Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 19 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Seat Belts. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
19 reports
97,000 miles · Mar 4, 2010
Vehicle 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 INSTRUCTI…
Read full complaint
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.
NHTSA ODI #10316723
Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2005
Seat BeltsCrash
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 THA…
Read full complaint
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
NHTSA ODI #10107219
Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2002
Seat Belts
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
NHTSA ODI #8014803
Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2002
Seat Belts
WHEN CLOSING DOOR SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. CAN HEAR CLICKING SOUND, BUT SEATBELT DOES NOT GO BACK IN. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8005185
Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 1999
Seat Belts
MOTOR BELT/SHOULDER FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, DURING RECALL REPAIR EXTRA CHARGES DUE TO PARTS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NOTICE.(97V-211) MJS
NHTSA ODI #548028
Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 1998
Power Train
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AW
NHTSA ODI #781067
Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 1998
Seat Belts
INTERMITTENTLY THE FRONT SEAT BELTS RETRACT BACK AND FORTH ON THEIR OWN. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #828748
Mileage unknown · May 11, 1998
Seat Belts
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
NHTSA ODI #823208
Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 1997
Seat Belts
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED AND THE LIGHT COMES ON.
NHTSA ODI #516226
Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling
PLASTIC RADIATOR MELTED AND SPLIT OPEN, SPEWING OUT FLUID.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2
EA95005 · Takata Seat Belt Buckle Failure
Opened Mar 10, 1995 · Closed Aug 1, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available
EA94039 · Auto Restraint System Fail
Opened Nov 30, 1994 · Closed Nov 26, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
1990 Mazda 323 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration