IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. NO SPARKS WERE COMING FROM THE DISTRIBUTOR TO THE PLUGS.*AK
1992 Mazda MX3
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
Compare all MX3 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: 11 of 44 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 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
44 reportsSEAT BELT MALFUNCTION PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER RECALL 97V211000 IS RECURRING WITH SAME SYMPTOMS OF SEAT BELT NOT RETRACTING WHEN DOOR IS OPENED TO EXIT VEHICLE. IS THE CAUSE NOW THE SAME AS IT WAS WHEN FIRST REPAIRED AND IF SO, DOES THE SAME RECALL APPLY AS IT SEEMS THE CAUSE REMAINS A DEFECT? *JB
PASSENGER'S FRONT SEATBELT BUCKLE DOES NOT BUCKLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO NORTHPARK MAZDA/ISUZU AND THE GUY AT THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE MY RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED. HOWEVER IF THAT IS TRUE THEN WHOMEVER DID IT BEFORE PUT DEFECTIVE PARTS ON IT BECAUSE THEY ARE MESSING UP TO THIS DATE. THE PROBLEM LIES WITH BOTH AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS AND BOTH FRONT CO…
Read full complaint
I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO NORTHPARK MAZDA/ISUZU AND THE GUY AT THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE MY RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED. HOWEVER IF THAT IS TRUE THEN WHOMEVER DID IT BEFORE PUT DEFECTIVE PARTS ON IT BECAUSE THEY ARE MESSING UP TO THIS DATE. THE PROBLEM LIES WITH BOTH AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS AND BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS.
AUTOMATIC SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT AROUND THE DRIVER. BELT WILL NOT STAY FASTEN.ED. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
WHEN DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR RECALL 97V211000, NO WORK OR MODIFICATIONS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. CONSUMER STATED THAT AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RAILS HAVE BECOME STUCK. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE RECALL OBLIGATIONS HAVE BEEN MET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
CONSUMER HAD RECALL WORK PERFORMED FOR NHTSA RECALL 97V211000 CONCERNING RESTRAINT BELTS. REMEDY PERFORMED DID NOT CORRECT DEFECT BECAUSE CONSUMER'S PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT MOVE IN TRACK/RAIL. ALSO, BELT WILL NOT ALLOW MOVEMENT OF PASSENGER BECAUSE IT CONTINUES TO LOCK UP AND WILL NOT RELEASE. PLEASE PROVID…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER HAD RECALL WORK PERFORMED FOR NHTSA RECALL 97V211000 CONCERNING RESTRAINT BELTS. REMEDY PERFORMED DID NOT CORRECT DEFECT BECAUSE CONSUMER'S PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT MOVE IN TRACK/RAIL. ALSO, BELT WILL NOT ALLOW MOVEMENT OF PASSENGER BECAUSE IT CONTINUES TO LOCK UP AND WILL NOT RELEASE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE FLOODING. WHEN OCCURRING, CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE 30 AMP FUSE FOR FUEL INJECTORS, AND TRY TO STOP THE FLOOD. REPLACED THE FUSE AND STARTED AGAIN. DEALER NOTIFED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IS WAS THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR NOW. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. COMMON PROBLEM. DLR REPLACED DISTRIBUTOR., BUT PROBLEM PERSISTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THIS VEHICLE HAD THE PROTECTIVE SHIELD PLACED ON TO PROTECT THE TIRES IF THE SPRINGS BROKE, THE SPRINGS BROKE, AND THE TIRES WERE STILL DAMAGED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Official recalls
315V674000 · 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.
97V211000 · Seat Belts:front:webbing
Nov 18, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS. THE RAIL OF THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT CAN WEAR SUFFICIENTLY SUCH THAT THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAN BECOME JAMMED IN THE RAIL RENDERING THE SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSIVE SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLY WITH A MODIFIED ONE (WITH ADDITIONAL DUST LIP) IN VEHICLES WHICH HAVE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM. IN VEHICLES IN WHICH THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, THE RAILS WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED WITH MODIFIED RAILS IF THEY EXCEED THE INSPECTION CRITERIA.
97V116000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs
Jul 22, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND WASHINGTON, DC. IN AREAS WHERE LARGE QUANTITIES OF ROAD SALT ARE USED, CORROSIVE PITS CAN DEVELOP ON THE SURFACE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING. REPEATED USE CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE COIL SPRING TO BREAK AND A TIRE COULD BE PUNCTURED FROM CONTACT WITH THE BROKEN COIL SPRING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GUARD ASSEMBLY WHICH WILL PREVENT THE BROKEN COIL SPRING FROM CONTACTING THE TIRE. IN ADDITION TO PERFORMING THE RECALL CAMPAIGN, MAZDA IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS FOR THE LIFT OF THE VEHICLE. IF OWNERS HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THESE FRONT COIL SPRINGS, DUE TO ROAD SALT DAMAGE, MAZDA WILL REIMBURSE THESE OWNERS FOR REASONABLE EXPENSES.
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
3RQ98001 · Front Coil Spring Fracture
Opened Mar 3, 1998 · Closed Nov 16, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs
There is no summary currently available
EA94039 · Auto Restraint System Fail
Opened Nov 30, 1994 · Closed Nov 26, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
PE94075 · Alternator Fires
Opened Oct 12, 1994 · Closed Dec 21, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available