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
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Oct 10, 2014
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2010 MAZDA 3 HAS BEGAN MELTING. THE DASHBOARD HAS BECOME STICKY AND SHINY. SOMETIMES THE SHININESS IS SO REFLECTIVE THAT IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SEE WHEN I AM DRIVING ON A SUNNY DAY. THERE ARE CHUNKS OF THE DASH THAT COME OFF LIKE CHEWING GUM. THE DASH GETS ON EVERYTHING LIKE STICKY BLACK TAR. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THAT THERE ARE DANGEROUS TOXINS BEING RELEASED INTO THE AIR TO BREATHE WHILE DRIVING KNOWING THAT THIS SYNTHETIC MATERIAL HAS NOW BROKEN DOWN AND BEGUN TO DETERIORATE. THE CAR IS ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD AND WELL CARED FOR. WHO IS TO BLAME FOR MY LOSS OF VALUE FROM A POORLY MADE PRODUCT. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Oct 8, 2014
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2010 MAZDA 3 BEGAN MELTING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. OVER TIME, MORE OF THE DASHBOARD HAS BECOME STICKY AND SHINY. SOMETIMES THE SHININESS IS SO REFLECTIVE THAT IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SEE WHEN I AM DRIVING ON A SUNNY DAY. THE VEHICLE RESIDES IN HAWAII AND IS KEPT IN A GARAGE WHEN NOT IN USE. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Oct 7, 2014
DASHBOARD IS MELTING, CREATING A SHINY SURFACE THAT CREATES A SEVERE GLARE AND INHIBITS VISION. THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A COSMETIC ISSUE. MAZDA REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR MY 2010 MAZDA3 WITH ONLY 47000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Oct 6, 2014
MAZDA 3 2010 DASH IS MELTING. I HAVE BEEN NOTICING A GLARE OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS FROM THE DASH TO THE WINDSHIELD THAT IN SUNNY CONDITIONS WAS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH THE GLARE. I THOUGHT IT WAS POTENTIALLY SOME ADHESIVE LEAKING OUT OF THE SEAM OF THE DASH. IT WAS GETTING WORSE OVER TIME SO THIS WEEKEND I ATTEMPTED TO CLEAN OFF THE SUBSTANCE. I FOUND THAT IT WAS NOT A SUBSTANCE BUT THE DASH HAD BECOME SOFT AND STICKY. IT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE CLEANED OFF. I HAVE USED A SUNSHADE SINCE I OWNED THE CAR (OCT 2009). I HAVE LIVED IN SOUTH FLORIDA SINCE 1985 AND HAVE OWNED MULTIPLE CARS. I LEARNED THE HARD WAY THAT YOU MUST SHADE YOUR DASH TO PREVENT IT FROM BEING DAMAGED. HOWEVER, OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS, NO DASH HAS MELTED AND CAUSED A DANGEROUS GLARE THAT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Oct 4, 2014
THE DASHBOARD ON MY MAZDA 3 SEEMS TO BE MELTING IN HOT WEATHER. WHEN THE SUN SHINES DIRECTLY ON THE DASH, IT CAUSES A HORRIBLE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHAT IS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. IT IS THE WORST IN AFTERNOON SUNNY WEATHER. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Sep 19, 2014
DASHBOARD ON THE DRIVER SIDE BEGAN TO MELT, AND CONTINUED TO DO SO. THE DASHBOARD IS STICKY AND COLLECTS DUST AND GRIM. THE MELTED MATERIAL HAS A GLOSSY SHINE REFLECTING A BRIGHT GLARE INTO THE DRIVERS EYES AND ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. IT CAUSES A DRIVING HAZARD WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Sep 18, 2014
I HAVE A DASH THAT IS MELTING. IT IS OVER THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND IS TURNING TO A TARRY LIKE SUBSTANCE. I DOES HAVE A LOT OF REFLECTION AND COULD CAUSE SOME VISION IMPAIRMENT FROM THE GLARE IT PRODUCES. I THINK IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. THE ABOVE INCIDENT DATE IS WHEN I NOTICED THE DASH. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Sep 13, 2014
