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2010 Mazda MAZDA3

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most MAZDA3 years

Owner complaints for the 2010 Mazda MAZDA3 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 108.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

487 reports with mileage · 199 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 169 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. Review the 106 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 100 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports5 fire reports11 injury reports

Structure complaints

169 reports
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49,000 miles · Jan 4, 2017
Structure

I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL REGARDING LIFT GATE DAMPERS BACK IN OCTOBER 2016. I CALLED TO CHECK ON IT AND GUNTHER MAZDA SERVICE DEPT DID NOT HAVE THE PART AVAILABLE. WENT FOR AN UNRELATED PROBLEM IN DECEMBER TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND I FIGURED SINCE I WAS GOING TO BE WITHOUT A CAR FOR A DAY OR TWO, I MIGHT AS WELL TAKE CARE OF THE…

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I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL REGARDING LIFT GATE DAMPERS BACK IN OCTOBER 2016. I CALLED TO CHECK ON IT AND GUNTHER MAZDA SERVICE DEPT DID NOT HAVE THE PART AVAILABLE. WENT FOR AN UNRELATED PROBLEM IN DECEMBER TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND I FIGURED SINCE I WAS GOING TO BE WITHOUT A CAR FOR A DAY OR TWO, I MIGHT AS WELL TAKE CARE OF THE RECALL. THEY STILL DID NOT HAVE THE PART, THEY TOLD ME TO CALL BACK IN FEBRUARY. I AM NOT SURE HOW LONG AFTER A RECALL IS A MANUFATURER SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE WITH A SOLUTION, BUT 4 MONTHS SEEMS LONG. I HAVE NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE GATE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL I HAVE IT OR IGNORE THE RECALL EITHER.

NHTSA ODI #10939659

15,000 miles · Sep 12, 2016
Structure

MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND CAUSING A DANGEROUS GLARE DURING DAY TIME DRIVING. 60% OF THE TOP DASH IS MELTING AND DOES NOT DRY OR GO BACK TO NORMAL. ALWAYS STICKY AND DANGEROUS DURING SUNNY DAYS DUE TO GLARE REFLECTING OFF MELTED SURFACE.

NHTSA ODI #10905907

60,000 miles · May 6, 2016
Seat BeltsStructureUnknown Or Other

THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME BREAKS RESULTING IN THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE TO ROCK BACKWARDS WITH THE SEAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN FORWARD MOTION. THE CAR BECOMES UNCONTROLLABLE WHEN THE SEAT ROCKS BACK CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HOLD THEMSELVES UPRIGHT TRYING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT EXHIBITS CHARACTERISTICS THAT CAN ONLY BE CALLE…

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THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME BREAKS RESULTING IN THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE TO ROCK BACKWARDS WITH THE SEAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN FORWARD MOTION. THE CAR BECOMES UNCONTROLLABLE WHEN THE SEAT ROCKS BACK CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HOLD THEMSELVES UPRIGHT TRYING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT EXHIBITS CHARACTERISTICS THAT CAN ONLY BE CALLED UNSAFE. THIS DEFECT WILL ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH INJURY OR DEATH. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THIS WAS FIRST NOTICED. THE DEFECT WITH THE SEAT FRAME ALSO RENDERS THE SEAT BELT USELESS AND IS SAFETY HAZARD COMPOUNDED BY THE SEAT FRAME BREAKING LOOSE. THIS DEFECT APPEARS TO HAPPEN ONLY ON THE 2010 MAZDA 3 MODEL AND THERE ARE MANY ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS, BOTH HERE AND IN PUBLIC FORUMS. MAZDA NEEDS TO RECALL FOR REPLACEMENT OF A SEAT FRAME THAT IS BUILT SO AS NOT TO BREAK IN NORMAL USE. WHY THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED IS NEGLIGENT. MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALER GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $980.00 TO REPAIR THE SEAT FRAME. THE MANAGER WAS NOT WILLING TO NEGOTIATE THE COST OF THE REPAIR NOR WILLING TO DISCUSS FURTHER.

NHTSA ODI #10863597

79,000 miles · Feb 10, 2016
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA ODI #10825485

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2015
StructureUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

THE DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE, PARTICULARLY THE AREA ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL, APPEARS TO HAVE MELTED. THE SURFACE OF THE DASHBOARD IS STICKY AND SHINY LIKE IT IS COVERED IN TAR. IT CANNOT BE WIPED, AND THE SHINY SURFACE PRODUCES A SEVERE GLARE RIGHT IN THE LINE OF SIGHT FOR THE DRIVER. NO CLEANERS OR CHEMICALS HAVE BEEN USED ON …

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THE DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE, PARTICULARLY THE AREA ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL, APPEARS TO HAVE MELTED. THE SURFACE OF THE DASHBOARD IS STICKY AND SHINY LIKE IT IS COVERED IN TAR. IT CANNOT BE WIPED, AND THE SHINY SURFACE PRODUCES A SEVERE GLARE RIGHT IN THE LINE OF SIGHT FOR THE DRIVER. NO CLEANERS OR CHEMICALS HAVE BEEN USED ON THE DASH, ONLY A DRY CLOTH.

NHTSA ODI #10790389

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2015
Structure

WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS ABOUT 4 YEARS OLD MY DASHBOARD STARTED TO MELT COMPLETELY. IT LEAVES A GLARE ACROSS MY WHOLE WINDSHIELD OBSTRUCTING MY VIEW.

NHTSA ODI #10785533

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2015
Structure

DASH COVER MELTING IN HOT SUN. TURNS INTO A STICKY FILM AND REFLECT THE SUN AS YOU ARE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #10777819

105,000 miles · Aug 31, 2015
Structure

I OPENED THE DRIVERS DOOR, SAT DOWN AND ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE DOOR. THE DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH. I LOOKED AT THE DOOR LATCH AND THE THREE SCREWS USED TO ATTACH THE LATCH WERE MISSING AND THE LATCH WAS HANGING FREELY WITHIN THE DOOR. I WAS TRYING TO FIND REPLACEMENT SCREWS ONLINE WHEN I CAME ACROSS A RECALL ON THE MAZDA 6 WHICH …

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I OPENED THE DRIVERS DOOR, SAT DOWN AND ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE DOOR. THE DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH. I LOOKED AT THE DOOR LATCH AND THE THREE SCREWS USED TO ATTACH THE LATCH WERE MISSING AND THE LATCH WAS HANGING FREELY WITHIN THE DOOR. I WAS TRYING TO FIND REPLACEMENT SCREWS ONLINE WHEN I CAME ACROSS A RECALL ON THE MAZDA 6 WHICH IS APPEARS TO BE THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V425000

NHTSA ODI #10760329

45,009 miles · Aug 6, 2015
Structure

MY DASHBOARD JUST RECENTLY STARTED MELTING. THE DASHBOARD HAS FORMED A SHINY CONSISTENCY WHICH REFLECTS ON TO THE WINDSHIELD AND IS HAZARDOUS.

NHTSA ODI #10746802

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2015
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A GLARE AND A STICKY RESIDUE SUBSTANCE ON THE DASHBOARD THAT WAS CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A GLARE AND A STICKY RESIDUE SUBSTANCE ON THE DASHBOARD THAT WAS CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10745832

Official recalls

3

17V082000 · Seats

Feb 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the driver cannot maintain an appropriate driving position, there is an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

16V644000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate

Sep 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

09V126000 · Electrical System

Apr 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE MAIN FUSE MAY BLOW OUT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL AND INABILITY OF RESTART, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

EA21002 · Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.