The 1993 Mazda 323 has 2 safety recalls and 10 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is seat belts (7 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints10filed by owners
Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths0 · 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
27mpg combined
City / highway
24 / 32 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,500/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
323
25mpg combined
City / highway
22 / 29 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
7
0
0
0
—
Power train Automatic transmission
2
0
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys
2
0
0
0
—
Structure Body › Trunk lid; Body › Door
2
0
0
0
—
Electrical system Ignition › Module
1
0
0
0
—
Equipment
1
0
0
0
—
Latches/locks/linkages Doors › Latch
1
0
0
0
—
Parking brake
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
Feb 29, 2008Parking brake TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA 323. THE CONTACT DROVE A LONG DISTANCE WITHOUT REALIZING THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS APPLIED. SHE BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS FAILURE WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT DID NOT INDICATE THE PARKING BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH MAZDA AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, POWERTRAIN, SPEED, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 275,000. UPDATED 03/18/08. *LJ UPDATED 03/18/08 *TR
Jan 1, 2001Seat belts › Front › Webbing CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, DRIVERSIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT LOCK AT ALL, ALSO DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT CLOSE ON SHOULDER HARNESS, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS WILL NOT RETRACT TO SECURE THE PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, ALSO THE FRONT DOOR LATCH SWITCH WAS REPLACED, ALSO THE LAP BELT MOTORS ARE NOT RETRACTING, THE BELT OR SHOULDER BELT MOTOR ARE NOT TIGHTENING.
Dec 23, 1999Seat belts PASSIVE SHOULDER RESTRAINT ON DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT RETRACT WHEN CAR IS STARTED. THE CABLE APPEARS TO HAVE COME OFF ITS TRACT AND IS HANGING LOOSE. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.
Oct 5, 1999Power train › Automatic transmission TRANSMISSION LEAKING CAUSING VIBRATION AT IDLE,JERKING AND HESITATION. NLM
Oct 15, 1998Power train › Automatic transmission INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CHOKES UP, DOES GO INTO REVERSE OR FORWARD. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Feb 27, 1997Electrical system › Ignition › Module ABRUPT/CATASTROPHIC ENGINE SYSTEM FAILURE. VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. WILL NOT RESTART.AD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER AND DEALER DID NOT KNOW CAUSE OF PROBLEM. THINKS, HOWEVER, IT IS THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. MANUFACTURER/DEALER STALLING REPAIRS. *AK
Jul 17, 1996Seat belts WHEN LEFT FRONT PASSIVE SHOULDER BELT ENGAGES, THE BELT TIGHTENS/CRUSHES YOUR CHEST. *SD
Dec 1, 1995Seat belts DRIVERS PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM STOPPED MIDWAY W/PASSENGER SIDE EXPERIENCING SAME INTERMITTENTLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
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