2007 Mazda Mazda3
The Verdict
The 2007 Mazda Mazda3 has 222 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (109 complaints) and electrical (49 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 50/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Mazda Mazda3, consider the 2024 model year which has 95% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2024 has 95% fewer complaints
View the 2024 Mazda Mazda3 dashboard →
Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution
About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 1
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
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 ...
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.
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 CE...
Reported Dec 8, 2010
Get notified if a recall hits this car.
We email you when NHTSA issues a new recall on the 2007 Mazda Mazda3. No spam, no marketing.
Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 38 | 27 | 39 | 43 | 23 |
| 2005 | 28 | 8 | 35 | 28 | 4 |
| 2006 | 60 | 11 | 42 | 36 | 17 |
| 2007 | 109 | 15 | 49 | 36 | 13 |
| 2008 | 196 | 22 | 39 | 33 | 12 |
| 2009 | 84 | 7 | 14 | 8 | 5 |
| 2010 | 499 | 35 | 79 | 38 | 33 |
| 2011 | 69 | 3 | 41 | 8 | 10 |
| 2012 | 82 | 14 | 51 | 50 | 28 |
| 2013 | 31 | 15 | 43 | 13 | 15 |
| 2014 | 51 | 24 | 21 | 35 | 6 |
| 2015 | 52 | 28 | 27 | 19 | 3 |
| 2016 | 44 | 15 | 24 | 12 | 7 |
| 2017 | 44 | 6 | 23 | 8 | 3 |
| 2018 | 52 | 6 | 26 | 21 | 2 |
| 2019 | 22 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 9 |
| 2020 | 23 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2021 | 14 | 3 | 10 | 19 | 3 |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 2 |
| 2023 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 2024 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Compare Against
See how the 2007 Mazda Mazda3 stacks up against rivals.
Complaints
The contact owns a 2007 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH and making a turn, the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left or the right. The check engine warning light was illuminated and flashing. The contact stated that the steering then seized. While checking the NHTSA.gov website, the contact associated the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V374000 (Steering). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who confirmed there was no recall coverage on the VIN related to the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case, and confirmed there was no recall coverage for the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 195,081.
Intermittently spanning several months, there is a sudden loss of power steering as the vehicle is in motion. Warning lights light up on the vehicle as power steering and power brakes are disengaged. Even though I provided a video of power steering loss, where a slight turn of the steering wheel engages this failure, where the dash board lights flash as power steering fails, the dealership will not fix anything they can’t duplicate in their shop. I guess they don’t believe their lying eyes, and don’t accept the video as proof of anything. It is doing exactly what it was recalled for back in September 15, 2010. Recall #10V374000. Mazda Corporate has been notified. Case # 00342901. There are known fixes for this problem. Mazda has done these repairs on hundreds of thousands of times. Dealership told me they will do nothing unless they can duplicate the problem. In reality it might take a month or more for this to show up at some unpredictable time and place. I have a potentially dangerous scenario awaiting me. Driving this vehicle in it’s present condition is recipe for a crash. This was a problem that Mazda addressed and fixed in the past. Being that it was done hundreds of thousands of times, I’m fairly certain that none of those fixes were predicated by mechanics having to see those issues in their shops before they did the repairs.
Radio stopped working.
My daughter and I were on the way to O'Reilly when we turned at a short curve going under 20 miles and the steering wheel got loose and the brakes wouldn't stop us. The car just kept swerving all over the road and we ended up in a ditch the day after my husband purchased the car.
The contact owns a 2007 Mazda M3. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, the steering wheel of the vehicle become hard to maneuver. The vehicle was taken to the mechanic for diagnosis, and he stated the vehicle was experiencing the same failure as NHTSA Campaign Number:10V374000 (Steering). The dealer and the manufacturer were contacted, and they both stated that the vehicle's VIN was not under recall NHTSA Campaign Number:10V374000 (Steering) and she had to pay out of pocket. The failure mileage was 206,000.
Power steering failure causing rust on car components. When turning my steering wheel to the left or right there is a noise the car makes and it jumps gear shifts making it very unsafe to drive this car. Also there is an electrical power issue with the car. I just bought a new battery for the car but there still seems to be a shortage And I have to power jump the car every time I tune the car off and have to start the the car up. This is very unsafe for me as the driver and unsafe for those around my when driving because of the locking steering wheel.
The contact owns a 2007 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 55 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The driver was able to continue driving to her destination. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V374000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000. The VIN was not available.
Got a email stating I had a recall on my air bags
While driving engine started to sound louder and vibrating eventually engine shifted seems that one or more of the engine mounts completely broke.
The airbag light on Dash comes on and goes off randomly then going on for 6 months. Obviously there's an open circuit in system that others have as well See a lot of others on here with the same problem over 100,000 miles
The brake light bulb has melted and burnt out the brake light housing assembly multiple times, I have purchased multiple brake light housing assembly and the issue continues. Clearly this is a manufacturing defect that is a safety/fire hazard.
