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2010 Mazda MAZDASPEED3

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

31 reports with mileage · 1 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.

  • Seats. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

32 reports
139,000 miles · Oct 30, 2019
EngineStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL FOR TWO SECONDS BEFORE INDEPENDENTLY RESTARTING. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS STICKY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL FOR TWO SECONDS BEFORE INDEPENDENTLY RESTARTING. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS STICKY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 12396366785. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 139,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA ODI #11277034

60,000 miles · Apr 14, 2019
Air BagsElectrical SystemPower Train

BLINKING AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT SHORTLY AFTER MAZDA SERVICE RECALL FOR SEAT REPLACEMENT. MAZDA DEALER REFUSED TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE WHICH LATER FOUND TO BE LOOSE CONNECTOR UNDER THE SEAT. CONNECTOR WAS UNCLIPPED DURING ASSEMBLY OF NEW VEHICLE BRACKET AND NOT REINSTALLED PROPERLY. OWNER ALSO HAD U0100 CODE PENDING NO PCM COM…

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BLINKING AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT SHORTLY AFTER MAZDA SERVICE RECALL FOR SEAT REPLACEMENT. MAZDA DEALER REFUSED TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE WHICH LATER FOUND TO BE LOOSE CONNECTOR UNDER THE SEAT. CONNECTOR WAS UNCLIPPED DURING ASSEMBLY OF NEW VEHICLE BRACKET AND NOT REINSTALLED PROPERLY. OWNER ALSO HAD U0100 CODE PENDING NO PCM COMM. REFERRED TO WS MANUAL FOUND OUT LOOSE WIRE FROM AIR BAG COULD'VE BEEN THE PROBLEM, BUT LATER FOUND MOISTURE UNDER STEERING COLUMN. LED TO FINDING LEAKING BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER ONTO ENGINE FIREWALL PCM MAIN HARNESS CONNECTION/PLUG. THIS CAUSED CORROSION, POOR CONTACT WITH GROUND WIRING, AND VEHICLE ELECTRICAL "GREMLINS". SUCH AS HATCHBACK DOOR INDICATING 'OPEN' ON DISPLAY UPON START WITH NO CAUSE. RESTARTING VEHICLE SOLVED THAT.. INTERMITTENT TCS/DSC FLASHLIGHT LIGHT DRIVING UNDER 10MPH IN PARKING LOT. OWNER ALSO HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS @ 400 MILES. 1ST AND 2ND GEAR SYNCHRO REPLACED. LATER TURBO @ 15K MILES AND AGAIN AT 40K. DEALERSHIPS INEXPERIENCED WITH HANDLING MS3. MIGHT AS WELL HAVE GONE TO FORD SINCE MAZDA DEALERS WERE OF NO HELP GIVEN "CONVENIENCE" IN MILEAGE. BAD STRUT BEARINGS AT 50K, NEW STRUTS AND SHOCKS AT 35K. ENGINE MOUNT REAR AT 10K MILES. THE OTHER 2 MOUNTS FAILED, DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER. PASSENGER MOUNT LEAKED HYDRAULIC OIL ON TO SERPENTINE BELT AND PULLEY TENSIONER. COME ON! WHEN THE ENGINE MOUNTS FAILED, THE ENGINE TILTED BACKWARDS, CRACKING EXHAUST, CAUSING MISFIRE AND BURNING UP AT LEAST 1 IGNITION COIL. I COULD KEEP GOING..

NHTSA ODI #11196097

49,500 miles · Sep 2, 2018
Exterior Lighting

WATER INTERMITTENTLY LEAKS INTO PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT.

NHTSA ODI #11124015

63,000 miles · Aug 16, 2017
Air BagsSuspensionInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A MINOR BRUISE TO THE RIBS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (FAIRWAY MAZDA OF SAVANNAH 10101 ABERCORN STREET, SAVANNAH, GA,…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A MINOR BRUISE TO THE RIBS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (FAIRWAY MAZDA OF SAVANNAH 10101 ABERCORN STREET, SAVANNAH, GA, 31406), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND SENT OUT AN ENGINEER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION DAMAGAE, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,000.

NHTSA ODI #11015673

71,000 miles · Feb 15, 2017
Seats

WHILE DRIVING, THE SWING ARM WHICH ATTACHES THE ADJUSTMENT BAR UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT CUSHION TO THE LEFT SEAT SLIDER BROKE. THE SEAT ROCKS FREELY APPROXIMATELY 1 FOOT, MAKING THE SEATBELT USELESS AND THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY. I HAD TO REMOVE THE SEAT AND RE-WELD THE SWING ARM. THE DEALER SOLUTION WOULD BE A COMPLE…

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WHILE DRIVING, THE SWING ARM WHICH ATTACHES THE ADJUSTMENT BAR UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT CUSHION TO THE LEFT SEAT SLIDER BROKE. THE SEAT ROCKS FREELY APPROXIMATELY 1 FOOT, MAKING THE SEATBELT USELESS AND THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY. I HAD TO REMOVE THE SEAT AND RE-WELD THE SWING ARM. THE DEALER SOLUTION WOULD BE A COMPLETE SEAT REPLACEMENT COSTING $900. MILEAGE: 71000

NHTSA ODI #10954913

84,000 miles · Feb 6, 2017
Seats

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BECAME LOOSE. WHEN SITTING DOWN IN THE CAR A LOUD CLUCK WAS HEARD AND THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT MOVED BACKWARD. UPON INSPECTION THE WELD HOLDING THE SEAT TO THE BRACKET HAD SNAPPED. CAR WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME BEEN RENDERED UN-DRIVABLE DUE TO THE MOVEMENT IN THE SEAT.

NHTSA ODI #10949697

71,000 miles · Jan 18, 2017
Seats

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BROKE AT WELDED ATTACHMENT POINT TO ADJUSTER RAIL. MY SON'S DRIVER SEAT WAS ROCKING, I THOUGHT THAT THE LOCKING WASHER HAD FALLEN OFF AND WENT TO REPLACE, WHEN I REMOVERED THE SIDE COVER I DISCOVERED THAT THE BRACKET THAT ATTACHED THE SEAT TO THE ADJUSTER FRAME HAD BROKEN. SEARCH THE WEB AND DISCOVERED THAT THI…

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DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BROKE AT WELDED ATTACHMENT POINT TO ADJUSTER RAIL. MY SON'S DRIVER SEAT WAS ROCKING, I THOUGHT THAT THE LOCKING WASHER HAD FALLEN OFF AND WENT TO REPLACE, WHEN I REMOVERED THE SIDE COVER I DISCOVERED THAT THE BRACKET THAT ATTACHED THE SEAT TO THE ADJUSTER FRAME HAD BROKEN. SEARCH THE WEB AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE MAZDA 3. WHEN TO DEALER AND DISCOVERED THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SUBFRAME WHICH COST $300 FOR THE PART AND $300 FOR THE LABOR TO INSTALL IT. MAZDA NEEDS TO DO A RECALL AND FIX THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT AND ALSO REIMBURSE EVERYONE WHO HAD TO REPLACE THE POORLY CONSTRUCTED PART

NHTSA ODI #10946271

112,000 miles · Oct 21, 2016
Seats

I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 MAZDASPEED 3 ON 10/20/2016. DRIVING HOME FROM WORK I SUDDENLY REALIZED WHILE ACCELERATING IT WAS LIKE SITTING IN A ROCKING CHAIR. AFTER BEING ABLE TO CHECK IT LATER THAT NIGHT I LOOKED UP UNDER THE SEAT AND THE BRACE THAT HOLDS THE SEAT FRAME TO THE SEAT TRACK HAS COMPLETELY SHEERED OFF ON THE LEFT HAND S…

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I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 MAZDASPEED 3 ON 10/20/2016. DRIVING HOME FROM WORK I SUDDENLY REALIZED WHILE ACCELERATING IT WAS LIKE SITTING IN A ROCKING CHAIR. AFTER BEING ABLE TO CHECK IT LATER THAT NIGHT I LOOKED UP UNDER THE SEAT AND THE BRACE THAT HOLDS THE SEAT FRAME TO THE SEAT TRACK HAS COMPLETELY SHEERED OFF ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE. THE RIGHT SIDE IS STILL IN TACT... FOR NOW. READING ONLINE IT SEEMS THE DEALERSHIPS ARE WANTED AROUND $700 TO REPLACE THIS. I DON'T FEEL AS THOUGH I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH A HIGH BILL ON A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT WHAT'S TO KEEP MY SEAT FROM COMPLETELY LAUNCHING AND IMPALING ME INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. MAZDA PLEASE STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. TO MAKE AN ADDED NOTE, MY SEAT HAS HAD A SLIGHT ROCK IN IT FOR FROM WHAT I CAN REMEMBER BEING AT LEAST 2-3 YEARS NOW. TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT IT WHEN I FIRST NOTICED IT AND THEY SAY THAT'S NORMAL AND DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. SO, CLEARLY IF THIS IS NORMAL FOR MAZDA, THEN THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT MORE PROBLEMS COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10917786

75,000 miles · Oct 17, 2016
Seats

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP OR MAKING TURNS ON THE STREET OR ON A CURVED HIGHWAY, MY DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINES BACK FROM THE BASE OF THE SEAT APPROXIMATELY 3-4 INCHES. IT'S BEEN REPAIRED (WASHER AND NUTS REPLACED) SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS. TOOK IT IN TODAY (10/17/2016) AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW SEAT TRACK ASSEMBLY…

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WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP OR MAKING TURNS ON THE STREET OR ON A CURVED HIGHWAY, MY DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINES BACK FROM THE BASE OF THE SEAT APPROXIMATELY 3-4 INCHES. IT'S BEEN REPAIRED (WASHER AND NUTS REPLACED) SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS. TOOK IT IN TODAY (10/17/2016) AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW SEAT TRACK ASSEMBLY ($500.00 PARTS AND LABOR). THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THIS MODEL VEHICLE ABOUT THE SAME SITUATION FOR THEIR 2010 MAZDA 3 AND MAZDASPEED 3.

NHTSA ODI #10916607

60,300 miles · Aug 29, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA SPEED 3. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THERE WAS A SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NOISE SOUNDED LIKE TWO PIECES OF METAL SCRAPING AGAINST EACH OTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK INTERNAL BAFFLE WAS DETACHED AND …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA SPEED 3. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THERE WAS A SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NOISE SOUNDED LIKE TWO PIECES OF METAL SCRAPING AGAINST EACH OTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK INTERNAL BAFFLE WAS DETACHED AND WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD SPARK A FLAME INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,300.

NHTSA ODI #10899326

Official recalls

2

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.