2009 Mazda MAZDA3 Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 35about this part
- Share
- 30%of 115 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 33,237miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 35 complaints about the steering of the 2009 Mazda MAZDA3, 30% of the 115 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 33,237 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Power steering has failed on my 2009 Mazda 3 gt sport in 2 incidents - july 14, 2010 and august 11, 2010. In both cases, the power steering light came on and it was difficult to maneuver the car. Once I shut off the vehicle and restarted, the power steering light was no longer lit and the power steering was operational again.”
NHTSA complaint #10350023, filed 2010-08, 21,100 miles“My Mazda 3 sedan lost its power steering. I was driving on a straight road and suddenly the steering wheel was difficult to maneuver. I called the dealership and they found debris in the steering fluid. They replaced the fluid, the fluid lines and other equipment to the cost of $1,400 covered by the warranty. My car is approximately 16 months old - purchased january 31, 2009.”
NHTSA complaint #10327325, filed 2010-04, 18,000 miles“When sitting at a traffic light in my 2009 MAZDA3 4-door sedan, the power steering suddenly and unexpectedly stopped working. The warning light came on (a yellow steering wheel indicator with an exclamation point). I was able to drive home with much effort to make turns. Parked car in garage. 5 minutes later returned to check it again. Started car and power steering was functional again.”
NHTSA complaint #10343534, filed 2010-07, 42,319 miles“This seems to happen as I'm slowing down, as you would to make a turn onto a street or driveway. I turn on my blinker, then the moment I press the brake, all of the power in the car dies, and comes right back on. I think of it as a quick reset it seems. However, when this happens, the power steering does not work, and I'm left finishing my turn without power steering. The power steering is the only thing that does not reset when the power fails. The power steering may take 3-6 seconds before it comes back. And it always comes back on, but not until after I'm through my turn. …”
NHTSA complaint #11405252, filed 2021-03, 130,000 miles“1. I was stuck in a traffic jam in may 31st and when I had to turn after a while, it was obvious that the power steering was no longer working. 2. This was the only time the power steering failed, it failed until I parked the car about 1/2 hour later. When I started the car again, the power steering worked fine. It has worked fine since then. 3. No repairs have been done. The car is a 2009 Mazda 3, 4-door, tr ve.”
NHTSA complaint #10351544, filed 2010-08, 18,000 milesRelated recalls
- 10V374000Aug 12, 2010Mazda is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 mazda3 and mazda5 vehicles manufactured from april 2, 2007 through november 30, 2008. These vehicles may have…Covers: Mazda MAZDA3 2007–2009, MAZDA5 2007–2009
Related service bulletins
- 10251387Feb 12, 2024Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as…
- 10208556Feb 23, 2022Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as…
- 10186693Jan 21, 2021Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as…
- 10153318Jan 23, 2019Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight on a flat road.
- 10154139Dec 11, 2018If a vehicle has body vibration or steering wheel shimmy while driving and the root cause is determined to be tire balance, re-balance the tires using a Hunter GSP9700 or…
- 10142519May 8, 2018Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight on a flat road.
- 10185904Mar 7, 2016Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3" even when driving straight on a flat road.
- 10101062Mar 7, 2016Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight on a flat road.
- 10090812Mar 7, 2016Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight on a flat road.
- 10098895Nov 4, 2014Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight on a flat road. Follow steering wheel alignment procedure.
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 8% |
| 2021 | 1 | 2% |
| 2020 | 3 | 9% |
| 2019 | 3 | 4% |
| 2018 | 2 | 2% |
| 2017 | 2 | 2% |
| 2016 | 3 | 3% |
| 2015 | 3 | 2% |
| 2014 | 3 | 2% |
| 2013 | 9 | 8% |
| 2012 | 15 | 7% |
| 2011 | 13 | 10% |
| 2010 | 31 | 5% |
| 2009 | 35 | 30% |
| 2008 | 117 | 39% |
| 2007 | 89 | 40% |
| 2006 | 28 | 17% |
| 2005 | 15 | 15% |
| 2004 | 19 | 13% |
Other parts of the 2009 Mazda MAZDA3
26 complaintsWheels
19 complaintsBrakes
8 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
6 complaintsAir bags
5 complaintsElectrical system
5 complaintsExterior lighting
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 29, 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