2009 Mazda MAZDA3 reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2009 Mazda MAZDA3 — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 140
- 10 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- STEERING
- 34 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 2
- see below
- Reported harm
- 13 reported crashes · 5 injuries · 1 fire
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#3,356
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Mazda median
-56
median 196 across 81 Mazda records
Vs 2007-2011
-119
median 260 complaints in 736 records
Top component share
24%
Steering: 34 complaints
What owners report fails — 2009 Mazda MAZDA3
- STEERING 34
- WHEELS 19
- TIRES 13
- TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS 10
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 5
2 recalls on record for the 2009 Mazda MAZDA3
- NHTSA 11V329000 · 2011 · VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR THE LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION IN ADVERSE WEATHER COULD POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- NHTSA 10V374000 · 2010 · STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM POWER STEERING ASSIST IS SUDDENLY LOST REDUCING THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE AS TYPICALLY EXPECTED, AND INC
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2009 Mazda MAZDA3
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2009 Mazda MAZDA3 units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Mazda MAZDA3 reliable?
NHTSA has 140 consumer complaints on record for the 2009 Mazda MAZDA3 and 2 recalls. The most-reported problem area is steering (34 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2009 Mazda MAZDA3 units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Mazda MAZDA3?
Owners most often report problems with: steering (34), wheels (19), tires (13), tires:pressure monitoring and regulating systems (10). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2009 Mazda MAZDA3?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.