10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
92,844 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2005 Mazda MAZDA3:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #14

Mar 112017

MAZDA3

  • 93,000 miles
While driving the vehicle at any rate of speed the steering wheel locks and sometimes shuts the car down. I was traveling at approximately 65 miles per hour on the highway and the power steering light on the dash illuminated and then the steering wheel locked, making it almost impossible to steer and have control of the vehicle..another instance, I was in the middle of making a turn when the steering wheel locked, this time the entire vehicle shut down forcing me to quickly try to restart the engine.

- Long Branch, NJ, USA

problem #13

Oct 152016

MAZDA3

  • 176,784 miles
Suddenly loss of steering power when backing out of driveway

- Rowland Heights, CA, USA

problem #12

Jun 012015

MAZDA3

  • 100,000 miles
Driving and steering light comes on, then hard to steer left or right.turn switch off and right back on light goes off and steering returns....very dangerous

- Chatsworth, GA, USA

problem #11

Feb 032015

MAZDA3 4-cyl

  • 162,844 miles
The vehicle was coming around a turn at about 30 miles per house, when the vehicle's radio went off and steering locked up into manual and car was difficult to maneuver. When the brake was applied, the car stalled out and engine stopped. The vehicle was able to moved to side of the road and stop. The car was turned off and upon restart had to issues. Upon rest of return trip home, upon the application of the brake, the cars radio, thermometer gauge and general electronics would stop and reset when the brake was released and gas pedal applied.

- Centereach, NY, USA

problem #10

Sep 062014

MAZDA3

  • 169,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda 3. while driving approximately 38 mph around a ramp, the steering wheel seized and required excessive force to maneuver. The contact depressed the brake pedal and the engine suddenly stalled. The contact crashed the vehicle into a guardrail. There were no injuries and the vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V374000 (steering). The approximate failure mileage was 169,000.

- Mars , PA, USA

problem #9

Jun 032013

MAZDA3 4-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
While driving, the power steering was lost suddenly. The fluid is right at max when cool, and has never given problems before.

- Bedford, NH, USA

problem #8

Jan 152013

MAZDA3

  • 53,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the power steering became inoperable. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic, who inspected the failure and advised that the power steering failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified and stated there was no recall for the vehicle and a claim was filed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 53,000.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #7

Nov 212012

MAZDA3

  • 78,000 miles
Steering system failure.

- Ellicott City, MD, USA

problem #6

May 052012

MAZDA3

  • 71,450 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Mazda3. While driving approximately 70 mph, the power steering light illuminated on the instrument panel. The steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostics where the mechanic stated that the power steering pump would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 71,450.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #5

Oct 052011

MAZDA3 4-cyl

  • 77,050 miles
Backing out of my driveway on 10/5/11, noticed that my steering wheel felt harder to turn intermittently, at the same time, the radio and dash board lights flickered and all the lights flashed. I stopped and returned into the driveway, where the car repeated to flicker lights and radio everytime I would turn the wheel. It did this until I shut the car off and then turned it back on, with no problems through out the day. On 10/8/11, I was turning into a gas station and the same thing happened, I was in the middle of turning so I finished my turn and attempted to park all while noticing my vehicle turning off and power steering light on. Car was completely off by the time I could get it to a secure location. The car would not turn on at al, the battery seemed completely dead, where I needed roadside assistance to turn it back on. No problem through the rest of the day since that happened.

- North Hollywood, CA, USA

problem #4

Aug 012006

MAZDA3

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda, Mazda 3. while driving at highway speeds, the contact stated that the vehicle would lose power steering intermittently. The failure was similar to recall 10V374000 (steering: Electric power assist system). The manufacturer informed the contact that the vehicle used a different power steering pump than the models included in the recall and was not defective. The vehicle had not been repaired. The current mileage was 57,000 and the failure mileage was 30,000.

- Floral Park, NY, USA

problem #3

Oct 182010

MAZDA3

  • 53,192 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda 3. while the contact changed lanes at 35 mph the power steering locked twice. She was able to apply pressure to the steering wheel in order to keep the vehicle in the lane. The power steering light illuminated while the failure occurred and within a few minutes, the power steering light indicator shut off and the vehicle began to function normally. The dealer stated that the VIN wasn't included in the power steering recall; therefore, she would be responsible for the repair cost. The manufacturer will be notified of the failure. The failure and current mileages were 53,192.

- Tucson , AZ, USA

problem #2

May 102010

MAZDA3

  • 78,000 miles
Power steering failure Mazda 3 4dr 2005 with 75,000 miles periodic power steering failure over a 2 month period but by turning car on and of it would re-set and work. Mazda replaced power steering pump for $1500. Approx a month later failed again when I was 3 hours from home, would not re set upon a restart so drove it home w/O power assist (not easy on a front wheel drive). Dealer applied 2008 power steering fix (replace fluid and lines at no charge) and has not re-failed yet. Obviously not easy to drive w/O power assist, at highway speed it is possible if careful but around town would not be possible. I am reporting based on recent inquiry into later model Mazda's for a similar problem.

- Powell, OH, USA

problem #1

Apr 292008

MAZDA3

  • 27,500 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda 3. while attempting to turn the vehicle at 25 mph, the steering wheel became very stiff and difficult to turn. As a result, the contact struck the passenger side corner of the vehicle on a guard rail. A week before the failure, he noticed that the steering wheel would shake while driving at any speed. There were no injuries and the vehicle was diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 27,500.

- Miami, FL, USA