IllustrationTAKATA AIRBAG RECALL, MY 2006 MAZDA IS LISTED AS ONE OF THE CARS NOTED FOR THE TAKATA RECALL. PLEASE ADVISE.
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.
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
230–25K
2025–50K
2250–75K
2275–100K
26100–150K
11150K+
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
What owners actually said
166 reportsTAKATA RECALL MY PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON A FEW MONTHS AGO. IT HAS STAYED ON.
DRIVING MY WAY TO WORK THE CAR SUDDENLY STOP AND JERK FROM TRANSMISSION GEAR ALSO ON REVERSE I RUN DIAGNOSTICS AND CAME OUT TO BE TCM (TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE) I BOUGHT ANOTHER ONE FROM LKQ USE, AND REPLACED AND THE CAR START WORKING FINE AGAIN THEN AFTER ABOUT ALMOST 2 YEARS I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY AND THE …
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DRIVING MY WAY TO WORK THE CAR SUDDENLY STOP AND JERK FROM TRANSMISSION GEAR ALSO ON REVERSE I RUN DIAGNOSTICS AND CAME OUT TO BE TCM (TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE) I BOUGHT ANOTHER ONE FROM LKQ USE, AND REPLACED AND THE CAR START WORKING FINE AGAIN THEN AFTER ABOUT ALMOST 2 YEARS I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY AND THE AT LIGHTS CAME ON AND ALMOST HAVE AND ACCIDENTS THIS TIME.MY MECHANIC RUN A TEST WITH SAME RESULTS TCM NOT COMMUNICATION WITH TRANSMISSION. I RESEARCH THIS AND THERE'S A LOT OF PROBLEM WITH TCM OUT THERE BUT I GUEST THAT PEOPLE HAVEN'T COMPLAINT , THIS IS ISSUE THE MAZDA KNOW AND THEY HAVEN'T DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. THANK YOU AND HOPE THE MAZDA OPEN RECALL ON THE TCM. MAZDA 3 2006
MY ENGINE HAS A SUDDEN BURST OF ACCELERATION. I HAVE TO ALWAYS BE READY TO DROP IT INTO NEUTRAL IT HAPPENS UPON THE CAR STARTING TO MOVE
THIS VEHICLE'S VIN CANNOT BE LOCATED IN ANY SYSTEM WHATSOEVER. NOT EVEN IN THE MAZDA DATA BASE. I NEED TO ATTEND IT'S RECALLS.
MY CAR HAS BEEN LIKE LOOSING POWER WHEN IN STUCK IN TRAFFIC TO THE POINT IT GAS SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNS THE POWER STEERING LIGHT. NOW WHEN I PUT GAS ON IT AND TURN IT ON IT TURNS OFF SEEMS TO BE ELECTRICAL BUT MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT MUST BE POWER STEERING PUMP GWTTING DEFECTIVE. WELL NOW IT HAS NO POWER S…
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MY CAR HAS BEEN LIKE LOOSING POWER WHEN IN STUCK IN TRAFFIC TO THE POINT IT GAS SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNS THE POWER STEERING LIGHT. NOW WHEN I PUT GAS ON IT AND TURN IT ON IT TURNS OFF SEEMS TO BE ELECTRICAL BUT MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT MUST BE POWER STEERING PUMP GWTTING DEFECTIVE. WELL NOW IT HAS NO POWER STEERING BUT IT DOSENT SHOW THE LIGHT ON THE PANEL EITHER.
AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ONE AND STAYS ON. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND DISCUSSION OF THIS ISSUE.
WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM A HIGH GEAR TO A LOW GEAR AND SHAKES VIOLENTLY
WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, I STARTED TO HEAR A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY CAR. WHEN I GOT HOME AND CHECKED IT OUT, I SAW THAT THE REAR SHOCK MOUNT HAD BUSTED FROM WHERE IT IS BOLTED INTO THE WHEEL WELL. IT HAS CRACKED ACROSS THE ENTIRE MOUNT FROM BOLT TO BOLT. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT HAPPENS TO TH…
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WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, I STARTED TO HEAR A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY CAR. WHEN I GOT HOME AND CHECKED IT OUT, I SAW THAT THE REAR SHOCK MOUNT HAD BUSTED FROM WHERE IT IS BOLTED INTO THE WHEEL WELL. IT HAS CRACKED ACROSS THE ENTIRE MOUNT FROM BOLT TO BOLT. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT HAPPENS TO THE OTHER REAR SHOCK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SEATS OF THE VEHICLE WERE COMING APART FROM THE BASE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (HODGES MAZDA AT THE AVENUES, 10681 PHILIPS HWY, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32256) AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SEATS OF THE VEHICLE WERE COMING APART FROM THE BASE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (HODGES MAZDA AT THE AVENUES, 10681 PHILIPS HWY, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32256) AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Official recalls
121V494000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.