MY DASHBOARD BEGAN TO MELT, AND HAS CONTINUED TO DO SO SINCE. THE DASHBOARD IS STICKY AND COLLECTIONS DUST AND GRIM. THE MELTED MATERIAL HAS A GLOSSY SHINE WHICH REFLECTS A BRIGHT GLARE INTO THE DRIVERS EYES AND ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. IT IS COSMETICALLY UNATTRACTIVE AND CAUSES A DRIVING HAZARD WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Sep 11, 2014
I NOTICED THAT MY DASH BOARD HAS STARTED TO MELT CREATING A VISIBILITY PROBLEMS. IT IS VERY STICKY. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Sep 10, 2014
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING ON THE MOUND ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL, IN DIRECT LINE OF VIEW OF ROAD AND CONTINUES TO SPREAD. STICKY GLUE TYPE TEXTURE THAT NEVER DRIES. UNABLE TO PUT A SUN BLOCKER IN THE VEHICLE TO CONTAIN THE SPREADING ISSUE AND WHILE DRIVING IT CREATES GLARE. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Sep 3, 2014
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING!! IT APPEARS THAT IT IS DETERIORATING CAUSING VISIBILITY ISSUES. IT IS BECOMING STICKY AND APPARENTLY IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. AS THE SUN GLARES DOWN ON THE WINDSHIELD, THE SUNS' RAYS BOUNCE OFF THE SHINY DASHBOARD CAUSING ME TO LOSE VISION IN TRAFFIC. THE MAZDA DEALER IS NOT WANTING TO REPLACE IT STATING IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY WANT ME TO PAY OVER $400 FOR THE LABOR AND 50% OF THE PART. I EVEN CALLED THE MAZDA HQ AND THEY REFUSE TO COVER THE DAMAGE, STATING THEY COULD DO NOTHING BETTER THAN THE OFFER THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME. I REQUESTED TO SPEAK TO HIGHER UP MANAGEMENT AT CORPORATE BUT WAS TOLD BY THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT NOBODY COULD ASSIST ME FURTHER. THIS IS SO ABSURD!!! PLEASE HELP BEFORE I HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Sep 1, 2014
CAR'S DASHBOARD IS MELTING CLOSE TO THE WINDSHIELD. IT IS SHINY AND STICKY, AND THE REFLECTION OF THE SHINING DASH CAN SOMETIMES BE SEEN IN THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Sep 1, 2014
DASHBOARD MELTING. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Aug 27, 2014
DASHBOARD IS MELTING, WHICH HAS MADE THE SURFACE HIGHLY REFLECTIVE. THIS RESULTS IN POOR VISIBILITY WHEN IT REFLECTS INTO THE WINDSHIELD. COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENT IF IT REMAINS AS-IS. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Aug 27, 2014
BLACK 2010 MAZDA 3, PURCHASED USED IN DECEMBER 2011; ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF LATER THE DASH STARTED GETTING STICKY AND NOW IT IS LITERALLY MELTING. I HAVE NEVER USED ANY CLEANING PRODUCTS ON THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AND WHEN I DO CLEAN THE INSIDE OF MY CAR, I USE A SOFT TOWEL. NOW I CANT EVEN CLEAN MY DASHBOARD, DUE TO THE STICKINESS AND POSSIBILITY OF RUINING IT EVEN MORE. THE DASH CAUSES A SEVERE GLARE WHILE DRIVING AND I FEEL THIS LACK OF VISIBILITY IS A HAZARD TO THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE, PASSENGERS, OTHER DRIVERS, AND PEDESTRIANS. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Aug 26, 2014
DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND CAUSING GLARE ON WINDSHIELD. CONTINUES TO GET PROGRESSIVELY WORSE WITH THE HEAT. VISIBILITY GETTING WORSE AS WELL. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Aug 18, 2014
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING. THE REFLECTION FROM THE MELTING, SHINY, DASHBOARD CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT AT TIMES BECAUSE THE REFLECTIONS FROM THE DASHBOARD ONTO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CAN NEGATIVELY AFFECT VISIBILITY. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Aug 13, 2014
DASHBOARD GETTING VERY SOFT IN THE SUN. ALWAYS REMAINS STICKY AND CONTINUES TO LEAVE RESIDUE ON THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING GLARE. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Aug 4, 2014
