2006 Mazda Mazda3 problems
Owners have filed 224 complaints about the 2006 Mazda Mazda3 with NHTSA. Steering accounts for 12.9% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of air bags at 12.1%.
Complaints224
Crashes29
Fires4
Injuries21
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Steering 12.9% · 29
Air bags 12.1% · 27
Electrical system 9.8% · 22
Power train 9.4% · 21
Engine 7.6% · 17
Engine and engine cooling 7.6% · 17
Tires 6.3% · 14
Suspension 6.3% · 14
Severity
Of those complaints, 29 describe a crash, 4 describe a fire and 21 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 16 model years of the Mazda Mazda3 in this data, 2006 sits 5th by complaint volume. 2010 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 11 in the last three years against 15 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 71,290 miles.
In owners' own words
The contact owns a 2006 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact had to apply force to the steering wheel in order to steer the vehicle. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000. The vin was unavailable. Steering · reported at 115,000 miles
I was parallel parking and my wheel stiffened up. I turned off my engine and turned it back on. I then had to power my wheel from that point forward. I tried putting power steering fluid in and that did not work. I went to a mechanic and he said that I need a new power steering pump. This issue is very similar to the recall that was put on Mazda 3's for 2007-2009 models. Steering · reported at 85,000 miles
Driving down the road and went to make a turn and no power steering the light came on and has since cut on and off again working. We replaced the pump with another pump just the other day and it does the same thing.. This is not very safe when turning it would kick on and work after not working right when you were trying hard to turn and making you lose control. Steering · reported at 170,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…