The 1992 Mazda 323 has 2 safety recalls and 15 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is seat belts (13 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints15filed by owners
Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths3 · 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.
Fuel economy
323
28mpg combined
City / highway
25 / 33 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel
323
25mpg combined
City / highway
23 / 30 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Seat belts Front › Retractor; Front › Webbing
13
0
0
1
—
Steering Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm
1
0
0
0
—
Seats Front assembly › Recliner
1
1
0
2
—
Electrical system 12v/24v/48v battery › Cables
1
0
0
0
—
Unknown or other
1
0
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling Engine › Gasoline
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Jun 28, 2002Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE WILL NOT STAY LATCHED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AND THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK AND IS OF TRACK, WITH A WIRE EXPOSED. (ABLE TO USE BOTH LAP BELTS, BUT THE AUTOMATIC PART WHICH GOES ACROSS THE CHEST ARE INOPERABLE) THE MOTOR RUNS CONSTANTLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, WHEN THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION. *SCC
Jul 26, 1999Seat belts › Front › Webbing SEATBELT RAIL WAS FAULTY PER RECALL NOTICE 97V-211 AND THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE, THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REMEDY THE DEFECT WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. NLM
Jul 7, 2000Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly INTERMITTLEY DRIVER SHOULDER BELT LOCKS UP WHILE IN USE WHICH CAUSES THE DRIVER NOT ABLE TO MOVE SAFETY, AND MAY RESULT A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. RETRACTOR IS BROKEN AND NEED TO REPLACE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Jul 10, 1999 · 1 injurySeat belts › Front › Anchorage SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS OFTEN DO NOT RETRACT UPON OPENING OF DOOR,ONCE IT RETRACTED SO TIGHTLY ON MY SON I HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME GETTING HIM OUT. ALSO THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT GOES OFF INTERMITTANTLY EVEN THOUGH WE ARE PROPERLY BELTED. I DO NOT TRUST THESE BELTS TO KEEP US SAFE IN AN ACCIDENT.
Jun 1, 1998Seat belts › Front › Warning light/devices ONGOING PROBLEM WITH SEAT BELT BUZZER GOING OFF. CONSUMER HAD REPAIRS DONE APPROXIMATELY TWO YEAR AGO, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRED AGAIN. DEALER/MFR. NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK
Jan 8, 1998Unknown or other GREAT CAR, NEVER SPENT A DIME ON IT.
May 1, 1997Seat belts › Front › Retractor EA94039, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT IS STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR IN THE FORWARD POSITION. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *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
EA94039 · opened Nov 30, 1994 · closed Nov 26, 1997 · led to recall 97V211000AUTO RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAIL There is no summary currently available