MAZDA MAZDASPEED3 · model year

2010 MAZDA MAZDASPEED3

44 NHTSA complaints, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2010MAZDAMAZDASPEED3 carries 44 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2010 MAZDASPEED3 is seats with 18 filings, followed by structure (4) and unknown or other (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2010 MAZDASPEED3. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

44
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

44 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SEATS18
STRUCTURE4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
VISIBILITY/WIPER3
AIR BAGS3
POWER TRAIN2
ENGINE2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
WHEELS1
TIRES1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
SUSPENSION1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1

Recalls (2)

17V08200009/02/2017

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 frame and the seat angle may incline causing

16V64400006/09/2016

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 manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 26,

Recent Complaints

20191030STRUCTURE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL FOR TWO SECONDS BEFORE INDEPENDENTLY RESTARTING. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS STICKY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 12396366785. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 139,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

Mileage: 139,000

20191030ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL FOR TWO SECONDS BEFORE INDEPENDENTLY RESTARTING. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS STICKY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 12396366785. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 139,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

Mileage: 139,000

20190414AIR BAGS

BLINKING AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT SHORTLY AFTER MAZDA SERVICE RECALL FOR SEAT REPLACEMENT. MAZDA DEALER REFUSED TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE WHICH LATER FOUND TO BE LOOSE CONNECTOR UNDER THE SEAT. CONNECTOR WAS UNCLIPPED DURING ASSEMBLY OF NEW VEHICLE BRACKET AND NOT REINSTALLED PROPERLY. OWNER ALSO HAD U0100 CODE PENDING NO PCM COMM. REFERRED TO WS MANUAL FOUND OUT LOOSE WIRE FROM AIR BAG COULD'VE BEEN THE PROBLEM, BUT LATER FOUND MOISTURE UNDER STEERING COLUMN. LED TO FINDING LEAKING BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER ONTO ENGINE FIREWALL PCM MAIN HARNESS CONNECTION/PLUG. THIS CAUSED CORROSION, POOR CONTACT WITH GROUND WIRING, AND VEHICLE ELECTRICAL "GREMLINS". SUCH AS HATCHBACK DOOR INDICATING 'OPEN' ON DISPLAY UPON START WITH NO CAUSE. RESTARTING VEHICLE SOLVED THAT.. INTERMITTENT TCS/DSC FLASHLIGHT LIGHT DRIVING UNDER 10MPH IN PARKING LOT. OWNER ALSO HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS @ 400 MILES. 1ST AND 2ND GEAR SYNCHRO REPLACED. LATER TURBO @ 15K MILES AND AGAIN AT 40K. DEALERSHIPS INEXPERIENCED

Mileage: 60,000

20190414ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

BLINKING AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT SHORTLY AFTER MAZDA SERVICE RECALL FOR SEAT REPLACEMENT. MAZDA DEALER REFUSED TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE WHICH LATER FOUND TO BE LOOSE CONNECTOR UNDER THE SEAT. CONNECTOR WAS UNCLIPPED DURING ASSEMBLY OF NEW VEHICLE BRACKET AND NOT REINSTALLED PROPERLY. OWNER ALSO HAD U0100 CODE PENDING NO PCM COMM. REFERRED TO WS MANUAL FOUND OUT LOOSE WIRE FROM AIR BAG COULD'VE BEEN THE PROBLEM, BUT LATER FOUND MOISTURE UNDER STEERING COLUMN. LED TO FINDING LEAKING BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER ONTO ENGINE FIREWALL PCM MAIN HARNESS CONNECTION/PLUG. THIS CAUSED CORROSION, POOR CONTACT WITH GROUND WIRING, AND VEHICLE ELECTRICAL "GREMLINS". SUCH AS HATCHBACK DOOR INDICATING 'OPEN' ON DISPLAY UPON START WITH NO CAUSE. RESTARTING VEHICLE SOLVED THAT.. INTERMITTENT TCS/DSC FLASHLIGHT LIGHT DRIVING UNDER 10MPH IN PARKING LOT. OWNER ALSO HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS @ 400 MILES. 1ST AND 2ND GEAR SYNCHRO REPLACED. LATER TURBO @ 15K MILES AND AGAIN AT 40K. DEALERSHIPS INEXPERIENCED

Mileage: 60,000

20190414POWER TRAIN

BLINKING AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT SHORTLY AFTER MAZDA SERVICE RECALL FOR SEAT REPLACEMENT. MAZDA DEALER REFUSED TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE WHICH LATER FOUND TO BE LOOSE CONNECTOR UNDER THE SEAT. CONNECTOR WAS UNCLIPPED DURING ASSEMBLY OF NEW VEHICLE BRACKET AND NOT REINSTALLED PROPERLY. OWNER ALSO HAD U0100 CODE PENDING NO PCM COMM. REFERRED TO WS MANUAL FOUND OUT LOOSE WIRE FROM AIR BAG COULD'VE BEEN THE PROBLEM, BUT LATER FOUND MOISTURE UNDER STEERING COLUMN. LED TO FINDING LEAKING BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER ONTO ENGINE FIREWALL PCM MAIN HARNESS CONNECTION/PLUG. THIS CAUSED CORROSION, POOR CONTACT WITH GROUND WIRING, AND VEHICLE ELECTRICAL "GREMLINS". SUCH AS HATCHBACK DOOR INDICATING 'OPEN' ON DISPLAY UPON START WITH NO CAUSE. RESTARTING VEHICLE SOLVED THAT.. INTERMITTENT TCS/DSC FLASHLIGHT LIGHT DRIVING UNDER 10MPH IN PARKING LOT. OWNER ALSO HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS @ 400 MILES. 1ST AND 2ND GEAR SYNCHRO REPLACED. LATER TURBO @ 15K MILES AND AGAIN AT 40K. DEALERSHIPS INEXPERIENCED

Mileage: 60,000

20180902EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WATER INTERMITTENTLY LEAKS INTO PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT.

Mileage: 49,500

20170816SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A MINOR BRUISE TO THE RIBS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (FAIRWAY MAZDA OF SAVANNAH 10101 ABERCORN STREET, SAVANNAH, GA, 31406), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND SENT OUT AN ENGINEER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION DAMAGAE, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,000.

Mileage: 63,000

20170816AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A MINOR BRUISE TO THE RIBS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (FAIRWAY MAZDA OF SAVANNAH 10101 ABERCORN STREET, SAVANNAH, GA, 31406), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND SENT OUT AN ENGINEER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION DAMAGAE, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,000.

Mileage: 63,000

20170215SEATS

WHILE DRIVING, THE SWING ARM WHICH ATTACHES THE ADJUSTMENT BAR UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT CUSHION TO THE LEFT SEAT SLIDER BROKE. THE SEAT ROCKS FREELY APPROXIMATELY 1 FOOT, MAKING THE SEATBELT USELESS AND THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY. I HAD TO REMOVE THE SEAT AND RE-WELD THE SWING ARM. THE DEALER SOLUTION WOULD BE A COMPLETE SEAT REPLACEMENT COSTING $900. MILEAGE: 71000

Mileage: 71,000

20170206SEATS

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BECAME LOOSE. WHEN SITTING DOWN IN THE CAR A LOUD CLUCK WAS HEARD AND THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT MOVED BACKWARD. UPON INSPECTION THE WELD HOLDING THE SEAT TO THE BRACKET HAD SNAPPED. CAR WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME BEEN RENDERED UN-DRIVABLE DUE TO THE MOVEMENT IN THE SEAT.

Mileage: 84,000

20170118SEATS

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BROKE AT WELDED ATTACHMENT POINT TO ADJUSTER RAIL. MY SON'S DRIVER SEAT WAS ROCKING, I THOUGHT THAT THE LOCKING WASHER HAD FALLEN OFF AND WENT TO REPLACE, WHEN I REMOVERED THE SIDE COVER I DISCOVERED THAT THE BRACKET THAT ATTACHED THE SEAT TO THE ADJUSTER FRAME HAD BROKEN. SEARCH THE WEB AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE MAZDA 3. WHEN TO DEALER AND DISCOVERED THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SUBFRAME WHICH COST $300 FOR THE PART AND $300 FOR THE LABOR TO INSTALL IT. MAZDA NEEDS TO DO A RECALL AND FIX THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT AND ALSO REIMBURSE EVERYONE WHO HAD TO REPLACE THE POORLY CONSTRUCTED PART

Mileage: 71,000

20161021SEATS

I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 MAZDASPEED 3 ON 10/20/2016. DRIVING HOME FROM WORK I SUDDENLY REALIZED WHILE ACCELERATING IT WAS LIKE SITTING IN A ROCKING CHAIR. AFTER BEING ABLE TO CHECK IT LATER THAT NIGHT I LOOKED UP UNDER THE SEAT AND THE BRACE THAT HOLDS THE SEAT FRAME TO THE SEAT TRACK HAS COMPLETELY SHEERED OFF ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE. THE RIGHT SIDE IS STILL IN TACT... FOR NOW. READING ONLINE IT SEEMS THE DEALERSHIPS ARE WANTED AROUND $700 TO REPLACE THIS. I DON'T FEEL AS THOUGH I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH A HIGH BILL ON A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT WHAT'S TO KEEP MY SEAT FROM COMPLETELY LAUNCHING AND IMPALING ME INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. MAZDA PLEASE STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. TO MAKE AN ADDED NOTE, MY SEAT HAS HAD A SLIGHT ROCK IN IT FOR FROM WHAT I CAN REMEMBER BEING AT LEAST 2-3 YEARS NOW. TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT IT WHEN I FIRST NOTICED IT AND THEY SAY THAT'S NORMAL AND DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. SO, CLEARLY IF THIS IS NORMAL FOR MAZDA, THEN THERE

Mileage: 112,000

20161017SEATS

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP OR MAKING TURNS ON THE STREET OR ON A CURVED HIGHWAY, MY DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINES BACK FROM THE BASE OF THE SEAT APPROXIMATELY 3-4 INCHES. IT'S BEEN REPAIRED (WASHER AND NUTS REPLACED) SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS. TOOK IT IN TODAY (10/17/2016) AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW SEAT TRACK ASSEMBLY ($500.00 PARTS AND LABOR). THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THIS MODEL VEHICLE ABOUT THE SAME SITUATION FOR THEIR 2010 MAZDA 3 AND MAZDASPEED 3.

Mileage: 75,000

20160829FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA SPEED 3. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THERE WAS A SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NOISE SOUNDED LIKE TWO PIECES OF METAL SCRAPING AGAINST EACH OTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK INTERNAL BAFFLE WAS DETACHED AND WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD SPARK A FLAME INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,300.

Mileage: 60,300

20160806SEATS

DRIVING ALONG A CITY STREET, WITH MY 2 1/2 YEAR OLD IN THE VEHICLE, AND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER SEAT BRACKET BROKE. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE IN A PREVIOUS MAZDA BEFORE, A 2003 PROTEGE5. IN ATTACHED PHOTO, THE BRACKET ON THE MIDDLE-RIGHT SHOULD BE WELDED ON TO THE BAR-SECTION IN THE MIDDLE-LEFT.

Mileage: 73,640

20160620SEATS

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. UPON SITTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, I HEARD A "POP" SOUND. THE SEAT NOW MOVES APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES FORE AND AFT UPON BRAKING AND ACCELERATING.

Mileage: 89,615

20160115SEATS

AFTER GETTING INTO THE DRIVERS SEAT, I HEARD A LOUD POP AND DRIVERS SEAT BECAME VERY LOOSE. UPON INSPECTION, FRONT LEFT BRACKET FOR VERTICAL SEAT ADJUSTMENT WAS BROKEN IN HALF. LOOSE SEAT WOULD SHIFT DURING BRAKING AND ACCELERATION, AN UNCOMFORTABLE AND DANGEROUS SITUATION.

Mileage: 93,000

20151227STRUCTURE:BODY

I HAVE A 2010 MAZDASPEED 3. AT ONLY 5 YEARS OLD THE CLEAR COAT IS ALREADY PEELING HORRIBLY ON THE HOOD AND NOW STARTING ON THE FENDERS AND TRIM GOING ALONG THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE THE VELOCITY RED PAINT AND CANNOT BELIEVE THE CLEAR COAT IS PEELING THIS BADLY WITHIN ONLY 5 YEARS. VEHICLE IS KEPT UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS.

20151227UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE A 2010 MAZDASPEED 3. AT ONLY 5 YEARS OLD THE CLEAR COAT IS ALREADY PEELING HORRIBLY ON THE HOOD AND NOW STARTING ON THE FENDERS AND TRIM GOING ALONG THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE THE VELOCITY RED PAINT AND CANNOT BELIEVE THE CLEAR COAT IS PEELING THIS BADLY WITHIN ONLY 5 YEARS. VEHICLE IS KEPT UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS.

20151214SEATS

THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT STARTED ROCKING BACK AND FORTH AFTER HEARING A LOUD CRACK SOUND. CLOSER INSPECTION OF THE SEAT IN THE CAR REVEALED THAT THE WELD ATTACHING THE ADJUST AND THE SEAT FAILED. CONTACT MAZDA AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX DESPITE NOTING IT IN A SERVICE BULLETIN TSB #09-049/10 TITLED "2010 MAZDA3 - RATTLE NOISE FROM BOTTOM OF DRIVER SEAT" 2010-11-08. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF DRIVING AT THE TIME.

Mileage: 71,000

Compare 2010MAZDAMAZDASPEED3 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2010 MAZDA MAZDASPEED3 have?
The 2010 MAZDA MAZDASPEED3 has 44 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2010 MAZDA MAZDASPEED3?
Yes, the 2010 MAZDA MAZDASPEED3 has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is SEATS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 MAZDA MAZDASPEED3?
The most-complained component for the 2010 MAZDA MAZDASPEED3 is SEATS with 18 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2010 MAZDA MAZDASPEED3 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.