2010 Mazda3 Reliability
The 2010 Mazda3 has 686 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about body structure and unknown or other. Compared with other Mazda3 model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Mazda3's typical year, while the 2009 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
686
NHTSA owner complaints
3
Recall campaigns
18
Complaints citing a crash
5
Complaints citing a fire
2010 Mazda3 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2010 model year, filed between 2009 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Body structure | 169 | 25% |
| Unknown or other | 133 | 19% |
| Visibility / wipers | 109 | 16% |
| Seats | 106 | 15% |
| Wheels | 54 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 50 | 7% |
| Tires | 48 | 7% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 40 | 6% |
2010 Mazda3 recalls
3 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2010 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09V126000 | Apr 16, 2009 | Electrical system | 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… |
| 16V644000 | Sep 6, 2016 | Body structure — body / hatchback/liftgate | 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… |
| 17V082000 | Feb 9, 2017 | Seats | 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… |
How the 2010 compares with nearby Mazda3 years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Mazda3 analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 303 | 3 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2009 | 119 | 4 | Steering | Solid |
| 2010 (this page) | 686 | 3 | Body structure | Avoid |
| 2011 | 132 | 2 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2012 | 226 | 1 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2010 Mazda3 on the used market
- 37 of 432 2010 Mazda3 listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2010 Mazda3
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Visibility: test the wipers at every speed, washers, defrosters and the climate system (fogging is a common complaint).
- Seats: try every power and manual adjustment and check seat heaters if fitted.
- Wheels: check for bent rims and loose lug nuts, and feel for vibration at highway speed.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 3 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2010 Mazda3 can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2010 Mazda3 reliability FAQ
Is the 2010 Mazda3 reliable?
The 2010 Mazda3 has 686 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about body structure and unknown or other. Compared with other Mazda3 model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Mazda3's typical year, while the 2009 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2010 Mazda3 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2010 Mazda3 are body structure (169), unknown or other (133), visibility / wipers (109), seats (106). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2010 Mazda3 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2010 Mazda3, including 09V126000 (electrical system) and 16V644000 (body structure — body / hatchback/liftgate). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2010 Mazda3 compare with the 2009 and 2011 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2009 has 119 complaints and 4 recalls (solid); the 2011 has 132 complaints and 2 recalls (solid). The 2010 has 686 complaints and 3 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2010 Mazda3?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Mazda3 research
Other Mazda3 model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2010 Mazda3, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.