2010 Mazda MAZDA3: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Dec 6, 2022 · Lights · MS

A substantial amount of water has made its way into the headlight housing. This has caused the driver side light to go out. There is no evidence of any damage, cracks, or failure otherwise. It seems, like thousands of other Mazda3 drivers, the seals have failed. My particular model has the auto leveling and turning headlights. Cost to repair will be well over $1,000. This is a well known problem to Mazda. Lack of lighting is a safety issue. High price of repair is a serious bar to fixing the issue and returning to safe driving. I was unaware of the failure as no warning is communicated to the driver.

Filed Jul 8, 2019 · Lights · 160,000 miles · SC

My driver side headlight was out for an unknown amount of time until a police officer kindly pulled me over and told me. When I went to have the light replaced, the passenger side light was out, not the driver side. I assumed the officer had made a mistake. The passenger side headlight bulb was replaced. A few months later I was driving approx 40mph on an unlit road when both my headlights went completely out. I was able to pull off the road and there were no injuries. After about 30 minutes, the passenger side lightbulb mysteriously came on again but the driver side didn't. So then the driver side light was replaced at my local dealership and they inspected the passenger side one and reported it 'checked good'. It was only good for a few months because it's out again. There has always been excessive condensation in these lights but I dismissed it - mazda or the mechanics would tell me if it could be a problem, right? I've researched now and found the issue is reported on all the mazda3 message boards and to you at the ntsb (these are just the ones I found: 11044247,11015855,10865541,10849726,10823321,10723613, 10715457,10683926,10640462,10632527,10573945,10558974,10554823, 10548296, 10443658,10914541,10874861,10865443,10853089). There are at least nine mazda technical service bulletins about the problem. Neither mazda itself nor the mazda service departments where my car was serviced many times had told me about it. This is obviously a safety issue. The next person who has both headlights fail on them might not be so lucky. I have talked to mazda customer service and they insist this is an environmental factor and normal. Do I need to move to a certain environment, a desert maybe, to have reliable headlights?

Filed Jan 29, 2019 · Airbags, Lights · 80,000 miles · CA

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

Filed Nov 7, 2017 · Lights · 68,000 miles · TX

2010 mazda3s grand touring, condensation accumulated in head lamp resulting in head lamp bulb failure. The cost to replace head lamp assembly is $2500.00 $250.00 just for the bulb. Thousands of noted on line complaints with photos with no damage to assembly but the sealant has failed. Mazda dealership parts department acknowledged this is a known issue with the mazda3.

Filed Aug 16, 2017 · Lights · 50,000 miles · NH

The car wouldnt pass inspection because of water in headlight. Dried it out. Passed. Got wet again. Replaced the light twice and still doing it. Other light is now doing it.

Filed May 18, 2016 · Lights · 65,000 miles · CA

My 2010 mazda has had a build up of condensation in the driver's headlight for some time and recently the driver's headlight went out. I was advised by the dealership that I would need to replace the entire headlamp which requires removal of the bumper. I would be looking at close to $1000+ to complete the repair. I declined the repair as I wanted to do more research on the safety bulletins that are posted for this same exact issue. The dealership declined to repair the issue based on the published safety bulletins. Recently, condensation has started in my passenger side headlamp and that headlight is now out as well. It should be noted I live in the dry southern california environment so my car is hardly ever exposed to water for condensation to even be building up. This poses a real danger to drivers as the headlights may go out (possibly both) while driving causing very unsafe driving conditions both for those in the vehicle but for other vehicles sharing the road.

Filed Mar 15, 2016 · Lights · 117,000 miles · IL

My driver sideheadlight is out again. I went to the dealer last month with no headlight and condensation inside the headlight housing. Paid $750 for them to replace the unit. Its barely a month later and the same light is out again after it rained two days before. Its again full of condensation. The headlight housing is faulty as it allows water to come inside and short out hid bulbs and unit.

Filed Jan 31, 2016 · Lights · FL

The headlights do not work at all for either low or high beams making the vehicle unsafe to drive especially during rain or at night. There is not only moisture but quite a bit of water accumulated inside both headlights. This vehicle was recently purchased on september 2015 as a certified pre own which comes with full limited warranty. I took the vehicle to the dealer to service the issue but they indicated that the repair or replacement was not covered by the warranty. Their estimate to repair it is $1,900.00 I strongly believe that is more a manufacturer safety issue than a warranty claim. I did research and there are no recalls on the headlights for my particular vehicle, but there are several complains calling it a condensation issue on 2010 mazda 3s. It was also strange that the dealer rep commented that the vehicle may have been in a crash when the carfax report indicated the opposite and we have thankfully been accident free since its purchase. Please review and advise.

Filed Jun 5, 2015 · Lights · 45,000 miles · FL

Design flaw of headlight has caused condensation to form in headlight assembly causing xenon bulb to short circuit and blow on driver's side headlight.

Filed May 9, 2015 · Lights · PA

The housing unit of one headlight begain retaining moisture and condensation and subsequently began shorting out. The dealer informed me that the complete housing unit will need to be replaced, and it is at a substantial cost. Now, the second headlight is doing the same.

Filed Feb 17, 2015 · Lights · 75,000 miles · GA

There are (3) existing the federal safety agency reports on this that I am aware of: 10037949. 10037655 & 10052155. Purchased a 2010 mazda 3 off a dealers lot 1.5 weeks ago. The following day while driving the left head light was out. There was condensate in the lens. The car has hid lights. To access the bulb the car bumper etc. Had to be removed. Local shop replaced both bulbs and ballast. Cost $1,200 +. Three days later the same bulb went out. Shop is now replacing the lens and ballast (again). $1,898. After checking on the internet we found that it a common problem for this car's headlight lens to leak. Some people reported multiple failures with the same problem. Mazda has 3 service bulletins on this problem for this year car. 09-003-13, 09-005-11, & 09-057-10.

Filed Oct 1, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 40,000 miles · FL

Moisture has entered both head lamps causing failure of bulbs and hid control units. Complete lighting failure while driving.