2010 Mazda 3
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Body, Seats & Latches
Body, Seats & Latches leads by volume: 275 of 686 complaints (40%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (6) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 115 in 2009 to 686 in 2010.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | vs. 2010 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,300–2,600 | 2,300–2,600 | 2,250–2,600 | 2,250–2,700 | 1,950–2,700 | |
| Combined MPG | 24–27 | 24–27 | 24–28 | 23–28 | 23–32 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 22–24 / 29–32 | 22–24 / 28–32 | 21–25 / 29–33 | 20–25 / 28–32 | 20–28 / 28–39 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 329–370 | 329–370 | 317–370 | 317–386 | 278–386 | |
| Complaints filed | 303 | 115 | 686 | 132 | 226 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 29 | 11 | 18 | 12 | 9 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 20 | 5 | 13 | 13 | 5 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2010 Mazda 3 have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2010 Mazda 3?
Body, Seats & Latches: 275 of 686 NHTSA complaints (40%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2010 Mazda 3 get?
EPA rates it 24–28 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2010 Mazda 3?
EPA estimates $2,250–$2,600 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 25 mpg (high) | 33 mpg (high) | 28 mpg (high) | $2,250 (low) | 317 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S5) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 24 mpg | 33 mpg (high) | 27 mpg | $2,300 | 329 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 21 mpg (low) | 29 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | $2,600 (high) | 370 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S5) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 22 mpg | 29 mpg (low) | 25 mpg | $2,500 | 355 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 31 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 40 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical | 50 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 43 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 31 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 81 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 32 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 16 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 275 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 131 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 136 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
SEATS · Campaign 17V082000 · Feb 10, 2017
Defect: 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.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE · Campaign 16V644000 · Sep 6, 2016
Defect: 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · Campaign 09V126000 · Apr 16, 2009
Defect: 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.