| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2004 Mazda Mazda3 repairs by problem area
Engine (34%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (7%)
Brakes and Traction Control (4%)
Suspension and Steering (23%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (20%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (9%)
Other (2%)
Chart based on 283 repairs.
2004 Mazda Mazda3 engine repair cost distribution
$2500+ (1%)
$1000 - $2499 (10%)
$500 - $999 (11%)
$100 - $499 (37%)
< $100 (41%)
Chart based on 81 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2004 Mazda Mazda3
Engine not specified
| 100000 mi US $200 |
The engine kept stalling. As I slowed down, it would take too long to shift to first. Also the engine was idling very rough. |
2004 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan
160-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 88660 mi | The pulley on the belt tensioner broke such that the main serpentine belt broke rendering the car undriveable. This is a known issue with the car and Mazda has put out a service report but has not warranted a recall. I had purchased an extended warranty. Pulley on the belt tensioner broke & cut main serpentine belt rendering the car undriveable. It's a known issue & Mazda has put out a service report but no recall. Fixed under extended warranty. (otherwise: $550) |
| 110980 mi C $250 |
Motor mount #? broke which is common for all Mazda3's. Same motor mount in all of them. I don't know if they corrected the problem in later models. Motor mount #? broke which is common for all '04 Mazda3's. Same motor mount in all of them. I don't know if they corrected the problem in later models. |
| 118420 mi C $392 |
Check engine light code indicated an emissions fault. Found thermostat faulty & replaced. (Engine had been unable to warm to precise operating temp. so fuel wasn't burned as fully as it could be... I think.) Check engine light emissions code. Diagnosed as faulty thermostat. Needed replacement. Replaced thermostat. **(Don't think it ever needed this b/c the car warmed up fine and blew good heat. I only understood this after my Jan 2011 trip unfortunately.) |
| 119660 mi | Check engine on. Fuel filler cap not closed tight. Light suppose to turn off after driving 10 minutes. It did not. Back to shop that replaced thermostat. Cleared the code. Everything fine since. **(Prob. misdiagnosed earlier & never needed) |
| 55000 mi US $460 |
Engine mount replacement. |
| 117180 mi C $240 |
Spark plugs and #4 coil |
| 140740 mi C $500 |
Thermostat housing |
| 140000 mi US $110 |
Leak detection pump failed. Won't be repairing. |
| 147000 mi | Leak detection pump never fixed. |
| 80000 mi | Alternator pulley, manufacturing defect. |
| 10000 mi | tsb on purge solenoid and recall on airbag sensor |
| 71000 mi US $400 |
Purge valve was replaced. |
| 119000 mi US $600 |
Engine mount drivers side broken and leaking. |
| 51000 mi | The timing belt tensioner failed during highway travel, seizing the engine. Engine was replaced successfully under Extended (CPO) warranty. During the repair, some maintenance needed to be done to finish the repair (cleaning carbon deposits). |
| 61000 mi US $120 |
A motor mount was broken and was easily and quickly replaced. |
| 89600 mi US $800 |
A belt tensioner broke. Caused the car to overheat and I had to have it towed. A tensioner broke, causing a belt to stop powering the electronics. The tensioner and belt were replaced. |
| 115000 mi US $1200 |
Oxygen sensor and catalytic converter needed to be replaced (discovered because of CEL). The long repair time was due to ordering the CC. |
2004 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan
160-horsepower 2.3L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 66000 mi US $400 |
Themostat needed to be replaced Coolant reservoir hose ripped by contact with serpentine belt. |
| 156000 mi | misfire kept happening at random, I attributed it to old gas, light would come on, then clear in the same driving session. last 2driving sessions, light never came on. |
| 89280 mi C $250 |
Check Engine Light on due to failed Purge valve. |
| 92000 mi US $175 |
thermostat stuck open, motor under temp. replaced thermostat |
| 35000 mi | Torn engine mount found during oil change... |
| 36000 mi US $400 |
Oil pan leaking. Gasket replaced. Also found a broken motor mount, which was replaced. |
2004 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan
148-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 132000 mi US $85 |
Both engine motor mounts were replaced. |
| 139000 mi US $39 |
The transmission mount was replaced. |
| 163000 mi US $53 |
Evap canister purge valve was replaced. The engine idle was erratic and a gas smell was present also. |
| 166000 mi US $100 |
Motor mount replaced. Loud noise, similar to what a modified exhaust sounds like, was occurring. |
| 81000 mi US $65 |
Received CEL for Coolant Temp Low. Replaced Thermostat and Coolant Temp Sensor. |
| 96000 mi | Engine code for temp sensor - unrepaired. |
| 69378 mi C $700 |
It costs 700$ to replace a defect manifold. The trouble appeared when I was accelerating, the car did some noise, some really annoying noise. Mostly before 2000 RPM. Since that repair, I never had any other trouble with those sounds |
2004 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan
148-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 170500 mi | Cruise control and throttle "pulsing" (barely perceptible) despite new oxygen and cruise sensors month prior. ECU flashed then replaced. Problem not solved. Dealer did not charge for repairs. |
| 68240 mi C $70 |
Car has a low idle (around 500 RPM) and shakes and almost stalls at red lights, once the engine is warmed up. The Mazda dealership cleaned the throttle body and replaced engine mount #3, at my expense, with NO improvement in symptoms. Follow up visit for my low idle/shaky idle/almost stalling at red lights, after I paid them good money to diagnose and fix the problem. They claim the idle is just fine and there is no problem. Roll Eyes. Useless Mazda dealership! |
| 166000 mi US $15 |
Throttle body had to be cleaned. Engine stalling while idleing |
| 186000 mi US $30 |
Thermostat stuck open replaced thermostat. |
| 210000 mi | Transmission mount bolt came lose and dropped transmission. Tore inner cv axle and had to tow home. Reconnected transmission with thread locker. Replaced cv axle under warranty. |
| 31000 mi | Car stalling and it's an ATX. Dealer told me everything is fine but the car stalled right in the lot when I picked it up. Dealer also managed to have my car rear-ended during a test drive. This problem was never fixed. |
2004 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch
160-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 187000 mi US $120 |
Thermostat has a tendency to fail. |
| 149200 mi | In May I had a small leak in the coolant system, which got worse during a long drive and ended in overheating badly. The block was cracked, had to have the engine rebuilt, did not happen until August. Also needed a new thermostat and coolant temp sensor. |
| 149000 mi US $300 |
Not long after, a hose broke (coolant bypass - on the *bottom* of the engine, which costs $300 to access). Out of town, so I had to see an unfamiliar mechanic to replace that hose, and he messed up the recently-replaced thermostat. |
| 130000 mi US $138 |
Engine intermittently took a long time to heat up, thermostat was replaced. |
| 131000 mi US $269 |
Check engine light came on and car failed smog test. Rear O2 sensor was replaced. |
| 130000 mi US $160 |
Oil light illuminated, oil pressure switch was replaced. Oil filter housing had a hairline crack. Housing was replaced. |
| 124000 mi US $1000 |
Along with 2 broken engine mounts. Check engine light was on. Faulty thermostat or coolant temp sensor. |
| 141000 mi US $88 |
Muffler was rattling around due to rear-most exhaust hanger that had rusted through & broken. Replaced with universal hanger from Amazon. |
| 37200 mi C $400 |
tension arm for serpentine belt broke - needed new arm and belt |
| 53000 mi | Replaced purge solenoid valve myself to eliminate searching idle, a known problem with early 2004 2.3s. |
| 86000 mi US $100 |
blown motor. car is in garage awaiting money to repair |
| 63000 mi US $320 |
thermostat stuck open; replaced and coolant flushed and replaced |
