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
686 reports, newest first.
Other or unspecified, Jul 19, 2015
THE DASH ON MY 2010 MAZDA 3 HAS BECOME VERY "STICKY" AND SHINY FROM NORMAL EXPOSURE TO THE SUN. I AM LOCATED IN PALM BEACH COUNTY FLORIDA. ADDITIONALLY, THE DASH HAS STARTED TO SPLIT ON THE RIGHT SIDE THAT COVERS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. I BELIEVE THSE TWO ISSUES POSE A SAFETY HAZARD FROM REDUCED VISIBILITY THRU THE WINDSHIELD DUE TO GLARE AND FROM THE CHANCE THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY/INCORRECTLY OR NOT AT ALL IN A CRASH.
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Jul 15, 2015
DASHBOARD IS MELTING CREATING HORRIBLE GLARE IN LINE OF VISION OCCLUDING ONCOMING CARS. SPOKE TO MAZDA HQ WITH NO HELP SIMPLY STATING THAT THEY HAD HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER CARS OF THE SAME MAKE AND YEAR BUT SINCE IT ISN'T CAUSING A "SAFETY HAZARD" THEY WILL NOT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL IT. I HAVE PICTURES OF HOW TERRIBLE THE GLARE OF THE DASHBOARD REFLECTION IS CREATING WHILE DRIVING. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SOMEONE WILL FAIL TO SEE AN ONCOMING CAR OR CHILD CROSSING THE STREET DUE TO THIS DEFECT. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION! *TR
Other or unspecified, Jul 15, 2015
I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW AT THE END OF 2009 IN TEXAS. WITHIN THE LAST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, MY DASHBOARD HAS GOTTEN STICKY AND VERY SHINY. WITH DAYTIME DRIVING, THE SUN GLARES ON MY DASH AND PREVENTS ME FROM BEING ABLE TO SEE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. IT IS AN UNMANAGEABLE CONDITION; IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH IMPAIRED ROAD VISION. IT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE, AND I NO LONGER DRIVE AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY TO AVOID BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM FOR 2010 MAZDA 3 VEHICLES LIKE MINE. PLEASE RECTIFY THIS OBVIOUSLY DANGEROUS DEFECT WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND PROVIDE ME WITH A CORRECTION. YOUR TIMELY RESPONSE WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU......UPDATED 12/03/15 *BF UPDATED 11/22/2017*CN
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.
Other or unspecified, Jul 12, 2015
DASH HAS BECOME STICKY AND IS MELTING. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN THAT IT CAUSES AN EXTREME GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT OBSTRUCTS VISION.
Other or unspecified, Jul 7, 2015
DASH HAS BECOME STICKY AND APPEARS TO BE SLOWLY MELTING TO THE POINT IT CANNOT BE CLEANED. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN THAT IT CAUSES A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT OBSTRUCTS CLEAR VISION TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC.
Other or unspecified, Jul 5, 2015
MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND IS CAUSING GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD.
Other or unspecified, Jul 1, 2015
THE DASH BOARD IS MELTING AND MAKES A HORRIABLE GLARE AND I CAN NOT SEE SOMETIME WHEN THE SUN HITS. GREKO MAZDA HAS REFUSED TO FIX FOR FREE. WANTS ME TO PAY $250 NOT MY FALULT THAT MAZDA MAKE A INFIERER PRODUCT
Other or unspecified, Jun 27, 2015
THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND MELTING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE.
Structure, Tires, Wheels, Jun 26, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TPMS SENSOR WAS CORRODED AND THE NUT WAS FRACTURED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED AND THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED WITH REGULAR VALVE STEMS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTING, WHICH CAUSED A GLARE FROM THE SUN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. UPDATED 09/14/15*LJ UPDATED 11/01/2017*CN
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.
Other or unspecified, Jun 22, 2015
THE DASHBOARD, PARTICULARLY THE PART OVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS MELTING. IT IS STICKY AND SHINY, AND IT CREATES A HORRIBLE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY.
