2004 Mazda MAZDA3 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other MAZDA3 years
- More complaints than other years 6th of 23 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 145 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Mazda MAZDA3. That ranks 6th out of 23 MAZDA3 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (25 complaints, 17%), typically at around 85,000 miles. Complaints mention 18 crashes, 2 fires, 14 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 145owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 18complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2004 Mazda MAZDA3 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 25 | 17% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 25 | 17% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 24 | 17% | 38,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 19 | 13% | 81,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 17 | 12% | 55,413 | — | — |
| Tires | 9 | 6% | 12,200 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 8 | 6% | 93,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 | 6% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 8 | 6% | 115,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 5 | 3% | 650 | — | — |
| Engine | 4 | 3% | 77,825 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 2% | 52,725 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 2% | 59,646 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 2% | 3,189 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 1% | 115,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 1% | 27,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 1% | 77,250 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 1% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 1% | 59,237 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1% | 2,100 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2004 Mazda MAZDA3 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal
Problem: 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.
Risk: Plastic fragments can hit occupants during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, a crack in the air bag crash zone sensor housing can allow water to enter the sensor, causing a short circuit and illuminating the air bag warning light.
Risk: If this problem exists, the air will not deploy as designed in certain types of frontal crashes, increasing the risk of death or serious injury to the driver and front seat passenger.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the crash zone sensor and replace it, if necessary. The recall began on october 28, 2004. Owners should contact mazda at 1-800-222-5500.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
This model car has a fuse box under the glove box known as a "passenger junction box" that has a faulty or defective relay soldered onto the circuit board. The relay is tied to lighting that includes the interior lights, exterior front parking lights, exterior rear tail lights, and the license…
The contact owns a 2004 Mazda 3 equipped with Hankook Tires, Tire Line: Ventus S1 Noble2, Tire Size: 205/50/R17, DOT Number: N/A. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, a loud explosion was heard. The contact's wife alerted him that the rear driver's side tire had blown out…
There has been no accident- the vehicle is my mother in laws vehicle- my concern is while at work she has at times loaded our daughter into the vehicle- I inspected the vehicle one day while as an employee of Les Schwab- the driver cvc axle vibrates so bad from the boot being torn and having no…
The contact owns a 2004 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle and driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not…
The car ran great for the end of 2019. I bought it used at 145,000 miles. Then the automatic transmission started to slip. Now its stuck in limp mode.
Other Mazda MAZDA3 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 MAZDA3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 MAZDA3 | 8 | 1 |
| 2024 MAZDA3 | 12 | 3 |
| 2023 MAZDA3 | 12 | 0 |
| 2022 MAZDA3 | 24 | 0 |
| 2021 MAZDA3 | 54 | 1 |
| 2020 MAZDA3 | 32 | 2 |
| 2019 MAZDA3 | 74 | 6 |
| 2018 MAZDA3 | 108 | 4 |
| 2017 MAZDA3 | 83 | 2 |
| 2016 MAZDA3 | 104 | 6 |
| 2015 MAZDA3 | 130 | 4 |
| 2014 MAZDA3 | 138 | 4 |
| 2013 MAZDA3 | 117 | 1 |
| 2012 MAZDA3 | 226 | 1 |
| 2011 MAZDA3 | 132 | 2 |
| 2010 MAZDA3 | 686 | 3 |
| 2009 MAZDA3 | 115 | 3 |
| 2008 MAZDA3 | 303 | 2 |
| 2007 MAZDA3 | 222 | 2 |
| 2006 MAZDA3 | 166 | 1 |
| 2005 MAZDA3 | 97 | 2 |
| 2004 | 145 | 2 |
See all Mazda MAZDA3 problems by year, every Mazda model, or the Mazda VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Mazda MAZDA3?
Owners most often report air bags, service brakes, hydraulic, power train problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 25 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2004 Mazda MAZDA3?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2004 Mazda MAZDA3 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other MAZDA3 model years, the 2004 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.