Model year record

2008 Mazda MAZDA3

2 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 388 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 11V329000

Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor

Component
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor
Manufacturer
MAZDA MOTOR CORP
Vehicles affected
103,300
Reported to NHTSA
2011-06-15
Owners notified
2011-07-06

Defect description

MAZDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 MAZDA3 AND MAZDASPEED3 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 7, 2008, THROUGH NOVEMBER 28, 2008. THE GROUND TERMINAL OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN INADVERTENTLY BENT DURING ASSEMBLY. IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS THEN OVER TIME THE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE OF THE MOTOR CIRCUIT MAY INCREASE UP TO A POINT THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK.

Safety risk

THE LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION IN ADVERSE WEATHER COULD POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL GROUND HARNESS ON THE WIPER MOTOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JULY 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-222-5500.

Recall campaignNHTSA 10V374000

Steering: electric power assist system

Component
Steering: electric power assist system
Manufacturer
MAZDA MOTOR CORP
Vehicles affected
215,000
Reported to NHTSA
2010-08-12
Owners notified
2010-09-15

Defect description

MAZDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 MAZDA3 AND MAZDA5 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2, 2007 THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 2008. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.

Safety risk

POWER STEERING ASSIST IS SUDDENLY LOST REDUCING THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE AS TYPICALLY EXPECTED, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

MAZDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND LINES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-222-5500.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Steering11035,000 mi
Wheels3356,000 mi
Tires2751,000 mi
Air bags1980,000 mi
Electrical system1768,800 mi
Engine1675,057 mi
Exterior lighting1670,000 mi
Power train1385,234 mi
Service brakes13111,000 mi
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems1234,500 mi
Visibility1243,200 mi
Unknown or other1171,056 mi
Vehicle speed control1041,600 mi
Suspension845,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling645,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline612,311 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic514,500 mi
Steering: electric power assist system518,000 mi
Suspension: rear517,000 mi
Seat belts340,000 mi
Structure3
Structure: body395,000 mi
Tires: valve360,000 mi
Air bags: frontal27,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)2
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe2489 mi
Fuel/propulsion system268,000 mi
Parking brake29 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist: pump212,367 mi
Structure: frame and members224,000 mi
Suspension: front24,000 mi
Air bags: side/window134,712 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine1
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system115 mi
Equipment adaptive/mobility1497 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights1
Fuel system, diesel: delivery: fuel pump1
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)1180,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission127,000 mi
Seat belts: front: warning light/devices15 mi
Service brakes, electric117,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module125,900 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist system112,885 mi
Visibility/wiper168,800 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls1
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer130,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: switch/wiring130,000 mi

The 2007 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. The 2009 model has 3 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.