FaultScore

Mazda 323 vs KIA Niro

Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.

Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.

Measure Mazda 323 KIA Niro
Complaints on file 204 503
Model years covered 1986–1995 2017–2026
Worst model year 2017
Best model year 2025
Crashes reported 19 48
Fires reported 6 14
Injuries reported 7 35
Deaths reported 0 2
Most complained-about part Seat Belts Engine & Cooling
Share of complaints involving harm 15.7% 19.7%

Mazda 323 by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Seat Belts 111 54.4%
Engine & Cooling 23 11.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain 16 7.8%
Brakes 7 3.4%
Electrical System 6 2.9%
Suspension 6 2.9%
Steering 5 2.5%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 5 2.5%

KIA Niro by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks