2004 MAZDA MAZDA3 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
185
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
43
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2004 MAZDA MAZDA3
The 2004 MAZDA MAZDA3 has received a total of 185 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, EQUIPMENT, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE. 43 technical service bulletins have been issued by Mazda Motor Corp. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Steering (17 complaints), Air Bags (16 complaints), and Power Trainautomatic Transmission (11 complaints).
Recalls for the 2004 MAZDA MAZDA3
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 2004 MAZDA MAZDA3, potentially affecting up to 305,238 vehicles.
Recall 21V494000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
| 260,915 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
View full details →Recall 09E011000 — EQUIPMENT
| 2,323 vehicles affected
Defect: THULE, INC. IS RECALLING 2,323 OWNER-INSTALLED ROOF-MOUNTED FIT KITS, MODELS 3068 AND 3069, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2008 AND FEBRUARY 28, 2009 THAT ARE USED WITH THULE PODIUM FOOT PACKS, MODELS 460 AND 460R. THESE FIT KITS WERE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE BOLT(S) USED TO SECURE THE FOOT TO THE VEHICLE WAS...
Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN THE BOLT(S) SNAPPING OFF DURING USE OR WITHOUT A LOAD. THE UNSECURED RACK AND LOAD CAN THEN COME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING CREATING A POTENTIAL ROAD HAZARD, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: THULE WILL MAIL A RETRO FIT KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS TO OWNERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE APRIL 13, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THULE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-238-2388.
View full details →Recall 04V468000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
| 42,000 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2004 MAZDA MAZDA3
185 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2004 MAZDA MAZDA3. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
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 plate light and is controlled by the left turn signal stalk (rotating switch). Based on my experience and many others (on the Mazda 3 forums), this relay has the tendency to fail and cause all of these lights tied to this relay to intermittently or permanently be disabled. There is no warning for this; the driver will only notice when driving at night that the interior illumination of the dashboard goes completely dark, which could cause disorientation and confusion as to whether or not the car is operable. Subsequently, the problem can be recreated by attempting to turn the lights on and off and there will be no response (and no clicking noise...it is audible when working and it switches on); the relay fails to operate and all the lights will not turn on. Driving at night without tail lights is extremely dangerous and I am surprised this has not caused serious injury from rear-ending incidents in nighttime or inclement weather situations. The serial/model number of junction box on my vehicle is BN8B-66730-C and many others on the forums have had the same issue with the same model, as well as other variations of the box. Some on the forums went as far as replacing the culprit relay (see attachment); however, at the risk of destroying the entire junction box and rendering the vehicle unusable. I finally ended up purchasing a replacement unit on eBay which corrected the issue so far and has made the lights reliable again.
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. The contact's vehicle was then rear-ended by another vehicle, causing his vehicle to turn 360 degrees. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was not injured, but his wife suffered from neck pain. Medical attention was not received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's workplace and was not deemed totaled by the insurance company. A body shop repaired the vehicle. The tire manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to send in the faulty tire. The tire failure mileage was unknown. The vehicle failure mileage was 150,000.