Structure, Jun 22, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING IN WARM WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE DASHBOARD CHANGED FROM MATTE TO GLOSSY. AS A RESULT, THE DASHBOARD MELTED AND CAUSED A GLARE THAT OBSTRUCTED THE VIEW OUT OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
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.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jun 21, 2015
DASH HAS GLARE FROM ON THE TOP THAT CAUSES SAFETY ISSUES. DASH HAS AREAS THAT ARE MELTING AND CAUSE GLARE FROM THE SUN THAT PREVENTS SAFE DRIVING. MAZDA NEEDS TO REPLACE DASH JUST LIKE TOYOTA IS DOING ON EVEN OLDER CARS. MAZDA CHOOSE INFERIORS PARTS AND NOT OWNERS HAVE A SAFETY ISSUE; MAZDA STEP-UP AND REPLACE THE DASH ON MAZDA 3.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jun 14, 2015
MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING. MY CAR ISN'T EVEN FIVE YEARS OLD AND THE DASHBOARD HAS BASICALLY MELTED TO A POINT WHERE I HAVE TO REPLACE IT. THERE ARE ISSUES ALL OVER ABOUT THIS ON CERTAIN VEHICLES AND AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND MAZDA WILL NOT PLACE A RECALL, BUT SAYS I HAVE TO PAY $1500 TO FIX IT BECAUSE THE GLARE OF THE MELTING REFLECTS OFF MY WINDSHIELD WHEN I DRIVE WHICH CAUSES A HAZARD.
Other or unspecified, Jun 13, 2015
MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING AS IT GETS HOTTER HERE, I HAVE FOUND OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE ON LINE AND THERE ARE CLASS ACTION SUITS BUT I REALLY JUST WANT MINE REPLACED BY MAZDA BEFORE I EVER BUY OUT NEXT ONE, IF THEY DO NOT FIX IT WE WILL BUY ANOTHER MAKERS VEHICLE FOR OUR NEXT CAR. IT'S REALLY STICKY AND NASTY AND WILL GLARE IN THE SUNSHINE .
Tires, Jun 11, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SENSOR WAS CORRODED AND THE TIRE VALVE WAS DISINTEGRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE MIGHT RECUR AND REQUESTED RUBBER VALVES INSTEAD OF THE ALUMINUM VALVES; HOWEVER, THE DEALER DID NOT HONOR THE REQUEST. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,325. UPDATED 7/20/15*CN UPDATED 10/19/217*CN
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
Other or unspecified, Jun 8, 2015
THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING. THE SHEEN IS CREATING A DANGEROUS REFLECTING GLARE OFF THE WINDSHIELD.
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.
Exterior lighting, Jun 5, 2015
DESIGN FLAW OF HEADLIGHT HAS CAUSED CONDENSATION TO FORM IN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY CAUSING XENON BULB TO SHORT CIRCUIT AND BLOW ON DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT.
Other or unspecified, Equipment adaptive/mobility, May 29, 2015
I OWN A 2010 MAZDA 3 THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING, STICKY, AND SMELLS, MAZDA WOULD NOT RELACE IT UNDER WARRANTY, I WAS JUST OUTSIDE WARRANTY WINDOW, MY LAST MAZDA PURCHASE!!!
Other or unspecified, May 20, 2015
I CURRENTLY HAVE A 2010 MAZDA 3. I HAVE NOTICED FOR ABOUT THE PAST 2 YEARS THAT I AM GETTING THIS STICKY RESIDUE ON MY DASHBOARD AND NOW IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE AND WORSE!! IT DOES NOT LOOK GOOD. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL BECAUSE HAD I KNOW THE DASH WOULD START MELTING I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN THE FIRST PLACE BUT OF COURSE A DEALERSHIP WILL NOT TELL ITS CUSTOMERS THESE THINGS BECAUSE THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE THERE SELL. SUCH A RIP OFF!