2006 Mazda 3 Sport GT review from North America

Wheel alignment went out. Car began pulling to the left.

LCD Information Panel died. Resulting in no visible clock, no visible radio channels, no indication of car stats (mileage/avg. speed), no outside temp. display.

Transmission flares between 1'st and 2'nd. Transmission to be replaced by the dealer.

Intermittent brake squeal while in reverse.

Windshield glass cracked. Uncertain on the cause.

We purchased the hatchback Mazda 3 Sport with all the bells and whistles (moon roof, leather, CD stacker, heated seats), and over all, it has been a great little car. Gets reasonably decent gas mileage, handles well and has lots of fun options.

We've been disappointed lately though in the volume of work we have had to have done to it. Fortunately, everything has been under warranty, but having numerous problems like this is annoying, to say the least, when having just purchased a brand new car.

We've been very happy with the service we receive at our local Mazda dealer, as they have been more than willing to help fix problems as they arise, and almost every time they return the car to us washed, vacuumed and with complimentary water.

Over all, I would recommend this car to others. It seems that our problems are not entirely normal, and the transmissions on these cars are "supposedly" usually very stable.

My only wish would be that they would have had a "three strikes = replacement" policy as I would love to have ours replaced with the new 2007 with Turbo. <grin>