2005 Mazda MAZDA3 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other MAZDA3 years
- About as many complaints as other years 14th of 23 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 97 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Mazda MAZDA3. That ranks 14th out of 23 MAZDA3 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (24 complaints, 25%), typically at around 70,000 miles. Complaints mention 16 crashes, 3 fires, 11 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 97owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 16complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2005 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 | 24 | 25% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 19 | 20% | 47,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 17 | 18% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 15 | 15% | 78,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 6% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 5 | 5% | 2,750 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 5% | 29,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 5 | 5% | 67,715 | — | — |
| Engine | 4 | 4% | 125,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 3% | 73,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 3% | 82,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 3% | 30,088 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 2% | 38,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 2% | 17,396 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 2% | 105,422 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 2% | 22,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 2% | 84,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 2% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1% | 190,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 1% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1% | 73,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2005 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 two passenger vehicles, a crack in the solder connection attaching the acceleration sensor in the sas unit made contact with the base plate, damaging the solder connection.
Risk: The airbag may not deploy when the vehicle is involved in a frontal crash and it can cause serious injuries.
Fix: Dealers repaired these vehicles. The two vehicle owners were contacted by telephone on november 22, 2004, and these vehicles have been repaired.
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.
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, there was an abnormally strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, other individuals informed the contact that there was a strong fuel odor coming from the…
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V494000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The…
Randomly, the parking lights, tail lights, and climate control lighting will fail. This has happened to me multiple times over a number of years. Striking the right side of the center console will generally result in functionality being restored. Sometimes, simply turning the lights off and then on…
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V494000 (Air Bags) however, the contact was unable to contact reach the manufacturer or the local dealer for the recall repair. The contact called the number to the local dealer and the manufacturer…
Tires feather or cup in less than 25000 miles due to the rear wheel factory camber tire manufacturers do not recommend aggressive camber and will not warranty the tires for premature failure. Mazda and other manufacturers know that the aggressive camber causes tires to wear faster since they are…
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 | 97 | 2 |
| 2004 MAZDA3 | 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 2005 Mazda MAZDA3?
Owners most often report air bags, engine and engine cooling, electrical system problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 24 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Mazda MAZDA3?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2005 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 2005 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.