2008 Mazda MAZDA3 Problems: Steering (292 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2008 Mazda MAZDA3 is Steering (37% of 292 owner reports). There are 3 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Steering — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 292 complaints · 3 recalls

What problems show up on the 2008 Mazda MAZDA3?

109 of 292 filings named Steering (37% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Tires (24 reports).

There are 3 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Steering and Glass / wipers / cameras. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2007 has 217 reports on file; this year has 292. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2008 Mazda MAZDA3

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 3 campaigns on file below.
  2. Steering. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight.
  3. Tires. Check age, tread depth and uneven wear. Uneven wear often points back to alignment.
  4. Wheels. Look for bent rims, missing lug nuts and vibration at speed.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Steering. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Steering 109 complaints · 37.3% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 28
  • Fires 1
  • Injuries 19
  • Deaths 0
All Mazda MAZDA3 years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Steering (STEERING) appears in 109 of 292 owner complaints (37.3%) in this vehicle snapshot. Steering (STEERING): 109 complaints, 37.3% of reports Steering (STEERING) 8 crash reports 109 · 37.3% Tires (TIRES): 24 complaints, 8.2% of reports Tires (TIRES) 24 · 8.2% Wheels (WHEELS): 19 complaints, 6.5% of reports Wheels (WHEELS) 1 crash reports 19 · 6.5% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 17 complaints, 5.8% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 17 · 5.8% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 17 complaints, 5.8% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 2 crash reports 17 · 5.8% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 15 complaints, 5.1% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 8 crash reports 15 · 5.1% Engine (ENGINE): 14 complaints, 4.8% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 fire reports 14 · 4.8% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 14 complaints, 4.8% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 14 · 4.8% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 13 complaints, 4.5% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 13 · 4.5% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 61 complaints, 20.9% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 8 crash reports 61 · 20.9% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Steering (STEERING) 109 37.3% 8 crashes · 0 fires
Tires (TIRES) 24 8.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Wheels (WHEELS) 19 6.5% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 17 5.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 17 5.8% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 15 5.1% 8 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 14 4.8% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 14 4.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 13 4.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 61 20.9% 8 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2007; the first recall shown was reported in Apr 2009. 2007-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2008-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2008-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2009-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2009-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2010-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2010-Q2: 17 owner reports 17 2010-Q3: 56 owner reports 56 2010-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2011-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 2011-Q2: 14 owner reports 14 2011-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2011-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2012-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2012-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2012-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2013-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2013-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2013-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2014-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2014-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2014-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2014-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2015-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2015-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2015-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2015-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2016-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2016-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2016-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2017-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2017-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2017-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2018-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2019-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2020-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2022-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 2007 Apr 2025 Recall campaign 09E011000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E011000 Recall campaign 10V374000 ◆ Recall campaign 10V374000 Recall campaign 11V329000 ◆ Recall campaign 11V329000 Investigation PE10021 ● Investigation PE10021
  • Campaign 10V374000 was reported 461 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 11V329000 was reported 296 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2007-Q4 Owner reports 2
2008-Q1 Owner reports 1
2008-Q2 Owner reports 3
2008-Q3 Owner reports 6
2008-Q4 Owner reports 2
2009-Q2 Owner reports 8
2009-Q3 Owner reports 4
2009-Q4 Owner reports 4
2010-Q1 Owner reports 6
2010-Q2 Owner reports 17
2010-Q3 Owner reports 56
2010-Q4 Owner reports 7
2011-Q1 Owner reports 15
2011-Q2 Owner reports 14
2011-Q3 Owner reports 3
2011-Q4 Owner reports 7
2012-Q1 Owner reports 2
2012-Q2 Owner reports 6
2012-Q3 Owner reports 5
2012-Q4 Owner reports 7
2013-Q1 Owner reports 2
2013-Q2 Owner reports 5
2013-Q3 Owner reports 7
2013-Q4 Owner reports 4
2014-Q1 Owner reports 6
2014-Q2 Owner reports 2
2014-Q3 Owner reports 8
2014-Q4 Owner reports 7
2015-Q1 Owner reports 4
2015-Q2 Owner reports 4
2015-Q3 Owner reports 7
2015-Q4 Owner reports 2
2016-Q1 Owner reports 5
2016-Q2 Owner reports 6
2016-Q3 Owner reports 3
2016-Q4 Owner reports 1
2017-Q1 Owner reports 5
2017-Q2 Owner reports 3
2017-Q3 Owner reports 3
2017-Q4 Owner reports 3
2018-Q1 Owner reports 2
2018-Q2 Owner reports 2
2018-Q3 Owner reports 4
2018-Q4 Owner reports 3
2019-Q1 Owner reports 1
2019-Q2 Owner reports 2
2019-Q4 Owner reports 2
2020-Q1 Owner reports 4
2020-Q2 Owner reports 1
2020-Q3 Owner reports 4
2022-Q1 Owner reports 1
2022-Q3 Owner reports 1
2023-Q4 Owner reports 1
2024-Q1 Owner reports 1
2025-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 09E011000
Recall campaign 1 10V374000
Recall campaign 1 11V329000
Defect investigation 1 PE10021
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (3)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Steering and Glass / wipers / cameras.

  1. Recall campaign 09E011000

    Safety recall 09E011000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    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 authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 10V374000

    Steering

    Report date
    Component:
    Steering (STEERING)
    Consequence:
    POWER STEERING ASSIST IS SUDDENLY LOST REDUCING THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE AS TYPICALLY EXPECTED, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    MAZDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND LINES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-222-5500.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 11V329000

    Glass / wipers / cameras

    Report date
    Component:
    Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
    Consequence:
    THE LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION IN ADVERSE WEATHER COULD POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL GROUND HARNESS ON THE WIPER MOTOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JULY 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-222-5500.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 292 complaints · page 1 of 12
2025-04-01Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11652121
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The power steering on my 2008 Mazda 3 went out. I took it to a mechanic shop who diagnosed the power steering pump is creating pressure that is getting to the rack and pinion and the fluid is just bouncing off of the rack and pinion and the computer system does not know how to function, so the power steering is not working.
2024-03-02FUEL SYSTEM
NHTSA ODI 11575037
CrashFireInjuryDeath
There is a plastic ring on top of the gas tank that holds down the fuel pump.I filled up my tank and looked under the car afterwards,at this time I noticed gas coming out from the tank until is was flushed with the top and then stopped.I pulled out the back seat,found the inspection plate and for sure this was and did happen,now nothing could be done at the time because the inspection plat hole was smaller than the ring,the tank had to be dropped.It had to be fixed,about $600.00 later and tank filled up it was repaired.I still have the ring and pictures where the ring was cracked around the threads.send me a e-mail address and I can send pictures and a copy of the bill.later on I went on line and discovered that I was not the only one.This happen about 2 years back.
2023-11-10Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11554582
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Transmission control module.
2022-07-23SUSPENSION
NHTSA ODI 11475465
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Drivers side lower control arm failed at the lower ball joint mounting hole, allowing the ball joint to separate from the arm. All vehicle steering and control was lost due to the failure. This failure: 1. Has extreme danger for traffic fatalities. 2. Suggests substandard materials, design, or manufacturing. Control arm manufacturer: DLZ Sold by: partsgoing Vendor: Amazon.com
2022-01-28FUEL SYSTEMUnclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11449230
CrashFireInjuryDeath
2008 MAZDA 3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP.
2020-08-07Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11343858
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEED AND MAKING TURN. THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE PARKING BRAKE AND POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FIVE TIMES IN TWO DAYS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AN UNKNOWN RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED ON THE VEHICLE FOR THE POWER STEERING, HOWEVER THE REPAIR HAD NOT CORRECTED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED FOR THE SAME FAILURE AND IT WAS A ONE-TIME FREE FIX AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.
2020-08-06Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11343682
CrashFireInjuryDeath
MY MAZDA3 DIES WHILE I AM DRIVING WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF WHAT IS GOING ON (NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT). WHEN IT DOES, I WAIT FOR A WHILE AND IT WILL START BACK UP AGAIN! MY SHOP AND I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING WE CAN, BUT WE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY IT IS DOING THAT! I CALLED THE MANUFACTURE AND THEY SAID IT WAS RECALLED FOR POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE AND FIXED IN 2010 BUT TO US IT SOUNDS IT IS THAT ISSUE CAUSING IT TO STOP WHILE IN MOTION! THIS CAR IS UNSAFE!! NO CAR SHOULD STOP IN MOTION FROM NOWHERE! THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT!
2020-07-29Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11341983
CrashFireInjuryDeath
AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON.....LOST POWER STEERING AT ONLY 110,000 MILES...ABS BREAK SYSTEM NOT WORKING
2020-07-14Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11339240
CrashFireInjuryDeath
AT AND YELLOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WAS IN LIMP MODE FIRST THING IN MORNING AFTER HAVING NO ISSUES WITH MY MAZDA PREVIOUSLY. CODES CAME BACK WITH SOLENOIDS A, B, C, D, E ALL HAVE ELECTRICAL FAILURE, AND ISSUES WITH THE OXYGEN SENSOR. MY CAR HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE ON IT. NO SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE BEFOREHAND. HAPPENED INSTANTLY OVERNIGHT. TCM IS NOT IN STOCK ANYWHERE AND I SUSPECT THAT IS THE CULPRIT DUE TO OTHER MAZDA OWNERS SIMILAR SITUATIONS. 95K MILES.
2020-04-26Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 11322274
CrashFireInjuryDeath
BRAKES BECAME SPONGY AFTER HARD BRAKING AT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65 MPH. AFTERWARD, SPORADICALLY, BRAKES WOULD REQUIRE SEVERAL PUMPS OF THE PEDAL TO BUILD ENOUGH HYDRAULIC PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I'M REPORTING THIS INCIDENT NOW AFTER LEARNING ABOUT FORD RECALL 19S54, NHTSA IDENTIFIER 19V904. BRAKE PARTS ON THIS CAR WERE MADE BY FOMOCO. ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT, P/N BVSN-43-7AZD, WAS REPLACED BY MAZDA DEALER TO CORRECT PROBLEM AT A COST OF $1200.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2008 Mazda MAZDA3?

Owners named Steering most often — 109 of 292 reports (37%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2008 Mazda MAZDA3?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Steering and Glass / wipers / cameras. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2008 Mazda MAZDA3?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources