RoadVitals

1989 Mazda 323

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
38
Latest Jan 15, 2004
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest May 24, 1995
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
5
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 38 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Mazda 323, most frequently naming the seat belts, engine and fuel system categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 5 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Seat belts2353.5%
  • Engine511.6%
  • Fuel system37.0%
  • Suspension37.0%
  • Transmission24.7%
  • Electrical24.7%
  • Driver assistance24.7%
  • Other / unspecified12.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
95V103005

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

May 24, 1995
360,433 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The 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.
MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INCView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA95005ClosedEngineering Analysis

TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE

Opened Mar 10, 1995
Closed Aug 1, 1995

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLYLed to recall 95V103005

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 38
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 15, 2004

THE ALTERNATOR QUIT WHICH CAUSED THE COOLING FAN TO STOP , THE HEAT LIGHT DIDNT COME ON SO THE CAR RAN HOT AND EXPLODED THE RADIATOR, THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR CRACKED AND SPEWED OUT ALL OF THE WATER , THE BRAKES FAILED TWICE AND HAD TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER AND REAR BRAKES ,

NHTSA ID
10068899
Incident
Oct 15, 2003
Mileage
178,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 27, 2000

MECHANIC WAS INFORMED BY MAZDA TO CAREFULLY OBSERVE BELT TENSION. MECHANIC FEELS THAT MAZDA'S DESIGN ON THE CRANKSHAFT HAS TOO LITTLE METAL LEFT AFTER THE FRONT JOUNAL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE STRENGTH FOR CRANK NOT TO BREAK OVER LONG PERIOD OF TIME. CRANKSHAFT IS CUT DOWN A LOT FROM THE JOURNAL SIZE. MECHANIC NOTED THAT MAZDA HAS A SERVICE BULLENTIN IN REFERENCE TO ACCESORY BELT TENSIONS AND FEELS THAT MAZDA IS NOT WANTING TO ADMIT THAT CRANKSHAFT IS TOO SMALL. DIAMETER OF SHAFT LENDS ITSELF TO PERMATURE FAILURE DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. MECHANIC NOTED OTHER REPORTS ON NHTSA WEBSITE IN REFERENCE TO THIS PROBLEM. FELT NOTICE NEEDS TO BE OUT THERE. PROPERLY SIZED CRANKSHAFTS WITH PROPER LUBRICATION DO NOT BREAK. THEY ARE REUSED IN MOTOR CORES FOR REBUILDING. THIS RESULTED IN A PURCHASE OF A NEW ENGINE, NOT A REBULIT, FROM MAZDA.*AK

NHTSA ID
738381
Incident
Sep 2, 2000
Suspension
Filed Oct 5, 1999

RIGHT/LEFT TIRES ARE JERKING REAL BAD WHEN TRAVELING AT ABOUT 60 MPH. *AK

NHTSA ID
850014
Incident
Oct 5, 1999
Suspension
Filed Sep 1, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THERE IS VIBRATION WITHIN THE STEEING WHEEL AND THE STEERING IS OFF CENTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
846269
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Seat belts
Filed Oct 30, 1998

CONSUMER HAS A VEHCLE WHERE NEITHER ONE OF THE REAR RESTRAINT BELTS WORK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
829824
Incident
Oct 18, 1997
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 24, 1998

VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.

NHTSA ID
541052
Other / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Mar 28, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OUT DUE TO SPINDLE BREAKING OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID
533367
Incident
Mar 13, 1998
Engine
Filed Sep 5, 1997

THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE, WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA ID
816063

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

97102302097

STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

PRE-PAINTING PREPARATIONS FOR FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS. *YC

008/97

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

USE OF A/C TRACER DYE. *TW

007/97T

AIR BAGS

PARTS REPLACEMENT AFTER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TW

001/97G

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

MAINTENANCE FREE BATTERY - DIAGNOSTIC AND CHARGING PROCEDURE. *TW

003/97G

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

WIPER MOTOR INOPERATIVE - CIRCUIT BREAKER ACTIVATION. *TW

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mazda 323 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001000—
2000000—
1999000—
1998000—
1997000—
1996000—
1995410—
1994112151.0
1993102142.6
1992152157.6
1991202252.4
1990192261.4
1989Viewing381151.4
1988341151.2
1987800—
1986400—
1985000—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.