Power Train. Review the 177 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports6 fire reports14 injury reports

What owners actually said

282 reports

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 1998

Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS. FIRST FAILURE WAS AT 51000 MILES OF WEAR. DEALER REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. SECOND FAILURE WAS AT 108,000 MILE OF WEAR, BUT DEALER WILL REPAIR BUT AT 1/2 COST TO THE CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #826449

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 1998

Air BagsCrash

WHEN VEHICLE REAR ENDED A FORD EXPEDITION, TRAVELING BETWEEN 20-25 MPH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF EITHER AIR BAG. THE FENDER, HOOD, HEADLIGHTS, ETC WERE ALL PUSHED BACK TO THE MOTOR. OWNER NOT SURE IF VEHICLE WILL BE TOTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #824424

Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 1998

Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE AND PUT FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR GOES IN REVERSE. DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #824071

Mileage unknown · May 30, 1998

Engine And Engine Cooling

VALVE COVER SEAL FAILS, CAUSING OIL TO REACH PLUGS AND EVENUTALLY FOULING THE PLUGS.

NHTSA ODI #536378

Mileage unknown · May 1, 1998

Seat BeltsInjury

PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT GETS WRAPPED AROUND THE SEAT RELEASE MECHANISM WHICH CAUSES THE SEAT TO RECLINE ON ITS OWN.

NHTSA ODI #535046

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 1998

Parking Brake

REAR EMERGENCY BRAKE/CALIPERS FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #533901

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 1998

Exterior LightingVisibility

HEAD LIGHT SWITCH FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #530617

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 1997

Electrical System

DISTRIBUTOR FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #524708

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 1997

Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #604767

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997

Power Train

EXCESSIVE WEAR OF CLUTCH. ENGINE REVS HIGH/SLOW ACCELERATION AND SUDDENLY BEGINS TO SLIP ALOT. CLUTCH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE THIRD CLUTCH HAD TO BE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY, ALL AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #817698

Official recalls

15V674000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Oct 19, 2015

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.

99V358000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

Dec 17, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHT WIRE THAT RUNS THROUGH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER CAN FAIL AT THE POINT WHERE IT IS SOLDERED TO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE FAILURE OF THIS WIRE COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH LEVER.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

RQ99022 · Headlight Failure

Opened Dec 20, 1999 · Closed Aug 30, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

OBTAINED RECALL 99V-358

SQ98024 · Speedometer Inoperative

Opened Oct 29, 1998 · Closed Sep 10, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train

SEE RESUME FOR DETAILS.