CarComplaints.com Notes: Issues with clutch failure might be giving 2010 MAZDA3 owners headaches, but the lack of support from Mazda is giving them migraines.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
127,634 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2010 Mazda MAZDA3 engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2010 Mazda MAZDA3:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2010 Mazda MAZDA3 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #22

Dec 222023

MAZDA3

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

TCM has failed to communicate in engine. Car doesn-??t not shift properly or has hard shifts if it is able to get back into gear. Car may experience AT engagement making it hard to steer and control vehicle. Can happen in the middle of driving. Independent service Auto mechanic shop Vehicle has no warning lights indicating failure until hard shift when driving 50miles per hour and engine would no longer speed up AT light then came on. Once parked for two days check engine light came on and vehicle no longer would shift into gear.

- Fayetteville , NC, USA

problem #21

Mar 092022

MAZDA3

  • 160,000 miles
The contact's friend owns a 2010 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while riding in the front passenger-??s seat, there was an abnormal booming sound heard. After exiting the vehicle, the driver and passenger opened the hood and noticed that the engine had fallen. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

- Springfielfd, OR, USA

problem #20

Feb 032021

MAZDA3

  • 137,534 miles
Horn works on and off, car is unable to reverse (put the car in drive was able to go forward, turned the car off went to restart the vehicle and now the reverse gear does not work, transmission clutch gets stuck and takes off unexpectedly at a fast speed without pressing the gas

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #19

Jan 132021

MAZDA3

  • 152,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Has I was driving my car home from work. Driving about 35mph I started to loose power and then the at, engine, tcs/dsc lights all came on. When I made it home I let it sit. While I looked into the issue on google later that evening I went back to see if my car was still having the issue. I placed the car in reverse and my car jumped/ jerked real hard. As I let go of the break I noticed my car didn't slowly move on its own like prior. I actually had to press the gas down quite a bit. My car revved up to 3 making a loud noise. The car had no power would hardly move. As I researched the problems and light issues it was kinda a surprise how easy it was to figure out what the issue was. Since this is a very very common issue found with the Mazda cars. So many people have this issue that when you order the part at over $600 in the directions that is sent they actually recommend relocating the tcm to a different location using zipties. Went to have car codes read on my car informed the guy what I believed it to be and the most likely will be U0101 lost communication with tcm, and I was correct.

- Fontana, CA, USA

problem #18

Jul 142020

MAZDA3 4-cyl

  • 260,760 miles
There is a recall applicable to my vehicle which requires that engine mounts be stablilzed. It makes my car vibrate and the engine sounds loud while seated in the vehicle. I have taken my car to a couple of dealers and they say they don't have the required part. I was scared to drive my car.because it was smoking from under the hood. I let it sit in my garage since 2008. I finally took it to a mechanic who told me that the engine had caused a hole in the coolant tank and it was leaking coolant. That's why it overheated. The car runs fine now, but needs to have the engine mount put in. What do I do now? in addition, my driver side window will not operate. I thought this was a fuse issue, but another Mazda 3 owner told me they have the same issue

- Hercules, CA, USA

problem #17

Oct 222018

MAZDA3

  • 131,500 miles
Within a week after purchasing my 2010 Mazda 3 S sport sedan in October, 2018 from a used car dealer in midvale, ut, the check engine light came on. Using a code reader, I consistently get a code of P0421, which indicates that the catalyst efficiency is below threshold. I have had 3 auto repair shops look at my car, and they all say that the catalytic converter is not operating properly and needs to be replaced. Despite the fact that Mazda warrants California emissions/pzev vehicles (which mine is) for a period of 15 years or 150,000 miles on all emissions related components, they will not repair my car under warranty because I currently do not live in a state that uses ca emissions standards when testing vehicle emissions. I feel that since my car is not performing as it was designed and may be releasing my pollutants into the atmosphere that it should be repaired by the manufacturer at no charge to me, regardless of where I currently live. In addition, when I start the car on a cold engine, I can smell exhaust fumes inside the cabin, which leads me to believe that there may be a leak at the exhaust manifold gasket which could be dangerous to anyone driving the car if they inhale the exhaust gases that may enter the passenger area through the ventilation system. The check engine light continues to go on daily (unless I reset it, and then it goes back on again later after driving) and my car will not pass its next emissions inspection without this issue being fixed.

- Murray, UT, USA

problem #16

Feb 142018

MAZDA3

  • 150,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The Mazda dealer did not have the equipment to make the harness fix. I continued to drive my car and one day, my car had loud roaring sound. Within a couple days later, it began to emit white smoke from under hood and black smoke from tailpipe and begin to lose power on freeway off-ramp. I coasted to bottom of off ramp. Then I was able to restart it to move it to a nearby kaiser lot adjacent to exit ramp. From there, I had it towed home and have not driven it since.

- Hercules, CA, USA

problem #15

Sep 042019

MAZDA3

  • 169,000 miles
The tcm went out and almost caused a wreck. The car was in motion on a city street. When this happened the car jerked violently to the right and almost caused my granddaughter to wreck'. did this not have a recall?

