2009 Mazda MAZDA3 Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 4%of 115 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 45,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2009 Mazda MAZDA3, 4% of the 115 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 45,000 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
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.
“Red inner coating on tail lights appears to have melted, making a hole that shows white light through the tail light lens so that when I am braking, it looks like I might have my backup lights on. This problem was first noticed several months ago (mid-2012) by a friend who was following me on a trip at night. At the time, there were small holes in the red part of the tail lights. By early this month, when I took the car to a Mazda dealer about this problem, the holes had become quite a bit bigger. They started at about the size of a dime or nickel, last year. …”
NHTSA complaint #10499600, filed 2013-02, 35,050 miles“Red tail light lens melted so when you turn on the lights, the tail lights look white instead of red. Did this to both right and left side tail lights using original bulbs. I purchased two new tail light assemblies and installed them myself. After three months the right side tail light again melted so it now looks white.”
NHTSA complaint #10945446, filed 2017-01, 89,000 miles“The contact owns a 2009 Mazda 3. The contact stated that the tail lights melted. The dealer replaced the tail lights; however, the failure persisted. In addition, the brake lights operated at random. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10662744, filed 2014-12, 45,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10154529Mar 15, 2019Some customers may complain of condensation/fog inside the front (headlamp/headlight) or rear (taillamp/taillight) combination lights. The recent new models have been fitted with…
- 10153332Jan 3, 2019Some customers may complain of condensation/fog inside the front (headlamp/headlight) or rear (taillamp/taillight) combination lights. The recent new models have been fitted with…
- 10134701Mar 22, 2018Some customers may complain of condensation/fog inside the front (headlamp/headlight) or rear (taillamp/taillight) combination lights. The recent new models have been fitted with…
- 10118468Aug 9, 2017When dealing with customer complaints of excessive condensation and/or water within the headlamp unit, first determine if all the bulb sockets (including O-ring), seals and…
- 10111041Jul 6, 2017On some vehicles, the rear combination lamp lens becomes hazy and looks white when the brake or taillight is on. Due to heat accumulated by extended brake light (E) usage, the…
- 10111011Mar 9, 2017Take caution when cleaning plastic headlight lenses. Damage can occur when using some cleaners that contain strong acid, alkaline cleanser or organic solvent. Damage caused by…
- 10185806Jan 13, 2017Excessive condensation or water within the headlamp assembly caustion.
- 10092413Apr 28, 2016Some customers may complain about improper operation of the auto-dimming mirror. This may be caused by an obstruction of the front and/or rear light sensor(s) (e.g. Hanging a…
- 10213417Feb 5, 2016Passenger fAirbag deactivation (PAD) indicator light illumination
- 10213421Jan 25, 2016Condensation/Fog in front and rear combination lights
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 8% |
| 2020 | 1 | 3% |
| 2019 | 2 | 3% |
| 2017 | 1 | 1% |
| 2016 | 1 | 1% |
| 2015 | 5 | 4% |
| 2014 | 1 | 1% |
| 2013 | 36 | 31% |
| 2012 | 31 | 14% |
| 2011 | 10 | 8% |
| 2010 | 23 | 3% |
| 2009 | 5 | 4% |
| 2008 | 17 | 6% |
| 2007 | 12 | 5% |
| 2006 | 3 | 2% |
| 2005 | 6 | 6% |
| 2004 | 8 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2009 Mazda MAZDA3
35 complaintsTires
26 complaintsWheels
19 complaintsBrakes
8 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
6 complaintsAir bags
5 complaintsElectrical system
5 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsElectronic stability control
4 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsSuspension
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2009 Mazda MAZDA3
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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