NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Buckle Assembly
2163.6%
Engine
412.1%
Torque Converter
26.1%
Retractor
26.1%
Differential Unit
13.0%
Rear/Other
13.0%
Axle Assembly
13.0%
Gasoline
13.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 1995peak 6Oct 2003
NHTSA investigations into the 1988 Mazda 323
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA95005Opened 10 Mar 1995Closed 1 Aug 1995SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE
Recalls on the 1988 Mazda 323
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
95V103005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 199508548,568 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
THE (Takata) ABS PLASTIC FRONT SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTONS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY BREAK ALLOWING PLASTIC PIECES TO FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. IF THIS SHOULD HAPPEN, A NO LATCH, FALSE LATCH OR FAILURE TO UNLATCH CONDITION COULD OCCUR CREATING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR SUDDEN STOP. CORRECTION: FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES WILL BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED AS NECESSARY.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Arvada, CO1 injured
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DRIVER'S SEAT BACK COLLAPSED DURING REAR END COLLISION, CAUSING INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #510420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Spring Hill, FLCrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DID NOT HOLD BELT CAUSING PASSENGER TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND RECIEVE SERIOUS INJURY. TT
NHTSA complaint #966016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stephentown, NYCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS
VEHICLE HIT FROM BEHIND; DRIVER'S SHOULDER PORTION OF SEAT BELT DID NOT GRAB/CATCH. TT
NHTSA complaint #965918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 222,000 milesSAN Francisco, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE STALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10044618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
NHTSA RECALL 95-V-103-005 CONCERNING FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY. CONSUMER STATED THIS RECALL WAS DONE ON 1997. HOWEVER RECALL FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10027063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wilmington, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT CATCH (HOLD) PROPERLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY IF AND ACCIDENT OCCURED.
NHTSA complaint #851520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saint Loui, MO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CRANKSHAFT BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #511614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Booklyn, NY
SEAT BELTS
THE REAR SEAT BELTS FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY. WHENEVER THE CSS IS IN USED, & BUCKLED IN, THE LOCKING MECHANISM WOULD POP OUT & RELEASE THE BELT. CSS IS NOT SECURED.
NHTSA complaint #832386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wall, NJ
SEAT BELTS
REAR SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY FASTENED WHEN ADJUSTED; BELT UNLOOSED ITSELF. REASON UNKNOWN. RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED, DEALER DOES NOT HAVE PARTS TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS. *AK
NHTSA complaint #831148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Unknown, UN
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE. VEHICLE DOES NOT RUN PROPERLY EVEN AFTER REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #780521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Unknown, UN
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE. VEHICLE DOES NOT RUN PROPERLY EVEN AFTER REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #780521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ST. Louis, MO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CRANKSHAFT BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #511614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Malborough, MO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VALVE BODY FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #523816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Malborough, MO
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
PUMP FAILED
NHTSA complaint #523816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Malborough, MO
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED THREE TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #523816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Malborough, MO
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
TRANSAXLE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #523816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Malborough, MO
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
DIFFERENTIAL GEAR FAILED TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #523816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Corpus CHR, TX
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT LOCKING MECHANISM CRACKED AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT RELEASE.
NHTSA complaint #546599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Corpus CHR, TX
PARKING BRAKE
SEAT BELT LOCKING MECHANISM CRACKED AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT RELEASE.
NHTSA complaint #546599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Novi, MI
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #527719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ormond Beach, FL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
RECEIVED RECALL LETTER #96V103000 ABOUT A YEAR AGO, DEALER STILL DOESN'T HAVE PARTS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS NOT WORKING . PLEASE DESCRIBE .
NHTSA complaint #805413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Arvada, CO1 injured
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DRIVER'S SEAT BACK COLLAPSED DURING REAR END COLLISION, CAUSING INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #510420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Levittown, NY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN FEBRUARY, CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. RECALL #95V103005.
NHTSA complaint #982813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clarksville, TN
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE A YEAR AGO, DEALER SAYS THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE PARTS IN. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #980501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clarksville, TN
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE A YEAR AGO, DEALER SAYS THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE PARTS IN. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #980501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Charlotte, NC
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE TIME IT HAS TAKEN FOR RECALL NOTIFICATIONS TO GO OUT HAS BEEN EXCESSIVE. TT
NHTSA complaint #973724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Arlington, VA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
#95V103005 THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS HARD TO LOCK . TT
NHTSA complaint #972471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jackson, MI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER FEEL ITS EXCESSIVE TIME TO REPAIR RECALL ON SEAT BELT BUCKLES. TT
NHTSA complaint #972403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.