This model car has a fuse box under the glove box known as a "passenger junction box" that has a faulty or defective relay soldered onto the circuit board. The relay is tied to lighting that includes the interior lights, exterior front parking lights, exterior rear tail lights, and the license plate light and is controlled by the left turn signal stalk (rotating switch). Based on my experience and many others (on the Mazda 3 forums), this relay has the tendency to fail and cause all of these lights tied to this relay to intermittently or permanently be disabled. There is no warning for this; the driver will only notice when driving at night that the interior illumination of the dashboard goes completely dark, which could cause disorientation and confusion as to whether or not the car is operable. Subsequently, the problem can be recreated by attempting to turn the lights on and off and there will be no response (and no clicking noise...it is audible when working and it switches on); the relay fails to operate and all the lights will not turn on. Driving at night without tail lights is extremely dangerous and I am surprised this has not caused serious injury from rear-ending incidents in nighttime or inclement weather situations. The serial/model number of junction box on my vehicle is BN8B-66730-C and many others on the forums have had the same issue with the same model, as well as other variations of the box. Some on the forums went as far as replacing the culprit relay (see attachment); however, at the risk of destroying the entire junction box and rendering the vehicle unusable. I finally ended up purchasing a replacement unit on eBay which corrected the issue so far and has made the lights reliable again.
The worst 2004 Mazda MAZDA3 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes28
- Airbags25
- Transmission24
- Engine21
- Steering19
- Tires9
- Body8
- Electrical8
- Lights8
- Fuel system7
- Seat belts3
- Suspension3
- Visibility2
- Wheels2
- Acceleration1
- Seats1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2004 Mazda MAZDA3
No deployment 13Airbag light 10Power steering loss 9Premature wear 7Check engine light 5Engine failure 5Fuel pump 5Stalling 5Transmission failure 5
Recalls 2
Air bags: frontal
- What is wrong
- Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2004-2007 Mazda3 vehicles. During air bag deployment, the plastic emblem on the steering wheel air bag module cover may shatter, and project plastic fragments into the vehicle.
- Risk
- Plastic fragments can hit occupants during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the air bag module cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed between August 28, 2021 and October 28, 2021. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1‑800‑222‑5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 4921G.
Recall number 21V494000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles, a crack in the air bag crash zone sensor housing can allow water to enter the sensor, causing a short circuit and illuminating the air bag warning light.
- Risk
- If this problem exists, the air will not deploy as designed in certain types of frontal crashes, increasing the risk of death or serious injury to the driver and front seat passenger.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the crash zone sensor and replace it, if necessary. The recall began on october 28, 2004. Owners should contact mazda at 1‑800‑222‑5500.
Recall number 04V468000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2004 Mazda MAZDA3 250
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below
- Product Quality Information (PQI) DESCRIPTION Service Information MT-041/12 is no longer valid
- This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below
- This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are noted in Red....
- A musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system is operating
- Some vehicles may experience exterior trim heat damage such (melted, separating, etc.) when parked near a...
- Some customers may complain about a noisy HVAC blower motor or odor after a cabin air filter replacement
- Some vehicles may experience exterior trim heat damage such (melted, separating, etc.) when parked near a...
- In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer
- Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems
What 2004 Mazda MAZDA3 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2004 Mazda 3 equipped with Hankook Tires, Tire Line: Ventus S1 Noble2, Tire Size: 205/50/R17, DOT Number: N/A. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, a loud explosion was heard. The contact's wife alerted him that the rear driver's side tire had blown out. The contact's vehicle was then rear-ended by another vehicle, causing his vehicle to turn 360 degrees. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was not injured, but his wife suffered from neck pain. Medical attention was not received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's workplace and was not deemed totaled by the insurance company. A body shop repaired the vehicle. The tire manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to send in the faulty tire. The tire failure mileage was unknown. The vehicle failure mileage was 150,000.
There has been no accident- the vehicle is my mother in laws vehicle- my concern is while at work she has at times loaded our daughter into the vehicle- I inspected the vehicle one day while as an employee of Les Schwab- the driver cvc axle vibrates so bad from the boot being torn and having no lubrication- these axles power the vehicle forward and if not maintained can snap and cause damage- the wipers no longer work correctly- the tires are 2017 and old and weather cracked- potential to separate while driving or blow out on the heated pavement. upon inspection also found that the front shocks are blown out and bouncing in the mounts under the hood- causing the tires to not have the correct contact patch on the road thus decreasing traction and control- on top of all this the vehicle hasn't been registered since 2020 and has no insurance on the vehicle- again there has been no accident...yet- this is my concern- that if this vehicle continues to remain operational and on the road it not only puts the driver and occupants at risk but also other drivers- kids- teens and anyone that may be on the other end o the crash when the vehicle does snap the cvc axle or blow i out a tire
The contact owns a 2004 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle and driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 04V468000 (Air Bags). The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.
The car ran great for the end of 2019. I bought it used at 145,000 miles. Then the automatic transmission started to slip. Now its stuck in limp mode.
The tail lights go out intermittently due to a defective passenger junction box (fuse box). Tapping the box with a screwdriver handle will bring the tail lights back on for a while. This has been a mazda 3 issue over the years. The should be a recall on this.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mazda 3. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic who stated that the front passenger seat main module needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. An unknown dealer was contacted, but could not assist. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 128,680.
The lock release lever on the steering wheel get loose while the vehicle is in motion and does not locked in place. This can cause an accident and serious injuries. There should be a recall to get this repair.
I was rear ended while pregnant and driving my 2004 mazda 3 hatchback. The airbags never deployed but I was on my way to a doctor's appointment and was able to have an ultrasound to ensure my child was safe. No insurance claim was filed but I was concerned. I was at a stop sign.
No problems from car no warning light. Big bang then engine making very loud knocking noise...on interstate... Still cranks but needs motor...read that lot of people have had same problems
Compare the 2004 Mazda MAZDA3
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Other model years
20042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
Questions about the 2004 Mazda MAZDA3
Is the 2004 Mazda MAZDA3 reliable?
Owners have filed 145 complaints about the 2004 Mazda MAZDA3, 1.2 times a typical MAZDA3 model year.
What is the 2004 Mazda MAZDA3 year score?
The 2004 Mazda MAZDA3 scores 64 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Mazda MAZDA3: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Mazda MAZDA3?
Brakes, with 28 complaints, typically around 12,000 miles. Next is airbags (25).
How many recalls does the 2004 Mazda MAZDA3 have?
2 recalls, covering air bags.
What year does the Mazda MAZDA3 have bad brakes?
The Mazda MAZDA3 model years with the most brakes complaints are 2010 (38 complaints), 2004 (28 complaints) and 2015 (28 complaints).
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