1994 Mazda MX-3 recalls & problems

The 1994 Mazda MX-3 has 1 safety recall and 19 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is suspension (9 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints19filed by owners

Crashes · fires7 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths4 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs

NHTSA recall 97V116000 · Jul 22, 1997 · 25,000 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.

Fuel economy

MX-3

28mpg combined

City / highway	25 / 34 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel

MX-3

25mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 31 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	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Suspension Front › Springs › Coil springs; Rear › Springs › Coil springs	9	0	0	95,900 mi
Air bags Frontal	6	6	4	—
Steering Linkages › Tie rod assembly	1	1	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components	1	1	1	—
Engine and engine cooling Engine › Gasoline	1	0	0	—
Latches/locks/linkages Hood › Latch	1	0	0	—
Visibility Glass, side/rear	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Feb 2, 2013 · 140,000 milesSuspension
TL THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MAZDA MX3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER PARKING IN A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, SHE HEARD A LOUD POP. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, SHE REALIZED THAT THE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 97V116000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. MAH
Dec 10, 2007 · 78,200 milesSuspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MAZDA MX-3. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE FRONT COIL SPRING FAILED AND CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TO BLOW OUT. THE ROTATION OF THE COIL SPRING PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE TIRE MUST BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V116000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS). THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL OR ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE CONTACT IS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 78,200.
Oct 1, 2007 · 63,000 milesSuspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MAZDA MX-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TWO FRONT COIL SPRINGS FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE CD AXLES ON BOTH SIDES TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. IN ADDITION, THE AREA WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WAS NOT AFFECTED. THE CD AXLES WERE REPLACED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,000.
May 21, 2006 · 97,000 milesSuspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED DUE TO A PUNCTURE FROM A FRACTURED COIL SPRING. THERE IS A RECALL, # 97V116000 FOR THE COIL SPRING ON THE CONTACTS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. HOWEVER THE CONTACTS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE RECALL ONLY APPLIES TO VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN SALT STATES. THE CONTACT USE TO LIVE IN NEBRASKA AND COMMUTED TO A SALT STATE, IOWA, AND NOW LIVES IN FLORIDA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE RECALL LETTER AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALERSHIP DENIED THE RECALL REMEDY WITHOUT THE RECALL LETTER. UPDATED 12/15/06. *JB
Feb 1, 2006 · 94,800 milesSuspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKING THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 97V116000, REGARDING THE SUSPENSION FRONT SPRINGS COIL SPRINGS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
Nov 28, 2004 · 114,000 milesSuspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs
WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT 10 MPH OR LESS CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE AND NOTICED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. MECHANIC INFORMED DETERMINED THAT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE REPAIR SHOP NOTIFIED A LOCAL MAZDA DEALER.*AK
Nov 28, 2004 · 114,000 milesSuspension › Rear › Springs › Coil springs
EITHER DEC 2000 OR JAN 2001 MY MAZDA MX-3 HAD A FRONT COIL SPRING BREAK. MY MECHANIC CONTACTED MAZDA DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE AND SHOWED THE COIL TO HIM. MY MECHANIC FELT THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. THE DISTRICT REP SAID THERE WAS NOTHING MAZDA COULD DO. I CONTACTED MAZDA MYSELF AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER, I FOUND YOUR WEBSITE AND CONVEYED THE INFORMATION FOUND TO MAZDA AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE MX-3 ONLY THE MX-6. THEY SAID YOUR WEBSITE WAS INCORRECT. TODAY MY SECOND COIL SPRING DID BREAK AND THIS TIME IT POPPED MY TIRE INSTANTLY. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO HAWLEY'S GARAGE IN EAST LONGMEADOW, MA WHERE THE FIRST COIL…
Mar 13, 2003 · 35 milesSuspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs
THE LEFT FRONT (DRIVER'S SIDE) COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. THE TIRE AND RIM WERE DAMAGED, LEAVING ME STRANDED ON HIGHWAY. *NLM

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

RQ98001 · opened Mar 3, 1998 · closed Nov 16, 1998 · led to recall 97V116000FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURE
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
PE94075 · opened Oct 12, 1994 · closed Dec 21, 1994ALTERNATOR FIRES
There is no summary currently available