try.vin
Log in

NHTSA vehicle safety data

2009 Mazda MAZDA3 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2009 Mazda MAZDA3 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 115 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mazda dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2009 Mazda MAZDA3, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2009 Mazda MAZDA3 owner complaints

Owners have filed 115 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Mazda MAZDA3, describing incidents dated January 16, 2009 to February 4, 2025.

Most-cited components

  • Steering 35 complaints
  • Tires 26 complaints
  • Wheels 19 complaints
  • Power Train 6 complaints
  • Service Brakes 6 complaints
  • Air Bags 5 complaints

Of the 115 complaints on file, 11 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 115 complaints, owners report 5 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11650136 · Filed

    Brake pedal sinks to the ground d after abs is turned on due to hard braking or after hitting a dip

  • ODI #11637360 · Filed

    The contact owns a 2009 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed a puddle of fuel on the ground underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that previously there was an abnormally strong odor inside the vehicle and in the trunk. In addition, the contact…

  • ODI #11519376 · Filed

    When driving and trying to negotiate a turn, or sometimes when going straight, the power assist steering simply fails (stops assisting the steering). I have to "muscle" the car off the roadway and either restart the engine or stop the car (off the road) straighten the steering wheel, restart the…

Read all 115 complaints

Owner-reported

2009 Mazda MAZDA3 mileage at failure

96 of the 115 complaints on file for the 2009 Mazda MAZDA3 give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
SteeringMedian 35,000 milesMiddle half 20,000–55,000 milesBased on 32 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2009 Mazda MAZDA3 in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR

NHTSA #11V329000 · Visibility — Windshield Wiper/Washer — Motor · NHTSA notice

Reported June 15, 2011 · MAZDA MOTOR CORP

Potentially affected: 103,300 vehicles

Mazda campaign 6411F · Owners notified July 6, 2011 · Vehicles built January 7, 2008 – November 28, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

THE LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION IN ADVERSE WEATHER COULD POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

MAZDA SAFETY RECALL NO. 6411F.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST

NHTSA #10V374000 · Steering — Electric Power Assist System · NHTSA notice

Reported August 12, 2010 · MAZDA MOTOR CORP

Potentially affected: 215,000 vehicles

Mazda campaign 6010H · Owners notified September 15, 2010 · Vehicles built April 2, 2007 – November 30, 2008 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL/FMVSS 126

NHTSA #09V187000 · Electronic Stability Control (ESC) · NHTSA notice

Reported May 29, 2009 · MAZDA MOTOR CORP

Potentially affected: 7,100 vehicles

Mazda campaign 5509E · Owners notified July 14, 2009 · Vehicles built July 1, 2008 – November 24, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

IMPROPER OPERATION OF THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

MAZDA RECALL NO. 5509E.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

AFTERMARKET ROOF MOUNTED LOAD CARRIERS

NHTSA #09E011000 · Equipment · NHTSA notice

Reported April 2, 2009 · THULE, INC.

Potentially affected: 2,323 vehicles

Owners notified April 17, 2009

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO THULE AFTERMARKET ROOF MOUNTED LOAD CARRIERS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON THE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

Other Mazda MAZDA3 model years

Check your 2009 Mazda MAZDA3 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mazda MAZDA3 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Mazda VIN