2010 Mazda MAZDA3: complaints, problems and recalls

DRIVER SEAT FEELS LOOSE AND ROCKS BACK AND FORTH WHILE I AM DRIVING VEHICLE. I AM CONCERNED SEAT WILL NOT HOLD UP IN ACCIDENT. SAT IN SIMILAR CAR AT DEALER WITH SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10283908 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS ADJUSTING MY REAR VIEW MIRROR ON MY NEW 2010 MAZDA 3 AND IT CAME OFF. WHEN IT CAME OFF IT BROKE OFF A CHUNK OF GLASS FROM THE WINDSHIELD. MAZDA REFUSES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM! *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295772 at NHTSA ↗

REAR GLASS EXPLOSION ON 2010 MAZDA 3 SEDAN. MORNING 16 DEGREES F. APPROACHED MY CAR IN THE MORNING AND HEARD A CRACKLING NOISE. I THOUGHT THE SOUND WAS ICE. I STARTED THE CAR AND THE REAR DEFOGGER. AS I SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY ...APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS AFTER TURNING ON THE DEFOGGER. THE REAR GLASS EXPLODED WITH A LOAD NOISE. GLASS WAS THROWN INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SEATS. THE CAR IS 4 MONTHS OLD AND UNDER WARRANTY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. I CALLED MAZDA CUSTOMER CARE AT [phone removed] AND WAS TOLD T…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,048 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296113 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

(2010 MAZDA3 5-DR WITH SUNROOF) WHEN SUNROOF IS FULLY OPENED AND DRIVING AROUND 35 MILES/HR, COMPLETE ROOF STARTS TO VIBRATE PRODUCING LOUD NOISE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A CAR DEALER AND TECHNICIAN NOTICED THE PROBLEM AS WELL. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR IS NEW DESIGN AND THAT MAZDA ENGINEERING RECEIVED A COMPLAIN. NO ACTION TAKEN BUT ADVISED TO PURCHASE A WIND DEFLECTOR. THE VIBRATION HAPPENS EVERY TIME I OPEN THE SUNROOF. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10312433 at NHTSA ↗

MAZDA 3 2010 FRONT DOORS LOCKED AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK-NOT WITH KEY AND NOT FROM INSIDE CAR- *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10312518 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

2010 MAZDA 3 EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. BOUGHT CAR NEW IN OCT 2009. MAY 7TH 2010 THE CAR HAS 18,000 MILES ON IT AND THE REAR TIRES ARE DOWN TO THE STEEL BELTS. MY NET SEARCHING SHOWS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. HOW A CAR CAN HAVE ONLY 18,000 MILES ON IT AND HAVE DANGEROUSLY WORN TIRES IS BEYOND BELIEF. THE DEALERSHIP CONSIDERS THIS "NORMAL ON MAZDA 3'S". TIRES WERE WELL MAINTAINED WITH TIRE PRESSURE BY ME. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR HIT A SIGNIFICANT ROAD HAZARD. CAR IS USED FOR MOSTLY STRAIGHT LINE HIGHWAY DRIVING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10329330 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2009-04-16 (April 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: 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.

Reported: 2016-09-06 (September 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: 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.

Reported: 2017-02-09 (February 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: 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.