Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Mazda Mazda3 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
THE LOCK RELEASE LEVER ON THE STEERING WHEEL GET LOOSE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND DOES NOT LOCKED IN PLACE. THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND SERIOUS INJURIES. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO GET THIS REPAIR.
POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. OFTEN STARTS WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT. THE POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT , OR SOMETIMES ALL WARNING LIGHTS, COME ON. THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION AND THE CAR IS DIFFICULT AND HAZARDOUS TO NAVIGATE TO A STOP. ELECTRONICS FLASH ON AND OFF (HEADLIGHTS, RADIO, ETC.). CAR SOMETIMES DIES. IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT PERFECTLY STRAIGHT WHEN THE CAR DIES, IT IS LOCKED AND THE CAR CANNOT BE RESTARTED UNTIL SOMEONE CAN WRENCH THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED OFF AND ON FOR A YEAR. SINCE IT IS INTERMITTENT, MECHANICS ARE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA 3. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE STEERING WHEEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND WAS HARD TO TURN. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON A FEW TIMES AND SHIFTED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT, BUT THE WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,173.
I STARTED MY CAR AND MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON MY DASH WHEN I WAS LEAVING WORK ON 4/2/2015. I HAD NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. I'VE HAD A REPAIR SHOP TELL ME IT IS MY POWER STEERING PUMP THAT HAS FAILED. THEY STATED THAT THEY CANNOT ORDER THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE, WHICH IS THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP. I CALLED A NEARBY DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I HAVE TO GO THROUGH A ZIP DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT IS A VIN SPECIFIC PART. THEY QUOTED ME $900 FOR A POWER STEERING PUMP AND $315 TO INSTALL IT! I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ONLINE AND HAVE NOTICED THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE AS MINE. BUT AFTER CHECKING WITH YOUR WEBSITE, IT STATES THERE ISN'T A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THIS RECALL BUT IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES AS STATED IN THE RECALL INFORMATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ASSISTANCE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB, A TREE, AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V468000 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 10/8/14*CN UPDATED 3/25/2015 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE NORMALLY AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
ISSUE: ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ALONG WITH POWER STEERING SHUTTING OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE FIRST INSTANCE OF THIS ISSUE HAPPENED WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT. AS I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN MY VEHICLE SHUT OFF, ALONG WITH THE POWER STEERING. ABOUT A SECOND LATER EVERYTHING CAME BACK ON AND OPERATING NORMALLY. THIS SAME ISSUE WOULD HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY, USUALLY WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS. THERE WAS NEVER ENOUGH OF A PATTERN TO SAY THAT IT WAS HAPPENING EVERY WEEK OR MONTH, ETC. I TOOK VEHICLE TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS BATTERY CABLES NEEDING TO BE REPLACED, AFTER IT STARTED HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY A FEW MONTHS LATER. THE ISSUE STOPPED FOR A COUPLE MONTHS, BUT THEN BEGAN AGAIN. THIS TIME IT STARTED HAPPENING JUST BY TAPPING ON THE BRAKES AS WELL AS MAKING A TURN. ALL THE ELECTRICAL ON THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF, ALONG WITH THE POWER STEERING AGAIN; AND THEN IT WOULD COME BACK AFTER A SECOND BEING OFF. THIS TIME IT BEGAN HAPPENING MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY, AT LEAST A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK; MOST RECENTLY IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THIS TIME MY POWER STEERING WAS OFF FOR MY ENTIRE 30 MILE DRIVE HOME FROM WORK. I TOOK IT AGAIN TO A DIFFERENT MAZDA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED, AND THIS TIME I WAS TOLD THEY NEEDED TO CHANGE THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND POWER STEERING PUMP FOR STARTERS; BUT WAS NOT GUARANTEED THAT WOULD RESOLVE THE ISSUE AS THE TECHS HAD NEVER SEEN THIS ISSUE BEFORE AT THEIR SITE; THEY SAY THEY CALLED THEIR CORPORATE TECH LINE AND WERE ADVISED TO REPLACE THOSE ITEMS FIRST. I EVEN SHOWED THEM A VIDEO I HAD TAKEN OF THIS HAPPENING IN MY CAR ONE NIGHT AS I DROVE AROUND MY BLOCK IN ORDER TO DOCUMENT THE ISSUE. THERE IS NO PATTERN WITH REGARDS TO SPEED OF VEHICLE, OR WHETHER THE ENGINE IS COLD OR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A WHILE, AS THE ISSUE CAN HAPPEN REGARDLESS OF ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS. *TR
WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS, MY POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON, SOMETIMES LOSING POWER STEERING MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE THE CAR. IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT THERE'S NO RHYME OR REASON FOR WHEN IT WILL COME BACK ON OR WHY THE STEERING GOES OUT OR NOT. TWO MECHANICS I'VE TAKEN IT TO CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND ONE THINKS IT COULD BE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE POWER STEERING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
POWER STEERING FAILURE, ENGINE MOUNT FAILURE. *TR
I LOVE MY 04 MAZDA 3, HOWEVER IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS I LOSE THE POWER STEERING. THE WHEEL ALMOST COMPLETELY LOCKS. IN 2 INSTANCES THE GAUGES HAVE GONE UP AND DOWN. I TURN THE CAR OFF THEN BACK ON AND IT SEEMS TO HELP. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT NOW, HELP! *TR
POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING. MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR OUR 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. *TR
2004 MAZDA 3 HATCHBACK POWER STEERING LOCKUP, HARD TO STEER WHILE DRIVING. STARTED HAPPENING IN 2009. *TR
2004 MAZDA 3 HAS FREQUENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING. WHILE IN MOTION POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPS WORKING. TURNING OFF CAR FOR SEVERAL MINUTES THEN RESTARTING SEEMS TO CLEAR PROBLEM. INCIDENT OCCURS EVERY 3 - 4 DAYS. *TR
RANDOM POWER STEERING FAILURE. WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY APPROX 65MPH, THE YELLOW DASH INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT FOR THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM ILLUMINATED AND POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I EXITED THE HIGHWAY AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND PULLED INTO A SIDE ROAD (WITH NO POWER STEERING), AND THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING LIGHT EXTINGUISHED AND IT WORKED FINE AGAIN. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE MORE THAN AVERAGE STRENGTH TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT POWER STEERING!! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA3. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE GREAT FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS; THEREFORE, NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 65,000.
THE CONSUMER HAD A CONCERN THAT THE PLASTIC COVER THAT GOES AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD COME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING A 2004 MAZDA 3, WHEN THIS OCCURRED IT INTERFERED WITH THE BRAKING WHEN NEEDED. THE CONDITION ALMOST CAUSED A VEHICLE CRASH.*JB AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN THE CONSUMER NEEDED TO SLOW DOWN FOUND BRAKE PEDAL HINDERED BY LOOSE COVER ON STERING COLUMN. *EH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS BENT.
MY CAR HAS HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. I HAVE A MAZDA 3 WHICH I PURCHASED IN DECEMBER. ABOUT A MONTH AGO MY CAR BEGAN HESITATING ON OCCASSION WHEN I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AND THEN PUSHING THE GAS TO GO. I DID NOTICE AFTER THE THIRD TIME THE VEHICLE DID THIS THAT THE D LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD BLINKED. I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY ARE LINKED BUT IT WOULD BE ODD IF THEY WERE NOT. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR THE PROBLEM AND THEY COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT AND HAD KEPT IT FOR 4 DAYS.AT WHICH THIS TIME THEY FOUND A BERRING HAD GONE BAD MY CAR HAS 12,600 MILES AT THIS POINT. I RECIEVED MY VEHICLE BACK AND HAD TO BRING IT BACK TWO DAYS LATER FOR THE BERRING. THE BERRING WAS REPLACED AND I WAS SENT HOME AGAIN. THEN TWO WEEKS AGO WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR MY HUSBAND HAD IT IN NETTURAL AT A LIGHT AND PLACED IN MANUAMATIC THEN DIRECTLY IN DRIVE AND THE CAR MADE A LOUD SOUND THAT MADE US WONDER IF THE TRANSMISSION HAD FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. AGAIN WE BROUGHT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AGAIN THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE IT AND DECIDED TO REPLACE A DRIVE MECHANISM THAT DEALS WITH THE ELECTRONIC SHIFTING OF THE VEHICLE. AT THE SAME TIME THEY REPLACED A RECALL PART THE O2 SENSOR ON THE CAR. THEN TODAY SEPT 1ST I RECIEVE A CALL STATING A NOISE THE DEALER HEARD WHILE RUNNING MY CAR THROUGH THE CAR WASH IS THE FRONT AXLES GOING BAD. I AM AT A LOSS AND FRUSTRATED AND THE MAZDA HEADQUARTERS TELLS ME THEY CAN'T NOT DIAGONOSE THE DEALERSHIP IS CAPABLE AND THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME MAZDA HEADQUARTERS FOR REPAIR NEED TO ASSIST THEM. I HAVE PAID A LOT OF MONEY IN INSURANCE FOR RENTAL CARS AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE.*AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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