2006 Mazda Mazda3 Mazda Mazda3 2006

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2006 Mazda Mazda3 repairs by problem area

Engine (36%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (8%)

Brakes and Traction Control (5%)

Suspension and Steering (20%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (18%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (4%)

Other (9%)

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Chart based on 372 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2006 Mazda Mazda3.

2006 Mazda Mazda3 suspension repair cost distribution

$2500+ (0%)

$1000 - $2499 (21%)

$500 - $999 (21%)

$100 - $499 (36%)

< $100 (22%)

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Chart based on 67 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2006 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

160-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

58000 mi

US $1100
Replaced four leaking shock absorbers 
45869 mi

US $252
replaced front driver's side strut under warranty which was found during transmission flush service/and oil and filter change (syn. oil) Price was for all services. (strut covered by warranty.) 
65778 mi

US $288
replace right front strut 
85000 mi

US $1000
Replaces shocks & struts 
86000 mi

US $500
Rear trailing arm bushing went bad. Had them replaced on both sides. 
107000 mi

US $700
Bad wheel bearings. Replaced both sides. 
57000 mi

US $1300
Right front strut and control arm replaced. 

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2006 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

160-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD

27000 mi Both rear wheel bearings were bad Rear wheel bearings bad on both sides. Car out of commission for 3 days waiting for parts. Rental car provided. 
30000 mi had a brief vibration in the steering wheel that occurred between 65 and 75 mph only. Took it to the dealer and determined the wheels needed to be rebalanced. It was performed under the warrnaty. 
32000 mi End links loose, front end made a thunk when turning the steering wheel. 
52080 mi

C $1000
Clunking noise in rear. Dealer replaced both rear shocks and front control arm. Clunking still present. Took back to dealer and after test drive a broken spring was found. 
89000 mi

US $500
Front struts required replacement. 
34000 mi Clicking noise heard from passenger side rear wheel when accelerating around left-turns (when that corner is weight-loaded). Dealer says they heard it from front right, but could not find anything, so they tightened all suspension bolts they say. Proble 
23560 mi Rear suspension noise, repair attempt not successful. Must schedule another visit. 
26660 mi Stabilizer rod 
7000 mi Power steering pump was leaking. 
65000 mi

US $1000
Front struts replaced 
131000 mi

US $450
Loss of traction when cornering. Diagnosed as worn out struts. Replaced front struts. 
29760 mi Power steering pump leaked from housing - pump replaced under warranty. 
40300 mi Power steering pump replaced last year. Fluid line was damaged during that repair and was slowly leaking. Repaired and cleaned by shop. 

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2006 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

150-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

105000 mi

US $650
Bought strut/shock replacements (all four corners) online. Paid a local independent shop to replace the front struts. I did the rear shocks myself. Repair due to mileage of car (primary) and front-passenger suspension squeak (secondary) 
73000 mi

US $1100
Had front struts replaced 
121000 mi

US $1225
Replace front end struts and springs 

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2006 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

150-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD

12000 mi Front bushings replaced (due to squeeky steering), 
119000 mi

US $1700
replace front struts 
117000 mi

US $350
worn sway bar links replaced to stop noise. 

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2006 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

160-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

103500 mi

US $300
Replaced brake rotors and pads, struts, shocks, inner/outer tie-rods, and suspension linkages. All but pads and shocks had been replaced before. Much was deferred maintenance. 
149200 mi

US $378
Ripped boot during earlier front ball joint replacement. Replaced complete front L&R control arms. Replaced rear trailing arm bushings; rear spring insulators; rear rear upper & lower control arms. Bought special tool for bushings (included in cost). 
70060 mi

C $500
Replaced front struts and rear shocks 
76000 mi

US $415
Replaced power steering pump to fix intermittent power steering failure. Replaced power steering pump to fix intermittent power steering failure. 
97200 mi

US $248
Replaced worn front tie-rod ends. 
79000 mi

US $750
Front left bearing had to be replaced. Front brake rotors also replaced prematurely due to excessive wear. 
55500 mi rattle or clunking noise coming from rear end of car, independent shop unable to fix it 
72000 mi

