FaultScore

Mazda 323 seat belt problems

111 of the 204 complaints filed about the Mazda 323 are about the seat belts — 54% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1988.

111

Complaints

54%

Share of all complaints

6

Crashes

1

Fires

Seat Belts complaints by model year

1986 323 1 0.9%
1988 323 29 26.1%
1989 323 24 21.6%
1990 323 13 11.7%
1991 323 15 13.5%
1992 323 13 11.7%
1993 323 7 6.3%
1994 323 6 5.4%

Median failure at 108,450 miles

1995 323 3 2.7%

Median failure at 148,000 miles

What owners said

1994 Mazda 323 at 108,450 miles Ninole, HI

SEAT BELTS

I WAS USING MY SEAT BELT AS WAS MY PASSENGER. I STOPPED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND WHEN I GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND STARTED IT, MY SEAT BELT WOULD NOT SLIDE BACK OVER MY BODY. MY PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT WAS STILL IN PLACE AS IT HAD NOT BEEN REMOVED WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR AND GOT OUT. THE FOLLOWING DAY MY SEAT BELT WORKED WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE CAR. WHEN I DROVE FOR ABOUT 3 MILES, I STOPPED THE CAR AND GOT OUT. WHEN I GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND STARTED IT, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK AND HAS NOT SINCE IN THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS. THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE IN THE CENTER CONSOLE WHERE THE GEAR SHIFT IS WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED WHILE THE GEAR IS IN PARK AND STOPS MAKING THE NOISE WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO DRIVE, HOWEVER THE RED SEAT BELT LIGHT CONTINUES TO BLINK.

NHTSA complaint #10651769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Mazda 323 at 148,000 miles Raeford, NC

SEAT BELTS

THE RAIL OF THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT WORE SUFFICIENTLY SUCH THAT THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY BECAME JAMMED IN THE RAIL RENDERING THE SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE. WHEN I WENT TO GET OUT OF MY CAR THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY STOPPED ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE CAR. IN THIS POSITION IT MAKES MY CAR TOTALLY UNSAFE AND ILLEGAL TO DRIVE. EITHER A RECALL SIMILAR TO 97V211000 SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR THE 1995 MODEL OR THAT RECALL SHOULD EXTEND TO COVER THE 1995 MODEL BY MAZDA. IT'S THE SAME ISSUE/PROBLEM AND MAZDA IS LIABLE AND RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT.

NHTSA complaint #10504071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1990 Mazda 323 Chicago, IL Crash

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.

1988 Mazda 323 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.

1992 Mazda 323 North Atteboro, MA

SEAT BELTS

DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE WILL NOT STAY LATCHED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AND THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK AND IS OF TRACK, WITH A WIRE EXPOSED. (ABLE TO USE BOTH LAP BELTS, BUT THE AUTOMATIC PART WHICH GOES ACROSS THE CHEST ARE INOPERABLE) THE MOTOR RUNS CONSTANTLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, WHEN THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #8014871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1990 Mazda 323 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.

1993 Mazda 323 Cleveland, OH

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, DRIVERSIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT LOCK AT ALL, ALSO DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT CLOSE ON SHOULDER HARNESS, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS WILL NOT RETRACT TO SECURE THE PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, ALSO THE FRONT DOOR LATCH SWITCH WAS REPLACED, ALSO THE LAP BELT MOTORS ARE NOT RETRACTING, THE BELT OR SHOULDER BELT MOTOR ARE NOT TIGHTENING.

NHTSA complaint #8007673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1993 Mazda 323 Cleveland, OH

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, DRIVERSIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT LOCK AT ALL, ALSO DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT CLOSE ON SHOULDER HARNESS, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS WILL NOT RETRACT TO SECURE THE PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, ALSO THE FRONT DOOR LATCH SWITCH WAS REPLACED, ALSO THE LAP BELT MOTORS ARE NOT RETRACTING, THE BELT OR SHOULDER BELT MOTOR ARE NOT TIGHTENING.

NHTSA complaint #8007673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1990 Mazda 323 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.

1992 Mazda 323 Columbia, PA

SEAT BELTS

DRIVER'S SEATBELT STOPPED WORKING, STUCK IN TRACK.

NHTSA complaint #892017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1991 Mazda 323 Lawrence, KS

SEAT BELTS

TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL 97 V 211 000. AFTER RECEIVING VEHICLE BACK SEATBELT LIGHT COMES ON, AND CHIME RINGS WHEN SEATBELT IS FASTENED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFOMATION.

NHTSA complaint #891133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1986 Mazda 323 Greensburg, KS Fire

SEAT BELTS

WINDOWS IN VEHICLE WERE SMOKEY, AND DOOR WAS MELTED/SHUT. AN INVESTIGATOR INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THAT ORIGINATED FROM A SENSOR DEALING WITH RESTRAINT SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.

NHTSA complaint #890970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1992 Mazda 323 Montebello, CA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

SEATBELT RAIL WAS FAULTY PER RECALL NOTICE 97V-211 AND THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE, THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REMEDY THE DEFECT WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. NLM

NHTSA complaint #556482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1991 Mazda 323 Boise, ID

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER FOR RECALL (97V-211) REPAIR OF THE INOPERATIVE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM, DEALER HAD NO PARTS AVAILABE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. NLM

NHTSA complaint #555610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Mazda 323 Arecibo, PR

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OF MOTORIZED SEAT BELT FAILED LEAVING ME WITH OUT THE PROTECTION OF USING SEAT BELTS.

NHTSA complaint #734880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Mazda 323 Arecibo, PR

SEAT BELTS

PASSENGER'S SIDE RETRACTOR WAS JAMMED IN THE MIDDLE.CONSUMER HAD TO CUT CABLE TO GET BUCKLE TO RETRACT, THEN, DRIVERS SIDE RETRACTOR WAS MOVING VERY SLOW, SO CONSUMER DECIDED ONCE IT HAD RETRACTED TO TAKE FUSE OUT BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. CONSUMER HAS TO USE SEATBELT MANUALY, AND THESE ARE AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS. CONSUMER IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL 97V211000 ON THE 1994 MAZDA 323.

NHTSA complaint #873383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1991 Mazda 323 Natick, MA

SEAT BELTS

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 97V211000 CONCERNING AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS. DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT RECALL PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE WAS NO MAZDA MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA complaint #872099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1991 Mazda 323 Apachee Junction, AZ

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

RECALL 97V211000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 72803/ SHOULDER SEAT BELTS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR AN APPOINTMENT, WAITED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS & FOUND OUT THAT DEALER DIDN'T HAVE THE PART. CONSUMER FEELS THAT WHEN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE THEY COULD HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE PART WAS OUT OF STOCK.

NHTSA complaint #867063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1992 Mazda 323 Auora, CO

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

INTERMITTLEY DRIVER SHOULDER BELT LOCKS UP WHILE IN USE WHICH CAUSES THE DRIVER NOT ABLE TO MOVE SAFETY, AND MAY RESULT A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. RETRACTOR IS BROKEN AND NEED TO REPLACE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #865023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1990 Mazda 323 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.