Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2008 Mazda MAZDA3
NHTSA data on file today
The 2008 Mazda MAZDA3 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 303 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #11V329000 WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V374000 LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E011000 AFTERMARKET ROOF MOUNTED LOAD CARRIERS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Steering 117 complaints
- Tires 42 complaints
- Wheels 33 complaints
- Air Bags 22 complaints
- Electrical System 17 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 17 complaints
Of the 303 complaints on file, 29 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 303 complaints, owners report 20 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $3,500–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2008 Mazda Mazda3 has moderate reliability with 303 complaints and 3 recalls. Steering-related issues are most common, but there's less evidence of other widespread failures. Several components have been the subject of a handful of complaints, suggesting limited data to ensure reliability beyond the issues highlighted in recalls.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering system | 60,000-100,000 miles | $400–$1,200 | common |
| Windshield wiper motor | 30,000-70,000 miles | $100–$300 | occasional |
| Tires | 30,000-50,000 miles | $400–$800 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change every 5,000 miles
- Brake inspection annually
- Tire rotation every 5,000 miles
- Replace wiper blades annually
- Coolant flush every 60,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Steering wheel hard to turn
- Squeaking from tires
- Wipers not functioning
- Engine stalling
- Unusual braking sounds
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2008 Mazda MAZDA3 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.