2009 Mazda MAZDA3 Problems and Recalls (112 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2009 Mazda MAZDA3 is Steering (30% of 112 owner reports). There are 4 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Steering — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 112 complaints · 4 recalls

What problems show up on the 2009 Mazda MAZDA3?

34 of 112 filings named Steering (30% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Tires (18 reports).

There are 4 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 2008 has 292 reports on file; this year has 112. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2009 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 4 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 34 complaints · 30.4% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 11
  • Fires 1
  • Injuries 5
  • 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 34 of 112 owner complaints (30.4%) in this vehicle snapshot. Steering (STEERING): 34 complaints, 30.4% of reports Steering (STEERING) 3 crash reports 34 · 30.4% Tires (TIRES): 18 complaints, 16.1% of reports Tires (TIRES) 18 · 16.1% Wheels (WHEELS): 13 complaints, 11.6% of reports Wheels (WHEELS) 13 · 11.6% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 6 complaints, 5.4% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1 crash reports 6 · 5.4% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 5 complaints, 4.5% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 1 fire reports 5 · 4.5% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 5 complaints, 4.5% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 5 · 4.5% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 5 complaints, 4.5% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 5 · 4.5% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 4 complaints, 3.6% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 4 crash reports 4 · 3.6% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 4 complaints, 3.6% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 4 · 3.6% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 32 complaints, 28.6% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 1 crash reports 32 · 28.6% 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) 34 30.4% 3 crashes · 0 fires
Tires (TIRES) 18 16.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Wheels (WHEELS) 13 11.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 6 5.4% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 5 4.5% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 5 4.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 5 4.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 4 3.6% 4 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 4 3.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 32 28.6% 1 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 Jan 2009; the first recall shown was reported in Apr 2009. 2009-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2009-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2010-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2010-Q3: 19 owner reports 19 2010-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2011-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2011-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2011-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2011-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2012-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2012-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2013-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2013-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2013-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2013-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2014-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2014-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2015-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2022-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2025-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 Owner reports Jan 2009 Jan 2025 Recall campaign 09E011000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E011000 Recall campaign 09V187000 ◆ Recall campaign 09V187000 Recall campaign 10V374000 ◆ Recall campaign 10V374000 Recall campaign 11V329000 ◆ Recall campaign 11V329000 Investigation PE10021 ● Investigation PE10021
  • Campaign 10V374000 was reported 407 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 11V329000 was reported 476 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2009-Q1 Owner reports 3
2009-Q2 Owner reports 1
2009-Q3 Owner reports 2
2009-Q4 Owner reports 2
2010-Q1 Owner reports 6
2010-Q2 Owner reports 5
2010-Q3 Owner reports 19
2010-Q4 Owner reports 4
2011-Q1 Owner reports 3
2011-Q2 Owner reports 4
2011-Q3 Owner reports 4
2011-Q4 Owner reports 1
2012-Q1 Owner reports 2
2012-Q2 Owner reports 4
2012-Q3 Owner reports 3
2012-Q4 Owner reports 4
2013-Q1 Owner reports 3
2013-Q2 Owner reports 5
2013-Q3 Owner reports 5
2013-Q4 Owner reports 1
2014-Q1 Owner reports 2
2014-Q2 Owner reports 4
2014-Q4 Owner reports 2
2015-Q1 Owner reports 3
2015-Q3 Owner reports 2
2016-Q1 Owner reports 2
2016-Q2 Owner reports 2
2017-Q1 Owner reports 2
2018-Q1 Owner reports 1
2019-Q1 Owner reports 1
2019-Q2 Owner reports 1
2020-Q1 Owner reports 1
2021-Q1 Owner reports 1
2021-Q4 Owner reports 2
2022-Q1 Owner reports 1
2023-Q2 Owner reports 2
2025-Q1 Owner reports 2
Recall campaign 1 09E011000
Recall campaign 1 09V187000
Recall campaign 1 10V374000
Recall campaign 1 11V329000
Defect investigation 1 PE10021
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (4)

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 09V187000

    Safety recall 09V187000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    IMPROPER OPERATION OF THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND HAVE THE UNIT REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 14, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. 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 →

