Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
24–27 mpgcombined; city 22–24, highway 28–32; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$12,030–$13,530U.S. average; Ohio $10,750–$12,090 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
Owners have filed 166 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Mazda3. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Steering
28
1
0
1
Air bags
27
11
0
10
Electrical system
21
1
1
0
Power train
21
1
0
0
Engine
17
0
1
0
Engine and engine cooling
17
1
1
1
Suspension
14
2
0
1
Tires
14
2
0
0
Structure
12
2
0
1
Service brakes
8
1
0
2
Unknown or other
8
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
7
3
0
1
13 more parts
Service brakes, hydraulic
5
1
0
0
Exterior lighting
3
1
1
0
Fuel/propulsion system
3
0
0
0
Seats
3
1
0
1
Wheels
3
0
0
0
Equipment
2
0
0
0
Equipment adaptive/mobility
2
0
0
0
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
0
0
0
Fuel system, gasoline
1
0
0
0
Seat belts
1
1
0
3
Service brakes, electric
1
0
0
0
Traction control system
1
0
0
0
Visibility
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2006 Mazda3 over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
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.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 190 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2006 Mazda3, the latest on Aug 20, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (62), electrical system (32), engine and engine cooling (26), steering (17), service brakes (13).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2006 Mazda3.
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data