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.
Exterior lighting, Feb 17, 2015
THERE ARE (3) EXISTING NHTSA REPORTS ON THIS THAT I AM AWARE OF: 10037949. 10037655 & 10052155. PURCHASED A 2010 MAZDA 3 OFF A DEALERS LOT 1.5 WEEKS AGO. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT HEAD LIGHT WAS OUT. THERE WAS CONDENSATE IN THE LENS. THE CAR HAS HID LIGHTS. TO ACCESS THE BULB THE CAR BUMPER ETC. HAD TO BE REMOVED. LOCAL SHOP REPLACED BOTH BULBS AND BALLAST. COST $1,200 +. THREE DAYS LATER THE SAME BULB WENT OUT. SHOP IS NOW REPLACING THE LENS AND BALLAST (AGAIN). $1,898. AFTER CHECKING ON THE INTERNET WE FOUND THAT IT A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR'S HEADLIGHT LENS TO LEAK. SOME PEOPLE REPORTED MULTIPLE FAILURES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MAZDA HAS 3 SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR CAR. 09-003-13, 09-005-11, & 09-057-10. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Feb 17, 2015
I BOUGHT MY 2010 MAZDA 3 BRAND NEW. NOW THAT I HAVE PAID IT OFF, I'VE NOTICED THE DASHBOARD STARTING TO MELT RIGHT ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS STARTED OVER THE SUMMER AND HAS BECOME WORSE SPREADING OVER A RATHER LARGE PORTION OF MY DASH. AND WHILE THIS MAY LOOK LIKE AN UNDESIRABLE BLACK TAR MESS, IT'S ACTUALLY A VERY LARGE SAFETY ISSUE AS IT'S IMPEDING UPON MY VISIBILITY. THE GLARE ON A BRIGHT SUNNY DAY HAS BEEN SO BAD THAT I'VE HAD TO PUT MY HEAD OUT THE WINDOW IN ORDER TO SEE. I COULD DRIVE PERHAPS ANOTHER WAY, OR WAIT UNTIL THERE IS NO SUN, BUT THAT IS NOT HOW MY LIFE WORKS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Tires, Wheels, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Feb 16, 2015
TODAY AS I AM REPORTING IS THE 3RD INCIDENT OF THIS TYPE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW, AND MY CAR NOW HAS ONLY 44 K MILES ON IT. THE TPMS SENSORS ON THE MAZDA 3 ARE CONNECTED TO THE AIR VALVE IN THE TIRES. TPMS SENSORS ARE VERY FICKLE AND TEND TO CORRODE AND BREAK WITH SEASONAL WEATHER. WHEN THE TPMS SENSOR BREAKS ON A MAZDA3, IT LETS ALL THE AIR OUT OF YOUR TIRE AND GIVES YOU A FLAT, STRANDING YOU WHEREVER YOU ARE. TPMS SENSORS ARE SUPPOSED TO AID DRIVERS TO LET THEM KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT IN THIS CASE, THEY ACTUALLY CAUSE THE PROBLEM. THE AIR VALVE BEING CONNECTED TO THE TPMS IS UNIQUE TO THE DESIGN OF THIS CAR, AND HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ME WITH OTHER VEHICLES. THIS CAN LEAD TO DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, DEPENDING ON HOW FAST THE CAR IS TRAVELING AND WHERE. I HAVE LOST AIR ON THE HIGHWAY AND BEEN STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TPMS SENSORS/INSTALLATION ARE 200 BUCKS EACH APPROXIMATELY, AND IF YOUR TIRE GETS RIPPED UP DURING THE INCIDENT, YOU MUST ALSO BUY A NEW TIRE. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Feb 15, 2015
THERE IS AN AREA OF APPROXIMATELY 6" WIDE OF DASHBOARD THAT IS MELTING DIRECTLY ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN DRIVING, THE SUN SHINES DIRECTLY ON THE MELTED PARTS AND CAUSES A GLARE WHICH PREVENTS ME FROM SEEING THE ROAD CLEARLY. *TR
Structure, Feb 12, 2015
MY DASHBOARD IS GETTING STICKY AND ITS STARTING TO, WHAT THEY CALL, "MELTING". AS THE SUN SHINES ON THIS STICKY AREA, THE GLARE IS GETTING WORSE BY THE DAY. I SAW ONLINE THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST TOYOTA AND MAZDA FOR THIS SAME EXACT REASON. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Feb 10, 2015
AS AN OWNER OF A 2010 MAZDA 3 OVER THE PAST YEAR I HAVE BEEN NOTICING A STICKY FILM ON MY DASHBOARD. IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY WORSE AND I REALIZED MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING!! IT CAUSING A BLINDSPOT DUE TO THE REFLECTION OF THE SUN. I HAVE NOT SUFFERED ANY DAMAGE YET BUT CLEARLY THIS IS FAULTY ON BEHALF OF MAZDA AND THEY SHOULD REPLACE THE DASHBOARD AS IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Other or unspecified, Feb 7, 2015
THE DASHBOARD OF OUR 2010 MAZDA 3 IS MELTING. *JS
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
Structure, Feb 5, 2015
DASHBOARD IS MELTING, SURFACE HAS BECOME STICKY AND CAUSING GLARE ON WINDSHIELD. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Feb 3, 2015
THE FRONT GLASS OF THE VEHICLE BROKEN IN A SMALL HOLES. *TR
Power train, Feb 3, 2015
THE VEHICLE BROKE THE CLUTCH. *TR
Structure, Feb 2, 2015
THE DASH HAS BECOME A HIGHLY REFLECTIVE MESS. THE DASH SEEMS TO BE MELTING AS IT IS STICKY TO THE TOUCH AND HAS DEVELOPED A HIGH SHINE WHICH IS HIGHLY REFLECTIVE IN THE WINDSHIELD. ANYTHING AFFECTING THE ABILITY TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD HAS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE OF THE MANUFACTURER, DEALERS, AND PEOPLE FILING CLASS ACTION LAW SUITS BUT NO MOVEMENT FROM NHTSA. *TR
Structure, Feb 1, 2015
THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND CONTINUES TO GROW IN SIZE. IT IS TURNING INTO A TAR-LIKE SUBSTANCE THAT COMES OFF TO THE TOUCH AND IS QUITE STICKY. THE GLARE THAT IT PRODUCES IS BECOMING A SAFETY CONCERN. JUST TODAY I ALMOST REAR-ENDED A VEHICLE THAT I COULD NOT SEE WHEN IT STOPPED. *TR
Structure, Feb 1, 2015
THE DASHBOARD UNDER THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS STARTED TO MELT. THE RESULT IS A STICKY GUNK THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO WIPE OFF OR CLEAN. THIS ISSUE CAUSES FOR A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE DRIVING DURING THE DAY RESULTS IN GLARES FROM THE DEFECTED DASHBOARD. CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND DON'T HAVE THE FINANCIAL MEANS TO REPLACE. *TR
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
Structure, Jan 25, 2015
THIS VEHICLE HAD WHAT IS BEING REFERRED TO AS A "MELTING DASHBOARD". THE MATERIAL HAS A DEFECT WHICH CAUSES IT TO BECOME SOFT AND STICKY, RESULTING IN A SHINY SURFACE THAT CAUSES A DANGEROUS GLARE. VISIBILITY BECOMES IMPAIRED, USUALLY BECAUSE OF A REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS OCCURS MOST FREQUENTLY IN REGIONS WITH HIGH TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY. MAZDA INSPECTED MY VEHICLE AND VERIFIED THAT MINE WAS AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION. THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR IT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT HAD RECENTLY EXPIRED. AS A GOODWILL GESTURE, THEY SUPPLIED THE REPLACEMENT PART AND I PAID FOR LABOR. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. TOYOTA AND LEXUS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN MODEL YEARS AND ARE REPLACING THEIRS AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. *TR
Tires, Wheels, Jan 25, 2015
THE VALVE STEMS ON THE WHEELS ARE CORRODING AND ONE COMPLETELY FELL OFF WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE A CAP OFF OF IT TO ADD AIR. THESE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN RAPID AIR LOSS FROM THE TIRES AND AN ACCIDENT. I WAS LUCKY THAT IT HAPPENED WHEN I WASN'T DRIVING. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Jan 24, 2015
THE DASHBOARD ON MY CAR STARTED MELTING ON THE DRIVER SIDE BUT NOW THE ENTIRE DASH IS MELTED AND SHINY. I CAN'T SEE TO DRIVE WHEN THE SUN IS OUT. THE REFECTION OBSCURES MY VISION AND IS VERY UNSAFE. I TALKED TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Jan 22, 2015
MY DASHBOARD IS A STICKY SAFETY HAZARD. I CANNOT SEE IN FRONT OF ME WHILE DRIVING, SEEING OTHER CARS AND PREDESTINES IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH THE GLARE FROM THE DASHBOARD ON THE WINDOW. MAZDA REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *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
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Jan 5, 2015
AFTER 3 YEARS OF NORMAL COMMUTER USE, THE DASHBOARD IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER SEAT HAS BECOME EXCESSIVELY SHINY. IT IS THE TOP HUMP OF THE DASHBOARD CLOSEST TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE SHINE REFLECTS A GLARE ONTO THE WINDSHIELD DIRECTLY IN THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VISION. THE GLARE IS SOMETIMES SO BAD THAT IT HINDERS THE ABILITY TO SEE OTHER VEHICLES DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE CAR. THE SHINE IS UNABLE TO BE WIPED CLEAN AND LEAVES A STICKY BLACK RESIDUE WHEN TOUCHED. IT APPEARS THAT THE DASHBOARD UPHOLSTERY MATERIAL AND/OR ADHESIVE IS DEFECTIVE. *TR
Seats, Jan 1, 2015
WHILE DRIVING, MY FRONT DRIVER SEAT BROKE LOOSE FROM THE LEFT RAIL. AFTER INSPECTING THE SEAT, I NOTICED IT BROKE OFF THE PART THAT IS WELDED TO THE RAIL. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I'VE ALREADY SEEN MULTIPLE OTHER RELATED INCIDENTS REPORTED. I'M GOING TO THE MAZDA DEALER TOMORROW AND SEE WHEAT THEY WILL DO. PS. I'M 180 POUNDS, SO IT SEEMS THIS SEAT WAS POORLY WELDED. *JS
Steering, Dec 31, 2014
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK TODAY AND SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUS POSTS, MY POWER STEERING LIGHT LIT UP AND STEERING ASSIST FAILED. 4 TIMES IN THE 4 MILE TRIP. *JS
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Dec 29, 2014
THE DASHBOARD OF MY MAZDA 3 IS MELTED FROM THE SUN AND CAUSES GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. IT BLOCKS VISION OF A PORTION OF THE ROAD. *TR
Structure, Dec 27, 2014
THERE IS A HAIRLINE CRACK IN MY 2010 MAZDA 3 DASHBOARD. IT IS DIRECTLY OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I LIVE IN BUFFALO AND THE CRACK IS WORSE IN THE WINTER. I SPOKE WITH MAZDA AND SAID THIS WOULD BE EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR, HOWEVER, I HAVE CHECKED ONLINE AND MANY OTHER DRIVERS OF MAZDA'S HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS FIXED, HOWEVER, I AM A GRADUATE STUDENT AND CANNOT AFFORD THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THIS IS ONLY COSMETIC AND NOT A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR