Your vehicle report
2004 Mazda MAZDA3
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 145
- Received Apr 2004 to Aug 2024
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Front brake rotors warp and wear early16 complaints · 11% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Airbag warning light stays on11 complaints · 7.6% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Airbags fail to deploy in crashes10 complaints · 6.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #21V494000Mazda 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.
- Recall #04V468000On 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 18 crashes, 2 fires, 14 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 15 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
- Transmission fails or loses power while driving
- Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips
- Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline
1 more problem
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 29 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 13 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 145 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 16 | 11% | – | |
| Airbag warning light stays on | 11 | 7.6% | – | NHTSA recall #04V468000 |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 10 | 6.9% | – | |
| Power steering cuts out while driving | 9 | 6.2% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 7 | 4.8% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 7 | 4.8% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 7 | 4.8% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 6 | 4.1% | – | |
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 4 | 2.8% | – | |
| Air conditioner blows hot air or fails | 4 | 2.8% | – | |
| Tail light sockets melt and burn | 4 | 2.8% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 3 | 2.1% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 3 | 2.1% | – | |
| Fuel pump fails and engine stalls | 3 | 2.1% | – | |
| Brakes make grinding or squealing noise | 3 | 2.1% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #21V494000July 1, 2021260,915 vehicles affected
air bags: frontal
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.
Plastic fragments can hit occupants during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #04V468000September 24, 200442,000 vehicles affected
air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
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.
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.
Remedy
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2004 Mazda MAZDA3.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN