Mazda Mazda3 Mazda Mazda3

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Expensive Mazda Mazda3 repairs by problem area

Engine (26%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (13%)

Brakes and Traction Control (10%)

Suspension and Steering (32%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (16%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (3%)

Other (1%)

Chart based on 302 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the Mazda Mazda3.

Mazda Mazda3 repair cost distribution

$2500+ (15%)

$1000 - $2499 (85%)

$500 - $999 (0%)

$100 - $499 (0%)

< $100 (0%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 172 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2018 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

184-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

29760 mi

C $1400
brakes started making noises due to long periods without use (covid). 

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2016 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD

71000 mi

US $1600
Wheel bearings, rims, brake parts. 

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2016 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

57000 mi

US $1500
condenser was leaking 

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2015 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

184-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed manual FWD

80000 mi

US $1000
Car had no electrical power and would not start. If given a jump start, it would shut down as soon as the jumper cables were removed. Replaced alternator, and battery. 

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2014 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD

64000 mi

US $2000
Car would not start when button was pushed. Would go into accessory mode. Pressing the button a second time started the car but turned off the speedometer, odometer, trip computer. Turning off car returned it to accessory mode, with no way to turn it off completely. Entire ABS module was replaced and problem was solved. PCM module still needs to be replaced to remove dash warning lights for clutch position sensor. Software problems to blame. Why are car computers more expensive than actual computers? $$$$ 

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2014 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

184-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

68200 mi

C $1700
replace front brakes, four new snow tires, regular maintenance 

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2013 Mazda MazdaSpeed3 4dr Hatch

turbocharged 263hp 2.3L I4 6-speed manual FWD

59955 mi

C $1024
MVI, brake service, replaced RR door latch,  LF ball joint and LF sway bar link 

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2013 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

85000 mi

US $2400
Car had a whine noise that increased with road speed (not engine rpm) which our mechanic traced back to the transmission. Transmission shop quoted a full rebuild at a little over $2300. There is a known issue from Mazda for this, and most people received replacement transmissions while still under powertrain warranty. 

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2012 Mazda MazdaSpeed3 4dr Hatch

turbocharged 263hp 2.3L I4 6-speed manual FWD

58900 mi

C $1700
Hole in washer fluid reservoir, reservoir replaced. lower control arm replaced rear brakes pads and rotors replaced Rear shocks replaced 
61380 mi

C $670
Wheel hub and wheel bearing 
102300 mi

C $9000
Blown engine replaced with a crate engine 
104780 mi

C $300
Emission problem engine light on. 
20000 mi

US $1300
HPFP was no longer delivering required fuel. Had to purchase and install upgraded pump. 
57900 mi

US $600
Replaced clutch,and flywaheel 
85000 mi

US $5000
Cracked piston loss compression. Rebuild engine. The car is 450 whp, probably not fair to count this particular car in with stock mazdaspeed3's in my opinion. 

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2012 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

167-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed manual FWD

26000 mi

US $1100
Before I bought the car with 17,xxx miles, I was aware that the 2.5 L with a 6-speed has a notoriously weak clutch, at 26K miles it was gone. No harsh driving 

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2012 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

167-horsepower 2.5L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

37080 mi

$1000
The dealer replaced the TCM module, because during normal driving of the car had warning signal "AT" in the control panel and occasionally stopped the car and the directions of the board were lost. It took one week to repair. 

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2012 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD

78120 mi

C $1600
Burnt clutch and assembly. New clutch kit and gear oil. 
99820 mi

C $450
Brake on passenger rear making noises. Wear assessed as cause. Replacement of rear Pads and rotors required and I performed. 
106020 mi

C $900
Front left and right wheel bearings wear. Parts replaced along with realignment. 
109120 mi

C $1500
Manual transmission gears, bearings, seals wear. Parts replaced. 
80000 mi

US $1300
The Mazda had a sticking brake caliper. Replaced it along with the pads and rotors, which were due. Also replaced spark plugs along with an oil change and tire rotation. 
83700 mi

C $450
Sway bar links were noisy, replaced with high end parts.  Garage also found a broken rear upper strut mount, also replaced in the repair trip. 
97340 mi

C $1125
Rear calipers replaced with rebuilt (seized) rear rotoros replaced, brake pads installed (supplied) Spark plugs replaced (supplied) Resurfaced front rotors 
101060 mi

C $349
Seized passenger side caliper 2 sections of exhaust pipe rusted out at the hanger welds were replaced 

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2012 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

46240 mi

US $297
VVT actuator o-ring 
60000 mi

US $1020
#3 motor mount, brake fluid flush,  drive belt tensioner, fuel injection service 
69000 mi

US $1000
Engine mount #4 was cracked completely through and needed to be replaced. 
34000 mi

US $100
During an inspection as part of a service, a large amount of buildup was discovered on the throttle body, and it was cleaned. Technician noted that due to the aggressive EGR system on this engine, this is not uncommon. 
37700 mi

US $115
AT, check engine, traction control 'slip' lights lit. Restart cleared all but check engine. Dealer, at Mazda's recommendation, reflashed transmission and traction control modules. Problem has not recurred. Tow recommended but not required. Transmission service, check engine, and traction control fault lights. All but check engine cleared by restart. Dealer contacted Mazda, advised to reflash transmission control and traction control modules. Problem has not reoccurred. 
45700 mi

US $600
Two left door lock solenoids replaced for intermittent failure to lock. Dealer at 8k mi said resultant noise was not a problem, and performed repair under 'good will'. 
83800 mi

US $199
A clunking noise was noticed going over a speed bump at an angle, as well as unusual handling. Replaced rear stabilizer bar end links. 
122000 mi

US $1000
Replace front struts and rear shocks. 
145000 mi

US $1200
Replace seals on transmission oil pan, cooler line fittings, and drive flanges. After this repair, a pervasive smell of burning plastic is emitted from the car after a long highway drive. 
168000 mi

US $350
Check engine light for lean condition and implausible O2 sensor readings. Replaced O2 sensor. Sensor was bent, and nobody knows how it got that way. 
168800 mi

US $1800
Replace catalytic converter. 
186000 mi

US $750
Front struts replaced, then replaced again because the shop did not do it properly. 
185 mi

US $1500
Replace all coolant hoses/lines, thermostat housing, and thermostat due to pervasive cracking 
191000 mi

US $440
Replace offside engine mount 
205000 mi

US $256
Clunk from rear suspension. Replaced rear sway bar end links and bushings. 

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2011 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

149-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

73160 mi

C $700
Oil change and brakes 
75826 mi

C $1000
Brakes in back Front wheel bearing. Necessitated an alignment at the same time. 
120280 mi

C $1100
Seized calipers,  and evap leak (gas cap), along with oil change, and tire change etc. 
145700 mi

C $1600
3 shocks and 2 tubes on A/c 

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2011 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

148-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

42780 mi

C $240
Tie rod driver side was replaced 
55180 mi

C $300
Power steering hose starting leaking. The car drove safely throughout that time. Replaced the hose 
74400 mi

C $300
Faulty transmission fluid pump replaced, common problem for this car 
74400 mi

C $1000
Perforation in catalytic converter, converter was replaced 

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2011 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

148-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

91000 mi

US $125
Leaky drive shaft seal replaced. 
128000 mi

US $2000
Original clutch replaced. 
59060 mi

C $1500
Car would not fill tank with gasoline. Gas spit from tank. Air lock in tank. Had to replace charcoal filter, as well as Fuel Shutoff valve. Update: Changing charcoal filter did not work, but that is usually the root cause of an airlock in tank.  Also car would not read fuel level on dash. Had to remove rear seat to replace fuel level sensor. 

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2011 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

167-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed manual FWD

22000 mi

US $1000
clutch failed after 21000 miles, Mazda refused to cover. Clutch is only warranted for 12 months, 12000 miles 

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2011 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

167-horsepower 2.5L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

69500 mi

C $1677
Initially replaced the alternator and belts. Discovered fly wheel had separated and had to be replaced. 
80580 mi

C $1250
snap clips fell off drivers seat. seat was removed, repaired and replaced. 
86000 mi

C $300
replace one wheel bearing 

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2010 Mazda MazdaSpeed3 4dr Hatch

turbocharged 263hp 2.3L I4 6-speed manual FWD

62000 mi

US $1500
Left rear strut failed and was leaking fluid. Sway bar end links were also shot. I replaced all four struts as well as the bearings and mounts on all 4 corners. Rear Sway bar end links were replaced. 
67000 mi

US $220
Front pads and rotors replaced. This was the first of any brake maintenance in the vehicle. 
33400 mi

US $400
Car developed a rust spot on drivers door. No apparent reason, but it appears the corrosion protection they use is very poor. 
90000 mi

US $8000
One of the rear shocks was leaking, so both were replaced. 

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2010 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

167-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed manual FWD

98000 mi

US $1300
Clutch wore out, had to be replaced. It was only a premature wear of the clutch itself. Nothing else failed. From what I hear, it’s quite common on Mazda 3s. 
102000 mi

US $485
Front passenger strut was leaking. Replaced both front struts and both rear shocks. 

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2010 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

167-horsepower 2.5L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

40000 mi

US $3300
FAULTY SEALS OF HEADLIGHTS AND CONTROL UNITS OUT 4TH BATTERY REPLACEMENT 
51000 mi

US $440
hid bulb out 
51200 mi

US $1200
a/c compressor bolt broke 

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2010 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

148-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

60000 mi

US $1000
The tire pressure monitoring system needed to be replaced because the valve stems had deteriorated 

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2010 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

148-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

90500 mi

US $1500
Clutch got burned and the replacement of all components but a slave cylinder was needed. 
93500 mi

US $500
Rear shock absorber at the right wheel leaked. Both rear shock absorbers were replaced. 
94000 mi

US $300
A piston of a caliper at the right rear wheel was stuck. First this caliper was replaced. Later also replaced the caliper on the left rear wheel. 

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2010 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

167-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed manual FWD

115320 mi

C $350
The check engine light was coming on and off with no discernible pattern. The code was no. P04021 (catalyst warm-up efficiency). They cleaned the air mass flowmeter but the light still comes on and off at anytime. 
132900 mi

C $3000
Normal wear; new shocks all around, 
91760 mi

C $1100
noisy, noisy, noisy... hard to miss. The driver's side front wheel bearing was replaced. They toasted the ABS sensor getting the wheel off, so that had to be replaced as well. pads and rotors, plus the calipers. I expect the pads and rotors, but I've never had to replace calipers on a car, and I had my Acura for 228K miles. 
9300 mi

C $170
Rear windows would not open. Apparently, a wire got disconnected from the switch in the driver's side door. Repair was done under warranty. Also did the 2 yrs maintenance including oil change, blake check, filters check... that one cost 170 
42160 mi

C $1000
Rear left tie rod broke in half. Apparently, a known issue with Mazdas 
187000 mi

US $1200
New clutch also had him replace cv boots and axle . Mazda clutch 585 for part special clutch 
60760 mi

C $450
replaced struts and shocks. oem ones are craps. do replace them after 80,000. 
117180 mi

C $171
rear passenger side shocks bottomed out. 3rd pair kyb installed. 
122800 mi

C $475
clutch slipping frequently, replaced lower control arm x2 replaced front struts, front driver side endlink, front passenger side abs sensor(cracked housing). passenger side strut was bottoming out. 
132860 mi

C $200
inner tire wear due to rear camber sagged, installed adjustabke camber arm. further adjustment needed. 
137020 mi

C $900
alternator failed. battery light goes on after driving. car shuts off on highway... 
143200 mi

C $850
front struts 
34000 mi

US $1600
The clutch completely failed after only 33,000 miles! Mazda refused to cover the repair under warranty, claiming it was "normal wear and tear", but there was nothing normal about this failure! 
81000 mi

US $1000
Sensor related to AFS headlight system is faulty. Parts alone run around $800 and attach to the suspension. Chose to live with it since it doesn't affect basic headlight functionality. 
86000 mi

US $440
Outer passenger CV boot split. Required replacement of full CV shaft. 

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2010 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

167-horsepower 2.5L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

42700 mi

US $1300
My headlight ballasts needed to be replaced. My headlights stopped working. The ballasts were pulling charge from the battery even when the car was off. 
61000 mi

US $1300
HID bulb and ballast needed to be replaced 
87000 mi

US $1071
Check engine light indicated problem with ABS. Needed to replace wheel speed sensor. 
90165 mi

US $372
Brake line between ABS and rear splitter leaking at ABS. Replaced flared pipe between those two parts. I inspected the "failed" part after repair was completed, and there was a scratch across the flare. Looked like manufacturing defect to me, but car well out of warranty. In speaking with mechanic, he seemed oblivious to need to inspect surface of flared pipe connections. In fact, he called the joint a tapered pipe thread until he brought failed part out and I told him it was definitely straight threads. 
115000 mi

US $1000
Replaced lower control arms and ball joints. Replaced worn sway bar end links. 
49000 mi

US $230
Horn stopped working. 
69000 mi

US $246
AT light on dash flashes and car downshifts. One wk later AT, DSC, ck engine lights all came on. Taking to dealer.  While at mechanic found that power steering hose was leaking. Scheduled fix but have not followed up due to more AT problems. 
70100 mi

US $298
AT light on dash flashes and car downshifts. One wk later AT, DSC, ck engine lights all came on. Manual says to tow car when this happens. Dealer extended warranty to replace the TCM for free. Power steering hose was leaking. 
88851 mi

US $1100
Broken strut replaced. Rear spoiler loose; rattled. Shop tightened bolts/screws. 
99000 mi

US $1500
Wheel alignment + new tires and 2 new rear control arms. Wheels were not aligned properly and caused premature wear of old tires. Control arms were too rusted to work on without replacement. 
162000 mi

US $1000
Front brakes  and both front control arm replacements. 

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2010 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

148-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

160504 mi

C $1095
The transmission control module (TCM) failed. Apparently a common problem with the Mazda 3. They replaced the fluid and filter in the transmission just in case. They replaced the TCM with a unit from a junkyard where a low-mileage Mazda 3 was used for parts. 
166306 mi

C $2813
Rear passenger wheel bearing was making an odd noise, says the mechanic. Needed to be replaced (safety issue). Front brakes and rotors were worn out. 95% worn on driver's side, 99% worn on passenger side (or the other way around, I can't remember) rear shock towers needed to be replaced as they were causing wear on tires. Mechanic says this is a known flaw in Mazda 3 cars, their rear shock units are crap. Said it needed to be replaced as a safety measure. One of the engine mounts was worn out. Did not need to be replaced, but mechanic recommended it. 

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2009 Mazda MazdaSpeed3 4dr Hatch

turbocharged 263hp 2.3L I4 6-speed manual FWD

112000 mi

US $1000
Replace shock absorbers, bearings, bump stop Replace torn engine mount, passenger side. 
119600 mi

US $450
CV boot tear. CV joint suck in hub. replaced knuckle, hub, bearing, and shaft. $100 for used knuckle+hub. $100 for bearing, $120 for new shaft. $200 for lift time. 
123000 mi

US $150
Trans leaking oil. replaced diff seal. 

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2009 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

148-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

98000 mi

US $1500
slipping clutch because lining wore out. replace clutch and flywheel 
70900 mi

US $400
Sudden clutch failure, don't think it simply wore out but not sure. 
75500 mi

US $1100
The transmission subsequently had a synchro problem and was replaced, so I think the problems are a combination of the previous driver abusing the vehicle and my 16 year-old learning to drive in it. 

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2009 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

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

69500 mi

US $210
Car stalled but dealer could not find anything wrong with it. They clean the throttle body and it hasn't happened again. 
104000 mi

US $2400
ABS control and master cylinder needed to be replace. Replace CV joint. $2400 total 

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2009 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

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

100000 mi

US $1000
Car was starting to ride rough, struts were replaced at just around 100,000 miles 
4000 mi

US $4225
Paint chipped on drivers door and drivers side quarter panel. Both areas repaired and entire car was wetsanded and recleared. 
30000 mi

US $253
Battery cables loose at starter. 
45300 mi

US $120
Coolant coming out of overflow on degas bottle. Replaced thermostat and radiator cap; continued to come out of the overflow. Checked head gasket, which it was torn, blocking the coolant water jacket. Replaced head gasket. 
92380 mi

C $1500
Stabilizer links 
102000 mi

US $1000
Compressor seized Replaced struts 

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2009 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD

139000 mi

US $640
Had rear springs and sway bars installed. Left rear spring had snapped and both were repaired. 
139500 mi

US $1300
Front axle boot repaired as well front axle itself. 
142000 mi

US $1048
Wheel bearing and passenger side control arm replaced. Power window switch was bad and was replaced. Power window switch was bad and was replaced. Wheel bearing and passenger side control arm replaced. 
178000 mi

US $1200
Rotors corroded and break pads worn requiring all four discs and pads replaced. One caliper seized and fully replaced. Original horn died. Replaced with aftermarket part. 
185000 mi

US $600
Oil valve required replacement. Leaking oil potentially bleeding into sparks and affecting efficiency. Check engine light indicated over air mix with fuel. Solution was to replace OEM cap with new gas cap. Reset light and problem has resolved with new cap. 
183081 mi

US $995
Replaced in and outer tie rods. Had rusted enough that proper alignment could not be conducted. Not urgent safety issue, but would become one. Replaced serpentine and alternator belts. 
127080 mi

C $850
Both front struts replaced. Rightside shock blew out. Decided to replace both struts. 
127100 mi

C $450
Right rear shock blew out. Replaced both right rear and left rear shock. 
167400 mi

C $1300
Left and right front stabilizer bars One HID headlight was not working. The ballast and igniter were dead and the lightbulb was replaced (though still working). Total cost was over $600 for the headlight repair. 
169260 mi

C $800
Right rear parking brake stuck on. Repair included new rotors, pads, calipers and parking brake cables for both sides. 

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2009 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

148-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

84940 mi

C $1400
Broken engine mount and front breaks replaced. Oil change and all that went with it also done. 
86560 mi

C $1250
struts leaking, replace along with regular maintanence 

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2008.5 Mazda MazdaSpeed3 4dr Hatch

turbocharged 263hp 2.3L I4 6-speed manual FWD

41540 mi

C $300
Rear sway bar bushings squeaking. Replaced and greased. 
58280 mi

C $1100
Major oil leak in rear shocks. 
77240 mi

C $1200
All rear end bushings and such replaced. Solved squeaking and clunking issues. 
99820 mi

C $1200
Completely destroyed rear springs. Ordered and replaced parts. High repair cost because brakes were done simultaneously. 
36000 mi

US $260
Exterior rear driver side door handle replaced. Driver's side rear door handle fell off. Replaced by dealer. 
41300 mi

US $4500
Clear coat failure. Exterior repaint required.  Vinyl wrap around doors/windows replaced. 
146000 mi

US $589
Shifter seal developed leak and was leaking gear oil. Most of repair cost consisted of labor 
159000 mi

US $1000
Blown struts and broken spring-both springs replaced 

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2008.5 Mazda Mazda3

Engine not specified

57000 mi

US $1100
Rear shock was leaking oil for the second time in 30,000 miles. First repair was at 27,000 miles and covered under warranty. Recent repair was out of warranty and paid out-of-pocket. 

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2008.5 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD

88000 mi

US $1100
AC never fixed. 

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2008.5 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

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

111000 mi

US $6500
the head gasket blew and I had to replace the motor. It never overheated or showed any signs of a problem except for a slight ticking noise. CEL came on and I took it in. 
102300 mi

C $300
Belt, tensioners, oil. Two shocks. 
104760 mi

C $460
Above regular brake replacement the calipers needed to be changed. They are supposedly weak on the rear set. 
107880 mi

C $1600
Replaced Transmission 

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2008.5 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

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

75500 mi

US $1300
Front-right strut had been leaking for ~1 year. Showed signs of degraded performance at 75,000mi maintenance interval. Replaced both front struts, bushings and bearings with OEM parts. 
90000 mi

US $255
Rattle and slight shudder on right front when going over a bump while turning left. Diagnosis and testing confirmed bad front-right lower ball joint. 
91700 mi

US $906
CEL illumination and occasional rough shifting (AT). Had to bring it back in while the issue was present. Ended up replacing the Transmission Control Module. The original TCM wasn't communicating with the main computer. 
100000 mi

US $325
I noticed something apparently hanging down from beneath the middle between the front wheels. Turns out the forward-most heat shield (over the catalytic converter) had deteriorated and was resting directly on the forward exhaust pipe between the manifold and the catalytic converter. Replaced the heat shield and various fasteners/bolts. Slow leak in one tire/wheel assembly. Testing discovered a leaky TPMS valve stem. Replaced TPMS valve stem. 
148000 mi

US $1100
tires were cupping. Had to replace struts and shocks. Did not include cost of tires in cost above. 
172000 mi

US $300
AC compressor inoperable. Harness had failed. 
178900 mi

US $225
Motor mount 
181000 mi

US $275
Replaced high pressure hose 
189000 mi

US $1300
Had to replace catalytic converter for car to pass smog. 
197700 mi

US $140
AC Compressor Relay replaced. 

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2008 Mazda MazdaSpeed3 4dr Hatch

turbocharged 263hp 2.3L I4 6-speed manual FWD

52000 mi

US $2000
replaced fuel injectors and egr valve 
66000 mi

US $170
Rear strut leaking. Replaced. 
114000 mi

US $150
serpentine belt cracked and needed to be replaced bushings need to be replaced lower control arm bushings need to be replaced 
124000 mi

US $360
Tensioner and idler pulleys noisy and replaced 
126200 mi

US $1200
Compressor seized. 
60800 mi

US $101
Hose from coolant reservoir to cooling system dislodged and came in contact with radiator fan causing slow coolant leak. Hose was replaced today. A helpful police officer zip-tied the hose away from fan & put water in reservoir/radiator. 
99000 mi

US $1500
Struts engine mount 
100000 mi

US $1000
transmission mount sway bar Emission control valve was ordered to be replaced but dealer failed to carry out repair (dropped the ball). Engine light has remained off for a week anyway, so why spend another $700? 
116000 mi

US $575
MazdaSpeed cold air intake got a hole in it, $575. The turbo needed to be replaced because of intermittent smoke from the tailpipe during long idles (this problem is well documented among other Speed 3 owners). $3,000. 
120000 mi

US $400
Mass air sensor allegedly caused engine light to come on. 
44000 mi

US $500
Blown right-rear shock. This is 2nd RR shock blown, so I went ahead and swapped out to Konis on all four corners. 
64000 mi

US $1000
Both rear calipers were sticking and non-functional. Replaced. 
7800 mi

US $1550
had cat bac exhust and cold air intake install, all Mazda parts and put on at dealer. WHAT A DIFFERENCE. have not had it dino yet but can not get over the POWER. and oil change, tire rotate, gen service 
60419 mi

US $1060
Motor mount bolts came loose dropping engine on to pass side CV joint, ripping power steering pump apart, Breaking pass side CV joint. Motor mount bolts came loose dropping engine on to pass side CV joint, ripping power steering pump apart, Breaking pass side CV joint. 
100000 mi

US $110
Slave cylinder blew rendering the clutch inoperable. 4 days down until part arrived at dealership. 30 minutes to install and bleed. 
135500 mi

US $1000
Dual mass flywheel out of run out tolerance and play tolerance. Clutch slipping at any mph. Replaced clutch, clutch release bearing, pilot bearing and upgraded to single mass light weight flywheel to cut costs. VVt actuator, Timing chain, tensioner, cost $1500 
140300 mi

US $111
Tie rod end broke.luckily I get a discount on parts for being a ford technician tie rod ends will usually run 40 more dollars total. 
147000 mi

US $250
Lower control arms and front struts, and strut bushings 
156000 mi

US $500
Replaced AC compressor 
190000 mi

US $6500
Turbo burning oil, need to replace 
194000 mi

US $8000
Turbo and engine issue. Need to replace both. 

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2008 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

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

63200 mi

US $150
Both left & right rear coil springs were broken at the bottom end of the spring. This seems to be an on-going problem for the 2008 Mazda 3. This is the second time the left coil spring was replaced. 
72000 mi

US $300
The car's CEL and AT lights were on. The transmission would not shift out of 3rd gear and started hesitating. The OBDII code P0753 showed it was a problem with the Shift Solenoid A. The shop drained & flushed the trans fluid, replaced the filter and Shift Solenoid A. After a few miles, the lights came back on. I decided to replaced the TCM unit with Mazda's latest version and the car has not experienced any transmission problems since. While the Mazda 3 was in for the transmission repair, the mechanic noticed that there was oil leaking from one of the front struts. Both struts were replaced and alignment performed. Transmission problem was not resolved by the work performed previously by the repair shop. Transmission problem returned 3 days after transmission solenoid was replaced. I replaced the transmission ECU and reset the the main ECU by letting the car idle for 20 minutes. This successfully resolved the limp mode transmission problem. 
76260 mi

C $270
Transmission pan leaking, replaced pan, gasket, fluid. 
84940 mi

C $200
Passenger side engine mount, second time it has been replaced (first was under powertrain warranty) 
95480 mi

C $500
Oxygen sensor replaced, throttle body service/cleaning 
98280 mi

C $460
Driver's side front lower control arm replaced Driver's side rear sway bar end link replaced 
114080 mi

C $440
Left and right front wheel bearings replaced due to wear 
118730 mi

C $925
Replaced front passenger side lower control arm due to wear, replaced both rear lower control arms due to seized toe adjust bolts (could not perform alignment) 
126666 mi

C $110
Power not reaching AC pump/compressor. Installed aftermarket AC clutch kit. 
128960 mi

C $250
Partially broken driver side rear shock mount Both front Koni Sport struts leaking, replaced both struts and rear shocks with Bilstein B8 
133920 mi

C $170
Alternator and AC belts replaced due to squealing Exhaust heat shield re-attached to car, fasteners had corroded and fallen out 
135780 mi

C $1300
Brake rotors and pads replaced on all four corners Passenger side rear wheel bearing replaced 
169260 mi

C $800
Replace front rotors, pads, calipers, hoses, parking brake cable Replace exhaust flex pipe 
177320 mi

C $110
Front passenger side stabilizer bar end link replaced (worn/noisy) 

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2008 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD

89000 mi

US $1100
Needed all new motor mounts Needed new alternator 
94000 mi

US $408
Passenger side rear shock leaking fluid. Rear shocks replaced 
103000 mi

US $400
Check engine light. Replaced Oxygen sensor. 

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2008 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

148-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

55000 mi

US $3500
engine replaced - car less than 3 years old 
23000 mi

US $1000
Replaced clutch (son learned to drive manual with this car so it failed early) 
53700 mi

US $1100
replace ac compressor 
77700 mi

US $160
air pressure sensor in one tire broken, replaced sensor 
84000 mi

US $1000
new clutch and flywheel 
87000 mi

US $120
windshield wiper motor not working, at dealer cost $120 to diagnose problem, price of $450 to replace motor, decide not to replace 
49200 mi

US $1000
AC Compressor locked up. It and drier needed replaced. 
40000 mi

US $900
Compressor locked up. Had to replace compressor and drier, evacuate system. This is the SECOND time for an OEM compressor failure with this car. (First was at 46k) 
95000 mi

US $200
Left rear shock absorber was starting to leak fluid and was causing the wheel to hop. Replaced both rear shocks as well as travel bumpers and protective boots. 
102700 mi

US $1000
A/C stopped working. Determined to be the compressor. Compressor and accumulator replaced and system purged/recharged. 
112000 mi

US $280
Replaced driver's side axle assembly due to torn and leaking outer CV joint boot. Replaced front strut assemblies due to leakage from piston rod seals. Replaced rear disc brake pads. 
87000 mi

US $1300
Compressor went out. Had to replace the whole system except for the hoses. 
115700 mi

US $180
They thought a noise was the water pump going out, so they replaced it. 
196000 mi

US $120
Possible wheel bearing noise from rear, so replaced both sides. 
55000 mi

US $400
Driver's side door lock was sticking and could be unlocked either with unlock button or remote key fob, but not both 
59000 mi

US $450
Front passenger door lock actuator was malfunctioning and was replaced 
59000 mi

US $450
Radiator leaked and needed to be replaced. Not what you would expect on a car that is barely out of warranty. 
63600 mi

US $300
CEL was triggered by faulty oxygen sensor. There was no change in car drivability, but I had the sensor replaced anyway. All is fixed. 
72200 mi

US $120
Bottom plastic engine cover (or whatever the proper term is) got dislodged after driving through a puddle and was replaced. 
75000 mi

US $1100
Front and rear suspension components (shocks and struts) were replaced. 

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2008 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

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

104000 mi

US $1100
leaky RF shock; replaced front struts and rear shocks 
115000 mi

US $350
replaced leaking a/c high pressure line 
123000 mi

US $900
all coolant hoses replaced as preventive measure 
88000 mi

US $500
Drove from ATL to Birmingham and back. During trip my tire went flat. Valve stem and tire pressure sensor broke off. Went to Firestone and (1) replaced the tire, (2) got new sensor, (3) got an oil change,  (4) back shocks & struts / alignment 
108000 mi

US $1000
Two trips to shop. Had to get Maryland State inspection: Fixed left headlight alignment (brighter now). Fixed rear bumper damage. Replaced both rear brake calipers, rear rotors, rear pads, brake flush. Oil change. 
112000 mi

US $500
Second visit - Warped Rotors (Brake Pads, Rotors) and CV Axle. Third - 02 Sensor Replacement. 

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2008 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

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

79000 mi

US $1107
Had the TCM replaced. Before repair, transmission would shift harsh and only shift from 1st through 3rd gear. Shifting into reverse when TCM would fail would cause jerking and violent shift. Light would come on dash "AT" showing transmission module failed. After TCM was replaced with new one, everything worked perfectly. This repair cost also includes new rear shocks. 
86000 mi

US $3200
Transmission completely failed with only 86,000 miles. This was after routine transmission fluid changes and preventative maintenance. Took to Landis Transmission in Lancaster and they said it was a faulty transmission. Had entire transmission replaced with a used one with 51,000 miles. Mazda wanted over $4000 for a new transmission so opted for a used one with a warranty. 
49000 mi

US $135
Battery suddenly went dead. Replaced small OEM Panasonic battery with a larger Interstate Megatron battery. 
69000 mi

US $155
Car could be started intermittenly in park and can always start in neutral. Original Neutral, Safety-Starter switch replaced. No trouble codes or info on car's computer. 
90818 mi

US $350
Driver side original rear shock was leaking and not functioning. 
94198 mi

US $1617
Replaced front axle wheel bearing, replaced both front lower control arms, replaced both sides stabilized links,  replaced rotten transmission pan and filter, four wheel wheel alignment. 
94719 mi

US $200
Hard starting. No fuel to fuel injectors. Relay for fuel pump replaced. 
140000 mi

US $4100
transmission had been on its way out for months as my dad never changed the atx fluid. at the end i couldn't shift properly. glad to have it back though. torn motor mount was replaced for free 

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2008 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD

94000 mi

US $650
Vehicle felt "loose" when hitting bumps. Shocks/Struts were losing rebound control. All Shocks, Struts, and associated mounts where replaced with Koni brand "FSD" shocks/struts. Original Springs where still in normal condition. 
103400 mi

US $110
Lower engine to subframe mount had a deteriorated bushing, replaced with an genuine mazda mount 
133900 mi

US $850
Drivers side rear tire regularly has irregular wear on inside tread blocks. -Replaced rear suspension longitudinal control arms with genuine Mazda parts for worn bushings and corroded arms. -Installed Aftemarket camber and toe adjust arms 
178000 mi

US $140
Rear suspension camber control arms had severly worn outer bushings causing poor tire wear ("scalloping" tires) and rattling noise. Replaced control arms, everything functions normal again. 
186200 mi

US $1100
Rear shock leaking fluid and made an intermittant rattling noise. Replaced shocks with new Koni units. Struts, endlinks, front control arms for preventative maintenance. 
45000 mi

US $182
Replace battery and clean terminals 
72000 mi

US $150
9V plug in dashboard needed replacement. 
75000 mi

US $1600
Both rear shocks repaired Pump to rack power steering hose replaced Engine mount #3 replaced 
79000 mi

US $365
Piece of undercarriage below the engine had come loose and fallen off during driving. 
86000 mi

US $1740
AC failed while driving. Compressor and belts required replacement. Front brake pad service V-Belt/Alternator Belt required replacement 
68700 mi

US $270
#3 motor mount bad 
51700 mi

US $200
suspension, not sure what. 
62000 mi

US $1800
tie in to stabilizer rear sway bar. rear shocks. front struts. tensioner on belts. belts. 
75000 mi

US $1400
clutch master cylinder and solenoid engine mount 
79000 mi

US $690
O2 sensor 
96000 mi

US $2000
Circuit on ABS faulty 
46000 mi

US $1600
The ABS hydraulic unit failed, evidenced by the traction/stability control light staying on, requiring replacement of the part. $1,200 for the part, $400 for the rest. 
64000 mi

US $600
Car was making a non-metallic rattling when backing off the throttle, which went away when the brakes were applied. Dealer diagnosed as bad driver-side CV and intermediate shafts. Both were replaced. 
91000 mi

US $700
The timing cover was leaking after being diagnosed as seeping 2.5 years earlier - it got removed and fixed. Out of nowhere, the car would not start. It would crank and crank and cough like it wanted to start, but wouldn't. Not a battery issue. But of course, once towed, the car started up perfectly every time, so diagnosis wasn't possible. 
98000 mi

US $311
Vibration and alignment issue diagnosed as issue with right side inner/outer tied rod ends being rusted together, preventing proper adjustment - both replaced. 
69000 mi

US $1000
Replaced A/C compressor. 
74200 mi

US $600
Leak sensor replaced 

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2007 Mazda MazdaSpeed3 4dr Hatch

turbocharged 263hp 2.3L I4 6-speed manual FWD

65000 mi

US $1800
Replaced factory turbo. 
95000 mi

US $100
Driver door window switch failure. Quick fix ten minutes. Extended warranty covered but I paid deductible 
99000 mi

US $400
Driver side window switch failed 
102000 mi

US $1500
Two injectors had gone out earlier, but covered by extended warranty. That ended 2000 miles ago, now these went. Maybe because of nature of engine (hi po) 100 is all I might expect out of injectors, but disappointing and expensive. 
42000 mi

US $1000
Shocks were blown out, replaced with aftermarket. 
75000 mi

US $1283
Timing chain was loose. Timing chain tensioner, guide, crank case gasket replaced. Simple fix. Costly labor. 
87300 mi

US $1000
VVT Actuator and timing chain failure 
56200 mi

US $200
Got CEL with code P0128: coolant running cold. Thermostat was stuck open and was replaced (OEM part ~$60). Apparently a common problem in Mazda 3's. Fuel economy improved after fix. 
51000 mi

US $850
During last repair, mechanic reported a leaking rear shock. Replaced all four shocks/struts with Koni yellows (~$525 from a website on sale). Labor was about $325. 
96000 mi

US $100
Engine sounded would make a loud "zipping" sound on start-up. Independent mechanic tightened up the timing chain, but did not resolve the problem. Turns out it was the failed VVT actuator that is common in this generation of mazda turbo engines. Also replaced worn motor mount #3. Engine made zipping zound on start. Mechanic diagnosed it as a loose timing chain and adjusted it. 
71000 mi

US $700
EGR valve clogged, tripping CEL. EGR valve replaced. 
71000 mi

US $369
Right rear shock leaking and noisy; both rear shocks replaced with OEM Mazda parts 
131000 mi

US $300
CEL illuminated; fault code was: "Low Coolant Temperature" Dealer replaced thermostat and re-flashed PCM. 
132300 mi

US $1269
Replaced front struts and rear shock absorbers with KONI FSDs(front struts were completely worn out) Replaced front strut mounts, bearings, and bump stops while at it 

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2007 Mazda Mazda3

Engine not specified

86400 mi

US $1600
Traction control not working 
77740 mi

C $1000
Rear links, bushings and left rear shock. 
83080 mi

C $1000
compressor died 
83080 mi

C $500
replace front pass wheel bearing 

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2007 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

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

164000 mi

US $3600
Burning oil, threw a rod and damaged timing belt 
257000 mi

US $120
The AC compressor clutch stopped working. The coil was bad and was replaced along with the pulley and a new AC relay switch 

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2007 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD

80600 mi

C $120
CEL on for insufficient coolant temp. Replaced thermostat and flushed cooling system. Check engine light has not returned. 
88040 mi

C $1000
Blown compressor 

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2007 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

148-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

123660 mi

C $300
Replace left front bearing 
114700 mi

C $1500
Rear pads calipers and rotors Lower control arms 
125860 mi

C $250
Rear shock retaining brackets 
135160 mi

C $900
struts and shocks replaced 
94240 mi

C $650
Cv joint and boot replacement and brake flush 
110980 mi

C $1570
front struts replaced, left front lower ball joint control arm replaced wheel alignment 
124000 mi

C $800
FRONT END WORK 
164000 mi

US $1660
Replace front struts and rear shocks after a rear shock failed 
200000 mi

US $436
Brake pedal suddenly became mushy. ABS module had an internal leak and was replaced 
223000 mi

US $515
Replaced rear shocks after s mounting flange failed 
229000 mi

US $800
Replace compressor because of compressor clutch failure 
253000 mi

US $280
Replace right wheel bearings 
254000 mi

US $550
Replace left wheel bearing Replace right ball joint 
280000 mi

US $534
Replace rear pads, rotors, and one caliper 
290000 mi

US $446
Replace brake master cylinder 
300000 mi

US $333
Rear suspension noise. Rear shocks and one upper shock mount were replaced. 
66220 mi

C $1400
Noticed poor handling and noises from the suspension. Many "long-term wear items" in the suspension replaced. All four shocks and various related bits. The roads here in Montreal are quite bad. 
74060 mi

C $900
Replaced clutch. 
71000 mi

US $1200
Driver side window motor worked intermittently.  Suspension making noise. Spent 1200 to repair everything. Noise still present. 

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2007 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

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

80220 mi

C $1500
Suspension had to be fixed, needed new shocks etc. Bearings as well. 
31000 mi

C $118
Problem with wire to starter motor. This had to be replaced. 
46500 mi

C $325
front right axel replaced 
105400 mi

C $425
Replaced front heated 02 sensor Trailing arm bushings replaced 
128340 mi

C $350
Shock absorber rear right was inactive and support had also broken off from frame. 
133920 mi

C $600
replaced rear pads and rotors 
137020 mi

C $200
Left rear shock and mount 
143220 mi

C $1350
Exhaust Manifold and sensors, gaskets 
51200 mi

US $1000
A rear shock was bad Replaced both rear shocks Bushings in front lower control arms were torn/worn. Replaced front lower control arms. 

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2007 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

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

55300 mi

C $1600
TCM module  and motor mount had to be replaced. 
159000 mi

US $1100
Alternator failed while car was on highway. Had to get towed, and get alternator replaced 
86500 mi

US $1060
Noticed fuel odor near rear of car and saw fuel leak near gas tank under car. Difficult starting. Fuel pump inside gas tank was leaking. They had to drop tank and replace fuel pump. 
96700 mi

US $230
Passenger side engine mount failed. High vibration and knocking sound at idle. Tell-tale dark hydraulic fluid under it. Replaced with OEM. Only hour to fix. 
96700 mi

US $970
Slight grinding noise from read wheels. Jacked up car and spun rear tires by hand and they made clicking noise while spinning. Repair shop said both bearings bad and should be replaced now as could be dangerous. 
97300 mi

US $200
Leaking Driver-side strut. Was feeling like it bottomed out over large bumps. 
54000 mi

US $2100
Replaced front struts and rear suspension 
59300 mi

US $150
dead battery.. would not turn out in cold, kept losing charge.. probably the original battery's life was up 
71000 mi

US $234
car wouldn't start -- neutral safety switch replaced 
66200 mi

US $300
check engine light randomly going on and off at times for no apparent reason .. Did not affect car's driving Turns out Thermostat needed replacing 
111700 mi

US $3700
transmission mechanically failed -AT light came on, stuck in 3rd gear replaced with remanufactured transmission replaced failing neutral safety switch (yet again) 

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2007 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD

42000 mi

US $300
Blown/leaking passenger-rear strut. 
80000 mi

US $300
Replaced seized emergency brake cable Replaced front struts 
82000 mi

US $1200
Replaced both rear bushings and bot front end-links Replaced A/C Compressor 
96000 mi

US $4800
Spun bearing; engine replaced. 
39060 mi

C $211
Rear shocks replaced after they were found leaking. 
57660 mi

C $313
Check Engine Light on, Code P0126 - Replaced thermostat and coolant 
74575 mi

C $2500
Rear trailing arms, front struts, both control arms replaced. 
65100 mi

C $1000
Rear shock mount, passenger side was broken. Replaced both rear shocks and both front struts, as well as front lower control arms, while we were at it. 

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2006.5 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

turbocharged 263hp 2.3L I4 6-speed manual FWD

24800 mi

$1560
Front struts leaking, replaced with JIC Magic coilovers. Also replaces rear shocks and springs. 
26860 mi

$100
OBD code: Cylinder 2 misfire. Diagnosed as fuel injector failure. Waiting for parts to arrive. 
27280 mi

$1000
Replaced fuel injector #2 and various ancillary items. Replaced faulty right engine mount. 
27480 mi

$1150
Replaced valve solenoid Replaced remaining three fuel injectors and anciliaries 
34100 mi

$600
Replaced front lower control arms (left + right) 
35960 mi

$1500
Replaced the front and rear struts/shocks. 
29800 mi

$1000
Bushings on six rear suspension links deteriorated. Replaced the links instead of replacing the bushings. 
45880 mi

$1300
Replaced O2 sensors X2 and mass airflow sensor Replaced worn clutch 

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2006 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

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

85000 mi

US $1000
Replaces shocks & struts Clock is drifting Air conditioning & fan Panel switch is failing. Airbag failure warning light comes on when starting the car and driving. Mechanic said it is potentially caused by driver side airbag sensor failing. Advised to have dealer confirm and repair as it is an expensive part. 
57000 mi

US $1300
Right front strut and control arm replaced. 
70200 mi

US $250
Replace one motor mount 
44000 mi

US $210
No.3 engine mount replaced 
54000 mi

US $387
Replace stuck thermostat, reset CEL Replace stuck thermostat, reset CEL 
58000 mi

US $1100
Replaced four leaking shock absorbers 
83000 mi

US $800
Car surged forward by itself in stop and go traffic. Had to control it with the brakes. Was able to replicate somewhat the next day with a mechanic in the car but they could not duplicate it on the rack. Major maintenance svc seems to have fixed it. 
100000 mi

US $688
Briefly lost power. Warning light came on. Drove to dealer. Alternator replaced. 
138700 mi

US $1200
replace control unit for shiftable automatic transmission 

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2006 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

160-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD

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. 
102300 mi

C $4000
Broken connecting rod leading to catastrophic engine failure. Engine replaced with used motor. Mechanic believes it is related to earlier oil consumption issues as oil was consistently checked and changed as per manufacturers recs. 
51000 mi

US $250
Bad thermostat caused check engine light. Thermostat replaced. 
65000 mi

US $1000
Front struts replaced Broken engine mount replaced 
122500 mi

US $3300
Sudden onset of engine noise (clatter). Diagnosed as connecting rod and new engine needed. Remanufactured 2.3L engine has been ordered and should be delivered within 5-6 days. 
131000 mi

US $450
Loss of traction when cornering. Diagnosed as worn out struts. Replaced front struts. 

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2006 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

150-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

109120 mi

C $1600
Clutch exploded, whole assembly replaced. No damage to transmission. 
121000 mi

US $1225
Replace front end struts and springs Replaced serpentine belts 
124000 mi

US $700
Caliper was dragging, tires were not balanced. Replaced caliper and also had to replace both front rotors. Balanced tires 
64000 mi

US $1100
New battery, replaced #3 motor mount and New tires 
65000 mi

US $400
Thermostat needed to be replaced,  
73000 mi

US $1100
Had front struts replaced Experiencing High Idle at start (2000+rpm), dealership recommended Fuel Injector Cleaning and new spark plugs, performed FI cleaning, problem continues, not sure new plugs will address issue? 

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2006 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

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

119000 mi

US $1700
replace front struts 

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2006 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

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

47000 mi

US $350
Error code P0126 Coolant Failure due to stuck open thermostat. Drained coolant & removed thermostat. Replaced thermostat & refilled w/new coolant. Also replaced battery for a seond code, cranking low. Third code for dirty throttle. Previously aware of this from a July service visit. Punted again on this one. 
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. 
62000 mi

C $5000
Automatic transmission failed 
91800 mi

US $350
Vehicle threw error code for faulty thermostat.  Dealer discovered Transmission Pressure Sensor was faulty and also a broken engine mount. Warranty company covered all but the thermostat. 
108900 mi

US $900
Transmission would not shift and no display lit up in the cluster. Diagnosed with code U1101: Communication Fault. The TCU went out and I was told this is common on Mazda 3 vehicles with over 80K miles. 
117300 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. 
147000 mi

US $120
Observed oil on spark plug threads when replacing the spark plugs. This is common due to bad valve cover gasket design. Bought improved gasket and used blue Locktite on cover fasteners. 
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). 
156468 mi

US $2271
Took car in for transmission service. Symptoms were codes for hot fluid and a shift sensor stuck open/closed. Vehicle could not be driven. Shop stated all internals looked fine. Unit was completely rebuilt and outfitted with new shift solenoids, new torque converter, and a shift kit. Relearn was performed on the TCM. 
156000 mi

US $623
Replaced A/C compressor clutch and bearing. Bearing had been exhibiting symptoms of grinding for a few years, so I'd been pushing my luck delaying replacement. Replaced both headlamp assemblies. Headlamps were badly scratched and yellowed. Could not polish the covers to restore performance. Replaced the front bumper cover due to road debris damage and previous, shoddy repair. Also replaced the engine splash shield and fender liners. Splash shield was missing and the fender liners were cracked at the mounting holes & were coming off. Replaced two exhaust heat shields. The forward heat shield, located above the catalytic converter, and the middle shield, located above the muffler. The forward shield is made of a heat resistant material which is sandwiched with foil. The existing shield had worn over the years and broke off of the fasteners. The middle shield was torn up due to travel over the rough gravel road where I live. 
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 
88100 mi

US $700
Check Engine Light illuminated, problem was due to Oxygen Sensor 1 Bank 2. Sensor was replaced. 
88547 mi

US $1347
Check engine light due to insufficient cooling. Replaced thermostat and housing. Also, there was mouse damage to the wiring harness that was repaired. 
105000 mi

US $500
Replaced TCM using Mazda OEM part. 
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. 
116000 mi

US $1300
Car would not shift correctly: clunking noises when shifting to D or R, transmission seemed stuck 3rd gear. "AT" and "check engine" lights were on. Dealer replaced transmission control module and fixed a minor, unrelated transmission leak. 
115300 mi

US $1100
Received error code U0101 - Lost Communication with TCM. TCM had to be replaced 
31000 mi

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

US $1500
Axle shaft, passenger side, shattered while making a right turn at ~3mph. Recently had a passenger open the door and leap out while the car was in motion, traveling ~35mph, after earlier encountering a gaping chasm of a pothole. 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. 
116400 mi

US $1200
Fuel pump 

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2006 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

160-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD

91500 mi

US $100
CD changer inoperable. Not able to retrieve cd's 
129000 mi

US $800
The clutch and flywheel were replaced. Ck engine light comes on intermittently. 
140000 mi

US $900
Needed brake shoes and rotors. Rotors were put on backwards, leading to squealing that only went away after another independent shop diagnosed the problem. 
148000 mi

US $1000
Brake pads and rotors had to be replaced again. Shop did not install brakes, rotors and pads correctly. Refund will be sought for incorrect work completed first time. 
47000 mi

US $1050
Clutch failed and had to be towed to shop. Car being used by my daughter due to hurricane Sandy, her car got flooded in Brooklyn. Bill lists replacement of Lever, Disc, Pressure plate, towing, wheel balancing. I hope it included the throwout bearing. 
63000 mi

US $120
One of the liquid-filled engine mounts failed and required replacement. I had local shop repair it along with new brakes and two new tires (wear items). May be covered by TSB, investigating reimbursement. 
72000 mi

US $650
A/C stopped working suddenly and I heard a horrible screeching noise from under the hood. A/C compressor had seized causing belt to break.  
77300 mi

US $1050
Transmission replaced with a used one from a salvage vehicle. Less expensive than attempting to repair/rebuilt existing manual transmission. Replaced A/C compressor with a used one from a salvage vehicle. 
120000 mi

US $1500
alternator replacement replace rear stabilizer bar replace 1 engine mount 
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. 
75000 mi

US $330
CEL gave P0126 code, "Insufficient Coolant Temperature for Stable Operation." Shop verified thermostat had failed and replaced thermostat. 
81700 mi

US $1306
A/C compressor seized, causing belt to melt and break. Replaced A/C compressor (with new part), expansion valve, receiver drier, and belt; evacuated, flushed, and recharged system. 
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. 
98500 mi

US $452
Wavering idle, wanted to stall starting from stop. Periodic diminished power hitting accelerator. CEL issued two codes for rich system: P0172, P2275. Mechanic diagnosed failed mass air flow sensor, cleaning didn't help, replaced sensor. 
121000 mi

US $224
Replace right upper engine mount. Mount was broken. 
122000 mi

US $260
Car having trouble starting. Cranks several times before starting or only on second try. The longer car sits, the more cranking it takes to start. Replaced spark plugs and cleaned fuel injector. Did not solve problem. Back in shop currently. 
122700 mi

US $1010
Car cranking and taking long time to start. Previous repairs (spark plugs, fuel injector cleaning) did not help. This time (three days later) no pressure found in fuel line after engine off. Fuel pump and fuel pump o-ring replaced. 
128000 mi

US $532
Sporadically losing power under load. 1st mechanic replaced PCV valve/PCV hose and purge valve, neither fixed it (no charge). 2nd mechanic replaced upstream O2 sensor--fixed but not sure if entirely (ac compressor reduces power a bit still). 
122000 mi

US $747
Rattling noise and excessive engine noise underload, as well as clunky shifting and diminished power. All three engine/transmission mounts broken. Replaced. Made a huge difference in driveability of car and eliminated noise. 
148000 mi

US $601
Car was idling rough, but only very slightly. Check engine light came on with P0300 code for multiple/random misfires. Shop said cylinder 2 and 4 were misfiring, due to faulty coils. Replaced all four coils and spark plugs. 
149600 mi

US $135
Car a little sluggish, slightly underpowered up hills, on some shifts. Cleaned throttle body and idle motor. 
13000 mi

US $1500
rear passenger side fender was dented 
91000 mi

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

US $500
Replaced water pump pulley and main serpentine belt. Pulley was worn-out completely and was close to failure. 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. 
106000 mi

US $288
Replaced thermostat to clear P1028 CEL 
117000 mi

US $180
Battery failed, replaced with aftermarket replacement. 
139200 mi

US $546
Master cylinder failure. Replaced with aftermarket rebuild. 
143000 mi

US $1000
I've continued losing brake fluid and have severe air contamination in the system. The brakes work (poorly) but fluid must be added weekly. Three shops have been unable to repair after about $1000 in diagnostics costs. Complaint filed with NHTSA. 
147000 mi

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

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2005 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

160-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD

57900 mi

US $150
A/C compressor burnt out and needed to be completely replaced. The part is VERY pricey. Radiator thermostat went bad, simple repair. 

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2005 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

160-horsepower 2.3L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD

66000 mi

US $200
Replaced rear upper control arms with adjustable units. Camber in the rear had degraded to the point where it exceeded -3 degrees. Tire wear (even with regular tire rotation) was catastrophic. Adjustable arms allowed spec'ing reas.camber 
68000 mi

US $370
Passenger side engine mount failed. Replaced. 
81000 mi

US $150
Found another shop that replaced the one rear leaking caliper for a reasonable price. 
92265 mi

US $1600
Air conditioning compressor failed, taking out every other component along the way (condenser, evaporator, expansion valve, etc.). All components replaced, flushed, and recharged. Enter A/C system replaced (compressor, condensor, evaporator, etc.) 
98000 mi

US $492
Computer code indicated failing thermostat. Went to dealership as was informed that replacing the thermostat alone wouldn't fix the problem - also required PCM update. Had PCM update and thermostat replaced. 
105000 mi

US $300
Replaced thermostat and updated ECU programming with newer version to address part of the issue. 
16008 mi

US $238
Replaced front exhaust insulator under front part of car car after being damaged. Drove though a deep standing rain after a heavy downpour and destroyed insulator. Part was $130, $108 to install. 
40445 mi

US $104
Rust showing inside edges of doors where inner/outer steel panels are crimped and sealed. Service adviser took pictures and reported to Mazda USA. 
43118 mi

US $126
Engine would stall when coming to a stop. TSB addressed issue, had the throttle body pulled and cleaned due to excessive carbon build up. 
47338 mi

US $395
Click heard in front end when making hard right turns at slow speed. Had to remove left side axle, found some rust on splines (common issue in Mz3). Removed rust, greased splines and reinstalled. Click heard in front end when making hard right turns at slow speed. Had to remove left side axle, found some rust on splines (common issue in Mz3). Removed rust, greased splines and reinstalled. 
48000 mi

US $100
Car made clicking noise when doing hard left turns(NOT the sound from bad CV joint). Mechanic had to remove right side half-shaft, remove rust on spline, grease and reinstall half-shaft. Common issue on Mazda3. 
50000 mi

US $275
Check engine light came on, trouble code set indicating the vehicle wasn't getting up to set temperature within 5 minutes. Thermostat was replaced as it was sticking. 
58300 mi

US $315
Car had a P0715 code, "turbine speed sensor fault". Caused the car to not get out of 3rd gear, check engine light and AT light were on. Sensor was replaced. 
65000 mi

US $180
Right rear caliper replaced. During a brake fluid bleed (fluid was old and dirty) the bleed valve stuck open and could not be closed, requiring a new caliper. 
66000 mi

US $1600
Replaced shocks/struts, new front/rear sway bar end links and rear shock mounts due to creaks in suspension. 
81060 mi

US $220
Leaking transmission pan gasket. Gasket removed and replaced. 

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2005 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

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

79000 mi

US $100
Transmission fluid leak. Leaking from the transmission fluid pan gasket. After that repair immediately noticed it is leaking from a higer spot on the transmission. 
142000 mi

US $1500
Leaking Strut. Replaced Struts and Shocks. 
143100 mi

US $400
Front Wheel Bearings needed to be replaced. Both sides made noise and the bearings were very loose when removed from the car. 
146000 mi

US $150
The front Strut mounting bolt was sheered off during normal driving. Decided to replace both front bolts. 
62000 mi

C $2500
Engine mount was replaced. Left lower ball joint replaced. Rear and front rotors were replaced due to rust. Replaced two front wheel bearings (whole hub) 

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2005 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

160-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD

91140 mi

C $500
Muffler changed from end of catalitic convertor to the tip.  L/H front lower suspension arm due to loose bushings. Muffler changed from end of catalitic convertor to the tip. 
94240 mi

C $500
3rd gear not holding in. 
99200 mi

C $1200
3rd gear not holding. Replaced by second hand transmission. works good no problems. rear shock, right-hand. Shock head broke on chassis. Replaced both left and right-hand sides along with shocks. 3rd gear not holding. Replaced by second hand transmission. works good no problems. 
102300 mi

C $150
Oil filter cap changed. Cause: leaking, cracked Leaking from seal 
102300 mi

C $455
Both front Macpherson struts + front shocks tower heads. 
107260 mi

C $280
Left front lower arm, second time in two years. Don't remember if first time was reported. 
124080 mi

C $100
Broken wire caused brake lights not to work 
130200 mi

C $500
left front caliper seized, line ruptured. 
135000 mi

US $2000
Piston slap turned into blown motor Clutch slipping. Replaced clutch. 
48000 mi

US $1200
the right front strut was broken 
51000 mi

US $255
One of the 3 motor mounts was cracked and needed to be repalced 

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2005 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

160-horsepower 2.3L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD

81000 mi

US $750
Engine running very rough when accelerating or turning right, had to replace 2 engine mounts and a transmission mount. 
102900 mi

US $1000
Replaced AC compressor 
31200 mi

$130
Broken right hand engine mount 
32740 mi

$300
Clunk in right front strut 
35340 mi

$120
Replace left hand axle because of faulty cv joint 
38540 mi

$150
Rubber on weather strips along all door windows hardened and cracked 
41620 mi

$1000
UV coating had peeled off both front headlights (HID) causing them to go very cloudy. Had tried several times to repair by sanding and using aftermarket coatings (opticoat etc) but all failed within 3 months. 
47000 mi

US $600
Brake light came on and stayed on. Faulty sensor in brake fluid reservoir; replaced. Horn did not sound. 
72000 mi

US $1300
Fuel injector controller and related items replaced. Horn stopped working, was replaced. 
93000 mi

US $2000
Broken motor mount 
112000 mi

US $1200
Front struts and rear shocks replaced 
50000 mi

US $292
Airbag warning light on-attempted repair-3 days after the repair-sensor light came back on. Scheduled for re-repair Monday August 10th. $98 for this repair. 
57000 mi

US $385
Thermostat sensor replaced Number 3 motor mount replaced 
64000 mi

US $505
Replace thermostat A/C magnet B+ wire frayed, soldered and repaired. 
67200 mi

US $1700
Total failure of AC clutch, compressor, accumulator. All parts replaced and AC is returned to funtionality. 
67600 mi

US $990
blown passanger side front strut 
75000 mi

US $280
Replaced rear shocks. I drive almost exclusively on poorly maintained surface streets. 
64000 mi

US $700
Replaced leak detection pump and charcoal canister 
65000 mi

US $1900
AC went out. Seal on compressor had gone bad and leaked all out all of the refrigerant. New seal and system recharge fixed problem. Fix required significant labor to remove, fix, & re-install compressor. Leaking front struts replaced Front brake calipers needed to be rebuilt. Front pads and rotors also replaced. 
67000 mi

US $417
Replaced both (!) front headlight bulbs 
75000 mi

US $500
Replaced leaking rear shocks 
83000 mi

US $475
Replaced thermostat unit 
86000 mi

US $100
Headlight socket went bad, unit needed to be replaced. 
89000 mi

US $400
Very harsh shifts; would not shift into 4th gear (top gear) 

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2004 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

160-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD

71000 mi

US $400
Purge valve was replaced. 
96000 mi

US $650
air conditioning didn't work. A hose needed to be replaced. Air conditioning system needed to be recharged. 
111000 mi

US $225
a/c recharge since it was blowing warm air 
115000 mi

US $1000
wheel bearings broken rear shock, both had to be replaced 
119000 mi

US $600
Engine hood latch and cable assembly in need of replacement Engine mount drivers side broken and leaking. 
86180 mi

C $2000
Wheel bearings + ball joints 
117180 mi

C $240
Spark plugs and #4 coil 
169880 mi

C $400
both rear struts 
124000 mi

C $1300
Rear Brakes, calipers, rotors 
133300 mi

C $525
Front pads and rotors. 
140740 mi

C $500
Thermostat housing 
108000 mi

US $1100
Both front wheel bearings had gone bad and needed to be replaced. 
140000 mi

US $110
Leak detection pump failed. Won't be repairing. 
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.  
109200 mi

US $800
The AC button worked intermittently; a switch was bad. The dealer replaced the entire AC control panel. Reflective coating on the rear view mirror started peeling off. The clip that holds the driver side visor broke; I had a new one installed. 
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. 
147000 mi

US $500
Rear window switches and driver's master window switch didn't work properly or reliably. Had all replaced. Headlight bulb died (again). I have great difficulty with the clip, so I let the dealer do it after I ordered the part. 
150400 mi

US $1500
replaced front struts and rear shocks 

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2004 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

160-horsepower 2.3L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD

156000 mi

US $1100
replace transmission, faulty mounts allowed too much movement between engine/trans. 
73780 mi

C $1200
Evaporator failed and had to be replaced. Possibly because of contaminants. 
89280 mi

C $250
Check Engine Light on due to failed Purge valve. 
148620 mi

C $300
replaced suspension mount. 
166040 mi

C $400
sway bar replaced 
73000 mi

US $1100
A/C compressor locked up 
99000 mi

US $320
a/c compressor and dryer, evac and recharge 

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2004 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

148-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

121520 mi

C $2000
Rear bushings, front wheel bearing, a stabilizer bar, an ABS sensor and rotor. 
71900 mi

C $360
wiper linkage broke, wipers stopped functioning 
83080 mi

C $1000
ac compressor clutch seized. belt had to be cut to prevent damage to other parts. 
88660 mi

C $1000
a/c compressor replaced due to faulty clutch 

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2004 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

160-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD

97800 mi

US $519
Bad wheel bearing. Horribly loud grinding noise while driving above 20mph. Had to replace entire hub, also get alignment 
109100 mi

US $600
LOUD grinding (obvious wheel bearing) noise. Took to private shop, confirmed that both front wheel bearings were bad. Replaced with OEM parts. 
124000 mi

US $1000
Leaking front struts needed to be replaced. Along with 2 broken engine mounts. Check engine light was on. Faulty thermostat or coolant temp sensor. 
127000 mi

US $625
Unusual wear on rear tires. Shop identified it as rear camber issue. Adjustable rear lower control arms were installed & car was aligned properly. 
141000 mi

US $130
Rear right upper shock mount corroded through & broke off. Shock was loosely moving around. Replaced upper shock mounts & original shocks on both sides with parts from Amazon. Very easy to do. 
159000 mi

US $100
Battery died due to very cold temperatures in the northeast. Swapped out & changed a corroded negative terminal. 
62300 mi

US $417
Front Left Wheel Bearing replaced. 
65850 mi

US $1255
Front Left Wheel Bearing and Nuckle replaced. 
73412 mi

US $551
Front Left Wheel Bearing replaced. 
80500 mi

US $2000
bad rust under wheel wells. my neighbor had same problems after 5 years of baby care for vehicle. water pump replaced turned out to be quite expensive at 20,000 miles 
117000 mi

US $2000
replaced front struts 

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2004 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

160-horsepower 2.3L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD

62200 mi

US $3000
AT light came on - dealer's service dept diagnosed problem as solenoid needs to be replaced in transmission. Also, recommended to replace struts and engine mounts. 
63500 mi

US $280
lower engine cover ripped off from a prior car maintenance trip 
71200 mi

US $1163
Replaced blower motor and recharged AC. Also did recommended oil change. 
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. Replaced rear shocks. 
118000 mi

US $1000
Fuel pump overheat blow 
128000 mi

US $120
Coolant leak (suspected water pump). engine overheating. Stopped using K-Seal. 
101000 mi

US $1000
The wires connecting the airbag sensors were corroded. Both airbag harnesses were somehow damaged and had to be replaced. Two motor mounts were corroded/broken and had to be replaced. 
127000 mi

US $300
Wheel bearing was destroyed by driving with a bent rim. Bent rim was fault of the car's previous owner. Brake calipers were destroyed by a mechanic who worked on the car prior to my purchase of the car. Had calipers replaced & rotors turned. 
132000 mi

US $400
Air conditioner compressor failed. AC belt broke. 
138000 mi

US $100
Replaced rear shocks. 
140000 mi

US $250
Needed complete replacement of air compressor and all attendant coolant & belts. 
146500 mi

US $150
Replaced shocks. 
148100 mi

US $1500
Replaced front struts, ball joints, and lower control arm bushings 
168000 mi

US $1300
Bad catalytic converter and O2 sensor needed replacement. 
178700 mi

US $450
transmission fluid flush & filter replaced; speed sensors replaced; solenoids replaced 
191 mi

US $2500
Car's original transmission failed. Replaced/repaired forward clutches, rebuilt transmission, replaced failed rear transmission mount. Replaced seal on oil valve behind transmission while the transmission was being repaired. Failed seal was causing slow oil leak. 
198000 mi

US $125
Replaced car's original axles. 
202000 mi

US $600
Replaced front pads, rear pads, and rear rotors Also replaced tie rod ends. 

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See TrueDelta's information for all Sedans and Hatchbacks.
See TrueDelta's information for all Mazda models.

Mazda Mazda3 Expensive Problems

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