| 70000 mi US $900 |
Clutch began slipping and needed replacing |
| 80000 mi US $600 |
Alternator tensioner replaced. Belt managed to get destroyed. Water pump belt tensioner plastic pulley shattered at 3k rpm. Belt managed to get destroyed. Belt tensioner cost is $300 from dealer, $125 from NAPA. |
| 147200 mi | MIL came on while driving. P0300 random misfire code. Reset with own code reader. MIL off. Has not returned in 1k miles. Suspect gasoline. |
| 157000 mi US $200 |
Water pump failed. Diagnosed failed motor mount at same time. Both replaced. Mileage number at failure seems normal. No complaints. Motor mount; the large liquid filled one on passenger side. Required removal for water pump replacement. Found the rubber had rotted and all liquid had previously vacated at unknown mileage. Explained why engine vibration was noticeable while operating the car. Easy to replace. |
| 59000 mi US $700 |
Thermostat was sticking. Some valve in/near the gastank that gets stuck and allows petrol to escape in gas form. |
| 173000 mi US $60 |
New thermostat |
| 35000 mi | Check engine light on --- Faulty evaporative emissions purge valve. Replaced under warranty. |
| 37000 mi | Check engine light on, plus occasional hesitation. Oxygen sensor diagnosed as faulty. Replaced under warranty. |
| 31604 mi | Repaired MAF sensor wiring (under warranty). |
| 41880 mi | Front engine mount replaced (under warranty). Original was torn and leaking fluid. |
| 76880 mi C $47 |
CEL with code P0106: issue with MAP sensor. Cleared code a couple of times and it kept returning. Installed new MAP sensor and code has not returned. |
| 26660 mi C $300 |
Replaced belt that connects motor to alternator |
| 80500 mi US $2000 |
water pump replaced turned out to be quite expensive at 20,000 miles |
| 65000 mi US $100 |
Replaced Purge Solenoid Valve. Replaced Purge Solenoid Valve. |
2004 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch
160-horsepower 2.3L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 156240 mi | Replace engine with used engine Replace engine with used engine |
| 118000 mi US $1000 |
Fuel pump overheat blow |
| 128000 mi US $120 |
Coolant leak (suspected water pump). engine overheating. Stopped using K-Seal. |
| 126000 mi US $500 |
At the same time timing belt and "pulley" was found to be "in a bad shape", and was replaced. |
| 74000 mi US $45 |
Engine was overheating. I found out that the coolant reservoir had a small leak. I had my brother replace the reservoir, but the engine temp. is still high (based on the temp. gauge). Will save money to perform diagnosis. |
| 74000 mi US $80 |
Brother replaced thermostat with part I ordered online; also replaced spark plugs and changed coolant. |
| 75000 mi US $1000 |
Had check engine light, went in for routine oil change, diagnosed prob. as fuel pump (needs replacement). Didn't have enough money to resolve latest problem. |
| 75000 mi | Replaced fuel pump. |
| 101000 mi US $1000 |
Two motor mounts were corroded/broken and had to be replaced. |
| 165500 mi | Replace both upstream and downstream oxygen sensors. |
| 168000 mi US $1300 |
Bad catalytic converter and O2 sensor needed replacement. |
| 191 mi US $2500 |
Replaced seal on oil valve behind transmission while the transmission was being repaired. Failed seal was causing slow oil leak. |
| 81000 mi US $200 |
Engine mounts needed to be replaced |
| 131100 mi C $300 |
Purge valve assembly needed replacement |
2004 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch
148-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 117000 mi US $450 |
An emissions sensor went bad. It had to be replaced. |
2004 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch
148-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 67000 mi US $200 |
Temp sensor caused check engine light. Have not had time to fix it. |
| 69600 mi US $80 |
Temp sensor code (check engine light) led to coolant sensor replace and thermostat replace for good measure. problem resolved. |
2004 Mazda Mazda3 4-door
4-cylinder manual 2WD
| 260000 mi | Needed a thermostat |
See TrueDelta's information for all Sedans and Hatchbacks.
See TrueDelta's information for all Mazda models.
