1994 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 1994 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 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.
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
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
RAIL OF THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLY GETS JAMMED IN THE RAIL, RENDERING THE SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE. *AK
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
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
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
HAD ONE BLOWOUT AT LOW SPEED AND ONE TIRE WITH TREAD SEPERATION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/R75/15 )
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR VIEW MIRROR IS TOO LOW FOR A TALL PERSON, IT BLOCKS THE RIGHT HAND VIEW. TT
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 .