The Lemon Index

All cars · Mazda3 · 2009

2009 Mazda3. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index89100 = average car
Complaints69NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold96,466U.S. model year
Per 100K sold72complaints
Year rank#15 of 19#1 = fewest complaints

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 16,400 and 57,000 miles. Median 33,700, from 97 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Steering33,20019,200–62,00033
Tires37,10017,900–53,70022
Wheels55,00038,500–67,20016
Transmission & drivetrain19,0009,500–80,3005
Airbags29,70019,300–47,5005

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Steering35%
Tires25%
Wheels10%
Airbags6%
Transmission & drivetrain4%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
115111500

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 4

  • 11V329000 Jun 2011 Visibility / Windshield Wiper/Washer / Motor

    Defect. MAZDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 MAZDA3 AND MAZDASPEED3 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 7, 2008, THROUGH NOVEMBER 28, 2008. THE GROUND TERMINAL OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN INADVERTENTLY BENT DURING ASSEMBLY. IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS THEN OVER TIME THE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE OF THE MOTOR CIRCUIT MAY INCREASE UP TO A POINT THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK.

    Risk. 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.

  • 10V374000 Aug 2010 Steering / Electric Power Assist System

    Defect. MAZDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 MAZDA3 AND MAZDA5 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2, 2007 THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 2008. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.

    Risk. 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.

  • 09V187000 May 2009 Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

    Defect. MAZDA IS RECALLING 7,100 MY 2009 MAZDA3 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 126, "ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM". THE YAW RATE MEASURED AFTER COMPLETION OF THE SINE WITH DWELL STEERING INPUT EXCEEDED THE TEST STANDARDS.

    Risk. 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.

  • 09E011000 Apr 2009 Equipment

    Defect. THULE, INC. IS RECALLING 2,323 OWNER-INSTALLED ROOF-MOUNTED FIT KITS, MODELS 3068 AND 3069, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2008 AND FEBRUARY 28, 2009 THAT ARE USED WITH THULE PODIUM FOOT PACKS, MODELS 460 AND 460R. THESE FIT KITS WERE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE BOLT(S) USED TO SECURE THE FOOT TO THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED TO A HARDNESS THAT MAY CAUSE THE BOLT(S) TO BE BRITTLE AND POTENTIALLY BREAK UNDER STRESS.

    Risk. 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.

NHTSA investigations

StatusSubjectOpenedClosed
ClosedLoss of electric power steering assist20102010

Manufacturer communications 226

Mazda3 filed 226 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • If a vehicle has body vibration or steering wheel shimmy while driving and the root cause is…
  • Heavy steering effort with power steering malfunction indicator lamp on and dtc c1099
  • Steering column slightly moves in or out telescopically

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
OptionalNoNo

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
2006704694,438Engine
20075862120,291Steering
2008151164109,957Steering
2009896996,466Steering
2010107126106,353Tires
20113037102,417Transmission & drivetrain
20126283123,361Transmission & drivetrain

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data