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The 2010 Mazda Mazda3 has 686 NHTSA owner complaints on file — not a small number. 1 active recall campaign.
The 2010 Mazda Mazda3 has 686 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 recall on file (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). The most-reported system is body at 161 complaints, typically surfacing around 53,854 miles (~$1,500 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 Mazda3 | 222 | 1 |
| 2008 Mazda3 | 303 | 0 |
| 2009 Mazda3 | 119 | 3 |
| 2010 Mazda3 (this page) | 686 | 1 |
| 2011 Mazda3 | 132 | 1 |
| 2012 Mazda3 | 226 | 0 |
| 2013 Mazda3 | 117 | 0 |
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the powertrain was repaired or replaced.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: powertrain is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 60,527 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 1 active recall on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 6.6/10 model. The priciest documented failure is powertrain (~$2,500) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
The dashboard is melted and sticky and that makes it bright with the sun and reflected in the glass internally and makes day driving very difficult.
I was driving to work today and similar to the previous posts, my power steering light lit up and steering assist failed. 4 times in the 4 mile trip. *js
The dashboard of my Mazda 3 is melted from the sun and causes glare on the windshield. It blocks vision of a portion of the road. *tr
At less than 24,000 miles, my clutch has begun to slip terribly and creates a terrible burning smell. I know there are hundreds of other Mazda owners who have also had to replace their clutches before they've had to replace brake pads. This is a drain on consumers, and a…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
The main fuse may blow out causing the engine to stall and inability of restart, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA21002 on NHTSA →
How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.6 out of 10 based on 686 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Mazda Mazda3 has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
On the NHTSA data, the 2010 Mazda Mazda3 is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the powertrain was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: Powertrain: 36 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 26,000–90,000 mi; Steering: 31 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 26,000–90,000 mi; Reliability score 6.6/10 — around the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the body first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 161 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 53,854 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,500 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 6.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 686 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is body. Typical failure occurs around 53,854 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is body, with 161 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 53,854 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,500 at an independent shop.
The body is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 53,854 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 686 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.