LOW MILEAGE. ALSO QUOTING FROM ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV UNDER "EXAMPLES OF DEFECTS CONSIDERED SAFETY-RELATED", (PAGE 7 OUT OF 20), WHICH STATES "STEERING COMPONENTS THAT BREAK SUDDENLY CAUSING PARTIAL OR COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.", I ABSOLUTELY FEEL THAT THIS REIMBURSEMENT ISSUE BE ADDRESSED TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 2. RE: AIR BAGS: I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM U.S. DOT NHTSA, DATED FRIDAY, 1/08/16 STATING MY CAR MAKE/MODEL/YEAR MAY BE INVOLVED IN A SAFETY RECALL BASED ON NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NO: 15V869; SUBJECT: PASSENGER AIR BAG INFLATORS MAY RUPTURE. I THEN RECEIVED ANOTHER EMAIL ON 2/6/16 STATING MY CAR MAKE/MODEL/YEAR MAY BE INVOLVED IN ANOTHER SAFETY RECALL: MANUFACTURER: MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS; MAKE / MODEL YEARS : MAZDA / 2004-2006, SUBJECT: DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FRONTAL INFLATOR MAY RUPTURE.. AND I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE ANY SEPARATE

NHTSA ODI #10838055

146,000 miles · May 4, 2015
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

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. TH…

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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. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

NHTSA ODI #10714465

89,000 miles · Feb 4, 2015
Air BagsSeats

THE AIRBAG SENSOR AROUND THE SEAT AREA ISN'T PROTECTED VERY WELL FROM DIRT AND DEBRIS! NEEDS TO BE SECURED BETTER! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10681382

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2014
Air BagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A UNKNOWN SPEEDS, SHE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A UNKNOWN SPEEDS, SHE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10651020

57,000 miles · Sep 23, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG DEFLATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEPLOYING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES AND CHEMICAL BURNS TO THE CHEST…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG DEFLATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEPLOYING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES AND CHEMICAL BURNS TO THE CHEST, ARMS, FACE, AND EYES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

NHTSA ODI #10638395

167,000 miles · Jul 30, 2014
Air Bags

AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINS ON , THE DASHBOARD, MAKING ONE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM. THERE WAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THIS IN FLORIDA CARS...IT NOW SEEMS TO BE A MORE WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM IN ALL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10617786

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2014
Air BagsStructureSuspensionCrash

ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10610133

151,593 miles · Jul 10, 2014
Air Bags

THIS IS WHAT I WROTE TO MAZDA REGARDING MY AIRBAGS: THE REASON I'M CONTACTING YOU IS BECAUSE I RECENTLY HEARD IN THE NEWS THAT YOU WERE RECALLING MANY CARS FOR FAULTY AIRBAGS FOR WARM WEATHER CLIMATES IN FLORIDA AND PUERTO RICO. I TRIED LOOKING AT THE RECALL INFORMATION ON YOUR WEBSITE BUT IT DOES NOT WORK. THAT WEBPAGE IS B…

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THIS IS WHAT I WROTE TO MAZDA REGARDING MY AIRBAGS: THE REASON I'M CONTACTING YOU IS BECAUSE I RECENTLY HEARD IN THE NEWS THAT YOU WERE RECALLING MANY CARS FOR FAULTY AIRBAGS FOR WARM WEATHER CLIMATES IN FLORIDA AND PUERTO RICO. I TRIED LOOKING AT THE RECALL INFORMATION ON YOUR WEBSITE BUT IT DOES NOT WORK. THAT WEBPAGE IS BLANK WHEN YOU HIT THE LINK. THE REASON I'M WRITING IS TO SEE IF MY CAR IS PART OF THE RECALL AS WELL. TWO WEEKS AGO MY AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON. I LIVE IN FLORIDA AS WELL. MY CAR IS ONLY FROM 2006 AND ONLY 8 YEARS OLD. I DON'T BELIEVE MY CARS AIRBAG SHOULD BE FAULTY AND NOT WORKING PROPERLY AT THE PRESENT AGE OF MY CAR. CAN YOU PLEASE ADVISE AND LET ME KNOW ABOUT THIS? I'M REALLY CONCERN ABOUT MY AIRBAGS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IF YOU NEED ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON MY CAR, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I'LL SEND IT RIGHT AWAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THIS IS THE RESPONSE I RECEIVED FROM MAZDA: THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CONTACT MAZDA. DUE TO A PROACTIVE, PREVENTATIVE INVESTIGATION BY MAZDA AND NHTSA, MAZDA WILL CONDUCT A SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM (SSP96) TO REPLACE CERTAIN AIR BAG INFLATORS ON SOME VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR REGISTERED IN FLORIDA, HAWAII, AND PUERTO RICO. THE DRIVER AND/OR FRONT PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS SSP IS TO COLLECT THE AIR BAG INFLATORS IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE THEM AND THE LIMITED AFFECTED AREAS FOR THIS PROGRAM WERE DEFINED BY NHTSA BASED ON THEIR INVESTIGATION THUS FAR. YOU WILL RECEIVE NOTIFICATION IN THE MAIL WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PROCEED SHOULD MAZDA DETERMINE THAT YOUR VEHICLE IS AFFECTED BY THIS CONCERN. SHOULD YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT THE NUMBER BELOW AND REFERENCE YOUR SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER. [XXX] REPRESENTATIVE, CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609646

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2013
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT HAS GONE OFF AND ON SINCE OCT 2012. NOW IT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10516117

64,000 miles · Jun 25, 2012
Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ONE AND STAYS ON. I CALLED MAZDA AND HAVE AN INCIDENT REPORT. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND PER MAZDA, UNTIL THEY RECEIVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS, THEY WILL NOT RECALL, HENCE WHY I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10463020

Official recalls

1

21V494000 · 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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.