repaired · 2023 Q3
Air bags: frontal
Risk. Plastic fragments can hit occupants during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury.
2005 Mazda MAZDA3Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 97 owner complaints about the 2005 Mazda MAZDA3, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-494 the manufacturer reports only 6% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 13, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: DieselFordMondeo, CC BY 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2005 Mazda MAZDA3 has problems
97 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
24Air bags8 crash/fire/injury
19Engine and engine cooling2 crash/fire/injury
17Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
15Steering3 crash/fire/injury
6Exterior lighting
5Fuel system, gasoline
5Equipment
5Power train
4Engine
2513 other systems8 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 24 | 8 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 19 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 17 | 3 |
| Steering | 15 | 3 |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 2 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 5 | 1 |
| Equipment | 5 | 0 |
| Power train | 5 | 0 |
| Engine | 4 | 0 |
| 13 other systems | 25 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2005 Mazda MAZDA3 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
Risk. THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH AND IT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mazda.
Mileage at failure
When do air bags problems start?
70kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 21 air bags complaints. 57% were reported before 100,000 miles.
2under 30k miles12under 100k miles9100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2005 vs. every other MAZDA3 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the MAZDA3 median. How we score
'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2005 Mazda MAZDA3 safety ratings
2005 Mazda3 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What MAZDA3 owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, there was an abnormally strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, other individuals informed the contact that there was a strong fuel odor coming from the…
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V494000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The…
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V494000 (Air Bags) however, the contact was unable to contact reach the manufacturer or the local dealer for the recall repair. The contact called the number to the local dealer and the manufacturer…
Own a 2005 MAZDA3?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.