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.
Structure, Oct 29, 2014
THE DASHBOARD WITHIN MY VECHILE IS METLING. IT IS A GOOEY, STICKY AREA ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE DASHBOARD. IT CREATES A REFLECTIVE GLARE THAT INTERFERES WITH MY DRIVING. *TR
Structure, Oct 28, 2014
DASHBOARD "MELTED". IT'S SHINY ( BAD GLARE) AND VERY STICKY AS THOUGH THE GLUE HAS RISEN UP THROUGH IT. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2014
THE DASHBOARD ON THIS VEHICLE IS MELTING. I PURCHASED IT USED IN APRIL AND NOTICED ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER THAT THE DASH WAS STICKY. OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO THE POINT THAT THE GLARE CAUSES VISIBILITY ISSUES FOR THE DRIVER. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Oct 26, 2014
THE DASHBOARD IN THE CAR IS MELTING - TO THE POINT THAT THE GLARE IS AFFECTING THE VIEW. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Oct 24, 2014
BOUGHT THIS CAR USED IN JUNE 2013, AND NOTICED IN NOVEMBER OF 2013 IT STARTED TO BECOME STICKY ON THE DASHBOARD AS IF IT IS MELTING.. DIDNT REALLY BECOME AN ISSUE UNTIL IT BEGAN TO GLARE INTO MY WINDSHIELD CAUSING ME TO BE UNABLE TO SEE. I CANNOT CLEAN, OR TOUCH ANY PART OF THE DASHBOARD BECAUSE IT IS SO MELTED AND STICKY IT STICKS TO MY HANDS IF I DO. IT IS IN MY DIRECT VIEW OF WHERE I SHOULD BE LOOKING TOWARDS THE ROAD. HUGE ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
Seats, Oct 22, 2014
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HEARD/FELT A CLUNK AND THE DRIVER SEAT TILTED BACK A FEW INCHES AND BECAME UNSTABLE. THE SEAT NOW MOVES FREELY UP AND DOWN AND IS NOT CURRENTLY SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS WAS A RESULT OF WELD ON THE SEAT BRACKET BREAKING AND THE SEAT LOSING ITS SUPPORT. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND OVER 100 COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Oct 15, 2014
THE ABS & DSC (DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL) INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TESTED AT A REPAIR SHOP AND TWO SEPARATE COMPUTER READOUTS SHOW CODES C0020, U0140 & U0140 (RELATED TO THE ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT). THE SHOP PROVIDED SERVICE BULLETIN NO. 04-002/13, LAST ISSUED: 7/17/2013 RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND I MAY NOT HAVE FUNCTIONAL ABS OR DSC BUT THE BRAKES, WHILE NOT HAVING ABS, STILL FUNCTION. I WAS ADVISED THIS MAY BE A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR BUT SINCE IT IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE, MAZDA MAY FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE. I WOULD ARGUE THAT NOT HAVING ABS OR DSC IS MOST CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND I SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR
Structure, Oct 15, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD BEGA DETERIORATING. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A STICKY SUBSTANCE ACCUMULATING AS THE FAILURE WAS BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
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, Oct 10, 2014
THE DASH OF MY MAZDA 3 2010 IS LITERALLY MELTING. THIS CAUSE A GLARE WHEN DRIVING THAT CAN'T BE AVOIDED. THIS MAKES DRIVING VERY DANGEROUS IN SUNNY CONDITIONS. *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, Oct 8, 2014
MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING WITH THE CONSISTENCY OF PEANUT BUTTER. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO MAZDA AND THEY WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR CAR. *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
Tires, Wheels, Oct 7, 2014
I HAVE NOW HAD TWO TPMS VALVE STEMS SNAP OFF WHILE NEEDING TO INFLATE MY TIRES. BOTH CRACKED IN HALF AT THE THREADED PART OR THE STEM. COST IS $150 EACH TO REPLACE. MAZDA CORPORATE SAYS THIS IS "NORMAL". I HAVE DRIVEN 500,000 IN MY LIFE AND NEVER HAD A VALVE STEM CRACK OFF. THIS CAR HAS HAD TWO. FORUMS ARE LITTERED WITH THIS ISSUE. PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AND TIRES GOING FLAT ON THE HIGHWAY. WILL SOMEONE NEED TO DIE FOR MAZDA TO CHANGE THESE DANGEROUS MONITORS? *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
Seats, Oct 1, 2014
DRIVERS SEAT FEEL LOOSE AND WIGGLES. UNKNOWN HOW IT WOULD HOLD UP DURING A CRASH. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 1, 2014
MOISTURE HAS ENTERED BOTH HEAD LAMPS CAUSING FAILURE OF BULBS AND HID CONTROL UNITS. COMPLETE LIGHTING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Structure, Sep 30, 2014
MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING. THE GLARE GETS SO BAD I CAN'T SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
Structure, Sep 24, 2014
THE DASHBOARD IS "MELTING". THE POLYMERS ARE BREAKING DOWN, IT IS STICKY, AND CAUSING A GLARE ON THE ROAD/WHEN DRIVING WHICH IS DANGEROUS. *TR
Structure, Sep 20, 2014
INTERIOR DASHBOARD MELTING CAUSING BLINDING GLARE AND STICKINESS TO ANYTHING PLACED ON TOP OF IT. *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
Steering, Sep 19, 2014
I WAS DRIVING ON A STANDARD 40 MPH BUSY STREET WHEN I TURNED A CORNER AND MY POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED, I NARROWLY MISSED HITTING A POLE. I TOOK IT INTO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN HOPES THAT IT WOULD BE HONORED IN THE MAZDA3 2009 RECALL OR PERHAPS IT COULD BE HONORED IN A WARRANTY, BUT WAS TOLD NO. I FILED AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT WITH MAZDA BUT WAS FURTHER DENIED, THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME IN ANY WAY RECONCILE THE $1200 COST OF THE REPAIR NOR WOULD THEY ISSUE ANOTHER RECALL. MY LIFE WAS AT RISK AND I WAS PUT UNDER TERRIBLE DISTRESS DURING AND AFTER THIS SITUATION WITH THE COST OF REPAIRS TO THIS SYSTEMATIC DESIGN FLAW. I FILED A SECOND COMPLAINT WITH MAZDA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS STILL DENIED. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT PERSISTS IN MODELS OUTSIDE OF THE 2009 POWER STEERING RECALL AND MAZDA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR CARS AND ALL DRIVERS. *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
Electrical system, Sep 16, 2014
WHEN THE TRUNK OR DOOR IS INADVERTENTLY LEFT OPEN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME THE BATTERY IS TOTALLY DRAINED. THIS COULD LEAVE THE DRIVER STRANDED. IF JUMP STARTED AND BATTERY IS NOT FULLY CHARGED THIS COULD CAUSE INCREASED STRESS ON THE ALTERNATOR WHICH COULD LEAD TO COSTLY REPLACEMENT. *TR