Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Mazda Mazda3 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Said vehicle has 2 Recall issues that are listed as expired. 1. It has not had the defective Takata Air Bags replaced Campaign SSPB3 started 12/1/2017. 2. It has a Sticky Dashboard Campaign SSP99 started 11/30/2015. A third recall for a Seat Lifer Link was completed for Campaign 0917B on 9/13/2017. I would like Mazda to take responsibility for the 2 expired Recalls for the Air Bags and the Sticky Dashboard. Mazda had the vehicle in one of their service centers 9/17/2017 when the Seat Recall was completed. Mazda's policy of checking for recalls failed otherwise these Recalls would have been completed. Both Recalls impact the safe operation of said vehicle.
These vehicles have a foam based dash board which is falling off in pieces and sections . This can cause choking hazard in small children adults etc also if air bags where to deploy this section would more then likely explode in many hundreds of pieces causing blinding .As well as it decays or falls off in these pieces children may place objects in there mouths or chew or eat on .The dash board does not seem to be able ro handle a air bag deploy situation . I would have thought this would have been replaced or recalled prior to my intation of this matter. Also dash may contain harmful or chemical agents I'm it that would not be safe to child nor adult.
While driving on the interstate, the driver's side airbag deployed without any obvious cause. There was no pothole, bump, or clear reason for the airbag to deploy. There was moderate traffic. This put myself and others nearby at risk by causing me to flinch after getting hit by the airbag. I was lucky to not swerve into anything or cause any damage. It caused temporary loss of hearing and a sore neck, but no serious injury. Prior to the failure, there were no dash lights, messages, or other symptoms.
Takata recall related accident happened 10/31/2014. There was no airbag recall at this time. I was hit on the drivers side classic t-bane accident. The airbag deployment caused more damage than the force of the actual accident. The side curtain airbag deployed. The other driver was traveling 20-30 MPH at impact. I was unconcious for approx 30 seconds to 1min and I couldn't remember my address for the first 15-20 minutes after the accident. Police were notified and showed to the scene. I was unable to hear the rest of the day from my l ear ( which I was told by the er provider is normal for the airbag going off is like a concussion grenade) and had muffled hearing the next 4-5 days. I also had a cold wet feeling down the l side of my face ( like there was blood running down my face, but there was no laceration.) the er referred me to follow up with a pcp. …
I was involved in a front end collision, sitting at a stop light and hit head on by a car that was struck by another car failing to yield the right of way. It was determined that I was hit by the other car moving at approximately 55 MPH in the front end of my car, flipping it into the ditch nose first. I am fortunate to be here writing this because my air bags in the car did not deploy and they most certainly should have. Owners rely on their car's air bag to deploy in the event of this type of situation. I am fortunate to have had my seat belt on. I suffered a concussion, whiplash and a hip issue that has yet to be diagnosed. Please fix this dangerous problem before someone else pays dearly for this with their life. I was fortunate.
Takata inflators. Highway traffic had come to a stop and while trying to come to a stop my brakes completely failed with the pedal pushed all the way down. The car barely slowed down and rear ended the still car in front at approximately 40 MPH. Even with such a forceful impact the airbags didn't come out.
I entered my car first thing in the morning (after a fairly cold night). The car was stationary overnight sitting in my driveway. I looked over to my left and on the dashboard of the passenger side, there was an crack about 6-7 inches long on top of where the airbag sits. In the light, it appears that the crack will spread to the left and grow substantially in length/width. I am very concerned that this could potentially become an inhibitor to making the passenger function properly.
Takata recall , dashboard starting to meltdown really bad. I seen alot of people got same problem.the vehicle is my commuter over time it starts to get sticky fibers get stuck on it needs to recalled asap for the timing of the air bag deployment it's really unsafe please help . The headlights assembly contains alot of moister after a car wash. Moisture can cause an electrical problem and burn the computer itself
I start the car and remain parked. The airbag light flashes once, pauses, and then flashes six times. The airbag light in the instrument cluster continues to flash once followed by six more flashes. This problem continues every time the car is driven. Many owners have had the same problem. No airbag has been deployed and car has not been in an accident.
"Takata recall" the red airbag light near the mileage has been blinking for two months now. The Mazda dealer mechanics checked the wiring and said they don't know what is causing it to do that. Its starts blinking as soon as I turn my car on. The other airbag light near the dashboard with the clock display is still on as usual, not blinking.
NHTSA investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Airbag complaints in other Mazda3 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2010 Mazda Mazda3?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the air bags of the 2010 Mazda Mazda3, 4% of the model year's 686 complaints. The component named most often is frontal › sensor/control module (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Mazda Mazda3 airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2010 Mazda Mazda3, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2010 Mazda Mazda3 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 0 fires and 6 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.