IllustrationWHEN LEVEL IN FUEL TANK IS LOW, RPMS HIGH, AND GOING AROUND CORNER, ENGINE SUDDENLY LOSES POWER MOMENTARILY. *AK
1994 Mazda MX-3
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all MX-3 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 8 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.
- Suspension. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
19 reportsWHEN VEHICLE STARTED OFF, A LOUD "CLUNK" NOISE WAS HEARD. THE LEFT FRONT END HAD COLLAPSED. DROVE TO MIDAS DEALER & HALF WAY TO DEALER THE TIRE BLEW. AT MIDAS, MECHANIC NOTICED CRACKED IN COIL SPRINGS. THAT CAUSED THE BREAK IN THE WHEEL WELL.
WAS TRAVELING IN 1ST GEAR AT APPROXIMATELY 10MPH WHEN VEHICLE IN FRONT STOPPED SHORT. HAD APPLIED BRAKES LIGHTLY BUT QUICKLY, AND TAPPED VEHICLE IN FRONT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW BROKE DUE TO METAL PIECE ON COVER OF AIR BAG. *AK
DURING A VEHICLE COLLISION THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG, RESULTING IN INJURIES .
DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 25 MPH REAR END CRASH IN WHICH THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, SPEED 25MPH, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING BURNS TO FACE. *AK
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, CAR FISHTALED, SPUN INTO THE WALL ON FREEWAY, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT/INJURY. *AK
TIE ROD END BROKE, CAUSING WHEEL TO LOCK UP/LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *SKD
Official recalls
197V116000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs
Jul 22, 1997
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: 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.
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
3RQ98001 · Front Coil Spring Fracture
Opened Mar 3, 1998 · Closed Nov 16, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs
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
PE94075 · Alternator Fires
Opened Oct 12, 1994 · Closed Dec 21, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available