RoadVitals

2005 Mazda Mazda3 Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest Mar 20, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
15%
of 97 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Mazda Mazda3 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Steering
Filed Mar 20, 2017

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY RATE OF SPEED THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND SOMETIMES SHUTS THE CAR DOWN. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ,MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER AND HAVE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE..ANOTHER INSTANCE , I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING A TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THIS TIME THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN FORCING ME TO QUICKLY TRY TO RESTART THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ID
10967329
Incident
Mar 11, 2017
Mileage
93,000 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 26, 2016

SUDDENLY LOSS OF STEERING POWER WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY

NHTSA ID
10918962
Incident
Oct 15, 2016
Mileage
176,784 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 24, 2015

DRIVING AND STEERING LIGHT COMES ON,THEN HARD TO STEER LEFT OR RIGHT.TURN SWITCH OFF AND RIGHT BACK ON LIGHT GOES OFF AND STEERING RETURNS....VERY DANGEROUS

NHTSA ID
10758788
Incident
Jun 1, 2015
Mileage
100,000 mi
BrakesElectricalSteering
Filed Feb 3, 2015

THE VEHICLE WAS COMING AROUND A TURN AT ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUSE, WHEN THE VEHICLE'S RADIO WENT OFF AND STEERING LOCKED UP INTO MANUAL AND CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE CAR STALLED OUT AND ENGINE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO MOVED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOP. THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND UPON RESTART HAD TO ISSUES. UPON REST OF RETURN TRIP HOME, UPON THE APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE, THE CARS RADIO, THERMOMETER GAUGE AND GENERAL ELECTRONICS WOULD STOP AND RESET WHEN THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED AND GAS PEDAL APPLIED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10680990
Incident
Feb 3, 2015
Mileage
162,844 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Sep 8, 2014
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 38 MPH AROUND A RAMP, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A GUARDRAIL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V374000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.

NHTSA ID
10631522
Incident
Sep 6, 2014
Mileage
169,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 10, 2013

WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST SUDDENLY. THE FLUID IS RIGHT AT MAX WHEN COOL, AND HAS NEVER GIVEN PROBLEMS BEFORE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10516139
Incident
Jun 3, 2013
Mileage
130,000 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 15, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE AND A CLAIM WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA ID
10498235
Incident
Jan 15, 2013
Mileage
53,000 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 12, 2012
Crash reported

STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10488121
Incident
Nov 21, 2012
Mileage
78,000 mi
Steering
Filed May 15, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA MAZDA3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,450.

NHTSA ID
10458578
Incident
May 5, 2012
Mileage
71,450 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Oct 9, 2011

BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY ON 10/5/11, NOTICED THAT MY STEERING WHEEL FELT HARDER TO TURN INTERMITTENTLY, AT THE SAME TIME, THE RADIO AND DASH BOARD LIGHTS FLICKERED AND ALL THE LIGHTS FLASHED. I STOPPED AND RETURNED INTO THE DRIVEWAY , WHERE THE CAR REPEATED TO FLICKER LIGHTS AND RADIO EVERYTIME I WOULD TURN THE WHEEL. IT DID THIS UNTIL I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON , WITH NO PROBLEMS THROUGH OUT THE DAY. ON 10/8/11, I WAS TURNING INTO A GAS STATION AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED , I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TURNING SO I FINISHED MY TURN AND ATTEMPTED TO PARK ALL WHILE NOTICING MY VEHICLE TURNING OFF AND POWER STEERING LIGHT ON. CAR WAS COMPLETELY OFF BY THE TIME I COULD GET IT TO A SECURE LOCATION . THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON AT AL , THE BATTERY SEEMED COMPLETELY DEAD , WHERE I NEEDED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO TURN IT BACK ON . NO PROBLEM THROUGH THE REST OF THE DAY SINCE THAT HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10429215
Incident
Oct 5, 2011
Mileage
77,050 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 14, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA, MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO RECALL 10V374000 (STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE USED A DIFFERENT POWER STEERING PUMP THAN THE MODELS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND WAS NOT DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ID
10382626
Incident
Aug 1, 2006
Mileage
30,000 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 19, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA 3. WHILE THE CONTACT CHANGED LANES AT 35 MPH THE POWER STEERING LOCKED TWICE. SHE WAS ABLE TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE LANE. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT INDICATOR SHUT OFF AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE POWER STEERING RECALL; THEREFORE, SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 53,192.

NHTSA ID
10361188
Incident
Oct 18, 2010
Mileage
53,192 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 5, 2010

POWER STEERING FAILURE MAZDA 3 4DR 2005 WITH 75,000 MILES PERIODIC POWER STEERING FAILURE OVER A 2 MONTH PERIOD BUT BY TURNING CAR ON AND OF IT WOULD RE-SET AND WORK. MAZDA REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP FOR $1500. APPROX A MONTH LATER FAILED AGAIN WHEN I WAS 3 HOURS FROM HOME, WOULD NOT RE SET UPON A RESTART SO DROVE IT HOME W/O POWER ASSIST (NOT EASY ON A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE). DEALER APPLIED 2008 POWER STEERING FIX (REPLACE FLUID AND LINES AT NO CHARGE) AND HAS NOT RE-FAILED YET. OBVIOUSLY NOT EASY TO DRIVE W/O POWER ASSIST, AT HIGHWAY SPEED IT IS POSSIBLE IF CAREFUL BUT AROUND TOWN WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. I AM REPORTING BASED ON RECENT INQUIRY INTO LATER MODEL MAZDA'S FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10341438
Incident
May 10, 2010
Mileage
78,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 10, 2008
Crash reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA 3. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE AT 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT STRUCK THE PASSENGER SIDE CORNER OF THE VEHICLE ON A GUARD RAIL. A WEEK BEFORE THE FAILURE, HE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27,500.

NHTSA ID
10230425
Incident
Apr 29, 2008
Mileage
27,500 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 19, 2006

TICKING / CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN / DASHBOARDS AREA. NOT NECESSARILY WHEN ON ROUGH ROAD, BUT THAT SEEMS TO MAGNIFY IT. SERVICE DEPARTMENT AWARE OF, AND HEARD NOISE BUT COULD NOT PINPOINT PROBLEM. HEAD OF SERVICE DEPARTMENT REFERRED ME TO MAZDA NORTH AMERICA FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. NOT CORRECTED AS OF 1/06. *JB

NHTSA ID
10148158
Incident
Jun 14, 2005

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .