RoadVitals

1994 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.
11
Latest Feb 28, 2015
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.
2
Latest Oct 19, 2015
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Mazda 323, most frequently naming the seat belts, electrical and fuel system categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 23 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 belts646.2%
  • Electrical17.7%
  • Fuel system17.7%
  • Steering17.7%
  • Tires & wheels17.7%
  • Transmission17.7%
  • Airbags17.7%
  • Visibility17.7%

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

2 campaigns 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

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

Oct 19, 2015
1,368,500 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
The 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.
Mazda North American OperationsManufacturer number 8715JView on NHTSA.gov

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

Nov 18, 1997
134,000 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: A SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The 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.
MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INCView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

EA94039ClosedEngineering Analysis

AUTO RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAIL

Opened Nov 30, 1994
Closed Nov 26, 1997

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTSLed to recall 97V211000

Recent owner complaints

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

AirbagsElectrical
Filed Feb 28, 2015

THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE DASH STARTED BLINKING A CODE (51) INDICATING FAILURE OF THE AIR BAG MODULE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MAZDA DEALER. THEY RETURNED THE CAR TO ME WITH NO REPAIR. THEY INDICATED THAT MAZDA NO LONGER MAKES OR SUPPLIES THE AIR BAG MODULE. THEY RECOMMENDED FINDING A USED MODULE FROM A JUNK YARD DEALER. I CONTACTED MAZDA CORPORATION. THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING; BUY A USED AIR BAG MODULE FROM A JUNK YARD DEALER. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND THE USED MODULES SELLING FOR ABOUT 10 TIMES THE PRICE THAT MAZDA CORP HAD SOLD THEM FOR. I ALSO FOUND ENTRIES FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD BEEN INJURED BY THE AIR BAGS. THERE WERE MULTIPLE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE MODULE NOT BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS COULD KILL. I HAVE WRITTEN TO MAZDA CORP. TELLING THEM THAT I EXPECTED THEM TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SYSTEM. A SECRETARY CALLED ME--AND OFFERED TO DO NOTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10691210
Incident
Nov 1, 2013
Mileage
61,200 mi
Seat belts
Filed Nov 1, 2014

I WAS USING MY SEAT BELT AS WAS MY PASSENGER. I STOPPED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND WHEN I GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND STARTED IT, MY SEAT BELT WOULD NOT SLIDE BACK OVER MY BODY. MY PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT WAS STILL IN PLACE AS IT HAD NOT BEEN REMOVED WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR AND GOT OUT. THE FOLLOWING DAY MY SEAT BELT WORKED WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE CAR. WHEN I DROVE FOR ABOUT 3 MILES, I STOPPED THE CAR AND GOT OUT. WHEN I GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND STARTED IT, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK AND HAS NOT SINCE IN THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS. THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE IN THE CENTER CONSOLE WHERE THE GEAR SHIFT IS WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED WHILE THE GEAR IS IN PARK AND STOPS MAKING THE NOISE WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO DRIVE, HOWEVER THE RED SEAT BELT LIGHT CONTINUES TO BLINK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10651769
Incident
Oct 30, 2014
Mileage
108,450 mi
Filed Jan 30, 2003

MAZDA OF NORTH AMERICA OPERATIONS HAS NOTIFIED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH US FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS-FMVSS208(OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION PASSIVE RESTRAINT REQUIREMENT) SCC

NHTSA ID
10004113
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 3, 2000

HAD ONE BLOWOUT AT LOW SPEED AND ONE TIRE WITH TREAD SEPERATION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/R75/15 )

NHTSA ID
726498
Incident
Sep 22, 1996
Fuel systemSteeringTransmission
Filed Oct 20, 1999

THE FUEL USAGE DECREASED FROM 36MPG DOWN TO 24MPG; THE TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING A CLICKING SOUND FROM TAKEOFF; AND THE SUSPENSION STARTED CLICKING WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT

NHTSA ID
713580
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Sep 28, 1999

RAIL OF THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLY GETS JAMMED IN THE RAIL, RENDERING THE SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID
844862
Incident
Apr 12, 1999
Seat belts
Filed Aug 26, 1999

AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE ON RECALL#97V211 THE RESTRAINTS NO LONGER RETRACT AUTOMATICALLY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
845882
Seat belts
Filed Aug 10, 1999

SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT RETRACT PROPERLY AND WILL SOMETIMES JAM AND TIGHTEN UP WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ID
709833
Incident
Mar 30, 1999

Manufacturer communications

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

00-003-19-3583

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EQUIPMENT; FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

In support of the new MRT distribution, Mazda will ship to dealers a new Dual Purpose Diagnostic Leak Detector beginning March, 2019. Training videos will be posted to MGSS shortly and Workshop Manual procedures will be revised gradually.

09-009-19-3566

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer's responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the "Speedometer Replacement Label". Labels can only be ordered through Mazda eStore. In an effort to achieve a higher level of Customer Experience and retain the value of Mazda's vehicles, MNAO Warranty Operations is allowing all Mazda dealers to utilize a third party, SPECMO Enterprises, Inc., for Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) odometer setting service. With the use of SPECMO's services, it is possible that the odometer will be set between 10 to 31 miles over the odometer mileage at the time of replacement for both warranty and customer pay repairs. Please make sure that the customer is aware that there may be a slight variance to the odometer, in which case the customer may have to accept the slightly higher mileage. Since odometer setting service is not part of the warranty repair, it is not warrantable nor required, but optional. However, Mazda Warranty policy provides after-warranty assistance (AWA) or DSA that can be utilized to cover this service expense.

09-034-18-3430a

EQUIPMENT; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer's responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the "Speedometer Replacement Label". Labels can only be ordered through Mazda eStore. In an effort to achieve a higher level of Customer Experience and retain the value of Mazda's vehicles, MNAO Warranty Operations is allowing all Mazda dealers to utilize a third party, SPECMO Enterprises, Inc., for Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) odometer setting service. With the use of SPECMO's services, it is possible that the odometer will be set between 10 to 31 miles over the odometer mileage at the time of replacement for both warranty and customer pay repairs. Please make sure that the customer is aware that there may be a slight variance to the odometer, in which case the customer may have to accept the slightly higher mileage. Since odometer setting service is not part of the warranty repair, it is not warrantable nor required, but optional. However, Mazda Warranty policy provides after- warranty assistance (AWA) or DSA that can be utilized to cover this service expense.

09-034-18-3430

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer's responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the "Speedometer Replacement Label". Labels can only be ordered through Mazda eStore. In an effort to achieve a higher level of Customer Experience and retain the value of Mazda's vehicles, MNAO Warranty Operations is allowing all Mazda dealers to utilize a third party, SPECMO Enterprises, Inc., for Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) odometer setting service. With the use of SPECMO's services, it is possible that the odometer will be set between 10 to 31 miles over the odometer mileage at the time of replacement for both warranty and customer pay repairs. Please make sure that the customer is aware that there may be a slight variance to the odometer, in which case the customer may have to accept the slightly higher mileage. Since odometer setting service is not part of the warranty repair, it is not warrantable nor required, but optional. However, Mazda Warranty policy provides after-warranty assistance (AWA) or DSA that can be utilized to cover this service expense.

09-035-17-3080

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer?s responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometerand related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the ?SpeedometerReplacement Label?.Labels can only be ordered through Mazda eStore. In an effort to achieve a higher level of Customer Experience and retain the value of Mazda?s vehicles, MNAO Warranty Operations is allowing all Mazda dealers to utilize a third party, SPECMO Enterprises, Inc., for Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) odometer setting service.With the use of SPECMO?s services, a Mazda dealer can get the odometer setting updated to reflect the correct mileage at the time of replacement for both warranty and customer pay repairs, therefore resulting in a higher level of customer satisfaction. Since odometer setting service is not part of the warranty repair, it is not warrantable nor required, but optional. However, Mazda Warranty policy provides after- warranty assistance (AWA) or DSA that can be utilized to cover this service expense.

0900716

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

Speedometer replacement procedure

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
1994Viewing112151.0
1993102142.6
1992152157.6
1991202252.4
1990192261.4
1989381151.4
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.