6.2% of complaints about the 2008 Mazda MAZDA3 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2008 vehicle — around the middle of the 262 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.5 yr in service. The most-reported system is steering (117 complaints), typically at 2.8 yr or about 34,000 miles.
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.
THE LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION IN ADVERSE WEATHER COULD POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
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.
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.
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.
TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR CONSTANTLY TURNING OFF ON RANDOMLY. DEALER SAYS THEY ARE CONSTANTLY GETTING COMPLAINTS. NO RECALL. SO WHEN THERE IS AN ACTUAL TIRE PROBLEM, YOU MAY NOT TAKE THE WARNING LIGHT SERIOUSLY. BECAUSE IT TURNS ON ALL THE TIME FOR NO REASON. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 3. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR ALL WEATHER TIRES, SIZE P205/15R17 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIRES AND ACCUSED THE CONTACT OF STRIKING SOMETHING WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 3,526.
TIRE WAS ON RENTAL CAR PICKED UP FROM HERTZ AT CINCINNATI AIRPORT. NOTICED RIDE WAS ROUGH AND NOISY. ON ARRIVING AT DESTINATION (LEXINGTON, KY, ABOUT 70 MILES BY HIGHWAY), EXAMINED TIRES. SAW BULGE ON SIDEWALL ON PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT TIRE. RETURNED CAR TO HERTZ AT LEXINGTON BLUEGRASS AIRPORT TO BE EXCHANGED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 3. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND HAS REMAINED THERE FOR TWO WEEKS BECAUSE THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,000.