There are 28 owner-reported visibility & wipers complaints for the 2010 Mazda Mazda3in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Front dash is melted and very shiny causing intense glare for the driver.
The dashboard adhesive migrates to the surface of the dashboard. Adhesive then sublimates and condenses on the windshield making a glaze on the windshield, making it extremely difficult to see the road in sunrise or sunset conditions. I've repeatedly cleaned the windshield with many different cleaners including acetone, but at best I am only able to improve visibility, not restore it. In the attached photo, the upper portion of photo illustrates the film of adhesive on the glass after it was wiped with a clean paper towel, creating a hazy appearance. The entire windshield was cleaned with acetone and heavy duty degreaser and window cleaner prior to the photo.
The dashboards should be subject to a recall immediately since badly reduced visibility from glare is a recipe for an accident. The defective (melting) material is so bad that if the sun hits it just right, I can hardly see anything ahead of me; it is an accident waiting to happen. I called my Mazda dealer (Gray Epperson Mazda in Cleveland, TN (423) 303-1333) but said there was nothing they could do now as there was a warranty before but it had expired. I try to drive the car but always trying to avoid sunny conditions, but unfortunately, when I leave at 5pm conditions are worse if it's sunny. I wish Mazda would accept responsibility soon (or they are forced to do so by NHTSA, if needed) so that I wouldn't have to take such a risk.
The dashboard is melting and its causing a poor visibility due to the shiny reflection on the windshield
MY CAR'S DASHBOARD IS MELTING CREATING AN AWFUL SMELLY CHEMICAL FUME OF WHATEVER IS DETERIORATING. TOUCHING IT RESULTS IN GETTING MOLTEN DASHBOARD ON MY FINGERS AND THERE IS AN AWFUL GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD WHEN DRIVING IMPAIRING VISIBILITY. IT'S BEEN HOT THIS SUMMER AND WHATEVER THE DASHBOARD IS MADE OF WAS NOT BUILT TO HANDLE HEAT.
MELTING OF DASHBOARD PROJECTS A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD BLINDING THE DRIVER LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD ON SUNNY DAY.
THE CAR A RECALL FOR DASHBOARD IT'S MELTED THEIR GLARE WHEN THE SUN HIT YOU CANT SEE. TOOK IT TO THE MAZDA DEALER THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT. I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUTER MY POCKET. WHEN DRIVING.
APPROX 4"X12" SECTION DASHBOARD MELTING ABOVE GAUGE CLUSTER AND CREATING GLARE BOTH OFF OF THE DASH AND ON THE WINDSHIELD. CANNOT CLEAN OFF GOOEY MESS
STICKY DASH LEAVES A MAJOR GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD, IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE IN THE SUN
THE DASH BOARD IS MELTING AND CAUSING PROBLEM SEEING. I RECEIVED A LETTER A WHILE BACK STATING THERE WAS ISSUES WITH THE DASH BOARDS BECOMING STICKY OR MELTING MINE HAS JUST STARTED DOING THIS AND ITS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE ON REALLY SUNNY DAYS FROM THE GLARE THAT IT REFLECTS ON THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS I CALLED MAZDA ABOUT IT AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WAS GONNA DO ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN NOT FIX IT WHEN ITS CAUSE OF THE DASHBOARD THEY PUT IN THE CARS. THIS IS NOT ONLY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT ALSO COULD RISK PEOPLE LIVES. I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPEN AND ONLY GETTING WORSE AS TIME GOES ON I DONT HAVE A CERTAIN DATE SO I JUST PICKED ONE BELOW
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A SECURED COMPANY PARKING LOT. WHEN I LEFT WORK, THE SUNROOF GLASS WAS SMASHED. THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR. I THOUGHT A HUGE TREE LIMB MAY HAVE FELL ON THE CAR AND SOMEONE MOVED IT BUT THERE WAS NOTHING NEARBY TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED. I HAD THE SUNROOF REPAIRED AND FORGOT ABOUT IT UNTIL I JUST SAW INFORMATION ABOUT THIS HAPPENING ON OTHER CARS. REPORTING TO YOU FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES. SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED, VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY (PARKED), THE HIGH TEMP THAT DAY WAS 90 AND THE LOW WAS 72, NOTHING WAS ON TOP OF THE CAR (ROCK,TREE,ETC), NO KNOWN REASON FOR WHY THE GLASS BROKE.
