2010 Mazda Mazda3 Brakes Problems

On August 15, 2025, my 2010 Mazda 3 began displaying the ABS warning light intermittently while driving. The ABS system is a critical safety feature, and when the light comes on, I am unsure if the braking system will function properly in an emergency. I scanned the vehicle using a Foxwell diagnostic tool and retrieved the following ABS-related fault codes: C0020:1C-2B – ABS Pump Motor Control Circuit U0425:62-60 – Invalid Data Received from IPC/ABS Control Module U0140:00-28 – Lost Communication with Body Control Module These issues are consistent with Mazda Technical Service Bulletin 04-002/13 (July 17, 2013), which documents ABS pump motor failures caused by poor motor brush contact. This is a serious safety concern because the ABS system fails without warning, leaving the driver and passengers at risk of brake loss in critical conditions. Why this should be investigated: The defect occurs intermittently, making it difficult to predict or reproduce. It matches a known documented defect acknowledged by Mazda in TSB 04-002/13. Other owners have reported similar ABS pump failures in Mazda vehicles of this generation. The failure compromises safe braking and should be treated as a safety defect warranting investigation and possible recall. Action Requested: I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this recurring ABS pump/motor failure in 2010 Mazda 3 vehicles and determine whether a recall should be issued to address this known defect.

NHTSA ID

11683431

Incident

Aug 15, 2025

The a.b.s pump module is defective in these vehicles. There are tons of people having issues with them. When they fail it happens suddenly resulting in brake failure, power steering failure, the car does not like to shut off, the vehicle will go into "limp mode" and every light on the dash comes on. The part itself is costing close to $1000 u.s.d . With all of tge effected things tgat go with it i believe it can be very dangerous and should be recalled

NHTSA ID

11655220

Incident

Nov 13, 2024

ABS or the ABS computer malfunction or wasn't working correctly and almost cause an accident.

NHTSA ID

11583638

Incident

Apr 17, 2024

ABS module malfunction all four wheel speed sensor not read in the same time and powersteering cut off cause by unready wheel speed check engine light ABS light and Steering Light on.

NHTSA ID

11580272

Incident

Feb 28, 2024

ABS will cause complete brake failure when it is engaged. For example, needing to stop quickly to avoid hitting another vehicle and the brakes will lose all pressure and the vehicle will not stop. Several mechanics have not been able to diagnose or fix. Immediately after the incident, there will be minimal brake pressure of about 20%, eventually it will return to normal. Must avoid applying brakes in emergency situations as it will actually be worse than attempting to steer out of it. This has happened about 6 times in 4 years. It happened the first time about 3 days after I bought the vehicle in 2019.

NHTSA ID

11572842

Incident

Feb 19, 2024

ABS LIGHT STAYS ON, BREAK LIGHT STAYS ON. ABS is not working.

NHTSA ID

11550995

Incident

Jul 5, 2022

The abs (anti-lock braking system) unit module failed and no, the failing component has been replaced. The brake pedal went to the floor and almost caused an accident. Yes, the problem kept occurring, and yes, a dealer did reproduce the problem. Yes, it has been inspected by a dealer, but not the manufacturer. No, there was no warning lamps or problems prior to the failure.

NHTSA ID

11436238

Incident

Oct 23, 2018

The contact owns a 2010 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that the brake failed with the ABS warning light, traction control, and emergency brake light illuminated. The contact stated that the brake pedal was engaged and failed to bring the vehicle to a stop. The brake pedal was depressed twice before the vehicle stopped. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the traction control module and ABS module needed to be replaced. Additionally, the brake fluid needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11427148

Incident

Jun 1, 2021

Mileage

150,000 mi

Component: ABS Hydraulic Unit; How was safety at risk: The failure of the ABS system clearly poses a risk; Reproduced: The original ABS Hydraulic Unit has a known design flaw that causes it to fail under mild environmental conditions (see, e.g. SB-10053757-3542); Inspected: The problem has been diagnosed by an independent mechanic; Warning lights: The ABS light (and occasionally DSC and BRAKE lights as well) sometimes became illuminated.

NHTSA ID

11425562

Incident

Jul 8, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2010 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO AVOID HITTING A DOG. THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS BRAKING ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE INCLUDING THE BRAKE PADS, BRAKE BOOSTER, AND BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACE THE BRAKES PEDAL HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE SAME INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND HAD THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SAME INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. CARMAX (507 SIMONS RUN, LYNCHBURG, VA 24502) (434) 239-0163) WAS CONTACTED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ID

11378478

Incident

Oct 19, 2020

Mileage

136,000 mi

ABS COMPONENT IS RUSTED AND BROKEN LEAVING ABS NOT A FUNCTIONING SAFETY MEASURE.

NHTSA ID

11374678

Incident

Nov 2, 2020

Mileage

58,500 mi

HAD MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON SO I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED THESE UP IN MY MAZDA HANDBOOK. IT SAID TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED RIGHT AWAY. I TOOK TO MY MECHANIC WHO HAS BEEN WORKING ON MY CAR FOR YEARS AND I TRUST HIM. HE TOLD ME IT WAS THE DSC MODULE AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER. HE ALSO TOLD ME IT WOULD BE AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER AND WILL NOW BE CHARGED $150 FOR THEM TO TELL ME THE SAME THING MY MECHANIC DID. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT MANY OTHER MAZDA OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT. I THINK THIS IS UNFAIR TO US THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN DONE OR THAT THIS REPAIR IS SO EXPENSIVE. I HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CAR OF MY VEHICLE AND NOW I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

11373877

Incident

Nov 6, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

I JUST BOUGHT MY DTR A 2010 THAT HAS THE SAME SPONGY BRAKE PROBLEM I'VE READ A LOT ABOUT ONLINE. THE PEDAL GIVES VERY LITTLE RESISTANCE (AND THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO BRAKING) FOR THE FIRST 1-2" OF TRAVEL, THEN IT WORKS AND BRAKES NORMALLY. I TRIED TRYING TO ACTIVATE THE ABS MANY TIMES AS SOME MENTIONED HAD "FIXED" THE PROBLEM FOR THEM BUT THAT MADE NO DIFFERENCE. NOT ONLY DID IT NOT FIX IT, BUT IT MADE ME REALIZE THAT THE ABS DOESN'T WORK SINCE AT LEAST 1 TIRE LOCKED UP AND WAS SKIDDING. SO SPONGY BRAKES, NO ABS, AND NO ABS WARNING LIGHT. I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS (SOME SAY A NEW ABS AND BRAKE BOOSTER FOR $2K TOOK CARE OF IT, BUT OTHERS SAID IT DIDN'T), AND SOMEONE SAYS THERE'S EVEN A TSB FOR IT. SO OBVIOUSLY IT'S A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, BUT MAZDA APPARENTLY WON'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT GETTING $$.

NHTSA ID

11340276

Incident

Jun 9, 2020

Mileage

95,000 mi

SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. ABS BRAKES NOT FUNCTIONING. STABILITY CONTROL DISABLED. BRAKING PROPORTIONING NOT FUNCTIONING. ALL RELATED TO ABS MODULE ISSUE THAT MAZDA IS AWARE OF BUT WON?T RECALL. SEVERELY AFFECTS THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AS THE STOPPING POWER AND STABILITY ARE DECREASED WHEN ABS UNIT FAULT OCCURS. PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE AND IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, EVEN ON LOW-MILEAGE CARS. SERVICE BULLETIN HAS EXISTED FOR YEARS AND NEEDS TO BE ELEVATED TO RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

11330196

Incident

Jun 1, 2020

Mileage

156,000 mi

ABS, TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME AND HAVE STAYED ON. TOLD THE ABS MODULE NEEDS REPLACING.

NHTSA ID

11301844

Incident

Jun 9, 2019

Mileage

73,243 mi

THE ABS, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON ONE DAY SEEMINGLY OUT OF NOWHERE. THERE IS A MAZDA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM FOR AREAS WITH HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN AND WAS CONSTANT IN THE HOT WASHINGTON DC SUMMER, BUT HAS BECOME INTERMITTENT NOW THAT WINTER HAS COME. THE TSB IS QUOTED BELOW. THIS REALLY SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL VERSUS A TSB. I APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. 2010 MAZDA MAZDA3 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC SERVICE BULLETIN 357659 ACTION NUMBER: 10053757 SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 357659 REPORT DATE: JUL 17, 2013 COMPONENT: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC SUMMARY: MAZDA: THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND ABS MOTOR MONITOR SIGNAL FAILS TO CORRESPOND TO ABS HU/CM ON/OFF SIGNAL AND HAPPENS IN AREA WHERE THERE IS HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES AND HUMIDITY. MODEL 2010-2011 MAZDA3. *PE

NHTSA ID

11286752

Incident

Aug 1, 2019

Mileage

50,000 mi

FOR THESE INCIDENTS THERE WAS FRIENDS WHO WAS IN MY VEHICLE DURING AND EVEN WITNESS THESE INCIDENTS HAPPEN WHILE IN THE VEHICLE. ON THE WAY TO WORK I TRIED TO DOWNSHIFT ON THE SPORT MODE LIKE I USUALLY DO. BUT IT CONTINUED TO STAY IN 5, THEN ALL OF SUDDEN IT JUMPED TO 3 AS I SLOW DOWN A BIT THEN ALL OF SUDDEN TO 1 WHICH MADE THE CAR JERK A BIT BOTH TIMES DUE TO GEAR DROP AND CAUSE THE CAR TO REV AT A HIGHER RPM. WHICH ALMOST COST AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS HAPPENING QUITE OFTEN SO I HAD TO SWITCH TO NORMAL DRIVE MODE( D) ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WOULD TURN ON AFTER MAKING A QUICK LEFT OR RIGHT TURN BUT THIS HAPPEN ONLY A FEW TIME, THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF WAS TO PARK SOMEWHERE SAFE AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON TO REMOVE THE LIGHTS. NOW IT'S SUMMER TIME AN THIRD PROBLEM HAS APPEAR, FOR SOME RANDOM REASON AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS GOING CRAZY AND BLOWING HOT AIR INSTEAD OF COLD AIR IN THE CRAZY TEXAS SUMMER HEAT, WHAT'S EVEN MORE CRAZY IS DRIVER SIDE BLOW EXTREMELY HOT AIR AND PASSENGER SIDE BLOW HOT AIR BUT AT A LOWER DEGREES. SOMETIME EVEN SMELLING A SMOKY BURNING PLASTIC SMELL. I FIND IT EXTREMELY UNSAFE FOR A CAR TO HAVE PROBLEMS LIKE SHIFTING AND CAUSING THE CAR TO LAG IN SHIFTING GEAR PROPERLY WHICH CAUSE TO JERK IN MOVING TRAFFIC WHICH CAN CAUSE A ACCIDENT. TO ADD EVEN ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL MIGHT HAVE ISSUES WHICH SCARES ME EVEN MORE. NOW EVEN HOT AIR WITH MAYBE A BURNING PLASTIC SMELL. CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN CHECK PROPERLY BUT THESE DRIVING WITH THESE UNSAFE ISSUES CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND EVEN WORST DEATH IF NOT CHECK PROPERLY. MOST IMPORTANT FEATURE IN A CAR IS IT'S ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND STOP PROPERLY, WITHOUT THOSE, IT BECOMES A DANGEROUS OBJECT ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID

11244569

Incident

Aug 13, 2019

Mileage

90,000 mi

ABS AND DSC HAS BEEN DISABLED DUE TO A FAULTY ABS MODULE AND THE DEALER DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE REPAIR COST IS RIDICULOUSLY HIGH AND THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED PER THE AMOUNT OF INTERNET TRAFFIC ALONE REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THIS IS NOT A NICE TO HAVE FEATURE THIS IS A MUST HAVE AS IT COULD SAFE A LIFE. I HAVE SEEN REPORTS WHEN THE WHOLE SYSTEM FAILS. I WAS TOLD I COULD DRIVE WITHOUT IT EVEN THOU TOTAL BREAK FAILURE COULD OCCUR.

NHTSA ID

11241404

Incident

Jul 29, 2019

Mileage

103,667 mi

2010 MAZDA 3. IN AN EMERGENCY HIGHWAY INCIDENT I WAS FORCED TO BRAKE AND THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR, BUT I AVOIDED A COLLISION BY SWERVING OUT OF DANGER. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT EFFECTIVELY STOP THE CAR LEADING ME TO CONCLUDE THE BRAKES NEEDED REPLACING. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE ABS MODULE FAILED AND EVENTUALLY THE BRAKES WOULD FAIL TO STOP THE CAR. THE BRAKING SYSTEM HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED SINCE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 2010. FURTHER RESEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN KNOWN BY MAZDA FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND A TSB WAS ISSUED. AS THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE, A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED SINCE THE ABS SYSTEM IS CRITICAL TO THE SAFE OPERATION OF A VEHICLE. UNFORTUNATELY, MAZDA HAS NOT DEEMED A POTENTIAL, COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO BE A SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH ISSUE TO ORDER A RECALL. THE FAILURE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DRIVER USE BUT IS DUE TO A FAULTY SYSTEM AS THIS COMPONENT SHOULD TYPICALLY LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE OR AT LEAST LONGER THAN 53000 MILES AND LIMITED DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11219210

Incident

Jun 4, 2019

Mileage

53,300 mi

ABS AND TRACTION DASHBOARD LIGHTS STAYED ON. MECHANIC REPLACED ABS SENSOR IN FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL ($200); LIGHTS STILL STAYED ON. TOLD TO TAKE TO MAZDA. TOOK TO ANNAPOLIS MAZDA, $149.50 DIAGNOSIS CHARGE. GOT CALL THIS MORNING $1456 TO REPLACE ABS MODULE. NO RECALL BUT LOTS OF ISSUES ONLINE BY OWNERS OF SAME VEHICLE, SAME PROBLEM. ADVISORY BULLETIN RELEASED IN 2013; MAZDA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR MANY YEARS. ANNAPOLIS MAZDA SAID PART ON BACK ORDER WITH 'NO EFFECTIVE DELIVERY DATE; DO NOT DRIVE CAR, HAZARDOUS' OK, WHAT TO DO THEN? MAZDA OBVIOUSLY HAS PROBLEM, ARE NOT STOCKING PARTS TO KEEP THEIR CAR OWNERS SAFE!!! ???

NHTSA ID

11132902

Incident

Sep 15, 2018

ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ARE ON. IT IS ON SINCE MARCH.2018 THE FIRST TIME I HAVE NOTICE THIS PROBLEM, I WAS GOING TO WORK AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN DISAPEARED AND AFTER A FEW DAYS LIKE THAT JUST STAYED ON. I TOOK IT TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN JACKSONVILLE FL, AND THEY FOUND THREE DIFFERENT FAULTY CODES ; ONE FOR THE ABS CONTROL MOTOR C0020 ONE FOR THE DCS SWITCH C110964-64-60 AND ONE FOR THE ABS CONTROL MODULE U0415 92-48. THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $1100 INCLUDING LABOR. I THINK THIS IS RIDICULOUSLY HIGH! I HAVE PURCHASED MY CAR IN 2016 JANUARY FOR $7900! WHY DONT THEY COVER THE FAULTY ABS PUMP OR PARTS IF THERE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE BY MAZDA IN THIS MODELS ACCORDING TO THIS WEBSITE : HTTP://WWW.TIREBUSINESS.COM/ARTICLE/20161220/SERVICEZONE/161229997/NEW-HYDRAULIC-UNIT-SOLVES-MAZDA-3-ABS-TRROUBLE-CODES

NHTSA ID

11099151

Incident

Mar 4, 2018

Mileage

123,100 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11085181

Incident

Apr 12, 2018

Mileage

107,000 mi

THE ABS MODULE FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING CAUSING THE ABS, TRACTION AND MAIN RED BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH THESE INDICATIONS. THERE IS A MAZDA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM FOR HOT HUMID CLIMATES (I LIVE IN MERRITT ISLAND, FL). THE TSB IS QUOTED BELOW. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL VERSUS A TSB. PLEASE HELP! 2010 MAZDA MAZDA3 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC SERVICE BULLETIN 357659 ACTION NUMBER: 10053757 SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 357659 REPORT DATE: JUL 17, 2013 COMPONENT: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC SUMMARY: MAZDA: THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND ABS MOTOR MONITOR SIGNAL FAILS TO CORRESPOND TO ABS HU/CM ON/OFF SIGNAL AND HAPPENS IN AREA WHERE THERE IS HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES AND HUMIDITY. MODEL 2010-2011 MAZDA3. *PE

NHTSA ID

11084950

Incident

Apr 12, 2018

Mileage

107,000 mi

MY CAR HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT. THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN SHAKING WHEN I WOULD BRAKE, SO I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED. WHEN THEY REMOVED THE ROTORS, THE ROTOR HUBS WERE SEPARATED FROM THE ROTORS.

NHTSA ID

11052329

Incident

Dec 2, 2017

Mileage

30,000 mi

BACK IN OCT OF 2015 MY ABS AND DSC LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AN GO OFF FOR NO REASON. AS OF DECEMBER 2016 THE LIGHTS HAVE REMAINED ON. I REPLACED THE SPEED SENSORS IN EACH WHEEL, CHECKED THE TONE RINGS, TESTED THE WIRING FOR BREAKS, TESTED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, I HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO CHECK OTHER THAN THE ABS SYSTEMS. I RECENTLY HAD MY CLUTCH REPLACED ON MY 2010 MAZDA 3 S BY MAZDA, WHILE PERFORMING THE WORK I ASKED IF THE TECHNICIAN COULD TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, I WAS TOLD THAT THE ABS PUMP WAS BAD, WAS NOT TOLD IF IT WAS THE COMPUTER MODULE OR THE HYD PUMP MOTOR OR VALVE BODY. BASED ON THE SYMPTOMS, I AM ASSUMING THAT THE CONTROL MODULE IS BAD. I FOUND THAT THERE ARE TSB'S ON THIS PROBLEM WITH MANY COMPLAINTS BY OTHER 2010 MAZDA 3 OWNERS. NHTSA ID: 10053757 TSB ID: SB-04-002-13 NHTSA ID: 10097406 TSB ID: 04-002-13-2812 WHAT CAN BE DONE TO GET MAZDA TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE A KNOWN ISSUE?

NHTSA ID

11023866

Incident

Oct 1, 2015