The 2010 Mazda 3 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 779,714 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 920 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the unknown or other. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEATS17V0820002017-02-09173,859 affected
Defect
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…
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…
STRUCTURE16V6440002016-09-06580,455 affected
Defect
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…
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.
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…
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.
Complaints by component
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
133
2crashes2fires1injuries
STRUCTURE
115
1crashes
SEATS
106
1crashes2injuries
VISIBILITY/WIPER
100
1crashes
WHEELS
53
STRUCTURE:BODY
52
1crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
47
1crashes1fires
POWER TRAIN
35
1fires1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES
31
2crashes
STEERING
31
5crashes1injuries
Total complaints920
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The at light came on the dash, added transmission fluid because it was a little low but the light still has not gone off. I think there is an electrical problem within the transmission. It's had shifting issues since purchasing this vehicle. I also have a small child that comes with me to work and…”
“My girlfriend had bought a car from a dealership in pennsylvania and the car is registered in pennsylvania at a dealer called premier world wide auto sales. When she had bought the car all four of the tires I believe should have failed pa safety inspection and the owner of this shop keeps telling…”
“Nhtsa complaint narrative I am filing this complaint regarding a 2010 mazda 3, vin [xxx] . The vehicle experiences intermittent transmission control failures, including difficulty shifting out of first gear and warning indicators triggered by vibration. The transmission and transmission control…”
“Nhtsa complaint narrative I am filing this complaint regarding a 2010 mazda 3, vin [xxx] . The vehicle experiences intermittent transmission control failures, including difficulty shifting out of first gear and warning indicators triggered by vibration. The transmission and transmission control…”
“See attached document for complaint.”
“See attached document for complaint.”
“On august 15, 2025, my 2010 mazda 3 began displaying the abs warning light intermittently while driving. The abs system is a critical safety feature, and when the light comes on, I am unsure if the braking system will function properly in an emergency. I scanned the vehicle using a foxwell…”
“I have reason to believe the dealership I bought my vehicle from rolled back my odometer. Upon checking my carfax information, 12/01/24, the odometer read 161,142, which the dealership did own my vehicle at this time. When I bought this car in april of 2025, the odometer was reading 130,000.”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA21002 Opened 2021-09-17 · open
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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…
InvestigationEA21002 Opened 2021-09-17 · open
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2010 Mazda 3 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.