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.
Air bags, Jun 28, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA, MAZDA 3. WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REWIRED THE AIR BAG CONNECTION TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
Tires, May 27, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 65 MPH, THE RIGHT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO INSTALL THE SPARE TIRE AND DROVE TO A TIRE FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRES ADVISED THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT AND OFFERED TO TAKE LIABILITY FOR 50 PERCENT OF THE REPLACEMENT TIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 850. UPDATED 08/03/10. *LJ UPDATED 08/04/10*JB
Engine and engine cooling, May 18, 2010, fire
SMOKE CAME THREW THE VENTS OF THE 2010 MAZDA3 HATCHBACK AND THEN FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THEN FLAMES CAME OUT FROM HOOD. IT BURNED UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT IT OUT. IT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE REPAIRED. *TR
Tires, May 7, 2010
2010 MAZDA 3 EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. BOUGHT CAR NEW IN OCT 2009. MAY 7TH 2010 THE CAR HAS 18,000 MILES ON IT AND THE REAR TIRES ARE DOWN TO THE STEEL BELTS. MY NET SEARCHING SHOWS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. HOW A CAR CAN HAVE ONLY 18,000 MILES ON IT AND HAVE DANGEROUSLY WORN TIRES IS BEYOND BELIEF. THE DEALERSHIP CONSIDERS THIS "NORMAL ON MAZDA 3'S". TIRES WERE WELL MAINTAINED WITH TIRE PRESSURE BY ME. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR HIT A SIGNIFICANT ROAD HAZARD. CAR IS USED FOR MOSTLY STRAIGHT LINE HIGHWAY DRIVING. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Vehicle speed control, May 2, 2010, crash
WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY THROUGH A COMMUNITY CENTER PARKING LOT, THE AUTOMOBILE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND DID NOT RESPOND TO BRAKING,RESULTING IN A CRASH INTO A BRICK WALL. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Feb 21, 2010
MAZDA 3 2010 FRONT DOORS LOCKED AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK-NOT WITH KEY AND NOT FROM INSIDE CAR- *TR
Structure, Feb 20, 2010
(2010 MAZDA3 5-DR WITH SUNROOF) WHEN SUNROOF IS FULLY OPENED AND DRIVING AROUND 35 MILES/HR, COMPLETE ROOF STARTS TO VIBRATE PRODUCING LOUD NOISE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A CAR DEALER AND TECHNICIAN NOTICED THE PROBLEM AS WELL. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR IS NEW DESIGN AND THAT MAZDA ENGINEERING RECEIVED A COMPLAIN. NO ACTION TAKEN BUT ADVISED TO PURCHASE A WIND DEFLECTOR. THE VIBRATION HAPPENS EVERY TIME I OPEN THE SUNROOF. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jan 3, 2010
2010 MAZDA 3, 5 SPEED. UPON SHIFTING FROM 4TH GEAR INTO NEUTRAL, TO PREPARE FOR A STOP, FOOT WAS TAKEN OFF OF ACCELERATOR AND CLUTCH WAS FULLY RELEASED; THE ENGINE STARTED TO REV. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN 90 DAYS. EACH TIME HAS BEEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL FROM A GEAR, NOT GEAR SPECIFIC. *TR
Visibility, Dec 16, 2009
REAR GLASS EXPLOSION ON 2010 MAZDA 3 SEDAN. MORNING 16 DEGREES F. APPROACHED MY CAR IN THE MORNING AND HEARD A CRACKLING NOISE. I THOUGHT THE SOUND WAS ICE. I STARTED THE CAR AND THE REAR DEFOGGER. AS I SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY ...APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS AFTER TURNING ON THE DEFOGGER. THE REAR GLASS EXPLODED WITH A LOAD NOISE. GLASS WAS THROWN INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SEATS. THE CAR IS 4 MONTHS OLD AND UNDER WARRANTY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. I CALLED MAZDA CUSTOMER CARE AT 1-800-222-5500 AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS DUE TO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE (IE THE SAME AS IF A TREE BRANCH FELL ON THE CAR). HE INDICATED THAT I SHOULD EXPECT THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN IN THE COLD WEATHER. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD EXPECT THAT MY REAR WINDOW CAN EXPLODE IN COLD WEATHER. IF MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE REAR SEAT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN POTENTIALLY SERIOUSLY INJURED BY THROWN GLASS. *TR
Visibility, Dec 15, 2009
I WAS ADJUSTING MY REAR VIEW MIRROR ON MY NEW 2010 MAZDA 3 AND IT CAME OFF. WHEN IT CAME OFF IT BROKE OFF A CHUNK OF GLASS FROM THE WINDSHIELD. MAZDA REFUSES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM! *TR
Seats, Sep 14, 2009
DRIVER SEAT FEELS LOOSE AND ROCKS BACK AND FORTH WHILE I AM DRIVING VEHICLE. I AM CONCERNED SEAT WILL NOT HOLD UP IN ACCIDENT. SAT IN SIMILAR CAR AT DEALER WITH SAME PROBLEM. *TR