Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 54 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 Mazda MX3. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 54 · page 1 of 3
I BOUGHT A 1993 MAZDA MX3 BASE 4 CYLINDER AND IT WAS MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL WHICH WAS FOUND OUT TO BE A BROKEN COIL SPRING ON MY PASSENGER SIDE, IT IS THE FACTORY STRUT AND SPRING ASSEMBLY.
DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMATIC BELT DOES NOT WORK. CAN ONLY USE LAP BELT. HAD DEALERSHIP CORRECT DURING INITIAL RECALL BUT THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM THEN. YEARS LATER PROBLEM BEGAN AND MAZDA WILL NOT CORRECT. SEAT BELT KEEPS MOVING BACK AND FORTH IN TRACK AND WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE. I HAVE TO REMOVE FUSE BECAUSE IT IS CONSTANT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA MX-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ORDERED THE SEAT BELT REPLACEMENT KIT AND REPLACED THE PART YEARS AGO, BUT THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO SECURE AND RETRACT AFTER THE REPAIR. BROWNING MAZDA (18827 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS, CA 90703, (562) 924-1414) INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE PART FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 97V211000 (SEAT BELTS) BECAUSE THE OEM SEAT BELTS HAD BEEN REPAIRED BY AN OUTSIDE SOURCE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE SEAT BELT KIT WAS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA MX3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE BATTERY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT CALLED NORTH KANSAS CITY MAZDA (LOCATED IN NORTH KANSAS CITY, MO) WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER PICKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA MX3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA MX3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE MOTOR FOR THE SEAT BELT FAILED AND LOCKED WHEN SHE OPENED THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER; NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA MX3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT WAS JAMMED AND WOULD NOT LATCH. IN ADDITION, THE SHOULDER STRAP WOULD NOT COME RESTRAIN OVER THE SHOULDER. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO BE A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE ONLY THE LAP BELT WAS OPERABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 06/01/11*LJ UPDATED 06/10/11
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA MX3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55-65 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BECAME STUCK IN THE BACK POSITION AND WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE CONTACT PRESSED THE EMERGENCY RELEASE BUTTON TO GET OUT OF THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF RECALL 97V211000 (SEAT BELTS: FRONT: WEBBING). THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT HE HAD TO HAVE THE DOOR LATCH SWITCH REPAIRED BEFORE THE RECALL REPAIR COULD BE PERFORMED. HE WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE WIRING NEEDED TO BE INSPECTED BUT HE WOULD BE CHARGED FOR IT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 149,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA MX3. WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY BECAME JAMMED IN THE RAIL. THE CONDITION RENDERED THE SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL # 97V211000( SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING). SINCE THE REMEDY WAS PERFORMED THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT PROVIDE A SECOND REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 117,000. UPDATED 11/09/09 *BF UPDATED 11/09/09
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA MX3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING PUNCTURED THE TIRE AND CAUSED IT TO EXPLODE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V116000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: SPRINGS: COIL SPRINGS); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT WILL HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA MX3. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V211000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING) IN JANUARY 15, 2002. RECENTLY, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT CABLE AND RETRACTOR FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS REPAIRED; THEREFORE, THE RECALL WAS CLOSED. THE CONTACT WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT ON HIS OWN. HE IS ARGUING WITH THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE RECALL STATED THAT BOTH SEAT BELTS SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 197,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA MX3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT CORD CAME OFFTRACK. THE DEALER IS CHARGING OVER $1,000 FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT RECALL WAS PREVIOUSLY REPARIED ON THE VEHICLE IN LATE 2000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,200.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED INTERMITTENTLY THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY RETRACT. IN ORDER TO UNLOCK THE SEAT BELTS THE CONTACT HAS TO REACH AROUND TO THE BACK SEAT. AN NHTSA RECALL, # 97V211000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE FIVE TIMES CONCERNING THE SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED WAS IN 2004. THE LAST TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK IN. THE CONTACT WILL NOT RETURN THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE DEALERSHIP.
DT: 1993 MAZDA MX3. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL 72803 IN APRIL 2005 CONCERNING THE SEAT BELTS. THE SEAT BELTS WERE REPAIRED IN APRIL 2005. THE SEAT BELTS MALFUNCTIONED AT LEAST 3 TIMES SINCE THEY WERE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN BACK 3 TIMES AND THEY COULD NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THEY ASKED THE CONSUMER TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK FOR A FOURTH TIME. THIS STARTED OUT WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THEN ON BOTH SIDES. THE SEAT BELTS WERE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS, AND THEY WOULD NOT RELEASE AUTOMATICALLY AND MUST BE RELEASED MANUALLY. *AK (12/01/05) REFER TO RECALL CAMPAIGN# 97V211000. THE PROBLEM RECURRED TWO MORE TIMES IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. CURRENTLY THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY OPEN, TRAPPING BOTH THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER. THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE MADE BUT THE CONSUMER STILL EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS. *SC
EVER SINCE I GOT MY CAR IT SEEMS ALL WE'VE HAD TO DO IS RELPLACE PARTS. WE HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FROM THE START. UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN OUR CAR WAS FAILING TO GO AND GETTING STUCK EVEY TIME WE CAME TO A STOP LIGHT, I GOT THE IDEA THAT IT WASN'T HOW I WAS HANDILING IT, THAT THEIR WAS A MANU. PROBLEM. I SAW MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MAKE ON THE TRANSMISSION, AND I DON'T THINK I SHOULD PAY ANYMORE TO GET IT REPLACED. EVERYTIME I TRY TO PUT ON THE GAS IT FAILS TO ACCELERATE. NOW IT MAKES A CLICKING NOISE EVERYTIME I PRESS THE GAS.
EVER SINCE I GOT MY CAR IT SEEMS ALL WE'VE HAD TO DO IS RELPLACE PARTS. WE HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FROM THE START. UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN OUR CAR WAS FAILING TO GO AND GETTING STUCK EVEY TIME WE CAME TO A STOP LIGHT, I GOT THE IDEA THAT IT WASN'T HOW I WAS HANDILING IT, THAT THEIR WAS A MANU. PROBLEM. I SAW MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MAKE ON THE TRANSMISSION, AND I DON'T THINK I SHOULD PAY ANYMORE TO GET IT REPLACED. EVERYTIME I TRY TO PUT ON THE GAS IT FAILS TO ACCELERATE. NOW IT MAKES A CLICKING NOISE EVERYTIME I PRESS THE GAS.
REPLACED DISTIRBUTOR. *JB
DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED AND REPAIRS DONE. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK BILLION MAZDA OF SIOUX FALLS ORDERED A NEW AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ASSY PROBLEM FIXED. *TC
WHILE USING THE HEADLIGHTS CONSUMER NOTICED THAT HEADLIGHTS VISIBILITY WAS POOR DUE TO THE LENS BEING DISCOLORED. *AK
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER TO HAVE RECALL 97V116000 FIXED. DEALER DID RECALL REPAIRS, BUT THEN ADVISED CONSUMER THAT SEATBELT SENSOR WAS BROKEN. CONSUMER ADVISED THAT PRIOR TO RECALL SEATBELTS WERE JUST FINE.*AK
CAR IS WANTING TO STALL EVERY TIME I COME TO A STOOP. MUST PUT IN NEUTRAL TO KEEP FROM DOING. MECHANIC CLAIMED IT WAS THROTTLE BODY CARBON BUILD UP BUT THAT DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. SEEMS LIKE THIS MIGHT BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW THIS HAS BEEN FIXED IN PAST AND NOT LET MECHANIC KEEP GUESSING.*AK
97V211000/AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RAIL: DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR MANUFACTURER'S RECALL BECAUSE MOTORBELT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO OPERATE. DEALER INFORMED THAT SEAT BELT MUST FAIL TO OPERATE BEFORE THEY CAN REPAIR PROBLEM. *AK THE CUSTOMER STATES THAT IT IS SAFETY HAZARD NOT TO FIX THE BELT RIGHT AWAY. *YH
WHENEVER APPLYING BRAKES SUDDENL THEY WOULD LOCK UP EACH TIME. BRAKES WOULD WORK FINE WHEN NOT APPLIED SUDDENLY. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE MECHANIC CHECK THEM OUT. *AK
RECALL 97V211000. DEALER JOHN MAZDA, 105 NE 78TH VACOUVER, WA 98665, 360-574-1131, FIXED THE RECALL. WHILE WEARING THE SHOULDER BELT IT LOCKED UP, CAUSES DISCOMFORT TO THE DRIVER WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WE HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR AFTER PURCHASE. THE CAR WAS TRADED FROM AN INDIVIDUAL TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEN PURCHASED BY A WHOLESALER WHO THEN SOLD IT TO US. AFTER TWO WEEKS OWNING THE CAR IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIRS, WHICH HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN DONE AND WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THIS MECHANIC FIXED IT FREE OF CHARGE UNDER THE WARRANTY, BUT TOOK OVER A MONTH TO FIX IT, AND SAYING HE WAS ONLY OBLIGATED TO GET IT RUNNING LIKE THE FIRST GUY ASKED HIM TO DO IN THE BEGINNING. WITHIN TWO WEEKS THE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT AGAIN. WE THEN TOOK IT TO THE MAZDA PLACE LOCALLY IN TOWN WHO INFORMED US THEY DID NOT REBUILD TRANSMISSION, BUT SENT US TO A REPUTUABLE TRANSMISSION MECHANIC. WE SPENT $1700 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS BACK IN THE SHOP ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WITH THEM ALWAYS REPAIRING IT, BUT WITHIN TWO MONTHS THE CAR WOULD BE BACK IN THE SHOP AGAIN. I TRIED CONTACTING MAZDA CORPORATION FOR SOME HELP ON THIS PROBLEM; MAYBE THERE WAS SOMETHING THIS GUY WAS MISSING, BUT TO NO AVAIL, NOBODY WOULD HELP ME. THEN IN DECEMBER OF 1999 WE TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER TRANSMISSION DEALERSHIP TO SOLVE MORE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THAT WAS ANOTHER $2000 EXPENDED FOR THIS TRANSMISSION. IT IS NOW MAY 2000 AND THE CAR IS BACK IN THE SAME SHOP WITH MORE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND THEY ARE NOW SAYING IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I AM OF COURSE QUESTIONING THEM ABOUT THIS, WHY?? HOW CAN THIS BE?? THIS GUY WITH TRANSPRO TRANSMISSION IS TELLING ME THAT MAZDA SHOULD HAVE HAD A RECALL ON THIS CAR; THAT THE TRANSMISSION THEY INSTALLED IN THIS CAR WAS WAY TOO SMALL FOR IT; THAT IT WAS THE SIZE THAT SHOULD BE INSTALLED IN A ESCORT TYPE VEHICLE; AND THAT IS WHY MAZDA QUIT MAKING THE CAR TO BEGIN WITH. HE FEELS WE HAVE SOME KIND OF CLASS ACTION SUIT ON THIS. PLEASE HELP WITH ANY KNOWLEDGE YOU MIGHT HAVE IN THIS AREA. THANK YOU !
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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