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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

7 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2015
EngineVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE HAS HAD, ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BEEN DRIVEN, NOT AT ANY PARTICULAR SPEED AND LOST 4TH GEAR, THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS, AN AT LIGHT APPEARS, AND THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED TO DOWNSHIFT THE CAR DOWN TO 3RD GEAR. UPON ME NOTICING THIS. I WAIT UNTIL IT IS SAFE TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND MAKE A COMPLETE STOP …

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VEHICLE HAS HAD, ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BEEN DRIVEN, NOT AT ANY PARTICULAR SPEED AND LOST 4TH GEAR, THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS, AN AT LIGHT APPEARS, AND THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED TO DOWNSHIFT THE CAR DOWN TO 3RD GEAR. UPON ME NOTICING THIS. I WAIT UNTIL IT IS SAFE TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND MAKE A COMPLETE STOP SHIFT THE CAR INTO PARK AND BACK INTO DRIVE. THIS SEEMS TO FIX THE DISAPPEARANCE AND REMOVAL OF THE 4TH GEAR AS WELL AS THE AT LIGHT, BUT ONLY OCCASIONALLY. IT DOES NOT HOWEVER REMOVE THE ENGINE LIGHT. THOUGH AFTER A FEW DIFFERENT TRIPS ON DIFFERENT DAYS THE LIGHT WILL NOT APPEAR ON START UP AND DOES NOT SHOW UP UNTIL THIS ISSUE HAPPENS AGAIN. THE CAR SHOWS ERROR CODE P0715 AND IS POSSIBLY NEEDING A NEW TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR. THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #10726729

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

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

2006 MAZDA 3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ELECTRONIC GAS PEDAL MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, IT WOULD STAY IN THE DOWN POSITION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE, AFTER HE REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE PEDAL. THE ENGINE REVVED TO 7000 RPM, WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM THE CONSUMER. H…

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2006 MAZDA 3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ELECTRONIC GAS PEDAL MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, IT WOULD STAY IN THE DOWN POSITION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE, AFTER HE REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE PEDAL. THE ENGINE REVVED TO 7000 RPM, WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM THE CONSUMER. HE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE NEXT DAY, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE ELECTRONIC GAS PEDAL HAD MALFUNCTIONED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10575620

33,000 miles · Jul 13, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

STARTED VEHICLE (2006 MAZDA3) PARKED ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND LIGHTLY APPLIED GAS TO PULL AWAY FROM CURB. VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD RAPIDLY AND ENGINE REVVED QUICKLY AND LOUDLY. TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES, BUT THEY DID NOT SEEM TO RESPOND OR MAY NOT HAVE HAD ENOUGH TIME TO RESPOND. COLLIDED WITH A TRUCK PARKED ACROSS THE STREET 1 HOU…

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STARTED VEHICLE (2006 MAZDA3) PARKED ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND LIGHTLY APPLIED GAS TO PULL AWAY FROM CURB. VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD RAPIDLY AND ENGINE REVVED QUICKLY AND LOUDLY. TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES, BUT THEY DID NOT SEEM TO RESPOND OR MAY NOT HAVE HAD ENOUGH TIME TO RESPOND. COLLIDED WITH A TRUCK PARKED ACROSS THE STREET 1 HOUSE DOWN FROM START LOCATION. THE IMPACT WAS ENOUGH TO LIFT THE TRUCK F150 UP AND ONTO THE CURB IT WAS PARKED NEXT TO, ALONG WITH DAMAGING THE AXLE AREA OF THE F150. THE MAZDA3 LOST PART OF THE FRONTEND ON THE ROADWAY DUE TO GETTING WEDGED UNDER THE TRUCK. THE CAR HAD LUNGED FORWARD LIKE THIS ON ONE OCCASION IN THE PREVIOUS WEEK, BUT WAS ABLE TO BE RECOVERED WITHOUT INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343038

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

2006 MAZDA 3 LURCHED FORWARD*CW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD, WHEN SHE BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE TO LET ANOTHER VEHICLE GET OUT, WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A LAMP POST. WHEN SHE PUT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, IT LURCHED FORWARD AND THEN ACCELERATED THROUGH THE PA…

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2006 MAZDA 3 LURCHED FORWARD*CW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD, WHEN SHE BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE TO LET ANOTHER VEHICLE GET OUT, WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A LAMP POST. WHEN SHE PUT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, IT LURCHED FORWARD AND THEN ACCELERATED THROUGH THE PATH SHE HAD BACKED OUT OF AND CRASHED THROUGH THE WINDOW OF A CONVENIENCE STORE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10317551

46,900 miles · Jul 13, 2009
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

I AM GLAD TO BE ALIVE AND TELLING THIS HORRIFIC STORY. I WAS TRAVELING ALONE IN MY 2006 MAZDA3 ON I-95 TO LUMBERTON ON JUNE 27, 2009 TO MEET MY SISTER AND PICK UP MY MOM WHO HAD BEEN STAYING WITH HER WHILE I WAS OUT OF TOWN FOR THE WEEK. I HAD MY CRUISE CONTROL ON ABOUT 63 MPH AND HAD BEEN TRAVELING BEHIND A TRACTOR TRAILER TR…

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I AM GLAD TO BE ALIVE AND TELLING THIS HORRIFIC STORY. I WAS TRAVELING ALONE IN MY 2006 MAZDA3 ON I-95 TO LUMBERTON ON JUNE 27, 2009 TO MEET MY SISTER AND PICK UP MY MOM WHO HAD BEEN STAYING WITH HER WHILE I WAS OUT OF TOWN FOR THE WEEK. I HAD MY CRUISE CONTROL ON ABOUT 63 MPH AND HAD BEEN TRAVELING BEHIND A TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK FOR APPROX. TWO MILES BEFORE I REACHED MY EXIT. I PULLED OVER INTO THE EXIT LANE AND HIT MY BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED! I HIT THEM AGAIN AND NOTHING. I HIT MY ON/OFF CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND THE DECELERATION SWITCHES AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND HIT MY HORN AND ENTERED A FIVE LANE INTERSECTION AT THE END OF AN UPHILL EXIT RAMP ON A RED LIGHT DOING IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH!!! I KNEW I WAS GOING TO DIE OR BE PHYSICALLY INJURED AND DIDN'T KNOW WHO I WOULD TAKE WITH ME AS I HAD NO WAY TO SLOW OR STOP THE CAR. LOOKING BACK, I KNOW I HAD NO MORE THAN 10 OR 12 SECONDS TO REACT BEFORE I WAS AT THE TOP OF THE EXIT RAMP GOING THAT FAST. I TURNED TO THE RIGHT AS I ENTERED THE INTERSECTION TO AVOID CARS THAT WERE ENTERING AND I THINK MY CAR SPUN AROUND AND I WAS HIT BY A PICKUP TRUCK IN THE INNER LANE WHO PROBABLY HAD NO IDEA WHERE I CAME FROM. I THEN WENT HEAD-ON INTO ANOTHER CAR TRAVELING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. MY CAR WAS TOTALED, THE ONE I HIT HEAD-ON WAS TOTALED BUT THE PICKUP TRUCK WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY FROM THE ACCIDENT. ALL OF US WERE ABLE TO WALK AWAY - ME VERY SHAKILY. I HAD SEATBELT BRUISES AND AIR BAG BURNS AND ALL OF MY MUSCLES WERE SORE, BUT I AM GETTING BETTER EACH DAY. I STILL HAVE PAIN AND TIGHTNESS IN MY CHEST AREA, BUT FROM WHAT I AM LEARNING ABOUT THIS TYPE OF INJURY IT MAY STAY WITH ME FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. NOTHING BROKEN AND NOTHING SO FAR THAT I CAN'T LIVE WITH. NEEDLESS TO SAY MY NERVES ARE SHATTERED. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. THIS DOES NOT NEED TO HAPPEN TO OTHERS!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10276511

20,000 miles · Jun 29, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control

ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS I WAS USING THE CURSIE CONTROL WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JUST TOOK OFF AND THE SPEED JUST KEPT CLIMING UNTIL I TURNED THE CURISE CONTROL OFF. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS IN MAY 2007. THE SECOND TIME WAS ON JUNE,2007. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10195012

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.