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2005 Mazda MAZDA3 electrical problems

17 complaints (18% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 100,000. 2 crashes reported.

owner complaints
17
of this car's complaints
18%
typical mileage
100,000
crashes
2
recalls
0

Which part fails

  • Wiring
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Mazda MAZDA3 electrical problems in other years

20042010201520202024

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

What 2005 Mazda MAZDA3 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Nov 17, 2021 · Electrical · OH

Randomly, the parking lights, tail lights, and climate control lighting will fail. This has happened to me multiple times over a number of years. Striking the right side of the center console will generally result in functionality being restored. Sometimes, simply turning the lights off and then on again results in the failure as well. My assumption, based on online forums where others have had the same issues, is that the Passenger Junction Box (PJB) is faulty. Striking the center console send vibrations to the PJB, resulting in it (usually) to start working again. While I do not regularly drive the vehicle at night, my concern is that without working tail lights, I could be involved in an accident OR be ticketed for my lights not working. Others online have had the same issues, and I believe it may be an issue in multiple vehicle models and model years.

Filed Jan 3, 2017 · Airbags, Electrical · 110,000 miles · CA

I drive a 2005 mazda mazda3 sp23i, four-door sedan. A few months ago, while parked in the street, my son had reclined the passenger seat all the way back and when I asked him to return it into the upright position, a red warning light illuminated on my dashboard. The warning light has never gone off since and I am fearful that the airbag will not deploy in case of an accident.

Filed Mar 26, 2016 · Airbags, Electrical · 130,000 miles · UT

This is an update to the previous complaint as the same issue, the airbag light being on, has already been recalled in certain VIN#s and apparently needs expanding. Please reference mazda recall #2504k or the federal safety agency recall # 04v559. My airbag light has come on and stays on for no apparent reason. It stays on when parked or driving, it is on at all times the vehicle is on and is not associated with any event.

Filed Mar 26, 2016 · Airbags, Electrical · 130,000 miles · UT

The red airbag sign on the dashboard, at first would come on and off sporadically, but now it's on everytime I operate the vehicle, indicating that the airbags will either not deploy or deploy incorrectly. I've discussed this issue with many other mazda 3 owners and it is a well known and prevalent issue. It is not related to any event, other than normal driving and operation.

Filed Feb 3, 2015 · Brakes, Electrical · 162,844 miles · NY

The vehicle was coming around a turn at about 30 miles per house, when the vehicle's radio went off and steering locked up into manual and car was difficult to maneuver. When the brake was applied, the car stalled out and engine stopped. The vehicle was able to moved to side of the road and stop. The car was turned off and upon restart had to issues. Upon rest of return trip home, upon the application of the brake, the cars radio, thermometer gauge and general electronics would stop and reset when the brake was released and gas pedal applied.

Filed Sep 8, 2014 · Electrical, Steering · 169,000 miles · PA · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda 3. While driving approximately 38 MPH around a ramp, the steering wheel seized and required excessive force to maneuver. The contact depressed the brake pedal and the engine suddenly stalled. The contact crashed the vehicle into a guardrail. There were no injuries and the vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 10v374000 (steering). The approximate failure mileage was 169,000.

Filed May 2, 2014 · Electrical · 100,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda mazda3. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, all of the warning lamps illuminated and the vehicle stalled after the contact activated the radio. The contact mentioned that the failure had also occurred after the lighting was activated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the alternator was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not further repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 140,000.

Filed Mar 12, 2014 · Electrical · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda mazda3. The contact stated that while traveling various speeds, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was found that the computer system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage and VIN was not available.

Filed Feb 6, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 120,000 miles · MI

The adapter in the headlamp is faulty. The car requires the h7 low beam bulb, but there is a plastic adapter in the housing unit that melts periodically. I have to keep buying replacements about once a year and have to change the bulb about 4 times a year. I always smell burning plastic when this happens and worry that a fire could start (the adapter has burn/melted spots on it when removed). It also corrodes extremely fast causing the bulbs to burn out extremely quickly. I've owned the car since 2008 and it's been doing it since about 2010.

Filed Oct 9, 2011 · Electrical, Steering · 77,050 miles · CA

Backing out of my driveway on 10/5/11, noticed that my steering wheel felt harder to turn intermittently, at the same time, the radio and dash board lights flickered and all the lights flashed. I stopped and returned into the driveway , where the car repeated to flicker lights and radio everytime I would turn the wheel. It did this until I shut the car off and then turned it back on , with no problems through out the day. On 10/8/11, I was turning into a gas station and the same thing happened , I was in the middle of turning so I finished my turn and attempted to park all while noticing my vehicle turning off and power steering light on. Car was completely off by the time I could get it to a secure location . The car would not turn on at al , the battery seemed completely dead , where I needed roadside assistance to turn it back on . No problem through the rest of the day since that happened.

Questions about the 2005 Mazda MAZDA3 electrical

Does the 2005 Mazda MAZDA3 have electrical problems?

Owners have filed 17 complaints about the electrical of the 2005 Mazda MAZDA3, 18% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2005 Mazda MAZDA3 electrical problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 100,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2005 Mazda MAZDA3 electrical?

There is no recall for this problem on this model year.

What year does the Mazda MAZDA3 have the most electrical problems?

The Mazda MAZDA3 model years with the most electrical complaints are 2010 (50 complaints), 2013 (32 complaints) and 2018 (30 complaints).

Other 2005 Mazda MAZDA3 problems

Airbags 24Engine 23Steering 15Brakes 6Fuel system 6Lights 6Transmission 5Seat belts 3Suspension 3Tires 3Visibility 3Body 2Seats 2Acceleration 1Driver assistance 1

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