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: visibility/wiper
100 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Apr 15, 2024
my Mazda 03 dashboard is melting, and I am not able to see out the window... I have talked to dealer and manufactory, and they will not pay the whole amount knowing it's a safety issue. I don't understand how they can sell product on car that is malfunctioning and a safety issue. I bought the car brand new in 2010 and didn't have any issues until this year. Please call me back at [XXX] my name is [XXX] . I was not in an accident, just think this is a safety issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Visibility/wiper, Aug 21, 2023
The dashboard adhesive migrates to the surface of the dashboard. Adhesive then sublimates and condenses on the windshield making a glaze on the windshield, making it extremely difficult to see the road in sunrise or sunset conditions. I've repeatedly cleaned the windshield with many different cleaners including acetone, but at best I am only able to improve visibility, not restore it. In the attached photo, the upper portion of photo illustrates the film of adhesive on the glass after it was wiped with a clean paper towel, creating a hazy appearance. The entire windshield was cleaned with acetone and heavy duty degreaser and window cleaner prior to the photo.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 3, 2023
Front dash is melted and very shiny causing intense glare for the driver.
Visibility/wiper, Structure, May 15, 2023
The dashboards should be subject to a recall immediately since badly reduced visibility from glare is a recipe for an accident. The defective (melting) material is so bad that if the sun hits it just right, I can hardly see anything ahead of me; it is an accident waiting to happen. I called my Mazda dealer (Gray Epperson Mazda in Cleveland, TN (423) 303-1333) but said there was nothing they could do now as there was a warranty before but it had expired. I try to drive the car but always trying to avoid sunny conditions, but unfortunately, when I leave at 5pm conditions are worse if it's sunny. I wish Mazda would accept responsibility soon (or they are forced to do so by NHTSA, if needed) so that I wouldn't have to take such a risk.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Feb 13, 2023
I am writing to file a complaint regarding the defective dashboard of my Mazda 3. The dash of the car under the windshield has become melty and shines excessively, making it extremely difficult to see when the sun is shining on the dashboard. The reflection on the windshield is so intense that it affects the visibility of the road and makes it hard to see clearly. I was informed by the dealership that there was an extended service available for this issue, but it expired after 10 years. I was never informed of this extended service and only now, after my dashboard has become extremely affected, did I find out about it. This is extremely concerning as the dashboard is an important safety feature of the car and the reflection from the dashboard is affecting my visibility, putting myself and other drivers on the road in danger. I am extremely frustrated with the lack of transparency and communication from the dealership regarding this extended service and the fact that my dashboard has become defective despite proper maintenance and upkeep of the car. I demand that Mazda take responsibility for the defective dashboard and rectify the issue as soon as possible. I kindly request that the NHTSA investigates this matter and ensures that Mazda takes the necessary actions to resolve this issue for all affected car owners.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, May 3, 2022
The dashboard in my 2010 Mazda 3 has melted significantly throughout the years. It has become hazardous and tough to operate this vehicle. The dashboard is glossy, sticky, and believe a slight odor. I tried to slow its deterioration by using a sunshade when parked. It not only did not help, the dashboard just ruined each shade with a sticky, tar-like, black residue. No dealership has offered to help me without trying to charge me the total price of replacement, plus their labor costs. I regularly check to see if there has been a new recall, but there has not. I can not sell this car without feeling guilty for endangering others. I am unlikely to return to Mazda as a paying customer since they shy away from treating my family like one. I hope this issue is fixed adequately for me and anyone else suffering from this issue.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 9, 2021
The dashboard is melting and its causing a poor visibility due to the shiny reflection on the windshield
Visibility/wiper, Sep 30, 2020
STICKY DASH LEAVES A MAJOR GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD, IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE IN THE SUN
Visibility/wiper, Aug 5, 2020
MY CAR'S DASHBOARD IS MELTING CREATING AN AWFUL SMELLY CHEMICAL FUME OF WHATEVER IS DETERIORATING. TOUCHING IT RESULTS IN GETTING MOLTEN DASHBOARD ON MY FINGERS AND THERE IS AN AWFUL GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD WHEN DRIVING IMPAIRING VISIBILITY. IT'S BEEN HOT THIS SUMMER AND WHATEVER THE DASHBOARD IS MADE OF WAS NOT BUILT TO HANDLE HEAT.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 27, 2020
STICKY DASHBOARD INTERFERES WITH WINDSHIELD GLARE HE WINDSHIELD TEND TO GET A VERY BAD GLARE AND MAKES IT HARD TO DRIVE DUE TO THE DASH BOARD. THE DASH BOARD IS ALL STICKY AND GETS WORSE WITH THE HEAT
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, Visibility/wiper, Jun 11, 2020
STICKY SURFACE DASHBOARD, DASHBOARD GLARE, *TR
Visibility/wiper, Mar 10, 2020
MELTING OF DASHBOARD PROJECTS A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD BLINDING THE DRIVER LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD ON SUNNY DAY.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 2, 2020
THE CAR A RECALL FOR DASHBOARD IT'S MELTED THEIR GLARE WHEN THE SUN HIT YOU CANT SEE. TOOK IT TO THE MAZDA DEALER THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT. I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUTER MY POCKET. WHEN DRIVING.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 6, 2019
APPROX 4"X12" SECTION DASHBOARD MELTING ABOVE GAUGE CLUSTER AND CREATING GLARE BOTH OFF OF THE DASH AND ON THE WINDSHIELD. CANNOT CLEAN OFF GOOEY MESS
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Sep 29, 2019
THE DASHBOARD APPEARS MELTED AND STICKY AND IS EFFECTING VISIBILITY MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE
Visibility/wiper, Jul 8, 2019
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A SECURED COMPANY PARKING LOT. WHEN I LEFT WORK, THE SUNROOF GLASS WAS SMASHED. THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR. I THOUGHT A HUGE TREE LIMB MAY HAVE FELL ON THE CAR AND SOMEONE MOVED IT BUT THERE WAS NOTHING NEARBY TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED. I HAD THE SUNROOF REPAIRED AND FORGOT ABOUT IT UNTIL I JUST SAW INFORMATION ABOUT THIS HAPPENING ON OTHER CARS. REPORTING TO YOU FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES. SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED, VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY (PARKED), THE HIGH TEMP THAT DAY WAS 90 AND THE LOW WAS 72, NOTHING WAS ON TOP OF THE CAR (ROCK,TREE,ETC), NO KNOWN REASON FOR WHY THE GLASS BROKE.