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 lubrication- these axles power the vehicle forward and if not maintained can snap and cause damage- the wipers no longer work correctly- the tires are 2017 and old and weather cracked- potential to separate while driving or blow out on the heated pavement. upon inspection also found that the front shocks are blown out and bouncing in the mounts under the hood- causing the tires to not have the correct contact patch on the road thus decreasing traction and control- on top of all this the vehicle hasn't been registered since 2020 and has no insurance on the vehicle- again there has been no accident...yet- this is my concern- that if this vehicle continues to remain operational and on the road it not only puts the driver and occupants at risk but also other drivers- kids- teens and anyone that may be on the other end o the crash when the vehicle does snap the cvc axle or blow i out a tire
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 lubrication- these axles power the vehicle forward and if not maintained can snap and cause damage- the wipers no longer work correctly- the tires are 2017 and old and weather cracked- potential to separate while driving or blow out on the heated pavement. upon inspection also found that the front shocks are blown out and bouncing in the mounts under the hood- causing the tires to not have the correct contact patch on the road thus decreasing traction and control- on top of all this the vehicle hasn't been registered since 2020 and has no insurance on the vehicle- again there has been no accident...yet- this is my concern- that if this vehicle continues to remain operational and on the road it not only puts the driver and occupants at risk but also other drivers- kids- teens and anyone that may be on the other end o the crash when the vehicle does snap the cvc axle or blow i out a tire
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 lubrication- these axles power the vehicle forward and if not maintained can snap and cause damage- the wipers no longer work correctly- the tires are 2017 and old and weather cracked- potential to separate while driving or blow out on the heated pavement. upon inspection also found that the front shocks are blown out and bouncing in the mounts under the hood- causing the tires to not have the correct contact patch on the road thus decreasing traction and control- on top of all this the vehicle hasn't been registered since 2020 and has no insurance on the vehicle- again there has been no accident...yet- this is my concern- that if this vehicle continues to remain operational and on the road it not only puts the driver and occupants at risk but also other drivers- kids- teens and anyone that may be on the other end o the crash when the vehicle does snap the cvc axle or blow i out a tire
Safety Rating for the 2004 MAZDA MAZDA3
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2004 MAZDA MAZDA3 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2004 MAZDA MAZDA3
Mazda Motor Corp. has issued 43 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2004 MAZDA MAZDA3. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
09-004-19-3543 — EQUIPMENT
Mazda infotainment systems require contacting the proper source for diagnostic support, parts authorization, and parts exchange. Some components require prior authorization before ordering as exchange. Refer to DAG Exchange Central (MXConnect>Parts and Accessories>Parts>Programs>Exchange Central) for component availability, source of technical support and prior authorization requirement. NOTE: Always check for a...
0200416 — SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
SHOCK ABSORBER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES
09-007-14-2878 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS
SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF CONDENSATION/FOG INSIDE THE FRONT OR REAR COMBINATION LIGHTS. THE RECENT NEW MODELS HAVE BEEN FITTED WITH A CLEAR LENS WHICH CAN CAUSE THE SYMPTOM TO BE MORE NOTICEABLE, HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE LIGHT. THIS CONDENSATION/FOG IS A NATURAL PHENOMENON THAT...
SB-2010 — AIR BAGS: ALLEGED COUNTERFEIT AIR BAG
MAZDA: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. INFORMATION REGARDING IMPORTING AND SELLING OF COUNTERFEIT AIRBAGS MANUFACTURED IN CHINA AND SOME 2004, 2010-2012 MAZDA3 VEHICLES MAY HAVE THEM INSTALLED. *PE
06-003/08 — STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID
HEAVY STEERING EFFORT/POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE. SOME MAZDA3 VEHICLES (EXCEPT MAZDASPEED3) WITH VIN'S LOWER THAN JM1BK**** **709745 (PRODUCED BEFORE FEB. 1, 2007) & SOME MAZDA5 VEHICLES WITH VIN'S LOWER THAN JM1CR**** **150635 (PRODUCED BEFORE FEB. 1, 2007). *NJ
0400107 — SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ABS WARNING LIGHT ON WITH DTC C1141, C1142, C1233, OR C1234/GRINDING NOISE FROM THE FRONT WHEELS. *KB
0103306 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE RPM DROPS/ENGINE STALLS. *TT
0100606 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MIL ILLUMINATION WITH DTC P0172 P2178 / P2188 STORED IN PCM MEMORY. *TT
0100206 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE MISFIRE DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES - SERVICE TIP. *TT
0300106 — STRUCTURE:BODY
BODY VIBRATION AT CRUISE SPEED. *TT
Showing 10 of 43 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2004 MAZDA MAZDA3
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the MAZDA MAZDA3
- 2004 MAZDA MAZDA3 (current)
- 2005 MAZDA MAZDA3 — 127 complaints
- 2006 MAZDA MAZDA3 — 224 complaints
- 2007 MAZDA MAZDA3 — 301 complaints
- 2008 MAZDA MAZDA3 — 387 complaints
- 2009 MAZDA MAZDA3 — 140 complaints
Other MAZDA Models
- MAZDA 626 — 3,877 total complaints
- MAZDA CX-5 — 3,005 total complaints
- MAZDA MAZDA6 — 2,906 total complaints
- MAZDA TRIBUTE — 2,830 total complaints
- MAZDA CX-9 — 1,786 total complaints
- MAZDA CX-7 — 1,539 total complaints
- MAZDA PROTEGE — 1,377 total complaints
- MAZDA MPV — 1,156 total complaints