← New search

1988 Mazda 929

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all 929 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 34 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

34 reports
197,000 miles · Nov 19, 2003
Fuel System, Other

WHEN I START THE CAR IN THE MORNING IT IDLES ABOUT 2000 RPM THEN DROPS TO 1000 RPM AND REVS BACK UP TO 1800 RPM AND CONTINUES PULSATE IN NEUTRAL EVERY SECOND UNTIL YOU PUT IT IN DRIVE. IN DRIVE IT REMAINS IDLING AT 1500 RPM UNTIL YOU SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART. IF THE ENGINE IS NOT WARM ENOUGH IT STARTS OVER DOING THE SAME THING …

Read full complaint

WHEN I START THE CAR IN THE MORNING IT IDLES ABOUT 2000 RPM THEN DROPS TO 1000 RPM AND REVS BACK UP TO 1800 RPM AND CONTINUES PULSATE IN NEUTRAL EVERY SECOND UNTIL YOU PUT IT IN DRIVE. IN DRIVE IT REMAINS IDLING AT 1500 RPM UNTIL YOU SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART. IF THE ENGINE IS NOT WARM ENOUGH IT STARTS OVER DOING THE SAME THING OTHERWISE IT BEGINS TO IDLE CORRECTLY. WITH THE IDLE HIGH IT MAKES IT VERY HARD TO STOP THE CAR. WHAT CAN BE DONE?*AK

NHTSA ODI #10047196

Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

VERY STRONG FUEL VAPOR BOTH INTERNAL/EXTERNAL THIRD OCCURRENCE. FIRST TWO, BOTH RESULTED IN REPLACING FUEL RAIL AND ALL INJECTOR SEALS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #738064

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2000
Power Train

MAZDA SEAMS TO HAVE A HISTORY OF TRANSMISSION FAILERS WHAT CAN THE MAZDA OWNER DO WHEN MAZDA DOES NOT WANT TO COME CLEAN CHECK OUT HTTP://WWW.CARCAST.COM/CC/CONFERENCE/ I ALSO HAVE A 626/TURBO WITH A BAD TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #733276

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING TIMING BELT SHEARED OFF FOR THE SIXTH TIME WITHOUT A WARNING. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN THROUGH A TOTAL OF 8 BELTS. DEALER/MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #861918

Mileage unknown · May 3, 1999
Structure

ALL 4 DOOR HANDLES ON THE OUTSIDE BROKE. THE DOORS CANNOT BE OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. RECALL# 93V174000, DOES NOT INCLUDE REAR DOOR HANDLES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837371

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline

THIS FAILURE ONLY HAPPENS BELOW 20DEG F. PROBLEM GOES AWAY WHEN ENGINE WARM. ON VERY COLD STARTUP, FUEL DRIPS RAPIDLY AND VISIBLY FROM BOTTOM OF PRESSURE REGULATOR TO VALVE COVER. SEE ODI ID'S 380248, 437128, 416832, 825336, 946072, 956814, 979475. TURKEY DEALERS LET CAR WARM IN GARAGE BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE PROBLEM. P…

Read full complaint

THIS FAILURE ONLY HAPPENS BELOW 20DEG F. PROBLEM GOES AWAY WHEN ENGINE WARM. ON VERY COLD STARTUP, FUEL DRIPS RAPIDLY AND VISIBLY FROM BOTTOM OF PRESSURE REGULATOR TO VALVE COVER. SEE ODI ID'S 380248, 437128, 416832, 825336, 946072, 956814, 979475. TURKEY DEALERS LET CAR WARM IN GARAGE BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE PROBLEM. PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS WHEN PART AND/OR FUEL IS UNCOMFORTABLY COLD. MY DEALER SAID "YOU HAVE A GAS LEAK" WHEN I DROVE IN. 2 HOURS LATER THEY CHARGED $25 AND SAID THERE WAS NO GAS LEAK, EVEN THOUGH I POINTED TO THE PART WHICH DRIPS.

NHTSA ODI #703640

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 1999
Structure

THE RIGHT REAR OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE CANNOT OPEN DOOR. DEALER SAYS THAT REAR DOOR HANDLES ARE NOT PART OF RECALL 93V174000. *AK

NHTSA ODI #834494

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 1998
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED FUEL VAPOR SMELL COMING INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE DEALER SHOP THREE TIMES BEFORE CORRECTION WAS MADE, BUT ALL COST WAS TO THE CONSUMER. *AK THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE ONLY REPAIRS NEEDED WERE THE REPLACEMENT OF AN OLD/CRACKED…

Read full complaint

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED FUEL VAPOR SMELL COMING INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE DEALER SHOP THREE TIMES BEFORE CORRECTION WAS MADE, BUT ALL COST WAS TO THE CONSUMER. *AK THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE ONLY REPAIRS NEEDED WERE THE REPLACEMENT OF AN OLD/CRACKED RUBBER TUBING AND TO RETIGHTEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BOLTS OR THE HEAD BOLTS. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, CONSUMER STATES IT FEELS LIKE DRIVING OVER A BUMPY ROAD, DEALER REPLACED FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS, RESURFACED ROTORS, AND PACKED WHEEL BEARINGS, AT AN EARLIER TIME THE TWO FRONT ROTORS HAD BEEN REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #825336

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM CONCERNING REOCCURRING BRAKE MULFUNCTION DUE TO ROTOR WARPAGE EVERY 3000 MILES OF WEAR; DEALER NOTIFIED AND PROBLEM CANNOT BE RESOLVED. ALL COST STILL TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER FLUSH ABS, REPLACED FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS, ROTORS, AND WHEEL BEARINGS, HOWEVER CONSUMER STATES THAT SYMPTOMS …

Read full complaint

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM CONCERNING REOCCURRING BRAKE MULFUNCTION DUE TO ROTOR WARPAGE EVERY 3000 MILES OF WEAR; DEALER NOTIFIED AND PROBLEM CANNOT BE RESOLVED. ALL COST STILL TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER FLUSH ABS, REPLACED FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS, ROTORS, AND WHEEL BEARINGS, HOWEVER CONSUMER STATES THAT SYMPTOMS OF ROTOR WARPAGE STILL EXISTS. *AK *TT

NHTSA ODI #825332

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 1998
Structure

OUTSIDE REAR DOOR HANDLES BROKE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INCLUDED UNDER A RECALL ON THE FRONT DOORS. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #824426

Official recalls

2

95V103005 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

May 24, 1995

THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.

93V174000 · Structure:body:door

Oct 29, 1993

RESIN MOLDED FRONT HANDLES FAIL AT THE DOOR LATCH ACTUATING ROD ATTACHMENT, FREEING THE ROD TO FALL INSIDE THE DOOR FRAME. SUBSEQUENT LOWERING OF THE ASSOCIATED WINDOW MAY FORCE THE ACTUATING ROD DOWNWARD AND RELEASE THE DOOR LATCH.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: INADVERTENT ACTUATION OF THE DOOR LATCH CAUSES THE DOORTO OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN OCCUPANT FALLING OUT OF THEVEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR HANDLE/LATCH ASSEMBLY.

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

3

EA92031 · Inadvertent Door Opening

Opened Sep 25, 1992 · Closed Nov 30, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

PE92050 · Inadvertent Door Opening

Opened Jun 2, 1992 · Closed Sep 25, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

PE91088 · Throttle Sticking

Opened Jun 18, 1991 · Closed Oct 21, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available