Vehicle description: passenger vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the following states: connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, nw hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio...
1992-1996 · 5 model years
Mazda MX-3 Problems by year
Owners have filed 135 complaints about the Mazda MX-3 across 5 model years, and it has 1 recall. The 1993 has the most complaints once its age is allowed for (57), while 1996 has far fewer than a typical year. The most reported problem area is the seats & seat belts, followed by the suspension.
- Complaints
- 135
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 16
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 13
- Deaths
- 0
MX-3 complaints by model year
Highlighted: the year with the most complaints for its age. Older vehicles have had more time to collect complaints - the Safety Index grade allows for that.
Most common MX-3 problems
Mazda MX-3 recalls 1
Latest MX-3 complaints
Automatic seatbelt is stuck in the middle position and cannot secure you in the event of an accident. Vehicle was taken in for an open recall but no work was performed due to lack of parts. They then closed the recall not allowing me to take it back for any repairs if parts become available. I thought they disabled the motor but as I got in one day the seatbelt moved and cannot be retracted anymore.
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.
Car has a interior frame metal problem inside the structure of the car its welds,are coming apart sheet metal,wheel wells core support,front bumper,floor rear spare tire,sheetmetal,the rust proofing was not enough on car,or they forgot to zinc coat the inside+outside of the car metal frame(body)
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...
Read the full complaint
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.
Questions about the Mazda MX-3
Which Mazda MX-3 years have the most problems?
Which Mazda MX-3 years have the fewest complaints?
What are the most common Mazda MX-3 problems?
Across every model year, owners report problems with the seats & seat belts (62), suspension (21), airbags (13) most often.
How many recalls does the Mazda MX-3 have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall across all Mazda MX-3 model years. Each year's page lists the recalls for that year; check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether the repair has been done.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data