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.
Mar 1995peak 4Mar 2010
NHTSA investigations into the 1990 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
EA94039Opened 30 Nov 1994Closed 26 Nov 1997SEAT BELTS
AUTO RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAIL
Recalls on the 1990 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.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 2015489232,227 units in Canada
Electrical
On certain vehicles, a defect in the ignition switch could cause an electrical short to develop over time. This could result in smoke and/or fire, increasing the risk of injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Chicago, ILCrash
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE DRIVER WAS SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION WITHOUT WARNING ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE LEFT SIDE AND RIGHT SIDE SEAT BELTS DISENGAGED ON THEIR OWN,THE SEAT BELTS RETRACTOR WAS NOT RETRACTABLE. NO INJURIES TO REPORT. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10107219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rome, GACrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES HAVE VERY HIGH METALLIC SOUND WHEN BRAKING ON WET/DRY SURFACE; FOLLOWED BY INCREASE IN BRAKING; ANY SPEED. TT
NHTSA complaint #972703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OAK Forest, 00Crash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK, RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. TT
NHTSA complaint #967993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Danville, 00Crash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PASSENGER SEATBELT BUCKLE CAME LOOSE DURING IMPACT. TT
NHTSA complaint #966191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 97,000 milesFairbanks, AK
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 MAZDA 323. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IDLED EXCESSIVELY THE RPMS ALSO INCREASED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. THE DEALER ALSO TOLD HIM TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. THERE WAS ONLY ONE DEALER IN HIS AREA WHICH IS NOT A CERTIFIED MAZDA DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
NHTSA complaint #10316723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicago, ILCrash
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE DRIVER WAS SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION WITHOUT WARNING ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE LEFT SIDE AND RIGHT SIDE SEAT BELTS DISENGAGED ON THEIR OWN,THE SEAT BELTS RETRACTOR WAS NOT RETRACTABLE. NO INJURIES TO REPORT. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10107219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Travis AFB, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
CONSUMER STATES DEALER TOLD HER THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO ACCEPT HER RECALL NOTICE BECAUSE CAR WAS TO OLD AND SEAT BELT WILL NOT STICK.
NHTSA complaint #8014803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lasalle, CO
SEAT BELTS
WHEN CLOSING DOOR SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. CAN HEAR CLICKING SOUND, BUT SEATBELT DOES NOT GO BACK IN. DEALER CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #8005185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fairfield, IA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
MOTOR BELT/SHOULDER FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, DURING RECALL REPAIR EXTRA CHARGES DUE TO PARTS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NOTICE.(97V-211) MJS
NHTSA complaint #548028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Parma, OH
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AW
NHTSA complaint #781067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Windsor, CT
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
INTERMITTENTLY THE FRONT SEAT BELTS RETRACT BACK AND FORTH ON THEIR OWN. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #828748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pensacola, FL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
RECALL # 97V211000, SHOULDER BELTS; WHEN OWNER ARRIVED FOR SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT HE WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO CORRECT RECALL. OWNER HAS CONTACTED DEALER ON (3) OTHER OCCASIONS. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO TELL OWNER WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #823208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sumter, SC
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED AND THE LIGHT COMES ON.
NHTSA complaint #516226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orange, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
PLASTIC RADIATOR MELTED AND SPLIT OPEN, SPEWING OUT FLUID.
NHTSA complaint #513738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Omak, WA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
OWNER STATES THAT SEAT BELTS ON DRIVERS SIDE DO NOT RETRACT. HE NOTES THAT HE HAD SEAT BELTS ON DRIVER'S SIDE REPAIRED AND THEN THE OTHER SIDE WENT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #805629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ST. Louis, MO
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #505029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ST. Louis, MO
POWER TRAIN
ODOMETER CABLE BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #505029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ST. Louis, MO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAM GEAR/BOLT SECURING CAM GEAR BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.
NHTSA complaint #505029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ST. Louis, MO
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
CV BOOT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #505029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Salt Lake CI, UT
SEAT BELTS
EA94-039 PASSIVE RESTRAINT; DRIVERS SIDE FAILED TO COMPLETE CYCLE AND NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #976711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rome, GACrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES HAVE VERY HIGH METALLIC SOUND WHEN BRAKING ON WET/DRY SURFACE; FOLLOWED BY INCREASE IN BRAKING; ANY SPEED. TT
NHTSA complaint #972703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OAK Forest, 00Crash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK, RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. TT
NHTSA complaint #967993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eureka, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE PUSH BUTTON BROKE. PASSENGER SEAT BELT HARDLY IS USED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #966940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Danville, 00Crash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PASSENGER SEATBELT BUCKLE CAME LOOSE DURING IMPACT. TT
NHTSA complaint #966191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tarry Town, NY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT CAME OUT OF THE CAR ONE DAY. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
NHTSA complaint #964226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dekamah, NE
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT FASTEN FOR USE. TT
NHTSA complaint #960959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.