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTED AND STICKY AND THAT MAKES IT BRIGHT WITH THE SUN AND REFLECTED IN THE GLASS INTERNALLY AND MAKES DAY DRIVING VERY DIFFICULT.
STICKY DASHBOARD INTERFERES WITH WINDSHIELD GLARE HE WINDSHIELD TEND TO GET A VERY BAD GLARE AND MAKES IT HARD TO DRIVE DUE TO THE DASH BOARD. THE DASH BOARD IS ALL STICKY AND GETS WORSE WITH THE HEAT
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2010 MAZDA 3I HAS BEEN MELTING. IT IS NOW A STICKY SHINY MESS ON TOP AND THE REFLECTION OF IT IN THE WINDSHIELD AT CERTAIN SUN ANGLES MAKES IT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I ALMOST RAN OVER A PEDESTRIAN TODAY BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE HIM THROUGH THE REFLECTION WHICH IS THE REASON I FINALLY DECIDED TO REPORT THIS CONDITION TO NHTSA. I WAS CROSSING AN INTERSECTION AFTER MAKING A STOP FOR A STOP-SIGN AND STARTED STRAIGHT FORWARD TO CROSS THE INTERSECTION. I BARELY WAS ABLE TO STOP SHORT OF HITTING A GUY CROSSING THE STREET.
MELTING DASHBOARD. MINE IS NOT AS SEVERE AS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. BUT THERE IS A STICKY/GOOEY FEEL TO PART OF MY DASHBOARD.
MELTING DASHBOARD AND WINDSHIELD GLARE
AS WITH MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS ON HERE REGARDING THE 2010 MAZDA3, MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING CAUSING IT TO BE HIGHLY REFLECTIVE AND EMIT A NOXIOUS ODOR. THIS PROBLEM REDUCES VISIBILITY AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY DEFECT. FURTHER, THE NOXIOUS ODOR COULD BE HARMFUL AND COULD VERY WELL BE A SAFETY ISSUE OUTSIDE OF THE VISIBILITY ISSUE. MAZDA NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND ISSUE A RECALL LIKE TOYOTA HAS ALREADY DONE FOR THE SAME ISSUE. AS OF RIGHT NOW, IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA STANDS BY THEIR PRODUCT AND MAZDA DOES NOT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SUDDENLY SHATTERED. THE CONTACTED INDICATED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS IN THE CLOSED POSITION DURING THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000...UPDATED 08-26-14 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER RESEARCHING THE MATTER IT FOUND THAT SUNROOF EXPLOSIONS ARE A DOCUMENTED OCCURRENCE DUE TO LOW TEMPERED GLASS, PRIMARILY FROM MEXICO. UPDATED 09/2/2014 *JS UPDATED 8/20/14*CN
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH, I HEARD LIKE A GUNSHOT AND AT FIRST THOUGHT THERE WAS A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT BEHIND ME. HOWEVER, I IMMEDIATELY REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A GAPING HOLE IN MY SUNROOF. AT THE TIME, THE TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92 DEGREES AND THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED. THE INSIDE COVER, HOWEVER, WAS OPEN, SO THERE WAS GLASS EVERYWHERE INSIDE MY CAR. I WAS TRAVELING UPHILL AT THE TIME AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY DEBRIS OR ROCKS. MY FRONT WINDSHIELD AND THE BODY OF MY CAR WAS FINE. IT WAS JUST THE SUNROOF THAT SEEMED TO EXPLODE ON ITS OWN. MAZDA WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS INCIDENT. AN INSURANCE CLAIM HAS BEEN FILED. *TR
DASHBOARD IS MELTED, CAUSING EXTREME GLARE DURING THE DAYTIME. THE GLARE FROM THE MELTED DASHBOARD IS DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH AND CAUSES SAFETY AND VISIBILITY ISSUES WHILE DRIVING.
Showing 1–20 of 28 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026