US $150
Replaced right front strut. 
74000 mi

US $270
Replaced rear shocks and left front strut. 
42160 mi

C $1211
Sheared upper drivers side rear shock mount. Ended up replacing both rear shocks and mounts, both rear springs (one cracked), and rt rear stabilizer bar 
66000 mi

US $1692
Front right strut had been damaged since about 30k miles - never repaired. Replaced both strut assemblies and replaced front/rear shocks also. 
76800 mi

US $650
Front struts were leaking, one had collapsed. New struts and end links were required. 
31000 mi

US $1700
Warped rotors and asymmetrically-worn brake pads replaced, along with one wheel bearing and two axles. 
53100 mi

US $1500
I say both right bearings were bad. Mechanic ex-boyfriend replaced just front, and just the ring, not the whole hub assembly. That failed today, three weeks later. Control arm replaced along with axle half-shaft. 

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2006 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

160-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD

120280 mi Failure of upper connections of both rear shocks 
123000 mi

US $400
Broken right rear shock mount. Replaced both. 
15000 mi bad "steering angle sensor" 
120000 mi

US $1500
replace rear stabilizer bar replace 1 engine mount 
125300 mi

US $960
steering shudder when accelerating and braking. noises from suspension steering shudder when accelerating 
79800 mi

US $400
Passenger shock leaking/blown 
202000 mi

US $225
Driver's side front wheel bearing needed to be replaced. 
78120 mi

C $700
Replaced struts 
102300 mi

US $750
Had to replace the struts. Adviser said the was almost no oil left. Judging from what I found on the internet, struts may need to be replaced around 50-60,000 miles. It seems like having to do it just past 100,000 miles is not a bad deal! 
129000 mi

US $417
right wheel bearing got very noisy and had to be replaced. $297 total. 
141000 mi

US $700
Bushings on control arms wore out. Replaced both control arms and had alignment done 
153000 mi

US $78
Rear right shock mount broke (drove over a really bad expansion joint on a highway overpass...) Mechanic replaced broken mount and the one on the other side as a preventive measure, as it was severely corroded. 
55500 mi

US $1300
Front struts, rear shocks worn out. One leaking, not functional. All had needed replacement for a long time. Shop said OEM shocks usually low quality, don't last. Replaced struts/shocks, front strut mounts and bushings, and did alignment. 
94000 mi

US $130
KYB rear shocks from previous repair failed prematurely. Wear on rotated front tire indicated shock had failed already by 20,000 miles. KYB replaced shocks at no charge, but had to pay for installation. Also did alignment. 
106800 mi

US $400
Front struts were worn out. Replaced struts and springs. 
84320 mi

C $250
Front driver side wheel bearing replaced at local shop. 
98360 mi

C $400
Replaced worn out front wheel bearing 
99200 mi

C $300
Broken rear coil spring and blown shock 
111600 mi

C $300
Both front struts required replacement 
112100 mi

C $180
Had to replace broken ball joint / lower control arm assy and get alignment. 
115940 mi

C $50
Rear strut mount sheared from going over a bump. Both rears have had this problem multiple times. I have replaced with new parts each time and replaced rear shocks as well. Poor design 
122140 mi

C $40
Rear shock mount broke. AGAIN!. These mounts are a terrible design, have replaced with several brands multiple times on both sides. In addition I try to be very careful going over any bumps etc. 
91000 mi

US $500
Springs and shocks in rear worn - replaced with aftermarket parts 
100000 mi

US $500
Replaced front struts due to significant loss of steering control and body roll. Car handling was dangerous. 
107000 mi

US $375
Replaced bushings, FR and FL. 
147000 mi

US $614
R/L Rear shocks and springs replaced Shock mounts and bump stops replaced 
82000 mi

US $100
Rear shocks replaced. 
84000 mi

US $380
Still shuddered over bumps. Front struts replaced, lowering springs installed on all four corners, adjustable rear upper control arms installed & alignment performed to get rid of excessive rear camber from lowering. Shudder now gone. 

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See TrueDelta's information for all Mazda models.

2006 Mazda Mazda3 Suspension Problems

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