NHTSA vehicle safety data

2008 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 Recalls & Complaints

The 2008 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 33 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 2008 Mazda MAZDASPEED3. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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

2008 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 owner complaints

Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Mazda MAZDASPEED3, describing incidents dated June 29, 2008 to April 12, 2018.

Most-cited components

Power Train 23 complaints
Engine 5 complaints
Electrical System 2 complaints
Suspension 2 complaints
Unknown or Other 2 complaints
Wheels 2 complaints

Of the 33 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash and 2 a fire; across all 33 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11084999 · Filed April 13, 2018
I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY ROAD DOING 35-40MPH IN 4TH GEAR. I LET OFF THE GAS WHILE IN 4TH AND COASTED TO ABOUT 20MPH THEN SHIFTED TO N AND STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I TRIED TO SHIFT TO 1ST AN THE SHIFTER WENT HALF WAY IN BETWEEN R AND 1ST, SO I SHIFTED BACK TO N AND TRIED 1ST…
ODI #11055920 · Filed December 21, 2017
I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY IN MOTION WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY SHIFTER BROKE OFF AND I WASN'T ABLE TO MOVE. I HAD TO CALL I TOW
ODI #10981173 · Filed April 27, 2017
I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE MY MAZDASPEED 3 SHIFTING FROM 1ST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR. I SHIFTED INTO THIRD WHERE MY SHIFT BROKE AND REMAINED IN MY HAND. MY CAR STALLED OUT IN 3RD BECAUSE I COULD NOT SHIFT OUT. I TOOK OFF THE PLASTICS COVERING THE SHIFTER AND PULLED THE PLATE BACK INTO NEAUTRAL SO I COULD…

Read all 33 complaints

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> .

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2008 Mazda MAZDASPEED3. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

33 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Mazda MAZDASPEED3.

Power Train

ODI #11084999

Incident: April 12, 2018 · Filed: April 13, 2018

I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY ROAD DOING 35-40MPH IN 4TH GEAR. I LET OFF THE GAS WHILE IN 4TH AND COASTED TO ABOUT 20MPH THEN SHIFTED TO N AND STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I TRIED TO SHIFT TO 1ST AN THE SHIFTER WENT HALF WAY IN BETWEEN R AND 1ST, SO I SHIFTED BACK TO N AND TRIED 1ST AGAIN. THEN THE WHOLE SHIFTER BROKE OFF AND WAS JUST LAYING THERE. NOW MY CAR IS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11055920

Incident: December 20, 2017 · Filed: December 21, 2017

I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY IN MOTION WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY SHIFTER BROKE OFF AND I WASN'T ABLE TO MOVE. I HAD TO CALL I TOW

Unknown or Other

ODI #10981173

Incident: April 27, 2017 · Filed: April 27, 2017

I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE MY MAZDASPEED 3 SHIFTING FROM 1ST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR. I SHIFTED INTO THIRD WHERE MY SHIFT BROKE AND REMAINED IN MY HAND. MY CAR STALLED OUT IN 3RD BECAUSE I COULD NOT SHIFT OUT. I TOOK OFF THE PLASTICS COVERING THE SHIFTER AND PULLED THE PLATE BACK INTO NEAUTRAL SO I COULD PUSH MY CAR TO THE LOCAL GAS STATION. MY SHIFTER ROD SNAPPED AND THE SPRING CAME OUT.

Power Train

ODI #10874127

Incident: June 14, 2016 · Filed: June 14, 2016

MANUAL SHIFT LEVER CAME DETACHED WHILE DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. CAR STUCK IN 4TH GEAR. I WAS UP SHIFTING WHEN IT HAPPENED.

Power Train

ODI #10743456

Incident: July 24, 2015 · Filed: July 25, 2015

WHILE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR AT LOW SPEED, THE SHIFTER FOR MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. AFTER COASTING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND REMOVING THE CONSOLE, I DISCOVERED IT SNAPPED IN HALF AT THE LOCATION OF THE RETENTION PIN.

Power Train

ODI #10650101

Incident: October 26, 2014 · Filed: October 26, 2014

AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN I PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. AFTER MAKING THE TURN AND GOING TO PUT THE CAR BACK IN GEAR THE SHIFTER BREAKS AT THE POINT WHERE THE PIN GOES IN ABOVE THE BALL. I DO NOT TRACK MY CAR NOR SHIFT HARD EVER. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10641487

Incident: October 3, 2014 · Filed: October 5, 2014

THE SHIFT LEVER COMPLETE BROKE OFF AND NO LONGER HAD ANY AFFECT ON ENGAGING ANY OF THE GEARS. I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND IT BROKE WHEN I TRIED TO ENGAGE 1ST GEAR OUT OF NEUTRAL. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO FEEL FOR THE SHIFT CABLE MECHANISM THROUGH THE LEATHER SHIFTER BOOT AND ENGAGE 3RD GEAR. LIMPED HOME IN 3RD. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10639364

Incident: September 9, 2014 · Filed: September 26, 2014

I HAVE A 2008 MAZDASPEED 3 WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON 9/9/2014, THE STEEL ROD THAT THE SHIFTER KNOB IS ATTACHED TO SHEARED OFF SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND. THIS LEFT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND I HAD NO POWER SINCE I COULDN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE I WAS TRAVELING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. LUCKILY, I AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT AND COASTED TO A STOP. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. THE STEEL SHAFT SEPARATED COMPLETELY IN TWO WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE BREAK OCCURRED RIGHT WHERE THE SHAFT HAS A HOLE DRILLED THROUGH IT FOR THE METAL PIN THAT LOCKS IT INTO THE LOWER PART OF THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. I HAVE SAVED THE BROKEN PART AND I ALSO TOOK PHOTOS OF IT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS PART, WHICH IS CRITICAL TO THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THERE ARE OTHER REPORTS OF SIMILAR SHIFTER FAILURES FOR THIS YEAR/MODEL CAR ON INTERNET FORUMS. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO A MAZDA CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE VIA MAZDA'S CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE HOTLINE ON 9/9. I EMAILED THEM A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM AND SENT PHOTOS OF THE PART. I ALSO SHOWED THE PART TO MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP, LEE JOHNSON MAZDA IN KIRKLAND, WA AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE PART SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED IN THIS FASHION. I HAVE MADE REPEATED FOLLOW UP CALLS TO THE MAZDA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE HOTLINE AND ON 9/26 THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THAT MAZDA WILL NOT INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE AND IS NOT INTERESTED IN EXAMINING THE FAILED PART. THE CASE FILE NUMBER THEY GAVE ME IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Power Train

ODI #10621571

Incident: August 9, 2014 · Filed: August 11, 2014

WHILE SHIFTING FROM 2ND GEAR TO 3RD GEAR, SHIFTER LEVER SHEARED, AND DETACHED, AT THE RETAINING PIN. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10577559

Incident: April 4, 2014 · Filed: April 5, 2014

STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT, I ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT IN TO FIRST GEAR. WHILE SHIFTING, THE TRANSMISSION SELECT LEVER SHEERED AT THE INSERTION POINT TO THE TRANSMISSION AT THE RETENTION PIN. I WAS LEFT WITH A STICK SHIFT THAT WAS COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM THE CAR AND IMMOBILE. *TR

Other Mazda MAZDASPEED3 model years

Check your 2008 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mazda MAZDASPEED3 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Mazda VIN