1992 Mazda MX3: complaints, problems and recalls

SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER RECALL 97V211000 IS RECURRING WITH SAME SYMPTOMS OF SEAT BELT NOT RETRACTING WHEN DOOR IS OPENED TO EXIT VEHICLE. IS THE CAUSE NOW THE SAME AS IT WAS WHEN FIRST REPAIRED AND IF SO, DOES THE SAME RECALL APPLY AS IT SEEMS THE CAUSE REMAINS A DEFECT? *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021184 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. NO SPARKS WERE COMING FROM THE DISTRIBUTOR TO THE PLUGS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041896 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONTAL UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10071473 at NHTSA ↗

THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT BECAME STUCK AND IS UNABLE TO RETRACT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DEALER HAS EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE CABLE WAS TWISTED INSIDE OF THE HOUSING. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 92 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074396 at NHTSA ↗

DT: THE CONTACT STATED RECALL 97V211000 FOR THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WAS ISSUED. A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT FASTENED. WHEN STOPPING THE VEHICLE THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT WILL NOT LOCK TO KEEP THE OCCUPANT FROM MOVING FORWARD. WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED THE DEALER WANTED HIM TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER STATED THE RECALL COMPONENT WAS DIFFERENT THAN THE COMPONENT THAT FAILED ON VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 - *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 113,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10141402 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION LOST FIRST AND SECOND GEARS, THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWED TO 30 MPH AND LOST THIRD AND FOURTH GEARS. IT WAS COASTED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THIS IS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155312 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MAZDA MX3. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE FRONT WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE MOVED UNCONTROLLABLY. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT COILS SPRINGS FAILED. THE MAZDA DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V116000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS). THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227855 at NHTSA ↗

1992 TO 1993 MAZDA MX-3 AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RECALL MAZDA DEALERSHIP IS NOT WILLING TO HONOR THE LIFETIME WARRANTY ON THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT IN SPITE OF THE DOCUMENTATION THAT WAS PROVIDED. THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NHTSA ORDERED THE RECALL AND NOT MAZDA. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 205,658 miles reported. Look up ODI 10291250 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2015-10-19 (October 19, 2015)

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.

Consequence: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.

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.

Reported: 1997-07-22 (July 22, 1997)

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, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND WASHINGTON, DC. IN AREAS WHERE LARGE QUANTITIES OF ROAD SALT ARE USED, CORROSIVE PITS CAN DEVELOP ON THE SURFACE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING. REPEATED USE CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE COIL SPRING TO BREAK AND A TIRE COULD BE PUNCTURED FROM CONTACT WITH THE BROKEN COIL SPRING.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GUARD ASSEMBLY WHICH WILL PREVENT THE BROKEN COIL SPRING FROM CONTACTING THE TIRE. IN ADDITION TO PERFORMING THE RECALL CAMPAIGN, MAZDA IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS FOR THE LIFT OF THE VEHICLE. IF OWNERS HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THESE FRONT COIL SPRINGS, DUE TO ROAD SALT DAMAGE, MAZDA WILL REIMBURSE THESE OWNERS FOR REASONABLE EXPENSES.

Reported: 1997-11-18 (November 18, 1997)

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.

Consequence: A SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.