1988 Mazda 323 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 Mazda 323, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Seat belts2873.7%
- Engine410.5%
- Transmission25.3%
- Powertrain (other)12.6%
- Interior & seats12.6%
- Fuel system12.6%
- Brakes12.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
NHTSA RECALL 95-V-103-005 CONCERNING 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. CONSUMER STATED THIS RECALL WAS DONE ON 1997. HOWEVER RECALL FAILED.*AK
THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT CATCH (HOLD) PROPERLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY IF AND ACCIDENT OCCURED. *YC
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE STALLED. *AK
TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED THREE TIMES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE. VEHICLE DOES NOT RUN PROPERLY EVEN AFTER REPAIR.
TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED THREE TIMES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED THREE TIMES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER'S SEAT BACK COLLAPSED DURING REAR END COLLISION, CAUSING INJURY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED THREE TIMES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEAT BELT LOCKING MECHANISM CRACKED AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT RELEASE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .