Reliability research -- seeking more Mazda3s

P5w3kids · Sep 6, 2006

Reliability research -- seeking more Mazda3s; also fuel economy

The reliability information provided by CR and JD Power is not nearly as helpful as it could be. So in 2005 I started collecting my own reliability data at TrueDelta.com. Thanks to the help of this forum and its members, we've been providing absolute repair rates--not just dots--for the Mazda3 for some time now. We've been updatiing results four times a year, to closely track cars as they age.

Current number of owners signed up to participate for the Mazda3:
2004 - 63
2005 - 86
2006 - 111
2007 - 138
2008 - 117
2008.5,
2009 - 75
2010 - 40

Mazda3 owner participation has been excellent, but more remain needed.

Participants report repairs the month after they occur on a one-page survey. When there are no repairs, they simply report an approximate odometer reading four times a year, at the end of each quarter.

To encourage participation, panel members will enjoy free access to all of the results posted on my site. My feeling is that people who want this information should do their part to make it possible.

You can find more info and sign up here:

Vehicle reliability research

This forum has been helping out by running my site's banner in the regular rotation. Thanks, Antoine.

RPI-Speed3 · Dec 12, 2006

Wanted to point out there is no option for Mazdaspeed vehicles in the list when enrolling in the panel. I would like to start reporting on the Mazdaspeed3 I just bought. I am filling in info for my RX-8. Thanks

P5w3kids · Dec 12, 2006

You'll later be asked a few more questions about the car, including whether the engine is turbocharged. I'll know that all Mazda3s with turbos are really MS3s. I keep the number of models as low as possible to make the database easier to maintain.

I don't ask about mods at this point, but likely will in the future. I won't be asking for specifics, just whether a car falls within specific guidelines. Those that don't won't be included in the analysis for powertrain and/or suspension reliability, but will be included for the rest of the car. To get overall reliability I'll be adding powertrain reliability + suspension reliability + rest of car reliability.

In your list, the only thing that would fall outside the guidelines are the suspension mods, as your car clearly cannot be used to gauge how long the stock struts/shocks/bushings/etc. hold up.

Bakrauf · Jan 24, 2007

Joined

wingnut12 · Mar 12, 2007

Do you want the cost of maintaining the vehicle (ie. oil changes), or just other things that have gone wrong?

EDIT: Joined btw.

P5w3kids · Mar 12, 2007

Only repairs beyond routine maintenance. I want to keep the amount of effort low so as many people as possible will participate, and oil changes are far more frequent than repairs.

P5w3kids · Apr 23, 2007

Always looking for more Mazda3s, especially 2004s and 2007s. Currently 34 2007s are enrolled.

In comparison, 80 2007 Nissan Versas are enrolled. At that level I'll be able to provide more accurate results.

Details:

Vehicle reliability research

P5w3kids · May 23, 2007

Latest results posted today. Results for 2004 and 2007 are asterisked because too few owners responded, but results for 2005 and 2006 are "official."

For all four model years, the Mazda3 averages 0.3 or 0.4 successful repair trips per year. Very consistent. This is a low repair rate.

Those of you who helped make these results possible, thanks. If you're not currently helping out, please consider joining the panel. The more responses there are, the more accurate the results will be.

Current results:

TrueDelta Vehicle Reliability Survey results

Next results in August.

P5w3kids · Jul 16, 2007

Total enrolled now over 200, thanks guys.

Will have official results for 2005 through 2007 in August, and asterisked results (for insufficient sample) for the 2004.

The link from the OP, to save some scrolling:

Vehicle reliability research

fourthmeal · Jul 17, 2007

P5w3kids · Oct 1, 2007

Thanks.

The latest results were recently posted, and discussed in a separate thread here. Next set next month.

More participants will help make future results more precise. For the details, and to sign up to help out:

Vehicle reliability research

P5w3kids · Dec 16, 2007

Up to 18 2008s. A couple dozen more and we'll have initial results in February.

Auto reliability research -- need more Mazda3s!

shockdoctor · Dec 19, 2007

Joined. MS3 is an option. Cool.

P5w3kids · Jan 7, 2008

When you first respond to the survey, you'll be asked to respond to a second survey on bodystyle and powertrain. For the MS3, be sure to indicate that the engine is turbocharged and a "special performance version." This is how I'll separate MS3s from regular Mazda3s, if this proves necessary.

P5w3kids · Jan 7, 2008

For the 2008, 25 owners have signed up so far.

However, only 21 of these have responded to the survey, for a total of 35 months of data. I only show a result at all if there are at least 45 months of data, and asterisk this result unless there are at least 75 months of data.

At this point, there's virtually no chance of a result without an asterisk. I think most people simply took delivery too recently.

But there could well be an asterisked result. Just need at least 14 more months of data (and the more, the better).

A follow-up email with links to the survey goes out tomorrow. If you've already signed up, please respond to it. If you haven't yet signed up, please consider doing so.

Details and link to the enrollment form here:

Auto reliability research

P5w3kids · Feb 9, 2008

There will be an asterisked result for the 2008 Mazda3 after all, along with updated results for 2004-2007. Thanks, guys.

I've updated the counts in the OP. As always, more pariticipants would enable us to provide better information, especially with the 2004 and 2008.

For the details, and to sign up to help:

Vehicle reliability research

P5w3kids · Apr 10, 2008

Updated results in May, with a preview for participants in a couple of weeks.

I updated the counts in the OP. The 2007 is just three cars short of being the first Mazda to 100. Can also use more participants for the other years, especially the 2004.

Vehicle reliability research

P5w3kids · May 7, 2008

Results in a few days. No surprises for the Mazda3.

Updated counts in the OP. the 2007 passed 100 -- thanks, guys.

Additional participants always helpful.

Vehicle reliability research

P5w3kids · Jun 4, 2008

Those results were posted. As I hinted, the Mazda3 continues to have a consistently low repair rate, for all years.

We've had great participation, but additional participants would still be very helpful, especially for the 2004, 2008, and 2008.5.

For the full set of results, and sign up to help (if you haven't already):

TrueDelta Vehicle Reliability Survey results

P5w3kids · Jul 1, 2008

Next update in August.

393 Mazda3's signed up so far--which is excellent for a model that was new in 2004. Thanks, guys.

Additional participants always helpful--especially need more of the revised 2008.5.

Vehicle reliability research

Reliability research -- seeking more Mazda3s

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