repaired · 2018 Q4
Seats
Risk. If the driver cannot maintain an appropriate driving position, there is an increased risk of a crash.
2010 Mazda MAZDA3Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 686 owner complaints about the 2010 Mazda MAZDA3, most often about the structure. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 17V-082 the manufacturer reports only 36% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 4, 2026. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2010 Mazda MAZDA3 has problems
686 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
169Structure2 crash/fire/injury
106Seats3 crash/fire/injury
100Visibility/wiper1 crash/fire/injury
54Wheels
50Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
48Tires
40Power train
31Steering
31Service brakes
15118 other systems17 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 169 | 2 |
| Seats | 106 | 3 |
| Visibility/wiper | 100 | 1 |
| Wheels | 54 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 50 | 2 |
| Tires | 48 | 0 |
| Power train | 40 | 2 |
| Steering | 31 | 6 |
| Service brakes | 31 | 2 |
| 18 other systems | 151 | 17 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2010 Mazda MAZDA3 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2018 Q3
Body: hatchback/liftgate
Risk. If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
no report yet
Electrical system
Risk. THE MAIN FUSE MAY BLOW OUT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL AND INABILITY OF RESTART, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mazda.
Mileage at failure
When do structure problems start?
49kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 102 structure complaints. 91% were reported before 100,000 miles.
12under 30k miles93under 100k miles9100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2010 vs. every other MAZDA3 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the MAZDA3 median. How we score
'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2010 Mazda MAZDA3 safety ratings
2010 Mazda3 5-DR. Hatchback w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2010 Mazda MAZDA3, and the recalls they led to.
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
In owners' words
What MAZDA3 owners report
Recent structure complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The dashboards should be subject to a recall immediately since badly reduced visibility from glare is a recipe for an accident. The defective (melting) material is so bad that if the sun hits it just right, I can hardly see anything ahead of me; it is an accident waiting to happen. I called my…
The dash of the car is melting. It causes a reflection that is bright and impairs visibility. Mazda addressed this problem with extending the warranty. When I called the local dealerships, none of them had the dash to replace per warranty. I made several calls throughout the year and each time was…
The dashboard is melting more and more everyday. Its becoming sticky and very reflective. Sometimes whenever I am driving in the morning the sun will reflect off and blind me making it very hard to safely operate my vehicle.
Own a 2010 MAZDA3?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.