2010 MAZDA 3 DASH PANEL/DASHBOARD (P/N: BBM460400H02) IS MELTING. THE DASH PANEL SOFT-TOUCH COATING MATERIAL FIRST TURNED STICKY AND EVENTUALLY DISINTEGRATED INTO A VISCOUS SUBSTANCE. SURFACE FINISH TURNED FROM MATTE TO HIGH GLOSS. THE NOW REFLECTIVE DASH SURFACE CAUSES A LARGE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD AND OBSTRUCTS DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Jul 31, 2014
THIS CAR MAZDA 3 I PURCHASED IN 2011 AS A 2010 LEFTOVER NEW, AND THE DASH BOARD IS MELTING CREATING EVERYTHING TO STICK TO IT, AND ALSO OBSTRUCTING MY VIEW THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD ON SUNNY DAYS DUE TO THE NATURE OF HOW SHINY IT IS. IT LOOKS LIKE A WET DOWN DASH BUT THE REFLECTION IS CREATING VERY DIFFICULT VIEWING PROBLEMS ON SUNNY DAYS, DUE TO THE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD FROM IT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I WOULD APPRECIATE THIS BEING LOOKED INTO. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Jul 30, 2014
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2010 MAZDA3 HATCHBACK IS MELTING AND STICKY. WHILE DRIVING TOWARDS THE SUN, THE GLARE FROM THE SHINY STICKY AREA REFLECTS ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT. IN FACT, I DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE THE STICKY MELTING DASH AT FIRST, WHAT I NOTICED FIRST WAS THE FACT THAT I WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY SEEING OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR. I HAVE NOT USED A BUNCH OF CLEANERS ON THE DASH IN THE PAST. I DO USE A SUN SHADE IN THE WINDSHIELD WHEN PARKED. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Jul 21, 2014
I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE FOR ALMOST 4 YRS.THE DASHBOARD STARTED TO MELT IN 2013. IT CREATES A SHINY REFLECTION ON THE FRONT GLASS WHICH BECOMES VERY IRRITATING UNABLE TO SEE CLEARLY. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Jun 20, 2014
DASHBOARD MELTING WHICH CAUSES GLARE WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Jun 17, 2014
MELTING DASHBOARD - CAUSES AWFUL GLARE IN WINDOW AT TIMES OF DAY. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, May 30, 2013
MY 2010 MAZDA 3 DRIVES FINE AND DOES NOT HAVE MECHANICAL ISSUES. THE ISSUE INVOLVES THE INTERIOR DASHBOARD. SINCE IT WAS MADE FROM SOME TYPE OF RUBBER, THE SUN HAS BEEN MELTING IT. AESTHETICALLY IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD, BUT WHILE DRIVING TOWARD THE DIRECTION OF THE SUN, THE GLARE IT CAUSES ON MY FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN AFFECTING MY DRIVING. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A COUPLE OF PEOPLE AT A LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND ONE RIDICULOUS EMPLOYEE GAVE ME RECOMMENDATIONS SUCH AS TO PARK MY CAR IN A GARAGE, OR UNDER TREES WHENEVER POSSIBLE. APART FROM THOSE IDIOTIC REMARKS, I WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT-OF-POCKET DUE TO THE FACT THAT I AM NOW PAST MY WARRANTY. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A MITSUBISHI FOR 10 YEARS AND THAT NEVER HAD ISSUES ALONG THOSE LINES. I HAVE TAKEN VARIOUS PHOTOGRAPHS OF HOW MY VISION IS BEING OBSTRUCTED AND WOULD HAPPILY SEND THEM TO ANYONE I NEED TO. THE CHEAP RUBBER MATERIAL USED FOR THE DASHBOARD SHOULD NOT SIMPLY MELT BECAUSE OF THE SUN. THE SUN WILL ALWAYS BE PRESENT, THEREFORE THESE THINGS SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION DURING MANUFACTURING. I WOULD LOVE TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED BEFORE HAVING TO LOSE MONEY AND NEVER DEAL WITH MAZDA AGAIN. OVERALL I LIKE THE CAR, BUT I CANNOT STAND THE WAY THE INTERIOR HAS DIMINISHED IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. *TR