The 1990 Mazda 323 has 2 safety recalls and 19 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is seat belts (13 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints19filed by owners
Crashes · fires4 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
NHTSA recall 15V674000 · Oct 19, 2015 · 1,368,500 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Seat belts › Front › Webbing
NHTSA recall 97V211000 · Nov 18, 1997 · 134,000 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: 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.
Risk: A SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: 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.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Seat belts Front › Buckle assembly; Front › Webbing
13
2
0
1
—
Power train Automatic transmission; Driveline › Constant velocity joint
4
0
0
0
—
Vehicle speed control
2
1
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Cooling system › Radiator assembly
2
0
0
0
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components
1
1
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Mar 4, 2008 · 97,000 milesVehicle speed control TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 MAZDA 323. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IDLED EXCESSIVELY THE RPMS ALSO INCREASED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. THE DEALER ALSO TOLD HIM TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. THERE WAS ONLY ONE DEALER IN HIS AREA WHICH IS NOT A CERTIFIED MAZDA DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
Jan 11, 2005 · crashSeat belts › Front › Retractor THE DRIVER WAS SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION WITHOUT WARNING ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE LEFT SIDE AND RIGHT SIDE SEAT BELTS DISENGAGED ON THEIR OWN,THE SEAT BELTS RETRACTOR WAS NOT RETRACTABLE. NO INJURIES TO REPORT. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Jul 8, 2002Seat belts › Front CONSUMER STATES DEALER TOLD HER THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO ACCEPT HER RECALL NOTICE BECAUSE CAR WAS TO OLD AND SEAT BELT WILL NOT STICK.*JB
Jan 15, 2002Seat belts WHEN CLOSING DOOR SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. CAN HEAR CLICKING SOUND, BUT SEATBELT DOES NOT GO BACK IN. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
May 28, 1996Seat belts › Front › Webbing MOTOR BELT/SHOULDER FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, DURING RECALL REPAIR EXTRA CHARGES DUE TO PARTS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NOTICE.(97V-211) MJS
Aug 8, 1998Power train › Automatic transmission AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AW
Mar 1, 1998Seat belts › Front › Retractor INTERMITTENTLY THE FRONT SEAT BELTS RETRACT BACK AND FORTH ON THEIR OWN. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK
Apr 2, 1998Seat belts › Front › Webbing RECALL # 97V211000, SHOULDER BELTS; WHEN OWNER ARRIVED FOR SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT HE WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO CORRECT RECALL. OWNER HAS CONTACTED DEALER ON (3) OTHER OCCASIONS. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO TELL OWNER WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. *AK
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
EA95005 · opened Mar 10, 1995 · closed Aug 1, 1995 · led to recall 95V103005TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE There is no summary currently available
EA94039 · opened Nov 30, 1994 · closed Nov 26, 1997 · led to recall 97V211000AUTO RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAIL There is no summary currently available