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#BS-2004-MAZMAZ-373A

2004 Mazda Mazda3

Based on reports from 185 owners and 3 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints
185
Crashes
25
Fires
4
Recalls
3
TSBs
246
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 185 complaints, 25 crashes, 4 fires, and 3 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

motor blew

4 complaints • Severity 9/10

$X,XXX
2

wont go into all gears

3 complaints • Severity 9.3/10

$X,XXX
3

transmission fluid leak

2 complaints • Severity 9/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the SteeringHIGH

17 owners reported steering issues — failures commonly reported around 56K miles.

!Inspect the AirbagsMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

53
0–30K
26
30–60K
22
60–90K
21
90–120K
15
120–150K
6
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (53 reports) • Median: 56K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Steering (17 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Steering17 (9%)
Airbags16 (9%)
Power Train:automatic Transmission11 (6%)
Brakes9 (5%)
Engine9 (5%)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor8 (4%)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:pads8 (4%)
Wheels & Tires8 (4%)

2004 Mazda Mazda3: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Steering Issues

Steering complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2004 Mazda Mazda3, with 17 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 55,650 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 56K-mile mark.

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2004 Mazda Mazda3, with 16 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Power Train:automatic Transmission Issues

Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2004 Mazda Mazda3, with 11 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to power train:automatic transmission-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Brakes Issues

Brakes complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2004 Mazda Mazda3, with 9 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to brakes-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

37
04
20
05
13
06
7
07
14
08
10
09
21
10
15
11
4
12
9
13
8
14
12
15
2
16
4
17
2
19
1
20
1
21
4
23
1
24

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2004 Mazda Mazda3. Recent trend: decreasing.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (3 recalls)

04V468000Oct 2004

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

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.

09E011000Apr 2009

EQUIPMENT

THULE, INC. IS RECALLING 2,323 OWNER-INSTALLED ROOF-MOUNTED FIT KITS, MODELS 3068 AND 3069, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2008 AND FEBRUARY 28, 2009 THAT ARE USED WITH THULE PODIUM FOOT PACKS, MODELS 460 AND 460R. THESE FIT KITS WERE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE BOLT(S) USED TO SECURE THE FOOT TO THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED TO A HARDNESS THAT MAY CAUSE THE BOLT(S) TO BE BRITTLE AND POTENTIALLY BREAK UNDER STRESS.

21V494000Aug 2021

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Mazda Mazda3 is the 2010 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is accessories - interior.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 185 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 3 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Mazda Mazda3 Model Years

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004
View all Mazda Mazda3 years →

2004 Mazda Mazda3: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2004 Mazda Mazda3?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2004 Mazda Mazda3 is related to the steering, with 17 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2004 Mazda Mazda3 reliable?
The 2004 Mazda Mazda3 has 185 complaints, 25 crash reports, and 4 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How much does it cost to fix 2004 Mazda Mazda3 problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2004 Mazda Mazda3 have any recalls?
Yes, the 2004 Mazda Mazda3 has 3 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Mazda Mazda3 problems start?
Based on 143 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 55,650 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 185 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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