1988 Mazda 929: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
20 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
197,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 20 complaints (30.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 10.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 5.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 5.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 6 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 2 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 1 |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 6; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 2; Structure:Body:Door: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 19 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 11 |
| 1996 | 5 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2003 | 1 |
1995: 11; 1996: 5; 2000: 3; 2003: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10047196 · 2003-11-19 (November 19, 2003)
WHEN I START THE CAR IN THE MORNING IT IDLES ABOUT 2000 RPM THEN DROPS TO 1000 RPM AND REVS BACK UP TO 1800 RPM AND CONTINUES PULSATE IN NEUTRAL EVERY SECOND UNTIL YOU PUT IT IN DRIVE. IN DRIVE IT REMAINS IDLING AT 1500 RPM UNTIL YOU SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART. IF THE ENGINE IS NOT WARM ENOUGH IT STARTS OVER DOING THE SAME THING OTHERWISE IT BEGINS TO IDLE CORRECTLY. WITH THE IDLE HIGH IT MAKES IT VERY HARD TO STOP THE CAR. WHAT CAN BE DONE?*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 197,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047196 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 483048 · 1995-07-03 (July 3, 1995)
PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE RELEASES INTERMITTENTLY, LEAVING PASSENGER UNRESTRAINED. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483048 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 485833 · 1995-07-05 (July 5, 1995)
OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE MALFUNCTIONED, COULD NOT OPEN DOOR FROM OUTSIDE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 485833 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 501010 · 1996-01-28 (January 28, 1996)
IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE BROKE, CAUSING ACCELERATION. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501010 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 733276 · 2000-10-02 (October 2, 2000)
MAZDA SEAMS TO HAVE A HISTORY OF TRANSMISSION FAILERS WHAT CAN THE MAZDA OWNER DO WHEN MAZDA DOES NOT WANT TO COME CLEAN CHECK OUT HTTP://WWW.CARCAST.COM/CC/CONFERENCE/ I ALSO HAVE A 626/TURBO WITH A BAD TRANSMISSION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 733276 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 738064 · 2000-12-20 (December 20, 2000)
VERY STRONG FUEL VAPOR BOTH INTERNAL/EXTERNAL THIRD OCCURRENCE. FIRST TWO, BOTH RESULTED IN REPLACING FUEL RAIL AND ALL INJECTOR SEALS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 738064 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 801022 · 1996-09-09 (September 9, 1996)
ENGINE SURGED, BRAKES DID NOT WORK, VEHICLE HIT GAS PUMP AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE DOES NOT OWN VEHICLE, MR. TOMKO IS OWNER OF GARAGE INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 801022 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 802743 · 1996-09-20 (September 20, 1996)
VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK THE SEAT BELT DID NOT OPERATE LIKE IT SHOULD OF HAD. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS HIT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 802743 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
93V174000 · Structure:Body:Door
Reported: 1993-10-29 (October 29, 1993)
RESIN MOLDED FRONT HANDLES FAIL AT THE DOOR LATCH ACTUATING ROD ATTACHMENT, FREEING THE ROD TO FALL INSIDE THE DOOR FRAME. SUBSEQUENT LOWERING OF THE ASSOCIATED WINDOW MAY FORCE THE ACTUATING ROD DOWNWARD AND RELEASE THE DOOR LATCH.
Consequence: INADVERTENT ACTUATION OF THE DOOR LATCH CAUSES THE DOORTO OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN OCCUPANT FALLING OUT OF THEVEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR HANDLE/LATCH ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗95V103005 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Reported: 1995-05-24 (May 24, 1995)
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
NHTSA campaign record ↗