2010 Mazda MAZDA3
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Structure is the leading concern among 686 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 22 MAZDA3 model years with reports.
Of the 2010 reports, 18 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
SeatsFeb 9, 2017
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2011 Mazda2 and 2010-2011 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles equipped with a manual seat lifter. In the affected vehicles, the seat height adjustment lifter links may break or detach from the seat frame and the seat angle may incline causing the driver to not be able to maintain an appropriate driving position.
If the driver cannot maintain an appropriate driving position, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat lifter links and install a reinforcement bracket to the lifter links, or replace the entire seat adjuster unit, free of charge. The recall began April 7, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0917B.
Campaign 17V082000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, body, hatchback/liftgateSep 6, 2016
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 26, 2015, and 2013-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured December 15, 2011, to December 26, 2015. On the affected vehicles, the lift gate support struts may corrode, possibly causing the struts to break and/or the lift gate to drop unexpectedly.
If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9916H.
Campaign 16V644000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical systemApr 16, 2009
MAZDA IS RECALLING 25,400 MY 2010 MAZDA3 VEHICLES. A CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE ENGINE HARNESS AND THE HOUSING OF STARTER MOTOR MAY BE INSUFFICIENT. DUE TO THIS, THE COVERING OF THE HARNESS MAY BE DAMAGED THROUGH VIBRATION DURING OPERATION POSSIBLY CAUSING A SHORT-CIRCUIT BETWEEN CERTAIN HARNESS WIRES AND THE STARTER HOUSING. A SHORT-CIRCUIT CAN RESULT IN ENGINE CONTROL MALFUNCTION AND/OR POOR SHIFT QUALITY.
THE MAIN FUSE MAY BLOW OUT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL AND INABILITY OF RESTART, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL HAVE THE ENGINE HARNESS INSPECT AND ADD A PROTECTOR CLIP ON THE AFFECTED SECTION OF THE HARNESS. IF NECESSARY, THE HARNESS WILL BE REPAIRED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON MAY 6, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.
Campaign 09V126000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: seats
106 reports, newest first. Show all
Seats, Other or unspecified, Sep 7, 2016
MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BRACKET HAS BROKEN CAUSING THE SEAT TO ROCK SLIGHTLY. ALSO, THE DASHBOARD APPEARS TO BE MELTING WITH A SHINY STICKY SPOT.
Seats, Aug 30, 2016
COPIED FROM AN EXISTING COMPLAINT BECAUSE I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM: THE SWING ARM THAT ATTACHES THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO THE LEFT-SIDE SEAT RUNNER UNEXPECTEDLY DETACHED. CLOSE INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY A WELD FAILURE / METAL FATIGUE AT THE POINT WHERE THE ARM WAS WELDED TO THE ROD THAT RUNS BELOW THE CUSHION. THE SEAT IS NOW UNSTABLE AND ROCKS IN AN ALARMING WAY, BOTH WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH A POPPING NOISE AS I PREPARED TO PULL AWAY FROM A PARKING SPOT.
Seats, Aug 7, 2016
THE SWING ARM THAT ATTACHES THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO THE LEFT-SIDE SEAT RUNNER UNEXPECTEDLY DETACHED. CLOSE INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY A WELD FAILURE / METAL FATIGUE AT THE POINT WHERE THE ARM WAS WELDED TO THE ROD THAT RUNS BELOW THE CUSHION. THE SEAT IS NOW UNSTABLE AND ROCKS IN AN ALARMING WAY, BOTH WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH A POPPING NOISE AS I PREPARED TO PULL AWAY FROM A PARKING SPOT. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND HAVE TREATED IT GENTLY. I AM A SKINNY GUY AND HAVE AT NO TIME BEEN ROUGH ON THE SEAT. I AM SURPRISED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS FAILURE AS IT IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE.
Seats, Aug 6, 2016
FRAME BRACKET BROKE WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN ON THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT CAUSING THE SEAT TO ROCK COMPLETELY BACK
Seats, Jul 7, 2016
PART OF THE METAL MOUNTING THAT HOLDS THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRONT LEFT SIDE IN PLACE BROKE, AND NOW THE SEAT ROCKS. THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. THE SEAT IS NOW SECURED AT THREE POINTS RATHER THAN 4, AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE STRENGTH OF THE OTHER FRONT MOUNTING POINT. SEEMS LIKE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY COMPLAINT, AND A QUICK CHECK ONLINE INDICATES THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD, KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 2010 MAZDA 3.
Seats, Jun 2, 2016
DRIVER SEAT FLIPS BACKWARDS - CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE.
Seats, Apr 19, 2016
THE DRIVER SEAT OF MY CAR UNEXPECTEDLY DETACHED FROM SEAT MOUNT DURING NORMAL USE, THE DRIVER SEAT FELL BACKWARD ON TO THE BACK SEAT, LEAVING MY CAR NON-FUNCTIONAL. FOR SAFETY REASONS, I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES. I WAS PLEASED THAT THE SERVICE REP MADE AN EFFORT TO CHECK TO SEE IF THERE WERE OTHER SIMILAR REPAIRS REPORTED. HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE NONE FOUND. HOWEVER, LATER I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WERE FORTY-NINE OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS MADE TO YOUR OFFICE, NHTSA, REGARDING THE DRIVER SEAT IN THIS SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR MAZDA. I HOPE THAT THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) CONSIDERS OPENING AN INVESTIGATION TO REMEDY THE DEFECT IN THIS GROUP OF VEHICLE, AND, THE UNREASONABLE SAFETY RISK IT HAS ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
Seats, Mar 21, 2016
DRIVERS SEAT BROKE LOOSE. WAS AT A STOP LIGHT. WHEN I STARTED MY LEFT TURN THE SEAT SUDDENLY ROCKED BACK AND THEN SLAMMED FORWARD. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL AS MY FOOT HAD COME OFF THE GAS PEDAL DURING THE ROCK BACK AND THEN STEPPED BACK ON IT AS I WAS THROWN FORWARD FORWARD. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS HAD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT.
Steering, Wheels, Seats, Mar 5, 2016
STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING, UNABLE TO TURN THE CAR
Seats, Feb 19, 2016
I WAS DRIVING WITH FRIENDS IN THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY TO GET SOME DINNER. 70 IS OUR SPEED LIMIT. ALL OF SUDDEN I HEARD A SNAP UNDER ME AND MY BODY SHIFTED. I SIT PRETTY UP RIGHT SO I FELT MOVING BACK AT LEAST TWO INCHES AND MY HAND SHIFT POSITION AS WELL WHICH ALMOST CAUSE A ACCIDENT. I CALL THE DEALER TODAY, "YOU'RE NOT UNDER WARRANTY, SORRY" REALLY? I ALMOST DIE IN A CAR YOU GUYS SELL ME AND I GET A SORRY? IT WAS EITHER GET IT FIX OR PLAY WHEN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SEAT BRACKET IS GOING TO SNAP.
Seats, Jan 13, 2016
THE DRIVER'S SEAT BREAKS AWAY FROM THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN SITTING IN THE SEAT CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HAVE TO LEAN FORWARD OR ELSE THE SEAT ROCKS WAY BACK CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HOLD THEMSELVES UPRIGHT. DURING A FAST ACCELERATION OR QUICK STOP THE CHAIR EXHIBITS CHARACTERISTICS THAT CAN ONLY BE CALLED UNSAFE AND UNSETTLING TO THE DRIVER. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW THE SEAT WILL HOLD UP IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION OR ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THIS WAS FIRST NOTICED.
Seats, Dec 29, 2015
I NOTICED THAT MY SEAT WAS ROCKING ON THE LEFT SIDE AND WOULD LIFT UP. WHEN I GOT DOWN ON THE FLOOR BOARD TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON I NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE FRONT WELDS WAS COMPLETELY BROKE OFF AND LAYING ON THE FLOOR BOARD. WHILE TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO DAYCARE THIS MORNING, I WENT TO ACCELERATE AND THE OTHER SIDE OF MY SEAT BROKE AND MY ENTIRE SEAT WENT BACK, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET INTO AN AUTO ACCIDENT WHEN I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. NOT ONLY WAS MY AND MY 3 YR OLD DAUGHTERS SAFETY AT RISK, BUT I NOW HAVE LOST A DAY OF WORK UNTIL THIS CAN BE FIXED. AS IF THIS WAS NOT ENOUGH, I SPOKE WITH MAZDA CORP. (1-800-222-5500) ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO B/C MY DASHBOARD IS TOTALLY MELTED. THE REPRESENTATIVE WAS VERY NICE AND MAZDA IS GOING TO REPLACE MY DASHBOARD AFTER YEARS OF THE RUN AROUND AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE BIGGER ISSUE: HOW IS IT THAT MAZDA IS INVOLVED IN A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FOR THEIR DASH BOARDS MELTING, AND THEY HAVE PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS FILED IN THE NHTSA WEBSITE FOR FAULTY SEAT WELDS, AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON EITHER OF THESE THINGS???????????????? WHY??????????? DO LIVES HAVE TO BE LOST FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO DO A RECALL????
Seats, Nov 22, 2015
SEAT WELDS BROKE WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER SEAT IS NOW NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE CAR.
Seats, Oct 14, 2015
THE WELD ON THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT, WHICH ATTACHES THE SEAT TO THE SLIDING RAILS, HAS BROKEN. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS ACCELERATING AS THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED GREEN. THE SEAT IS NOW VERY LOOSE AND IS ROCKING BACK AND FORTH. I HAVE TO HOLD ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE ACCELERATING OR BRAKING TO KEEP FROM TIPPING OVER. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2010 MAZDA3. YET MAZDA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I WENT TO THE MAZDA DEALER AND WAS QUOTED $582 DOLLARS JUST FOR THE PARTS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE LABOR COST. I ALSO WENT TO THE MAZDA WEBSITE AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THREE WEEKS HAVE PASSED AND NO ONE FROM MAZDA HAS CONTACTED ME. ALL I RECEIVED WAS AN AUTOMATED EMAIL SAYING "DUE TO THE UNUSUALLY LARGE NUMBER OF EMAILS RECEIVED OUR RESPONSE TIME MAY BE DELAYED". I DON'T THINK MAZDA WILL EVER RESPOND.
Structure, Seats, Jul 27, 2015
A COUPLE MONTHS AGO I HEARD A CLICK WHILE DRIVING MY CAR AND AFTER HEARING THAT CLICK I NOTICED THAT MY DRIVERS CAR SEAT TITLED A LITTLE. YESTERDAY AFTER LOADING MY CAR I HEARD ANOTHER CLICK AND NOW BOTH FRONT WELDS ATTACHING MY DRIVERS SEAT TO THE FLOOR BOARD HAVE BROKEN OFF LEAVING MY DRIVERS CAR SEAT COMPLETELY UNATTACHED AT THE FRONT. MY CAR IS NOW EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND BASICALLY A ROCKING CHAIR. AFTER CALLING BOTH THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED MY CAR FROM AND THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP THEY BOTH TURNED ME AWAY TELLING ME IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD LOOK AT. THIS IS AN EXTREME DANGER AND AFTER DOING MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.
Seats, Jul 13, 2015
I WAS SITTING DOWN IN THE CAR (DRIVER'S SEAT) AND ADJUSTED MY POSITION SLIGHTLY AND HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE SEATBACK MOVED BACKWARDS AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SEAT ITSELF HAD NOTICEABLE FREEDOM TO MOVE UP AND DOWN AT THE LEFT CORNER. UPON EXAMINATION, THE BRACKET THAT IS WELDED TO THE SUPPORT BRACE ON THE FORWARD LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT HAD FAILED AT THE WELD LOCATIONS (2). THIS BRACKET IS PINNED TO THE RAIL AND KEEPS THE SEAT BOTTOM ATTACHED TO THE TRACK. MAZDA MUST RECAL THESE SEATS. THEY DO HAVE A FIX TO REPAIR WITHOUT SEAT REPLACEMENT. MAZDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. BUT IS CHARGING FOR THE FIX. RECALL TIME.
Seats, Jun 23, 2015
DRIVER SIDE SEAT SEPARATED FROM FRONT SEAT SLIDE ADJUSTER. DRIVER SEAT "ROCKED" BACK AND NOW THE CAR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO OPERATE. THE ENTIRE SEAT FLIPS BACKWARDS UPON ACCELERATION.
Seats, Jun 22, 2015
WHILE PREPARING TO DRIVE MY 2010 MAZDA 3, I GOT IN TO ADJUST THE DRIVERS SEAT. AS I WAS ADJUSTING I HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND REALIZED THE SEAT HAD A LOT OF PLAY IN IT. I TOOK THE SEAT OUT TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, I NOTICED THAT THE WELD POINT THAT SECURED THE SEAT TO THE CROSS BAR UNDER THE SEAT, SHEARED OFF CLEANLY, POINTING TO A BAD WELD. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO PREVENT ANY FUTURE ACCIDENTS OR WORSE. BASED ON THE WELD POINTS ON THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THIS PART WOULD HAVE EVER FAILED, BUT IT HAS AND ON NUMEROUS MAZDA 3 MODELS. THERE ARE AT LEAST 25 COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE ALONE. CAN SOMEONE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? $700 TO FIX IS OUTRAGEOUS AND THAT "ESTIMATE" WAS FROM 3 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
Seats, Jun 22, 2015
UPON ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP, THE LEFT-FRONT MOUNTING BRACKET OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE AT THE WELD POINT. THIS RESULTED IN INSTABILITY AND SIGNIFICANT ROCKING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHEN ACCELERATING, BRAKING, AND TURNING. THE SEAT INSTABILITY COULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER DURING AN ACCIDENT, RENDERING SAFETY MECHANISMS SUCH AS THE SEAT BELT AND AIRBAGS INEFFECTIVE. AS THE MOUNT BROKE UNDER NORMAL SEAT USAGE AND DRIVING CONDITIONS WITH NO PREVIOUS VEHICLE ACCIDENTS, I AM DOUBTFUL WHETHER THE MOUNTING BRACKET IS SUFFICIENT TO WITHSTAND THE IMPACT OF A CRASH.
Seats, Jun 9, 2015
ONE OF THE ARMS THAT ATTACH ON THE DRIVERS SEAT BROKE IN HALF WHILE DRIVING. WHICH NOW CAUSES A ROCKING MOTION IN THE SEAT
Seats, Jun 8, 2015
THE DRIVERS SEAT MADE A POPPING SOUND AND NOW ROCKS BACK AND FORTH LIKE A ROCKING CHAIR. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE SEAT AND DISCOVERED THAT A WELD ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT IS BROKEN. I WENT ON LINE AND DISCOVERED DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS WELD BREAKING. IT EVEN APPEARS AS A PROBLEM ON A CAR REVIEW SITE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND EITHER A DESIGN FLAW OR POOR WORKMANSHIP. MAZDA SHOULD BE MADE TO FIX IT.
Seats, Apr 13, 2015
THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT SHOULD BE FASTENED TO THE SLIDE ADJUSTER WITH FOUR PUSH NUTS (TWO PER SIDE), BUT EARLIER VIN NUMBERS ARE MISSING PUSH NUTS EITHER FROM WEAR OR BECAUSE MAZDA DID NOT INCLUDE THEM IN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. BECAUSE THE PUSH NUTS ARE MISSING, THE SEAT FREELY ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. THE ROCKING CAN BE SO EXTREME THAT THE ENTIRE SEAT ROTATES BACKWARDS ONTO THE REAR BENCH. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE FOR AT LEAST TWO REASONS: 1) IF THE AIRBAG WERE TO DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT, THE FORCE WOULD KNOCK THE DRIVER AND SEAT BACKWARD RATHER THAN ABSORB THE IMPACT OF THE DRIVER'S BODY; AND 2) IF THE SEAT SUDDENLY ROCKED BACKWARD WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MAZDA DESCRIBES THE ISSUE IN TSB 09-049/10, BUT PURPORTS THAT THE ISSUE MERELY PRODUCES A "RATTLE NOISE." BUT THE SEAT DOESN'T JUST RATTLE, IT ALSO HINGES ALL THE WAY INTO THE BACK SEAT AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. *TR
Seats, Feb 6, 2015
HAVE A 2010 MAZDA3 2.5S 5 DOOR AND THE DRIVER SEAT ROCKS AND JOLTS. HAVE FOUND FORUMS AND THREADS ABOUT IT, ALL RELATED ISSUES TO WELDING. TRIED TAKING IT TO DEALER TO ASK THEIR OPINION AND NOT HELPFUL. SHOWED HIM THE ISSUE AND HE DID INDEED REALIZE IT WAS ROCKING TOO MUCH AND PROBABLY NOT SAFE. INFORMED THAT IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND TO REPLACE THE SEAT IT WOULD BE $700+. I FEEL THAT THERE ARE ENOUGH CASES AND QUESTIONS OUT THERE REGARDING THE DRIVER SEATS BECOMING LOOSE THAT MAZDA SHOULD REPLACE OR FIX THE WELD ISSUES AT THEIR EXPENSE. PLEASE LOOK CLOSER INTO THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I FEAR THAT IT WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL COMPLETELY AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. *JS
Seats, Jan 28, 2015
I WAS SITTING DOWN IN THE CAR (DRIVER'S SEAT) AND ADJUSTED MY POSITION SLIGHTLY AND HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE SEATBACK MOVED BACKWARDS AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SEAT ITSELF HAD NOTICEABLE FREEDOM TO MOVE UP AND DOWN AT THE LEFT CORNER. UPON EXAMINATION, THE BRACKET THAT IS WELDED TO THE SUPPORT BRACE ON THE FORWARD LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT HAD FAILED AT THE WELD LOCATIONS (2). THIS BRACKET IS PINNED TO THE RAIL AND KEEPS THE SEAT BOTTOM ATTACHED TO THE TRACK. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD AND I WONDER WHAT UNNECESSARY INJURIES I OR MY WIFE MAY HAVE SUFFERED HAD THIS PART FAILED DURING AN ACCIDENT. I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THIS PART WOULD EVER BE EXPECTED TO FAIL. *TR
Seats, Jan 13, 2015
SAT DOWN, HEARD A LOUD POP AND SEAT MOVE VIOLENTLY RESULTING IN ME FALLING AWAY FROM STEERING WHEEL. UPON INSPECTION, LEFT SIDE WELD ON FRONT RAIL SNAPPED IN HALF. *TR