IllustrationWHENEVER APPLYING BRAKES SUDDENL THEY WOULD LOCK UP EACH TIME. BRAKES WOULD WORK FINE WHEN NOT APPLIED SUDDENLY. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE MECHANIC CHECK THEM OUT. *AK
1993 Mazda MX3
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 MX3 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: 14 of 52 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 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
52 reportsRECALL 97V211000. DEALER JOHN MAZDA, 105 NE 78TH VACOUVER, WA 98665, 360-574-1131, FIXED THE RECALL. WHILE WEARING THE SHOULDER BELT IT LOCKED UP, CAUSES DISCOMFORT TO THE DRIVER WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WE HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR AFTER PURCHASE. THE CAR WAS TRADED FROM AN INDIVIDUAL TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEN PURCHASED BY A WHOLESALER WHO THEN SOLD IT TO US. AFTER TWO WEEKS OWNING THE CAR IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIRS, WHICH HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN DONE AND WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. T…
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WE HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR AFTER PURCHASE. THE CAR WAS TRADED FROM AN INDIVIDUAL TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEN PURCHASED BY A WHOLESALER WHO THEN SOLD IT TO US. AFTER TWO WEEKS OWNING THE CAR IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIRS, WHICH HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN DONE AND WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THIS MECHANIC FIXED IT FREE OF CHARGE UNDER THE WARRANTY, BUT TOOK OVER A MONTH TO FIX IT, AND SAYING HE WAS ONLY OBLIGATED TO GET IT RUNNING LIKE THE FIRST GUY ASKED HIM TO DO IN THE BEGINNING. WITHIN TWO WEEKS THE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT AGAIN. WE THEN TOOK IT TO THE MAZDA PLACE LOCALLY IN TOWN WHO INFORMED US THEY DID NOT REBUILD TRANSMISSION, BUT SENT US TO A REPUTUABLE TRANSMISSION MECHANIC. WE SPENT $1700 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS BACK IN THE SHOP ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WITH THEM ALWAYS REPAIRING IT, BUT WITHIN TWO MONTHS THE CAR WOULD BE BACK IN THE SHOP AGAIN. I TRIED CONTACTING MAZDA CORPORATION FOR SOME HELP ON THIS PROBLEM; MAYBE THERE WAS SOMETHING THIS GUY WAS MISSING, BUT TO NO AVAIL, NOBODY WOULD HELP ME. THEN IN DECEMBER OF 1999 WE TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER TRANSMISSION DEALERSHIP TO SOLVE MORE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THAT WAS ANOTHER $2000 EXPENDED FOR THIS TRANSMISSION. IT IS NOW MAY 2000 AND THE CAR IS BACK IN THE SAME SHOP WITH MORE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND THEY ARE NOW SAYING IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I AM OF COURSE QUESTIONING THEM ABOUT THIS, WHY?? HOW CAN THIS BE?? THIS GUY WITH TRANSPRO TRANSMISSION IS TELLING ME THAT MAZDA SHOULD HAVE HAD A RECALL ON THIS CAR; THAT THE TRANSMISSION THEY INSTALLED IN THIS CAR WAS WAY TOO SMALL FOR IT; THAT IT WAS THE SIZE THAT SHOULD BE INSTALLED IN A ESCORT TYPE VEHICLE; AND THAT IS WHY MAZDA QUIT MAKING THE CAR TO BEGIN WITH. HE FEELS WE HAVE SOME KIND OF CLASS ACTION SUIT ON THIS. PLEASE HELP WITH ANY KNOWLEDGE YOU MIGHT HAVE IN THIS AREA. THANK YOU !
THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT RESTRAINT IS STUCK MIDWAY ON THE RAIL WHICH IS A VERY DANGEROUS POSITION IF A WRECK WERE TO OCCUR. THE POWER SUNROOF OPENS ALL THE WAY BUT WILL NOT CLOSE. IT REQUIRES A MANUAL CRANK IN ORDER TO CLOSE IT. *AK
FUEL INJECTION DISTRIBUTOR STOPPED WORKING. ALSO, CV BOOTS BROKE OFF. A CONSUMER HAD THE PARTS REPLACED THREE OR FOUR TIMES, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING CAR STALLS FOR NO REASON, IN ORDER TO RESTART YOU NEED TO PUT IN PARK TURN THE KEY OFF AND BACK ON. *AK
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG DURING ACCIDENT CAUSED INJURY TO PASSENGERS. SAFETY HARNESS FOR THE SHOULDER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BROKE FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR CAUSING PASSENGER TO BE THROWN AROUND THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. NLM
THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY HAS JAMMED IN THE RAIL, CAUSING THE SHOULDER BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE. RECALL REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. RECALL NUMBER 97V211000. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
MY CAR WAS WANTING TO STALL AT STOP LIGHTS. I BROGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC, HE ORDERED A PART FOR THE VEHICLE (I BELIEVE IT WAS AN INTAKE VALVE) AND ASKED ME TO COME BACK IN A COUPLE DAYS. WHEN I BROGHT THE VEHICLE BACK, HE CALLED TO TELL ME THE INTAKE VALVE WAS THE LEAST OF MY PROBLEMS. I HAD AN ELECTRICAL FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, W…
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MY CAR WAS WANTING TO STALL AT STOP LIGHTS. I BROGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC, HE ORDERED A PART FOR THE VEHICLE (I BELIEVE IT WAS AN INTAKE VALVE) AND ASKED ME TO COME BACK IN A COUPLE DAYS. WHEN I BROGHT THE VEHICLE BACK, HE CALLED TO TELL ME THE INTAKE VALVE WAS THE LEAST OF MY PROBLEMS. I HAD AN ELECTRICAL FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, WHICH HAD MELTED THE FUSE BOX! LUCKILY I WAS NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF FIRE. MY MECHANIC STATED THE CAUSE OF THIS ELECTRICAL FIRE TO BE THE COOLING FAN. I HAD THE COOLING FAN, WIRING, WIRING HARNESS, INTAKE VALVE AND A WATER PUMP REPLACED. WHEN I GOT THE CAR OUT OF THE SHOP, A WEEK LATER THE HOLD BUTTON STARTED TO FLASH ON AND OFF. THIS WAS DETERMINED TO BE A SWITH, WHICH A HAD REPLACED. APPROX. 2 WEEKS LATER THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO AAMCO AND THERE WE FOUND METAL IN THE PAN. I TOLD HIM I WOULD BRING THE CAR BACK IN A FEW DAYS FOR REPAIRS, A QUARTER MILE FROM AAMCO THE CAR JUST WOULD NOT MOVE. THE TRANSMISSION HAD CEASED TO WORK. I HAD THE CAR IN TO MAZDA DEALER 7/98 FOR TRANSMISSION FLUSH.
RECALL 97V211000, AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RAIL. CONTACTED THE DEALER IN OCT. 23, 1998. AS OF NOW THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE. THE SHOUDLER BELTS ARE INOPERATIVE WHICH WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. DEALER IS HIXSON AUTO PLACE, 2506 MACARTHER DRIVE, ALEXANDRIA, LA 71301, PHONE # 3184480871. PLEASE PROVIDE…
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RECALL 97V211000, AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RAIL. CONTACTED THE DEALER IN OCT. 23, 1998. AS OF NOW THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE. THE SHOUDLER BELTS ARE INOPERATIVE WHICH WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. DEALER IS HIXSON AUTO PLACE, 2506 MACARTHER DRIVE, ALEXANDRIA, LA 71301, PHONE # 3184480871. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Official recalls
315V674000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Oct 19, 2015
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.
97V211000 · Seat Belts:front:webbing
Nov 18, 1997
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.
97V116000 · 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