- Bristol, TN, USA

problem #14

Jun 222019

MAZDA3

  • 122,000 miles
While driving the vehicle dash lights start blinking and car stops accelerating, turns on by won't move. Mechanic says engine is not communicating with transmission. Electrical issue seems like. When it rests it will work but then after driving it happens again. It just stops while you are driving, dangerous.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #13

Jun 252019

MAZDA3 4-cyl

  • 8,220 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Mazda 3. while driving 30 mph, the vehicle shut off and the power steering and oil indicators illuminated. The vehicle was able to be steered to the side of the road. The vehicle was inspected by an mechanic, but no failure was found. The contact was referred to compass motors (200 dolson ave, middletown, NY 10940, (844) 258-3818), but they refused to assist. The contact stated that the service manager yelled at her while she was attempting to schedule a service appointment. The contact called the manufacturer who then contacted the dealer. The dealer claimed to have done nothing wrong and promised to have the owner of the dealer call her back. The contact had not received a call back and traded in the vehicle because she was too scared to drive the old vehicle. The failure mileage was 8,220. Update: The contact has suffered a torn ligament due to turning wheel of the car with no power.

- Rock Hill, NY, USA

problem #12

Oct 212018

MAZDA3

  • 280,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2010 Mazda 3. while driving approximately 40 mph, the transmission failed. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked and began to switch gears involuntarily. The contact stopped the vehicle and opened the hood latch. Aaa was contacted and towed the vehicle to the contact's residence. Aaa diagnosed that the motor mount may have fractured within the vehicle. Jim ellis Mazda atlanta (5855 peachtree blvd, atlanta, Georgia 30341, (888) 814-7086) was made aware of the failure and requested that the vehicle be brought in for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 280,000.

- Lithonia, GA, USA

problem #11

Sep 292017

MAZDA3

  • 96,000 miles
On two separate occasion that were several months apart from one another, my vehicle has shut off while I have been driving. On both occasions I did not touch the key in the ignition in any way. There were no bumps or drastic changes in the driving conditions. The steering on the vehicle locked up and I had to hurry to get it start again. Both incidents I was actively driving on city streets. I was on a 45 mph road the first time and a 35 mph road the second time. I have no idea what caused the issue but it has happened twice for no apparent reason at all. The last time that it occurred, I was just completing a turn.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #10

Jul 022015

MAZDA3

  • 106,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Mazda 3. at times, while driving various speeds, the check engine warning indicator illuminated on the instrument cluster and the vehicle seized and had to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. There was an unknown recall associated with the vehicle. The failure mileage was 106,000.

- Conroe, TX, USA

problem #9

Feb 012017

MAZDA3

  • miles
The contact owns a 2010 Mazda 3. while driving 65 mph, the vehicle jerked forward and an unknown warning indicator illuminated. As a result, the driver sustained whiplash that required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Homestaed, FL, USA

problem #8

Mar 222016

MAZDA3

  • 100,000 miles
My car has had rattling noise coming from the front passenger side of the hood for a few months now and took it to a mechanic and they said it is common for this model to have a motor mount issue.. but not to fix it yet because it is just now starting and it will be fine for a 6 months or so"!?!" seriously...

- Winston Salem, NC, USA

problem #7

Jan 102015

MAZDA3

  • 653,400 miles
Vehicle comes to a complete stop while running on highway, inmovilizing all systems. Taken to shop scanned for trouble, code U0100 was detected.recall for wiring was checked wiring is ok. Replaced burn out parts taken to test same problem arise.

- Ponce, PR, USA

problem #6

Feb 152015

MAZDA3 4-cyl

  • 32,000 miles
Drove 80 miles to destination on freeway using cruise control. Car accelerated above cruise setting on downhill - did not engine brake to hold speed. When pulling into destination hotel parking spot and with right foot on brake, engine revved dramatically. Applied both feet to break. Automatic transmission. Changed gears to N, R & P, but engine continued to rev. Turned engine off. Smoke generated from engine entered cabin. Did not use car until next day. Returning home next day used cruise control and exited freeway for break. Slowing down for stop light with car ahead and foot on brake when engine revved again as before. Shifted car into neutral and turned off car then back on. Drove car to dealer on way home without another incident. This dealer is where we purchased the care and all work except tires/alignment and battery occurred. They examined and inspected the car and kept it for the next 10 days logging 200 miles without a recurrence of the unintended acceleration.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #5

Dec 012014

MAZDA3

  • 59,537 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Mazda 3. while refueling the vehicle, the low oil pressure warning light illuminated and smoke emitted from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was towed to a dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 59,537.

- Bethel Park, PA, USA

problem #4

Nov 152012

MAZDA3

  • 33,000 miles
Clutch gave out at 33,000 miles. That is absurd. Mazda claims its under their "wear and tear" but this is not a new problem for a lot of people. Premature clutch failure should have been a recall on Mazda 3's back in 2011.

- Windham, NY, USA

problem #3

Aug 162013

MAZDA3

  • 76,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Mazda, Mazda3. The contact stated that while having the vehicle serviced, the technician advised that the motor mount was cracked and needed to be replaced. Also, the contact mentioned that the front driver's side tire went flat with the illumination of the tire sensor warning light. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the tire sensors were corroded and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 76,000.

- Lake Telemark , NJ, USA

Read the next 2 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?