The Lemon Index2006 Mazda3.
The 2006 Mazda3 is better than average by owner complaints: 46 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 70, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, it has 2 recalls, and it gets 24 to 27 mpg combined. The best Mazda3 year is 2011.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 166 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Mazda3 year. 2006 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 35K to 105K miles on the car (124 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- steering complaints mostly came at 39K–107K miles
- airbags complaints mostly came at 22K–130K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 26K–122K miles
Recalls 2
- airbags 2021
During air bag deployment, the plastic emblem on the steering wheel air bag module cover may shatter, and project plastic fragments into the vehicle.
- equipment 2009
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.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Mazda3 told dealers about
Mazda3 sent dealers 191 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Engine vibration/ knocking noise/ no
- Engine stall and hesitation after start-up under high ambient temperature
- Variable valve timing (vvt) noise when starting engine
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side ★★★☆☆ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $2400–2700 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.3L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
2006 Mazda 3i touring stalled while at a traffic light.
2006 Mazda3 owner · NHTSA complaint 10169093
More owner reports
2006 Mazda 2i. Passenger side engine mount bracket failure.
NHTSA complaint 10296283
2006 Mazda 3 tires. Already need new tires at 30k miles, this seems to be occurring way too quickly. I would expect tires to last 40k-50k miles before needing new tires.
NHTSA complaint 10246608
Quick answers
Is the 2006 Mazda3 reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.4× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 70; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Mazda3 year by this measure is 2011.
What are the most common 2006 Mazda3 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (20%), tires (17%) and electrical (15%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2006 Mazda3 have?
2 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2006 Mazda3 get?
24 to 27 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2006 Mazda3 problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 35,000 and 105,600 miles. The middle report was at 71,000 miles, from 124 complaints.
Does the 2006 Mazda3 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2006 Mazda3 cost in fuel a year?
About $2400 to $2700 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2006 Mazda3 have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 2.3L 4-cyl.
What Mazda3 year is better than the 2006?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2011, 2013 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works