After a hard brake event to avoid a crash, brake pedal is soft and loses pressure. Identical to many, many Ford and Mitsubishi reports on models that use the same ABS equipment. ABS valves probably leaking internally. Dealer refuses to remedy and insists brakes are fine - they are not, significantly worse since hard brake incident. OEM ABS part no longer available (I wonder why?) so the only repair option is a used part that is probably also defective in manufacture.
The contact owns a 2007 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated their daughter was driving at 15 mph, when making a right turn the steering wheel locked up causing the driver to hit a curb and crash the vehicle into a mailbox. There were no warning lights illuminated on the vehicle, however, the driver stated there was a beeping noise coming from the vehicle once the steering wheel locked up. There was no one injured. There was no medical treatment at the scene. A police report was filed. There was damage where the front bumper of the vehicle came off and the front passenger side. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximate 101,000.
I WAS DRIVING AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. AS I WAS GOING AROUND A TURN GETTING IT HOME IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN. AFTER THAT MY POWER STEERING WOULD COME AND GO WHILE DRIVING UNTIL IT STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF INTERMITTENT MALFUNCTION. I WAS IN MOTION WHILE IT STOPPED WORKING AND RANDOMLY STARTED WORKING AGAIN. SEVERAL TIMES.
I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED WITH SALVAGE TITLE ON FEBRUARY 6, 2021. I TOOK IT TO BE INSPECTED AND I NEEDED BOTH BELTS REPLACED, THEY HAD TO TIGHTEN BACK DOWN MY STRUTS IN FRONT, MY POWER STEERING WAS ACTING FUNNY AND MAKING NOISE AND MY INTERMEDIATE SPEED SHAFT SENSOR IS GOING BAD BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING BACK ON FOR THE SAME CODE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE BUT THEY DIDN'T TELL ME THAT IT WAS SERIOUS DAMAGE. WHEN DRIVING BARELY TURNING THE WHEEL THE CAR MAKES A WHINING NOISE, THE VEHICLE STILL SWAYS A LITTLE TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT BUT THE ALIGNMENT WAS JUST DONE YESTERDAY. BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO PAY FOR THE ALIGNMENT ETC NEW TIRES AND MOUNT AND BALANCE MY CAR AND STEERING WHEEL WERE BOTH SHAKING REALLY BADLY AND JERKING ALL OVER THE PLACE.
MY VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING ON FRIDAY. I PARKED IT, LATER STARTED IT AND STARTED TO MOVE. HEARD A CRASH. MY TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE FELL. MOTOR MOUNTS BROKEN, DAMAGED MY AXLE.
POWER STEERING QUITS WORKING WHILE DRIVING .POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON THE DASH TO WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS MAKE STEERING SUPER HARD TO TURNING WHILE DRIVING AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE ITS UNEXPECTED.
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT LEAST 3 TIMES THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT AND MAKES THE CAR UNABLE TO DRIVE AND IS VERY SCARY WHILE ON THE ROAD. A FEW LIGHT INDICATES FLASH ON MY DASH AND THE RADIO RESETS. I EVEN SAW MY RADIO RESET IN BETWEEN THE MAJOR EPISODES WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. I WAS TRAVELING AT THE 3 TIMES IT HAPPENED ROUGHLY 25-30 MPH AND WAS TURNING THE VEHICLE. I LOCATED A RECALL I BELIEVE # 6010H FOR STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, BUT IT IS FOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AFTER APRIL 2, 2017. MY CAR WAS ASSEMBLED ON NOVEMBER 7, 2006. IT STATES THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR MANUFACTURED 5 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE RECALL IS NOT COVERED AS THIS COULD CAUSE A SEVERE ACCIDENT WHERE I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING WITH MY KID IN THE CAR. PLEASE UPDATE THE RANGE OF THE RECALL TO SAVE MORE LIVES.
MY 17YO DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 2007 MAZDA3 WHEN HER POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND SHE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. SHE WAS TAKEN BY SURPRISE BUT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO SAFETY OFF THE ROAD. SHE RESTARTED THE CAR AND HAD STEERING FOR LESS THAN A MINUTE. I FOUND THE RECALL FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR, WITH THESE EXACT SYMPTOMS, BUT FOR SOME REASON IT IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS VIN. MAZDA CORP ACKNOWLEDGED THE RECALL BUT SAID SINCE THE NHTSA DIDN'T INCLUDE THIS VIN THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. JUDGING BY THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS I THINK THE NHTSA SHOULD RECONSIDER EXPANDING THE SCOPE.
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS 70,000 MILES. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF VEHICLE FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE, BUT MY VIN WAS NOT ON THE LIST. THE RECALL SHOULD BE WIDENED TO INCLUDE MORE VEHICLES THAT ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE.
222 total