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
Visibility/wiper, Oct 3, 2017
THE DASH BOARD IS MELTING AND CAUSING PROBLEM SEEING. I RECEIVED A LETTER A WHILE BACK STATING THERE WAS ISSUES WITH THE DASH BOARDS BECOMING STICKY OR MELTING MINE HAS JUST STARTED DOING THIS AND ITS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE ON REALLY SUNNY DAYS FROM THE GLARE THAT IT REFLECTS ON THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS I CALLED MAZDA ABOUT IT AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WAS GONNA DO ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN NOT FIX IT WHEN ITS CAUSE OF THE DASHBOARD THEY PUT IN THE CARS. THIS IS NOT ONLY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT ALSO COULD RISK PEOPLE LIVES. I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPEN AND ONLY GETTING WORSE AS TIME GOES ON I DONT HAVE A CERTAIN DATE SO I JUST PICKED ONE BELOW
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jun 21, 2017
MY DASH HAS GLARE FROM DASH MELT
Visibility/wiper, Dec 31, 2016
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTED AND STICKY AND THAT MAKES IT BRIGHT WITH THE SUN AND REFLECTED IN THE GLASS INTERNALLY AND MAKES DAY DRIVING VERY DIFFICULT.
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Aug 30, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE RADIO ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE RADIO TURNED ON AND OFF WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE WINDOWS FAILED TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Feb 5, 2016
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING. IT IS WORSE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND CONTINUES ACROSS THE WHOLE DASHBOARD. IT IS CAUSING A NOXIOUS FUMES AND A GLARE THAT AT TIMES GOES ACROSS THE LOWER PART OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE GLARE IS WORSE IN THE MORNING AS THE SUN RISES AND ON SUNNY DAYS. THE GLARE CHANGES AS YOU DRIVE AND MAKES THE ROAD APPEAR AS IF SOMETHING IS IN FRONT OF YOU ON THE ROAD. THE GLARE CAN BE FROM 5 INCHES DIRECTLY IN YOUR LINE OF SIGHT TO GOING ACROSS AT LEAST 2/3 OF YOUR VIEWING LINE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD-CAUSING IT TO LOOK AS IF SOMEONE HAS THROWN SLICK OIL OR A SILVER SHEET OF METAL IN THE ROAD. HAVE SWERVED QUITE A FEW TIMES (DEPENDING ON THE DIRECTION I AM DRIVING), CAN'T SEE WHEN PEOPLE STEP OFF OF A CURB, AS THE GLARE COMES IN THE SOON AND CAN BE THERE FROM THE START OF YOUR DRIVE OR APPEAR OUT OF THE BLUE AS YOU CHANGE DIRECTIONS OR PARK. YOU CAN'T HELP TO RESPOND TO THE GLARE WHEN IT APPEARS-ESPECIALLY WHEN ON UNFAMILIAR ROADS. THE SMELL IS OF BURNING PLASTIC. I LIVE IN FLORIDA ANY DAY OVER 80 DEGREES IN THE SHADE OR WHEN PARKED DIRECTLY IN THE SUN CAUSES THE DASHBOARD TO EMIT A NOXIOUS SMELL, GET SOFT AND GOOEY. BUGS, INSECT DROPPINGS, DUST, AND LINT GET STUCK IN THE DASHBOARD AND CAUSE GLARE. I DRIVE AT LEAST 3 HOUR/DAY MINIMUM. THE SMELL CAUSES A HEADACHE/SORE THROAT/NAUSEA. I CAN'T PUT A VISOR TO BLOCK THE SUN-IT GETS STUCK IN THE MELTING DASH AND THE VISOR. WHEN YOU REMOVE THE VISOR IT SPLATTERS "GOO/PLASTIC" ONTO THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH CAN ONLY BE REMOVED WITH A RAZOR. RISKING GETTING THE HOT GOO ON YOUR HAND/ARM/FACE. YOU CANNOT WIPE AWAY ANY OF THE MELTING PART AS IT IS REALLY STICKY AND THE DASHBOARD ONLY CONTINUES TO MELT. I SELL REAL ESTATE AND NO LONGER TAKE CUSTOMERS INTO MY CAR NOT ALLOWING ME TO DO BUSINESS THE WAY MOST SALES PEOPLE DO, BECAUSE CLIENTS COMPLAIN OF THE SMELL/FEELING SICK.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 1, 2016
DASHBOARD IS MELTED, CAUSING EXTREME GLARE DURING THE DAYTIME. THE GLARE FROM THE MELTED DASHBOARD IS DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH AND CAUSES SAFETY AND VISIBILITY ISSUES WHILE DRIVING.