2010 Mazda MAZDA3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
686 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
59,287 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 486 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 133 of 686 complaints (19.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 74 | 10.8% |
| Steering behavior | 56 | 8.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 33 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 29 | 4.2% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 1.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 0.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 133 |
| Structure | 115 |
| Seats | 106 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 100 |
| Wheels | 53 |
| Structure:Body | 52 |
| Electrical System | 47 |
| Power Train | 35 |
Unknown Or Other: 133; Structure: 115; Seats: 106; Visibility/Wiper: 100; Wheels: 53; Structure:Body: 52; Electrical System: 47; Power Train: 35
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 70 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 116 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 121 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 77 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 77 |
| 150,000 and above | 25 |
Under 25,000: 70; 25,000 to 49,999: 116; 50,000 to 74,999: 121; 75,000 to 99,999: 77; 100,000 to 149,999: 77; 150,000 and above: 25
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (121). 200 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 28 |
| 2011 | 24 |
| 2012 | 28 |
| 2013 | 43 |
| 2014 | 138 |
| 2015 | 126 |
| 2016 | 60 |
| 2017 | 69 |
| 2018 | 26 |
| 2019 | 36 |
| 2020 | 44 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2022 | 11 |
| 2023 | 16 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2009: 3; 2010: 28; 2011: 24; 2012: 28; 2013: 43; 2014: 138; 2015: 126; 2016: 60; 2017: 69; 2018: 26; 2019: 36; 2020: 44; 2021: 16; 2022: 11; 2023: 16; 2024: 8; 2025: 7; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 74 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 56 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 33 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10328438 · 2010-05-02 (May 2, 2010)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 1,260 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328438 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10342587 · 2010-07-12 (July 12, 2010)
CAR FAILED TO START. MAZDA SENT TOW TRUCK. TOW TRUCK OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. TOW TRUCK OPERATOR DECLINED TO TOW THE CAR AND SENT DRIVER HOME. LATER THAT DAY THE WHEEL LOCKED, POWER BRAKES FAILED AND DRIVER ROLLED INTO A DITCH. DRIVER TURNED OFF IGNITION, UNLOCKED STEERING WHEEL, BACKED CAR OUT OF DITCH AND CALLED MAZDA FOR ANOTHER TOW. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DAY OF DELIVERY, THE SALESMAN HAD TROUBLE STARTING THE CAR AND REQUESTED A TECHNICIAN MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENT TO THE IGNITION. THE WHEEL LOCKED AND THE KEY WOULD …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342587 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10345067 · 2010-07-24 (July 24, 2010)
INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF POWER STEERING PUMP WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND WHEN TURNING. SMALL CORRECTIONS ARE NEEDED TO MAINTAIN TRAVEL WITHIN A LANE AND WHEN TURNING YOU CAN FEEL THE POWER ASSISTANCE DROP IN AND OUT GIVING A JERKY FEEL. THIS WAS A RENTAL VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 109 miles reported. Look up ODI 10345067 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10297916 · 2010-01-03 (January 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
Owner-reported narrative. 13,345 miles reported. Look up ODI 10297916 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10440881 · 2011-12-21 (December 21, 2011)
I PURCHASED A 2010 MAZDA 3 AS A DEMO ON JULY 30, 2011 WITH 4100 MILES ON IT. I NOW HAVE 8500 MILES ON IT AND THE CLUTCH HAS FAILED. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD IT WAS A NORMAL WEAR PRODUCE AND IT HAD BEEN ABUSED SO I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IT HAD A HIGH RELEASE IN THE CLUTCH PEDAL BUT I FIGURED IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE CAR. SINCE EARLY NOVEMBER, THE "INTAKE MANIFOLD RUNNER" HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO THE POINT THAT I CANNOT MAINTAIN SPEED UP A SLIGHT INCLINE WITHOUT THE ENGINE REVVING UP…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10440881 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10364033 · 2010-11-04 (November 4, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA3. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHIN A FEW SECONDS AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING FAILED AND THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITH THE PASSENGER DOOR THAT COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE. THE SUNROOF BUTTON ALSO WOULD NOT SHUT THE SUNROOF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE; THEREFORE, THEY STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK REPORT NUMBER 132669400. THE FAILUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10364033 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10474294 · 2012-09-08 (September 8, 2012)
ON AUGUST 29TH WHILE DRIVING WITH MY 2010 MAZDA 3, GOING ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR, THE POWER STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, AND ALL THE WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. I COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. I TRIED TO RE-START THE CAR, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON STEADY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK WARNING LIGHT, WHICH WAS FLASHING RED. IT WAS NOT A BATTERY ISSUE BECAUSE THE RADIO AND LIGHTS WORKED FINE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A MAZDA DEALER. THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY DID NOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10474294 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10375076 · 2011-01-07 (January 7, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED CAUSING HIM TO LOOSE CONTROL OF HIS STEERING WHEEL AND WAS ALSO UNABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES. HE THEN CRASHED INTO A MAILBOX AND THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN. A POLICE WAS FILED. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED AFTER THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND INFORMED HIM THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE IN PRIOR YEARS, BUT NOT OF THE 2010 MODELS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10375076 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10376702 · 2011-01-14 (January 14, 2011)
ON DECEMBER 21, 2010 CAR STALLED AND LOST STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL ON 12/22 HAPPENED AGAIN RESULTING IN ACCIDENT AND $9,000 IN DAMAGE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10376702 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11362946 · 2020-10-05 (October 5, 2020)
THE FUEL SENDER UNIT, LOCATED IN TOP OF THE FUEL TANK, HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK AND IS CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK. THE NIPPLE THAT PROTRUDES FROM THE FUEL PUMP HAS CRACKED FROM WHAT LOOKS TO BE PRESSURE FROM THE CONNECTING FUEL HOSE. BECAUSE OF THIS PRESSURE, THE NIPPLE LEAKS AND SPRAYS A MIST OF FUEL OFF TO THE SIDE. THE PRESSURE LOOKS TO BE TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SIDE AS THE CRACK THAT DEVELOPED WAS DIRECTLY ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE(DRIVERS). THIS TYPE OF FUEL LEAK CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS AS THE FUEL TANK IS LOCATED NEAR EXHAUST COMPONENTS. UPON RESEARCHING …
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11362946 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11443570 · 2021-12-13 (December 13, 2021)
According to other people on forums, the issue is inside the fuel tank. A piece of metal in the fuel tank has broken off and it scrapping inside the tank itself. I have no taken my car to a mechanic, yet. But, based on the multiple forums, this is an ongoing issue with Mazdas. You hear it mostly when your driving and come to a stop. Once stopped, you heard the scrapping until the car/fuel stops shifting.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11443570 at NHTSA ↗