Anybody else have this issue? My 2004 is bubbling up with surface rust all around both rear wheel wells. Of course because I passed the 80,000KM warranty, there is nothing Mazda Canada or the Dealer will do - except to gladly take my cash to repaint the car! Have never heard of a vehicle this new rusting so badly. Obviously a defective paint job. Too bad there isn't more the consumer can do when this happens. After having a 1994 Protege run 330,000Km with hardly any rust, I'm certainly not impressed with my "new" vehicle. With an on-going stalling issue, this car has definitely been a lemon. It sucks to go from such a great experience with a manufacturer to this ...

 

hey, i have 04 mazda 3 (5 dr), 70,000Km, warranty over too. ask about it in a body shop cause about $700 Ca, not remember what exactly they will do with $700, but not cheap. I'm suprise and sad. this car is very gas comsuming, i'm thinking a toyota will get me to many more places with few $. i'm in the same boat as u coop

 

You must have the ATX and drive it like a "granny." Try stabbing the thin-pedal once in awhile and up-shifting to the next gear quicker. You'd be surprised. I get 26-28 mpg (no A/C) in my mostly city/mixed driving week. I'm happy w/that.
As for the rust, well, you're both in the rust belt! Perhaps rust-proofing would be in order.

As for the stalling, that only seems to affect the 2.0L sedans.

 

I put 50,000 miles on my 3 and it looked as good the day I sold it. I'm in Michigan. We have a huge salt mine under the city of Detroit and it's all they seem to use.

No problems on my wife's 70,000 miles old 2004 6 either

 

Ive got the same car, and rusting hasnt been a problem or anything. But as soon as my warranty ran out, i was driving down the highway and i swear to you not, the paint on the driver side mirror pealed right off. WTF!

 

I have a 2009 3 that is metropolitian gray. My rocker panel had some paint damage from road rash (central ny salt) however Mazda paid for it to be repainted and I put mud guards on. I was hesitant to install the mud gurads. I have heard that salt gets trapped behind them and it is actually worse. Any thoughts on mud guards to protect from road salt?

 

so from what i can gather here is 04's and 09's are lemon cars lol, well all i can think of is all 1st gen 1st year cars are going to have many problems thats the way manufactures get that "real world data" as for the 09's there money went to soon to be mazdas 1st step into hell with the 2010 mazda3. basically what im sayin is....cutbacks.

 

04 mazda3 sedan rusting brutally around wheel well and under rocker as well. its actually rusted a hole through in one section of the wheel well lip

would warranty cover this? 58,000 km on the clock

 

I have an 04 with 96,000 miles 2.0L ATX. No rusting anywhere. Salty winters and hot humid summers. ton of rock chips on the hood though and front bumper but the car is almost 6 years old and i drive on our poor missouri highways a lot =(

 

I am starting to get the color of rust, like little dots on the inner metal on the wheel well that folds in. I love my car though (knock on wood). I have 32k miles on it about. I believe it is 5 yrs unlimited miles.

http://www.automobilemag.com/am/2008.../warranty.html

So I am going to get mine checked out. You should as well!