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: other or unspecified
133 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Sep 1, 2020
NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE DASH FEELING STICKY THIS WEEKEND (LIKE THE DASH IS MELTING). THE STICKY AREA CREATES A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. WITH THE HIGH TEMPS, IT WILL LIKELY ONLY GET WORSE. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE. FOUND OUT THERE WAS A WARRANTY EXTENSION THAT LITERALLY EXPIRED FOR ME A WEEK AGO. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION ABOUT THE POSSIBLE ISSUE OR WARRANTY EXTENSION. WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET THIS COVERED SINCE I JUST BARELY MISSED THE WINDOW.
Other or unspecified, Aug 28, 2020
THE DASHBOARD OF MY VEHICLE HAS RECENTLY STARTED MELTING AND PRODUCING A STICKY SUBSTANCE THAT GIVES OFF A MAJOR GLARE IN MY WINDSHIELD CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD WHEN DRIVING. I CONTACTED MAZDA TO REPLACE BUT THEY ADVISED THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THEY WILL NOT REPLACE. BEING THAT IT IS A HAZARD TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER VEHICLES AROUND, I BELIEVE THAT MAZDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING ALL DASHBOARDS WITH THIS ISSUE AND IT BE CATEGORIZED AS A RECALL AND NOT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Aug 19, 2020
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR BEGAN STALLING AS I DROVE ON THE FREEWAY. IT STALLS AND FEELS LIKE IT WON'T CHANGE GEARS. TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND THEY KEPT TELLING ME THE COMPUTER CODE WAS NOT GIVING THEM ANY INFORMATION AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT.
Other or unspecified, Aug 17, 2020
MY 2010 MAZDA 3 HAS THE STICKY DASHBOARD THAT MAZDA IS AWARE OF AND EXTENDED THE FACTORY WARRANTY ON. HAVING SAID THAT MY STICKY DASHBOARD JUST DEVELOPED WITHIN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. WHEN I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER SHIP ABOUT GETTING IT FIXED UNDER THE WARRANTY I WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS A FEW MONTHS OVER THE WARRANTY EXPERATION. THIS STICKY DASHBOARD IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS BECAUSE I GET A GLARE OFF OF IT ONTO MY WINDSHIELD THAT CAN MAKE IT HARD TO SEE THE ROAD PROPERLY. THIS DASHBOARD ISSUE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AND NOT A WARRANTY EXTENSION BEFORE PEOPLE START TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT
Electrical system, Seats, Other or unspecified, Aug 14, 2020
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS YOU CAN DO IT SO IT CAN BE FIX AND DRIVE RIGHT AND I YOU CAN COME AND GET IT AND I NEED A RENTAL CAR UNTIL MY IS FIX
Electrical system, Seats, Other or unspecified, Aug 13, 2020
EVERYTHING NEED'S TO BE REPAIR ON IT ASAP AS YOU CAN DO IT SO THE CAR CAN BE FIX
Seats, Other or unspecified, Jul 2, 2020
MY DASHBOARD ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY HARD TO CLEAN AND HAS A CONSTANT VERY BAD GLARE THAT WONT GO AWAY, AND MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AT TIMES. IT'S ALMOST AS IF ITS MELTING. IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE I BOUGHT IT AROUND 2 YEARS AGO. MY DRIVER SEAT STARTED SHIFT WHEN I TURN CORNERS, LAST WEEK 6/24/2020 AND I'M SCARED FOR MINE AND MY BABIES SAFETY AS I AM A NEW MOM, ALSO THE WELLBEING OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD. I DONT DRIVE IT MUCH UNLESS NEEDED, AND HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO WORK FROM HOME.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jun 30, 2020
DASH IS MELTING AND I HAVE VERY POOR VISIBILITY DUE TO A LOT OF GLARE REFLECTION. *TR
Structure, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jun 22, 2020
THE DASH ON MY VEHICLE HAS MELTED AND BECOME SHINY AND HARD TO SEE WHEN DRIVING. IT APPEARS THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND MAZDA HAS "EXTENDED" THE WARRANTY ON THE DASH, HOWEVER SINCE MY CAR HAS A "BRANDED TITLE" FROM HAIL DAMAGE THIS EXCLUDES MY VEHICLE. ALSO THE ISSUE IS OUTSIDE THE 10 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUES AND IS LISTED ON THE MAZDA WEBSITE. MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. AFTER CONTACTING MAZDA THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE DASH. SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND SAFETY HAZARD I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE A RECALL VS THEM EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO SAVE COSTS ON NOT HAVING TO REPLACE CERTAIN VEHICLES. HTTPS://INSIDEMAZDA.MAZDAUSA.COM/PRESS-RELEASE/MAZDA3-AND-MAZDA6-WARRANTY-EXTENSION-STATEMENT/ *TR
Structure, Other or unspecified, Apr 29, 2020
I AM CURRENTLY THE OWNER OF A 2010 MAZDA 3. MY VEHICLE WHICH WAS PURCHASED BY ME 7 MONTHS AGO HAS A MELTING DASHBOARD. I HAVE GONE TO A MAZDA DEALER REGARDING A RECALL FOR THE DASHBOARD AND WAS DECLINED, THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THIS POSES A SAFETY HAZARD TO MYSELF AND MY FAMILY AS I EXPERIENCE A GLARE BOUNCING OFF THE DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING AND ONLY GETS WORSE UNDER THE FLORIDA SUN.UPON FURTHER INQUIRIES ON THE INTERNET THERE IS INFORMATION ABOUT THIS RECALL HOWEVER MAZDA DEALERS ARE NOT ABIDING BY THE RECALL AND REFUSE TO SERVICE MY VEHICLE.
Other or unspecified, Mar 10, 2020
MELTING DASHBOARD PROJECTS A SHINY REFLECTION IN THE WINDSHIELD ON SUNNY DAYS AND BLINDS THE DRIVER LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD.
Other or unspecified, Feb 6, 2020
DASHBOARD MELTED
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Sep 29, 2019
THE DASHBOARD APPEARS MELTED AND STICKY AND IS EFFECTING VISIBILITY MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE
Power train, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Aug 17, 2019
FOR THESE INCIDENTS THERE WAS FRIENDS WHO WAS IN MY VEHICLE DURING AND EVEN WITNESS THESE INCIDENTS HAPPEN WHILE IN THE VEHICLE. ON THE WAY TO WORK I TRIED TO DOWNSHIFT ON THE SPORT MODE LIKE I USUALLY DO. BUT IT CONTINUED TO STAY IN 5, THEN ALL OF SUDDEN IT JUMPED TO 3 AS I SLOW DOWN A BIT THEN ALL OF SUDDEN TO 1 WHICH MADE THE CAR JERK A BIT BOTH TIMES DUE TO GEAR DROP AND CAUSE THE CAR TO REV AT A HIGHER RPM. WHICH ALMOST COST AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS HAPPENING QUITE OFTEN SO I HAD TO SWITCH TO NORMAL DRIVE MODE( D) ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WOULD TURN ON AFTER MAKING A QUICK LEFT OR RIGHT TURN BUT THIS HAPPEN ONLY A FEW TIME, THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF WAS TO PARK SOMEWHERE SAFE AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON TO REMOVE THE LIGHTS. NOW IT'S SUMMER TIME AN THIRD PROBLEM HAS APPEAR, FOR SOME RANDOM REASON AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS GOING CRAZY AND BLOWING HOT AIR INSTEAD OF COLD AIR IN THE CRAZY TEXAS SUMMER HEAT, WHAT'S EVEN MORE CRAZY IS DRIVER SIDE BLOW EXTREMELY HOT AIR AND PASSENGER SIDE BLOW HOT AIR BUT AT A LOWER DEGREES. SOMETIME EVEN SMELLING A SMOKY BURNING PLASTIC SMELL. I FIND IT EXTREMELY UNSAFE FOR A CAR TO HAVE PROBLEMS LIKE SHIFTING AND CAUSING THE CAR TO LAG IN SHIFTING GEAR PROPERLY WHICH CAUSE TO JERK IN MOVING TRAFFIC WHICH CAN CAUSE A ACCIDENT. TO ADD EVEN ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL MIGHT HAVE ISSUES WHICH SCARES ME EVEN MORE. NOW EVEN HOT AIR WITH MAYBE A BURNING PLASTIC SMELL. CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN CHECK PROPERLY BUT THESE DRIVING WITH THESE UNSAFE ISSUES CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND EVEN WORST DEATH IF NOT CHECK PROPERLY. MOST IMPORTANT FEATURE IN A CAR IS IT'S ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND STOP PROPERLY, WITHOUT THOSE, IT BECOMES A DANGEROUS OBJECT ON THE ROAD.
Structure, Seats, Other or unspecified, Aug 7, 2019
MY MAZDA 3 2010 HAS ABOUT 3 RECALLS. I HAVE BEEN CONTACTING THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO DO THE RECALLS SINCE LAST YEAR, BUT DUE TO MY SCHEDULE, I CANNOT MAKE IT DURING THE WEEKDAYS. NOW THIS MONTH, WHEN I LOOKED AT THE RECALL LETTERS, I FOUND OUT I SHOULD DO THE RECALLS VERY SOON, BUT I HAD HARD TIME TO GET DAY OFF DURING THE WEEKDAYS, SO I WAS ASKING THE DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE ME FOR WEEKENDS. BUT THEY REFUSED. I KNOW THIS IS A FREE SERVICE, BUT HOW CAN THEY ONLY GIVE US SCHEDULE FOR WEEKDAYS AND REFUSE TO DO THE WORK FOR WEEKENDS. THIS IS ABOUT SAFETY. I DON'T DRIVE THIS CAR OFTEN, BUT I STILL WANT THIS TO BE DONE. I THINK IT IS WRONG THAT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSE RECALLS SERVICE. I DON'T THINK THEY WILL REFUSE THE SERVICE THAT PAY THEM MONEY. VERY BAD EXPERIENCE! I THINK THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MONITOR THIS. BECAUSE THEY REFUSING THE WEEKENDS SERVICE, A LOT PEOPLE MAY HOLD OFF THEIR RECALLS JUST LIKE ME, WHICH MAY CAUSE PROBLEM FOR THE ROAD SAFETY. THE NAME OF THE DEALERSHIP IS: MARTIN MAZDA ADDRESS: 289 E CLEVELAND AVE, NEWARK, DE 19711 PHONE:(302) 738-5200
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 20, 2019
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DASH LIGHTS START BLINKING AND CAR STOPS ACCELERATING, TURNS ON BY WON'T MOVE. MECHANIC SAYS ENGINE IS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH TRANSMISSION. ELECTRICAL ISSUE SEEMS LIKE. WHEN IT RESTS IT WILL WORK BUT THEN AFTER DRIVING IT HAPPENS AGAIN. IT JUST STOPS WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING, DANGEROUS.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jun 21, 2019
DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND CAUSES A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD
Other or unspecified, Jun 11, 2019
THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN MELTING OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. IT IS GRADUALLY GETTING WORSE. THERE NOW IS A GLARE REFLLECTING ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT IS CAUSING ME TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT MY PASSENGERS AND MY OWN SAFETY. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE JUNE 1, 2017 AND TRIED TO CONTACT MAZDA, THEY NEVER RETURNED MY CALLS. THE PAPERWORK SAYS 2010 MAZDA3 DASHBOARD UPPER PANEL STICKY SURFACE WARRANTY EXTENSION PROGRAL-SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM (SSP)99 I HAVE NOT HAD THE REPLACEMENT DONE, I CAN NOT AFFORD THE OUT OF POCKET COST. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.
Power train, Other or unspecified, May 30, 2019
WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK, THE SHIFT LEVER GETS STUCK AND DOES NOT SHIFT OUT OF 'PARK'.
Other or unspecified, May 17, 2019
WE WERE DRIVING DOWN I-70 IN INDIANA IN THE EVENING WHEN SUDDENLY OUR SUNROOF EXPLODED. WE NEVER SAW A ROCK HIT IT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT; THERE WAS JUST A LOUD NOISE, TINKLING GLASS AND IT WAS MOSTLY GONE. LUCKILY WE HAD THE SUN VISOR PULLED OVER IT, SO NO GLASS GOT IN THE CAR, BUT IT'S STILL A PRETTY MAJOR ISSUE TO HAVE A HOLE IN THE ROOF OF YOUR CAR, BOTH FROM A WATER DAMAGE AND SECURITY STANDPOINT. THE TEMPERATURE WAS IN 70'S, SO EXTREME WEATHER DIDN'T PLAY A ROLE.
Wheels, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), May 13, 2019
ABS, AND TRACTION CONTROL DASH BOARD LIGHTS ARE ON. THE ABS RELAY IS FAULTY, SO THE ABS MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Feb 28, 2019
10+ INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION SINCE AUG 2018. ALWAYS AT FREEWAY SPEED OF TRAFFIC, I.E. 70-75MPH. OCCURS WHEN INTENTIONALLY DECELERATING (EASING OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND INITIATING BRAKING). RPMS JUMP TO 7 OR 8. ACCELERATION IMMEDIATELY DROPS AND STEADS AFTER TAPPING/APPLYING PRESSURE TO BRAKES. HAS BEEN TAKEN RALPH THAYER DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES -- AUG2018, JAN2019, FEB2019. EACH TIME VEHICLE KEPT FOR A WEEK BUT UNABLE TO DUPLICATE ISSUE. DATA RECORDER WAS INSTALLED IN JAN2019. DESPITE A SEVERAL MINUTE LONG EPISODE ON FEB 22, 2019 IN WHICH THE CAR BEHAVED ERRATICALLY (BUCKLING AND JOLTING) AND WOULDN'T ACCELERATE MORE THAN 60 MPH WHILE THE RPMS WERE HIGH (4-5) FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THIS WAS SOMEHOW NOT SENSED BY THE DATA RECORDER. MY OWN GUESS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE PCM OR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. HAVE SUAS AFFECTED TRANSMISSION? SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE YET THE DEALER/MAZDA REACTION IS PERFUNCTORY AT BEST. NO COMMITMENT TO RESOLVE. E.G. BECAUSE MY DRIVING WAS LIMITED WHILE THE RECORDER WAS IN, I REQUESTED THAT IT BE LEFT IN FOR 3 MONTHS. MAZDA REFUSED, STATING THAT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN (AND IT WILL), THEY'LL REINSTALL THE RECORDER. THAT A COLLISION HASN'T HAPPENED IS JUST LUCK. A SERIOUS ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THIS VEHICLE IS IMMINENT SINCE THESE ISSUES ADVERSELY AFFECT THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I ALSO DON'T RELISH BEING MY OWN CRASH TEST DUMMY. THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BEYOND A SERIES OF EXPENSIVE PARTS REPLACEMENTS BASED ON THEIR GUESSES? I HAVE SOME VIDEO AND PHOTOS PER THEIR REQUEST, BUT NOTE THAT ATTEMPTING TO PHOTOGRAPH OR VIDEO THE DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING IS AN EXTRA BULLET IN WHAT ALREADY FEELS LIKE RUSSIAN ROULETTE. I'VE ATTACHED A SUMMARY OF EVENTS PROVIDED TO MAZDA IN JANUARY AND THE MOST RECENT MECHANIC'S REPORT. $800 SUGGESTED FOR GUESS-BASED TCM REPLACEMENT, $240 INCONCLUSIVE TESTS, NO LOANER PROVIDED.
Other or unspecified, Oct 29, 2018
SITTING AT A LIGHT AND MY SUNROOF SHATTERED.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Sep 7, 2018
MY DASHBOARD HAS BEEN MELTING CAUSED ME TO DRIVE OFF ROAD AND ALMOST TO HAVE ACCIDENTS NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN THE SUNLIGHT AND THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AT NIGHT REFLECTS ON THE DASHBOARD/WINDSHIELD AND BLINDS WHOS DRIVING AND U CANT EVEN CLEAN IT JUST WISH THAT IT WOULD BE RESOLVED BEFORE SOMETHING WORSE HAPPENS
Other or unspecified, Aug 29, 2018
PLEASE SEE ATTACHED REGARDING A KNOWN DASHBOARD LIFTING DEFECT.