  4. 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 8 of 112 complaints · page 1 of 5
2025-03-24Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 11650136
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Brake pedal sinks to the ground d after abs is turned on due to hard braking or after hitting a dip
2025-01-21Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11637360
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2009 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed a puddle of fuel on the ground underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that previously there was an abnormally strong odor inside the vehicle and in the trunk. In addition, the contact stated that the odor was very strong, causing her to become light-headed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,212.
2023-04-28Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11519376
CrashFireInjuryDeath
When driving and trying to negotiate a turn, or sometimes when going straight, the power assist steering simply fails (stops assisting the steering). I have to "muscle" the car off the roadway and either restart the engine or stop the car (off the road) straighten the steering wheel, restart the car, and the power assist is restored. This has happened five times in the last 9 months. So far there have been no accidents. The date velow is the most recent date of this failure.
2023-04-28Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11519374
CrashFireInjuryDeath
For the past 9-10 months and on occasions, when I step on the brake pedal to either slow down or stop from a normal cruise speed, the engine rpm quickly jumps up to 2000 - 2500 rpm. I have to quickly brake harder and *place the auto transmission selector in NEUTRAL to fully stop the car from lunging forward*. The date below is the most recent date.
2022-03-24Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
NHTSA ODI 11458251
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Brake lights are causing the top of the tail light to melt on the housing.
2021-11-04Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11439442
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The fuel pump lock ring on my 2009 Mazda Mazdaspeed3 has failed which is causing two engine codes: P0442 and P0455. In addition there is a strong smell of gasoline fumes around the rear of the car after driving and parking. The fuel pump lock ring is a plastic threaded ring which secures and seals the fuel pump and fuel level sender to the fuel tank. Mazda has released a safety recall 5121I for MY2009-2011 RX-8 and MY2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. Mazda states: "On certain subject RX-8 and Mazdaspeed6 vehicles, improper installation of the fuel pump mounting rings may lead to cracking of the rings, causing fuel leakage. In addition, on certain RX-8 vehicles, the fuel pump mounting rings may deteriorate due to heat exposure from the engine and exhaust pipe due to insufficient heat resistance at the top side of the fuel tank. This may also lead to cracking of the rings, causing fuel leakage. Fuel leakage may result in increased risk of fire in the presence of an ignition source near the vehicle." The faulty part number for the RX-8 matches that of the Mazdaspeed3. That is Mazda part number: BN8F-42-167 I believe the failure of this part and recall should extend to affected Mazda 3 vehicles, and any other models with the same part. I have opened a case with Mazda Corporate. Case number: [redacted] I have uploaded a video of the smoke test performed by a local shop indicating the leak is coming from the ring: https://photos.app.goo.gl/6t6KeeaDPLgGzvvaA I have also attached a screenshot of the video, unfortunately the image quality provided by the mechanic is very poor.
2021-10-05Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 11435625
CrashFireInjuryDeath
parking brake not working due to mechanism on rear caliper is rusted solid so it can not activate brake
2021-03-28Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11405252
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN AS I'M SLOWING DOWN, AS YOU WOULD TO MAKE A TURN ONTO A STREET OR DRIVEWAY. I TURN ON MY BLINKER, THEN THE MOMENT I PRESS THE BRAKE, ALL OF THE POWER IN THE CAR DIES, AND COMES RIGHT BACK ON. I THINK OF IT AS A QUICK RESET IT SEEMS. HOWEVER, WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK, AND I'M LEFT FINISHING MY TURN WITHOUT POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING IS THE ONLY THING THAT DOES NOT "RESET" WHEN THE POWER FAILS. THE POWER STEERING MAY TAKE 3-6 SECONDS BEFORE IT COMES BACK. AND IT ALWAYS COMES BACK ON, BUT NOT UNTIL AFTER I'M THROUGH MY TURN. IT TYPICALLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN MY BLINKER, AND BRAKE IS APPLIED, ALMOST LIKE THE POWER OF THOSE LIGHTS SHUTS EVERYTHING OFF. BUT THIS ALL HAPPENS AT RANDOM. I HAVE A PART TIME JOB ON THE WKNDS DELIVERING FOOD. IT STARTED OUT JUST MAYBE HAPPENING ONCE A MONTH, AND THAT WAS 3-4 MONTHS AGO. NOW IT'S EVERYTIME I GO OUT, IT'S LIKELY TO HAPPEN, BUT WHEN, IT'S IMPOSSILBE TO TELL BECAUSE I CAN TRY EVERYTHING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN THAT NORMALLY MIGHT SEEM TO BE THE CAUSE AND THEN NOTHING. I'VE READ A LOT OF FORUMS RECENTLY THAT HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH EITHER EXACT PROBLEMS OR VERY SIMILAR. I DON'T LIVE IN A BIG CITY BUT FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE DRIVING THIS CAR IN A BIG CITY THATS BUSY, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND NOT ONLY THAT PEOPLE ARE GONNA END UP GETTING IN SMALL WRECKS FOR SOMETHING THAT COULD BE TAKEN CARE OF WITH A RECALL. PLEASE DO SOMETHING. I'M UNABLE TO WORK MY WKND JOB WITH THIS ISSUE SO IT'S COSTING ME 3 DAYS OF WORK UNTIL I GET IT FIXED. THANK YOU.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2009 Mazda MAZDA3?

Owners named Steering most often — 34 of 112 reports (30%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2009 Mazda MAZDA3?

NHTSA lists 4 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 2009 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