I've read some other posts here about a similar problem. I've had some issues starting my automatic Mazda 3. This started happening last week. Some days aren't a problem but other days I have to start in neutral or just jiggle the shift ****. It's not the battery, everything else comes on - lights, cd player...everything else is in working order. I've taken it into the mechanic twice and the problem continues. Today, on my third trip to the mechanic, the battery light also came on. Could these 2 problems be connected? Never had any issues before, and now, all of a sudden I'm having problems.

 

sounds like the neutral safety switch - car will only start in neutral or park. When it doesn't start, hold the key in the crank position and push the shifter towards park, if that makes it start, you 've verified that's exactly where the problem is.
It's not an issue to just start in neutral, but it's just a switch to replace... though I don't know how difficult it is to get to.
battery light should be a seperate problem.