2005 Mazda MAZDA3 Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 4%of 97 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 125,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the engine of the 2005 Mazda MAZDA3, 4% of the 97 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 125,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Engine failed entirely during routine highway driving, vehicle lost forward propulsion, eventually coming to complete stop on the road. There were zero warning or any notice at all that the engine was dying. I was stranded on the side of the road for over 1 hour, while help arrived.”
NHTSA complaint #11120621, filed 2018-08, 190,000 miles“I had done my oil change about 3 weeks before I was driving to work and I felt my car running different, when I brake and took a right turn, and the engine oil pressure came on, I checked and the amount of oil in my car was minimum, the car has no leaks and I had checked that with a mechanic, so the car is burning oil.. I had been talking to many mechanics and people from auto part stores about this problem on my engine, and they say that many, if not all of them MAZDA3 cars from this year have that problem, and the problem is from the way it is manufactured.”
NHTSA complaint #10702403, filed 2015-03“The contact owns a 2005 Mazda 3. While driving at approximately 65 MPH, there was an abnormal noise and the vehicle stalled. The failure recurred once. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage 125,000. The VIN was not available.”
NHTSA complaint #10715152, filed 2015-05, 125,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11032103Apr 21, 2026This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are noted in Red. SA-011/24 02/12/24, 06/06/24, 07/29/24 DESCRIPTION Mazda has developed factory…
- 10092584Aug 26, 2016There is a concern that some water pumps are being replaced that are not faulty, due to signs of a very small coolant leak from the bleed hole. This service bulletin is to inform…
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 | 17% |
| 2022 | 2 | 8% |
| 2021 | 19 | 35% |
| 2020 | 1 | 3% |
| 2019 | 11 | 15% |
| 2018 | 12 | 11% |
| 2017 | 5 | 6% |
| 2016 | 7 | 7% |
| 2015 | 6 | 5% |
| 2014 | 13 | 9% |
| 2013 | 11 | 9% |
| 2012 | 32 | 14% |
| 2011 | 3 | 2% |
| 2010 | 22 | 3% |
| 2009 | 2 | 2% |
| 2008 | 16 | 5% |
| 2007 | 22 | 10% |
| 2006 | 17 | 10% |
| 2005 | 4 | 4% |
| 2004 | 4 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2005 Mazda MAZDA3
24 complaintsEngine cooling
19 complaintsElectrical system
17 complaintsSteering
15 complaintsBrakes
6 complaintsExterior lighting
6 complaintsFuel system
6 complaintsEquipment
5 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
5 complaintsSeat belts
3 complaintsSuspension
3 complaintsTires
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 Mazda MAZDA3
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology