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Mazda MAZDA3Model year report

2007 Mazda MAZDA3 Problems

Complaints
222filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
73,000miles, 182 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
25 mpgcombined, 2.3L 4-cyl FWD · 22 city / 30 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2007 Mazda MAZDA3 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2007 Mazda3 report most often about the electric power steering cutting out without warning, typically at moderate mileage and often intermittently at first. Other recurring themes are air bag warning lights and non-deployment in crashes, brake vibration and rotor warping, driveability complaints such as shaking or stalling at stops, and melted rear tail light housings.

  1. Steering

    Power steering assist cuts out while driving

    • 86 complaints (39%)
    • median 78,500 mi at 7.9 yrs old (75 state mileage)
    • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2008–2026

    Owners describe the steering suddenly becoming very heavy, sometimes with the power steering warning light on, at speeds from a walking pace to highway speed. In many complaints the assist returns after the car is restarted and then fails again, and some say it stopped working altogether over time. Several owners report the dealer or manufacturer told them their VIN was not covered by the power steering recall even though the symptoms matched; others had the pump or unit replaced. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 15,000 miles to well past 150,000 miles, often during turns or at low speed.

    Recall 10V374000

    What to check: Ask whether the power steering assist recall was performed on that VIN, and drive the car through slow turns and parking-lot maneuvers watching for a warning light or a sudden jump in steering effort.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was driving and my power steering went out. As I was going around a turn getting it home it started working again. After that my power steering would come and go while driving until it stopped working all together after a few months of intermittent malfunction. I was in motion while it stopped working and randomly started working again. Several times.”

    NHTSA complaint #11407160, filed 2021-04, 180,000 miles

    “When I start the car and start driving the power steering stiffens and the dash board lights go on and off and the head lights like its losing power. Then is I push the gas to go the vehicle will shut off with the steering will being hard to turn this happened while backing up and starting to drive on the redidential street”

    NHTSA complaint #10958603, filed 2017-03, 125,000 miles
  2. Air bags

    Air bag warning light on and bags not deploying

    • 25 complaints (11%)
    • median 74,000 mi at 6.1 yrs old (20 state mileage)
    • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2006–2021

    Complaints describe the air bag warning light coming on and staying on, which owners say disables the system; a common diagnosis was a faulty part in the steering column or the driver air bag module. Several owners report the bags did not deploy in front-end collisions. Dealers cleared codes, adjusted wiring, or quoted a costly air bag and module replacement. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 120,000 miles, often noticed as a dash light rather than a crash event.

    Recall 21V494000

    What to check: Check that the air bag light goes out after start-up, and ask whether the steering wheel air bag module cover recall was completed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “In march 2008, my vehicle had warning lights turn on for both the seat belt and ABS system. The dealer cleared the code and checked the system for errors. No codes re-occurred and the car was returned to me. Subsequently in december 2008, the airbag light came on again. The dealer adjusted some wiring and cleared the light/code. Now in september 2011, the airbag light is on again.”

    NHTSA complaint #10428015, filed 2011-09, 13,037 miles

    “I was rear ended by a city transit bus going approx. 30mph. At the point of impact my seat dislodged from it's position and flew back to the furthest position, then locking in place. I was unable to hit the brakes - therefore, pushing me into another vehicle of which I rear ended. My brand new car was considered a total loss. I did severe damage to the car I rear ended. The airbags also failed to deploy.”

    NHTSA complaint #10205331, filed 2007-10, 28,000 miles
  3. Engine

    Shaking and stalling at stops or at speed

    • 14 complaints (6%)
    • median 89,000 mi at 8.6 yrs old (13 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2010–2020

    Complaints describe heavy shaking while stopped at lights, high or fluctuating idle, and the engine shutting off on its own, sometimes while driving or when accelerating from a stop. A few mention stalling linked to a purge valve, engine mounts, or an evap system fault found at the dealer. Owners also report repeated oxygen sensor replacement. Reported from about 50,000 to 150,000 miles.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Let the car idle in gear at a stop and watch for vibration or a dropping tachometer, and ask whether the evap system, engine mounts, and oxygen sensors have been serviced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “2007 Mazda 3, whenever I come to a stop my vehicle vibrates really bad as if it want to stop. I have took the Mazda back to flow Mazda and they said it was nothing but everytime I stop it does the same thing. I also took it to sears and they said they see nothing wrong with the vehicle but something is calling the vehicle to vibrate whenever it isn't moving.”

    NHTSA complaint #10508845, filed 2013-04, 87,000 miles

    “My vehicle started shaking on friday. I parked it, later started it and started to move. Heard a crash. My transmission and engine fell. Motor mounts broken, damaged my axle.”

    NHTSA complaint #11384351, filed 2020-12, 130,000 miles
  4. Brakes

    Brake pedal feels soft and rotors warp early

    • 16 complaints (7%)
    • median 65,787 mi at 4.4 yrs old (13 state mileage)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2007–2022

    Owners describe vibration and shuddering under braking and front rotors warping at low mileage, sometimes again shortly after turning or replacing them. One complaint describes the pedal going mushy and needing long travel after ABS activation. Dealers reportedly attributed the rotor wear to driving style and treated it as not warrantable. Mostly reported between roughly 15,000 and 105,000 miles.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Test braking from highway speed for pulsation through the pedal or wheel, and ask for brake service records showing when rotors and pads were last replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I believe this issue may be the same as investigation pe 16-017. That mentions only ford/mercury cars, but I think they share some components with MAZDA3's of the same years. After an incident where ABS engaged while braking on a slippery city street, the brake pedal became very mushy and now the brakes take a worryingly large amount of travel (almost to the floor) to slow the car in regular driving.”

