Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2008 Mazda Mazda3. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR
- Summary
- MAZDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 MAZDA3 AND MAZDASPEED3 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 7, 2008, THROUGH NOVEMBER 28, 2008. THE GROUND TERMINAL OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN INADVERTENTLY BENT DURING ASSEMBLY. IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS THEN OVER TIME THE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE OF THE MOTOR CIRCUIT MAY INCREASE UP TO A POINT THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK.
- Consequence
- THE LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION IN ADVERSE WEATHER COULD POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL GROUND HARNESS ON THE WIPER MOTOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JULY 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-222-5500.
LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST
- Summary
- MAZDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 MAZDA3 AND MAZDA5 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2, 2007 THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 2008. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.
- Consequence
- POWER STEERING ASSIST IS SUDDENLY LOST REDUCING THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE AS TYPICALLY EXPECTED, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy
- MAZDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND LINES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-222-5500.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (303)
303 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The steering is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 303 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 117 | 38.6% |
| Tires | 41 | 13.5% |
| Wheels | 33 | 10.9% |
| Air bags | 22 | 7.3% |
| Service brakes | 20 | 6.6% |
| Electrical system | 17 | 5.6% |
| Exterior lighting | 17 | 5.6% |
| Engine | 16 | 5.3% |
| Power train | 15 | 5% |
| Suspension | 15 | 5% |
How 2008 compares with other Mazda3 years
Best and worst Mazda3 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 145 | 2 |
| 2005 | 97 | 2 |
| 2006 | 166 | 1 |
| 2007 | 222 | 2 |
| 2008 | 303 | 2 |
| 2009 | 115 | 3 |
| 2010 | 686 | 3 |
| 2011 | 132 | 2 |
| 2012 | 226 | 1 |
| 2013 | 117 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 2008 Mazda3 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2008 Mazda Mazda3 FAQ
How many recalls does the 2008 Mazda Mazda3 have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 11V329000 (visibility), 10V374000 (steering). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2008 Mazda Mazda3 problems?
Owners filed 303 complaints with NHTSA. Steering (117), Tires (41), Wheels (33) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 2008 Mazda3 compare with other years?
Among the 2004–2013 Mazda Mazda3 model years at least five years old, the 2005 drew the fewest complaints (97) and the 2010 the most (686). The 2008 drew 303. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.