IllustrationLEFT REAR CALIPER WAS REPLACED 7/98, RIGHT REAR CALIPER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED 2/99. I HEARD THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME RECALL ON THE REAR CALIPER'S FOR MAZDA'S PRE '95. *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 reportsSEATBELT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE SEATBELT TO TIGHTEN TOO HARD. OCCUPANT TOOK OFF THE SEATBELT WHICH WONT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IF THE SEATBELT IS NOT IN USED IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
WHEN GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE THE AUTOMACTIC SHOULDER BELTS DON'T WORK AND WON'T MOVE AT ALL. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE SHOULDER BELST STILL WON'T WORK. *AK
RECALL # 97V211000 MAZDA/AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RAIL; DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE CONSUMER TO PERFORM PART OF RECALL WORK. DEALER STATED THE SYTEM NEEDS A CONTROL MODULE WHICH IS NOT PART OF RECALL. *AK
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS. THE AUTOMATIC BELTS STOP IN THE MIDDLE AND DO NOT COME ALL THE WAY AROUND. THE SAFETY DEFECT IS DESCRIBED IN RECALL NUMBER 97V211000. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL #97V211000. THE DEALER ONLY INSPECTED THE SHOULDER BELTS, THEY DIDN'T REPLACE ANYTHING. THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS STILL NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 97V22600. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE RECALL REPAIRED, CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE TOOLS TO FIX THE VEHICLE. *AK
SHOULDER BELT FAILED DURING VEHICLE COLLISION, COMPONENT RECALLED BUT NOTICE NEVER RECIEVED.
MALFUNCTION OF THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OCCURED IN AN ACCIDENT. OWNER DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT WAS NEVER NOTIFIED.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. DEALER REPLACED FAULTY DISTRIBUTOR. *AK *TT
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