RoadVitals

1989 Mazda 323 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
10
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 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 belts2353.5%
  • Engine511.6%
  • Fuel system37.0%
  • Suspension37.0%
  • Transmission24.7%
  • Electrical24.7%
  • Driver assistance24.7%
  • Other / unspecified12.3%
  • Brakes12.3%
  • Steering12.3%

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

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.

23
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 829824 · filed Oct 30, 1998

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR LOCKS UP WHEN TRYING TO RETRACT IT BACK MANUALLY . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

NHTSA ID 801696 · filed Aug 30, 1996
All 23 reports naming seat belts →

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Jan 15, 2004

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 · filed Dec 27, 2000

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DRIVING AT SPEED 65MPH, VEHICLE OVERHEATED, UNDER THE HOOD COMPARTMENT FIRE, FAULTY FUEL PUMP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO EXPLODE. *AK

NHTSA ID 803239 · filed Oct 4, 1996

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE . TT

NHTSA ID 973117 · filed Oct 10, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 850014 · filed Oct 5, 1999

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

NHTSA ID 846269 · filed Sep 1, 1999

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, ALSO VEHICLE OVERHEATED. *AK

NHTSA ID 507413 · filed Aug 15, 1996

ENGINE; CAR HAD THREE FIRE FROM TRANSMISSION FLUID FALLING ON THE TRANSMISSION. TT

NHTSA ID 959591 · filed Feb 6, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Jan 15, 2004

DRIVING AT SPEED 65MPH, VEHICLE OVERHEATED, UNDER THE HOOD COMPARTMENT FIRE, FAULTY FUEL PUMP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO EXPLODE. *AK

NHTSA ID 803239 · filed Oct 4, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 541052 · filed Sep 24, 1998

WHEN DRIVING THE VHEILCE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID 802035 · filed Sep 9, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 533367 · filed Mar 28, 1998

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Jan 15, 2004

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 533367 · filed Mar 28, 1998

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

Data on this page last refreshed .