Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Mazda Mazda3 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2007 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated their daughter was driving at 15 mph, when making a right turn the steering wheel locked up causing the driver to hit a curb and crash the vehicle into a mailbox. There were no warning lights illuminated on the vehicle, however, the driver stated there was a beeping noise coming from the vehicle once the steering wheel locked up. There was no one injured. There was no medical treatment at the scene. A police report was filed. There was damage where the front bumper of the vehicle came off and the front passenger side. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximate 101,000.
The contact owns a 2007 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH and making a turn, the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left or the right. The check engine warning light was illuminated and flashing. The contact stated that the steering then seized. While checking the NHTSA.gov website, the contact associated the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V374000 (Steering). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who confirmed there was no recall coverage on the VIN related to the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case, and confirmed there was no recall coverage for the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 195,081.
The contact owns a 2007 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 55 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The driver was able to continue driving to her destination. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V374000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2007 Mazda M3. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, the steering wheel of the vehicle become hard to maneuver. The vehicle was taken to the mechanic for diagnosis, and he stated the vehicle was experiencing the same failure as NHTSA Campaign Number:10V374000 (Steering). The dealer and the manufacturer were contacted, and they both stated that the vehicle's VIN was not under recall NHTSA Campaign Number:10V374000 (Steering) and she had to pay out of pocket. The failure mileage was 206,000.
My daughter and I were on the way to O'Reilly when we turned at a short curve going under 20 miles and the steering wheel got loose and the brakes wouldn't stop us. The car just kept swerving all over the road and we ended up in a ditch the day after my husband purchased the car.
Intermittently spanning several months, there is a sudden loss of power steering as the vehicle is in motion. Warning lights light up on the vehicle as power steering and power brakes are disengaged. Even though I provided a video of power steering loss, where a slight turn of the steering wheel engages this failure, where the dash board lights flash as power steering fails, the dealership will not fix anything they can't duplicate in their shop. I guess they don't believe their lying eyes, and don't accept the video as proof of anything. It is doing exactly what it was recalled for back in September 15, 2010. Recall #10V374000. Mazda Corporate has been notified. Case # 00342901. There are known fixes for this problem. Mazda has done these repairs on hundreds of thousands of times. Dealership told me they will do nothing unless they can duplicate the problem. …
Power steering failure causing rust on car components. When turning my steering wheel to the left or right there is a noise the car makes and it jumps gear shifts making it very unsafe to drive this car. Also there is an electrical power issue with the car. I just bought a new battery for the car but there still seems to be a shortage And I have to power jump the car every time I tune the car off and have to start the the car up. This is very unsafe for me as the driver and unsafe for those around my when driving because of the locking steering wheel.
I had just got my grandson and was traveling down i75 in ga I was going to merge into the next lane from the fast lane, I looked in my rear view mirror and side mirror and then back in front, I had plenty of time and room, as I started to merge it was like I could hardly turn the wheel and like I was breaking instead of spending up to get into the other lane, it happened so fast I had no idea what had taken place because I never should have hit the car, SUV. In front of me, I hit him with my left front headlight, but if my car had been running as it should have I would have been out of the lane and passing him I was stunned, and I didn't know anything about any of the recalls on my car, and I went to the dealer where I brought it, new from time to time and had work done, maintenance and was never told but I sure knew when my transmission was going out and they said I was passed warranty …
Tl* the contact owned a 2007 Mazda 3. While driving 45 MPH, the steering wheel veered to the left and recovered. Without warning, the failure recurred and caused the driver to crash into a cement barrier with enough force for the vehicle to ricochet into a guardrail on the opposite side of the road. The air bags deployed. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V374000 (steering). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no investigations were initiated. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
My 2007 Mazda 3 was traveling southbound in the left lane at 75mph on the freeway when it began to drift to the left; when I attempted to correct the vehicle the steering was stiff and the wheel would not turn. The car continued going left over the rumble strips and into the dirt shoulder. At this time the car then shot right nearly perpendicular to the flow of southbound traffic, where I began to go off the road to the right. The car then hit the dirt shoulder and rolled 2 times before coming to a stop on the drivers side. The car was facing north and on its side when it finally settled. Only 20 minutes before the crash I noticed a squeaking noise coming from the front passenger side. …
Related recalls
Steering › Electric power assist system
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.
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.
NHTSA investigations
Loss of Electric Power Steering Assist
The subject vehicles have electro-hydraulic power assist steering (EHPAS).The complaint counts shown above alleged a loss of power steering assist in the subject vehicles.Usually, but not always, the loss is accompanied by the simultaneous lighting of an indicator light on the dash.The complaints include 14 alleged crashes involving 6 injuries.On Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles manufactured from April 2, 2007 through…
Steering complaints in other Mazda3 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2007 Mazda Mazda3?
NHTSA has 89 complaints about the steering of the 2007 Mazda Mazda3, 40% of the model year's 222 complaints. The component named most often is electric power assist system (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Mazda Mazda3 steering problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 10V-374 (electric power assist system, Aug 12, 2010). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2007 Mazda Mazda3 steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 81,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 9 crashes, 0 fires and 5 injuries to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.