CarComplaints.com Notes: Except for a minor issue with cracked motor mounts, the 2008 MAZDA3 is a fantastic vehicle with a great reputation.
If you need to replace the motor mounts, first ask your dealer if they'll cover it -- the motor mounts were dealt with in a TSB & were recalled for some model years. Otherwise buy aftermarket motor mounts -- owners report this solves the problem. If you use the same OEM parts, they may just crack again.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
9 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
65,457 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The car hit a bank then went airborne and came to to a tree and neither airbag deployed the car also hit a road sign and it was being driving down road
#1 air bag warning dash light remains illuminated and has stayed illuminated for approximately 1 1/2+ years. There is no Mazda dealership in my area and I initially believed it was my responsibility to replace or repair at my expense due to the vehicle's age. #2 brakes: Vehicle was recently serviced and comprehensive safety inspected on 6 Nov 2018. I asked the shop to check the brake pedal for abnormal pressure. I felt the brake pedal was not maintaining a firm pedal push while driving, but at first felt firm then softened almost all the way to the floor board. I returned to the auto service to point this out and the representative responded no evidence of brake fluid leaking out and earlier while they drove it around their facility it felt fine, therefore it was ok to drive like this. Today is 3 December and it is still a mushy brake.
The air bag worning light comes on and off as I drive down the road. Truning, going over a bump etc. I was told they will not deploy if the light is on...
The contact owns a 2008 Mazda 3. while driving at an unknown speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000.
2008 Mazda 3 was struck while parked. Months later air bag light came on and repeatedly went to the local Mazda dealership about the issue. Last encounter with dealership(Oct 2014), they checked the air bag and concluded it was not a recall issue, and stated the problem stems from auto accident. Complained to my insurance co and re-opened claim. The insurance company(Nov 2014) concluded from where the car was impacted on the rear passenger side, the air bag is not their issue and did not stem from cause of impact. Air bag module needs to be investigated and addressed with Mazda co. With all these developments with faulty air bags made by takata(company whom make airbags), something is totally wrong. This is a safety issue, that needs to be taken care of.
My boyfriend was in a roll over accident where the airbag sensors were completely ripped off along with the bumper and the airbags did not deploy and the seatbelt did not lock up until he came to a stop.
The front passenger seat weight sensors are programmed to inactivate the front and side passenger air bags and the front passenger seat belt pretensioner if the front passenger weighs between 66 and 93 lbs. My wife weighs about 83 lbs. According to Mazda, this is not a defect, but a federal government requirement. I can understand the side air bag inactivation, but not the front air bag inactivation (you can push the seat far back) and certainly not the seat belt pretensioner inactivation. This rule is wrong and puts lives at risk. If you google "Mazda front air bag inactivation", you will see that lots of Mazda owners have the same complaint, and it extends to owners of other makes. The air bag inactivation light continues to go on and off as my wife moves in her seat, and has done this since the car was new. We have a 2006 Mazda3 with exactly the same problem.
The airbag sensor light came on and would not turn off. After taking the care to the dealer to be checked out we were informed that the sensor is under the cup holder and the sensor must have gotten wet, possibly from condensation. Because the sensor was damaged the airbags will not work according to the dealer. It seems very dangerous to place an airbag sensor, under a cupholder, that can be so easily damaged by drink condensation.
The contact owns a 2008 Mazda Mazda3. While driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle increased acceleration independently and crashed into a utility pole. The contact sustained injuries to the knee and neck area. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. A police report was filed of the incident. The acceleration also occurred on a separate occasion however the vehicle came to a stop when the brakes were engaged. The manufacturer was not notified of the malfunction. The approximate failure mileage was 13,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2008 Mazda, Mazda3. The contact was involved in a crash when someone ran them off the road and caused the vehicle to roll over and go into the bottom of a ravine. The contact was not injured, but was concerned since the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact stated the vehicle was not inspected to see why the air bags did not deploy. The failure mileage was 55,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Mazda Mazda3. The contact was driving approximately 32 mph when she attempted to avoid an animal. The contact steered to the left but the vehicle instead violently veered to the left causing her to crash into an embankment. The vehicle proceeded to roll over once crashing and the air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained head injuries as a result. A police report was available. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Mazda, Mazda3. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle hit a washboard and rolled down a hill. The air bags did not deploy and the seat belts loosened. The contact sustained neck and back injuries. A police report was filed. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
I was involved in a four car collision. I was third in line, and was hit really hard from behind and then hit the car in front of me. My air bags did not deploy and my seat belt did not lock. I slammed into the steering wheel and busted my forehead open.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Scottsburg, VA, USA