Model year record

1993 Mazda MX-3 recalls & problems

The 1993 Mazda MX-3 has 3 safety recalls and 54 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is seat belts (31 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints54filed by owners

Crashes · fires2 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths5 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Electrical systemOct 19, 2015

Ignition › Switch

Recall 15V6740001,368,500 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 beltsNov 18, 1997

Front › Webbing

Recall 97V211000134,000 vehiclesopened 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.

SuspensionJul 22, 1997

Front › Springs › Coil springs

Recall 97V11600025,000 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: THIS CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: 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.

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.

Crash test ratings

1993 Mazda MX-3 2-DR

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

MX-3

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

MX-3

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

MX-3

22mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.9 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

MX-3

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.9 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/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 beltsFront › Webbing; Front › Retractor	31	0	0	3	113,000 mi
Electrical systemIgnition; Ignition › Switch	8	0	1	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Driveline › Constant velocity joint	7	0	0	0	—
Air bagsFrontal	4	2	0	2	—
VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer; Power window devices and controls	4	0	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components; Foundation components › Disc › Caliper	3	0	0	0	—
Vehicle speed control	3	0	0	0	—
SuspensionFront › Springs › Coil springs; Front	3	0	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingCooling system › Fan; Engine › Gasoline	2	0	0	0	—
Unknown or other	2	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineFuel injection system	1	0	0	0	—
Exterior lightingHeadlights	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

Suspension
I BOUGHT A 1993 MAZDA MX3 BASE 4 CYLINDER AND IT WAS MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL WHICH WAS FOUND OUT TO BE A BROKEN COIL SPRING ON MY PASSENGER SIDE, IT IS THE FACTORY STRUT AND SPRING ASSEMBLY.
Jul 10, 2020 · 225,569 miles
Seat belts
DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMATIC BELT DOES NOT WORK. CAN ONLY USE LAP BELT. HAD DEALERSHIP CORRECT DURING INITIAL RECALL BUT THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM THEN. YEARS LATER PROBLEM BEGAN AND MAZDA WILL NOT CORRECT. SEAT BELT KEEPS MOVING BACK AND FORTH IN TRACK AND WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE. I HAVE TO REMOVE FUSE BECAUSE IT IS CONSTANT.
Jan 1, 2009 · 150,000 miles
Seat belts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA MX-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ORDERED THE SEAT BELT REPLACEMENT KIT AND REPLACED THE PART YEARS AGO, BUT THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO SECURE AND RETRACT AFTER THE REPAIR. BROWNING MAZDA (18827 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS, CA 90703, (562) 924-1414) INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE PART FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 97V211000 (SEAT BELTS) BECAUSE THE OEM SEAT BELTS HAD BEEN REPAIRED BY AN OUTSIDE SOURCE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE SEAT BELT KIT WAS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Mar 5, 2008 · 55,000 miles
Electrical systemFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA MX3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE BATTERY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT CALLED NORTH KANSAS CITY MAZDA (LOCATED IN NORTH KANSAS CITY, MO) WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER PICKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE…
Mar 22, 2016 · 175,000 miles
Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA MX3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Dec 15, 2015
Seat belts
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA MX3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE MOTOR FOR THE SEAT BELT FAILED AND LOCKED WHEN SHE OPENED THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER; NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000.
Feb 5, 2008 · 99,000 miles
Seat belts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA MX3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT WAS JAMMED AND WOULD NOT LATCH. IN ADDITION, THE SHOULDER STRAP WOULD NOT COME RESTRAIN OVER THE SHOULDER. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO BE A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE ONLY THE LAP BELT WAS OPERABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 06/01/11*LJ UPDATED 06/10/11
Apr 26, 2008 · 93,000 miles
Seat belts
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA MX3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55-65 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BECAME STUCK IN THE BACK POSITION AND WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE CONTACT PRESSED THE EMERGENCY RELEASE BUTTON TO GET OUT OF THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF RECALL 97V211000 (SEAT BELTS: FRONT: WEBBING). THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT HE HAD TO HAVE THE DOOR LATCH SWITCH REPAIRED BEFORE THE RECALL REPAIR COULD BE PERFORMED. HE WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE WIRING NEEDED TO BE INSPECTED BUT HE WOULD BE CHARGED FOR IT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 149,000.
Mar 24, 2010 · 145,000 miles

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

FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTUREClosedLed to recall 97V116000
There is no summary currently available
RQ98001 · opened Mar 3, 1998 · closed Nov 16, 1998
AUTO RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILClosedLed to recall 97V211000
There is no summary currently available
EA94039 · opened Nov 30, 1994 · closed Nov 26, 1997
ALTERNATOR FIRESClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE94075 · opened Oct 12, 1994 · closed Dec 21, 1994