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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

Engine complaints

17 reports
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95,000 miles · Nov 14, 2014
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND SUDDENLY A LOUD NOISE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR SHIFTED FROM 4TH TO 3RD WITHOUT LOSING SPEED (EXCEPT FROM ME TAKING MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS WHEN HEARING THE NOISE) ALL AT THE SAME TIME. MY MECHANIC SAID THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE POINTED TO THE "TURBINE SPEED SENSOR", SO THIS WAS REPLACED WIT…

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I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND SUDDENLY A LOUD NOISE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR SHIFTED FROM 4TH TO 3RD WITHOUT LOSING SPEED (EXCEPT FROM ME TAKING MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS WHEN HEARING THE NOISE) ALL AT THE SAME TIME. MY MECHANIC SAID THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE POINTED TO THE "TURBINE SPEED SENSOR", SO THIS WAS REPLACED WITHIN 2 DAYS. THE SAME DAY I GOT THE CAR BACK, I DROVE IT ABOUT 30 MILES AND IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. NOW MY MECHANIC IS CHECKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION, POSSIBLY CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10655100

76,000 miles · Oct 14, 2014
Engine

MOTOR MOUNTS FAIL. THERE IS ALREADY AN EXISTING COMPLAINT. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THREE OF THE FOUR MOTOR MOUNTS AT VARIOUS TIMES STARTING FROM 1,000 MILES TO 76,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10644689

134,000 miles · Sep 13, 2013
EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AS THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FLAMES ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AREA. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE SUMMONED TO THE SCENE. THERE WERE NO INJURIE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AS THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FLAMES ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AREA. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE SUMMONED TO THE SCENE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 134,000.

NHTSA ODI #10543511

78,000 miles · Mar 17, 2013
Engine

ENGINE MOUNT NO 3 (LOCATED ON FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE, UNDER THE WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR) FAILED. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IS VERY FREQUENT WITH THIS MODEL. THE FAILURE JEOPARDIZES THE STRUCTURAL STABILITY OF THE ENGINE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503305

80,000 miles · Nov 9, 2012
EngineService BrakesSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDA3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE FA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDA3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING AREA AND AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING AND BRAKES RESPONDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10483873

92,000 miles · Aug 30, 2012
EngineSuspension

RUBBING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WHEN TURNING HARD RIGHT, AS WELL AS WHEEL HOP. DIAGNOSED AS A BROKEN ENGINE MOUNT WHICH LED TO A BROKEN STRUT. BOTH HAD TO BE REPLACED. MAZDA REFUSES TO FIX, DESPITE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF BAD ENGINE MOUNTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10473040

129,000 miles · Jun 4, 2012
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

FIVE TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH I HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS. THE POWER STEERING MOMENTARILY SHUTS OFF, AND THE RADIO/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTS OFF MOMENTARILY AS WELL. ON ONE OCCASION THE ENGINE ALSO SHUT OFF MOMENTARILY (FOR ABOUT ONE FULL SECOND). WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I FEEL A COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OVER THE …

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FIVE TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH I HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS. THE POWER STEERING MOMENTARILY SHUTS OFF, AND THE RADIO/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTS OFF MOMENTARILY AS WELL. ON ONE OCCASION THE ENGINE ALSO SHUT OFF MOMENTARILY (FOR ABOUT ONE FULL SECOND). WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I FEEL A COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WITHOUT CHARGING ME BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS NOT A RECALL, AND THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THERE IS A RECALL FOR A VERY SIMILAR ISSUE WITH THE 2007 MODEL OF MAZDA 3S, BUT THE 2006 MODELS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10460534

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.