    NHTSA complaint #10957657, filed 2017-02, 105,000 miles

    “This car has never been in an acident, and has been very well maintained. The car, a Mazda 3 hatchback grand touring has an ongoing brake defect. The front brake rotors became warped around 17,000 miles. I paid $300.00 to have the rotors turned and purchased new brake pads and had them installed. According to Mazda it was my fault due to heavy braking and there is no way Mazda brake rotors are faulty, and it is not a warrantied item. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10217323, filed 2008-02, 17,000 miles

Buying note. This model year draws repeated power steering assist complaints, including cars outside the recall population, so confirm recall status by VIN and test the steering thoroughly. Budget for a brake inspection and check the air bag system and idle behavior during a test drive.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 222 consumer complaints for the 2007 Mazda MAZDA3. 182 of the complaints include a mileage, and 33% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 73,000 miles. Of all complaints, 28 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 28 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 225 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Body and structure (9), Vehicle speed control (9), Electronic stability control (8), Engine cooling (8), Wheels (6), Other or unknown (4), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (3), Equipment (2), Seats (2), Hybrid propulsion system (1).

Example complaints

Steering: “I recently purchased this vehicle used with salvage title on february 6, 2021. I took it to be inspected and I needed both belts replaced, they had to tighten back down my struts in front, my power steering was acting funny and making noise and my intermediate speed shaft sensor is going bad because the check engine light keeps coming back on for the same code. There was damage to the vehicle but they didn't tell me that it was serious damage. …”

NHTSA complaint #11398986, filed 2021-03, 108 miles

Air bags: “My daughter was driving on city street when she was involved in an accident back in october 2018 were she flipped into a stream. She escaped with bruises and cuts, I am very thankful that nothing worse happen to her. When the wrecker was pulling her car out, I noticed that the roof of the car was crushed in as well as the front and back of the vehicle. The Mazda 3 that we purchased for our daughter was totaled but no airbags ever came out. The cop, ems worker, and I was wondering why none of the airbags deployed. …”

NHTSA complaint #11157212, filed 2018-12, 20,000 miles

Engine: “While driving my car to turn into the shopping center parking lot, the steering wheel locked up and was very stiff. At the same time the engine shut off and essentially causing my car to stop in the middle of the parking lot. All engine, power, and battery lights flashed on and off at the same time. I ended up putting the car in park turn off the car with my key and then restarting it again. …”

NHTSA complaint #10643433, filed 2014-10, 118,000 miles

Electrical system: “I have constantly replaced my driver window motor. The driver window switch/motor stops working for no reason. In addition the entire headunit stops working. It shuts on and off while in the middle of driving. Sometimes to powers right back on and other times it can take days for it to turn back on.”

NHTSA complaint #10525432, filed 2013-07, 24,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

33% of the 182 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 39,000 and 108,000 miles.

8%0–107%10–2518%25–5018%50–7519%75–10021%100–1509%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (182 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 73,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’06’0923’12’15’18’21’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2007 Mazda MAZDA3. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
MAZDA3 · sedan FWDnot rated4 / 4———
MAZDA3 · 5 dr hatchback FWDnot rated4 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2007 Mazda MAZDA3 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
3 FWD2.0L 4-cyl5-speed manual243227$2,500
3 FWD2.0L 4-cyl4-speed automatic233126$2,600
3 FWD2.3L 4-cyl5-speed manual223025$2,700
3 FWD2.3L 4-cyl5-speed automatic222924$2,800
3 FWD2.3L 4-cyl6-speed manual182621$3,900

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2007 Mazda MAZDA3 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 225 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 225 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mazda MAZDA3

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20258—15——Too new
2024121,90035——Too new
2023122,50005——Too new
20222427,28705——Rising
2021541,70015—29 · FewerStable
2020322,00025—10 · FewerFalling
2019745,0006——65 · MoreFalling
201811029,85045—35 · FewerRising
20178428,69225—16 · FewerRising
201610436,80665—58 · TypicalRising
201513033,50045—67 · MoreRising
201413834,25045—47 · TypicalRising
201311740,66014279 · FewerFalling
201222639,500142752 · TypicalFalling
201113245,100242737 · TypicalFalling
201068659,0363—2799 · MoreFalling
200911533,6813—2569 · MoreStable
200830340,0462—2679 · MoreFalling
200722273,0002—25Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200616671,0001—26Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20059765,9152—26Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200414559,1512—26Not compared (before 2008)Rising

All Mazda MAZDA3 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2007 Mazda MAZDA3?

Owners of the 2007 Mazda3 report most often about the electric power steering cutting out without warning, typically at moderate mileage and often intermittently at first. The issues reported most often: Power steering assist cuts out while driving; Air bag warning light on and bags not deploying; Shaking and stalling at stops or at speed.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2007 Mazda MAZDA3 have?

NHTSA recorded 222 consumer complaints for the 2007 Mazda MAZDA3 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2007 Mazda MAZDA3 is reported most often?

Steering is named most often, in 89 complaints (40% of the total), followed by air bags with 36.

Has the 2007 Mazda MAZDA3 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2007 Mazda MAZDA3 get?

The EPA rates the 2007 Mazda MAZDA3 (3, 2.3L 4-cyl) at 25 mpg combined, 22 city and 30 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2007 Mazda MAZDA3 reported?

Among the 182 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 73,000 miles and the middle half falls between 39,000 and 108,000 miles; 33% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.