Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1995 Mazda MX-3
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Airbags
541.7%
5 crashes, 0 fires
Suspension
325.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 130,000 mi
Equipment & Accessories
18.3%
Body & Structure
18.3%
Brakes
18.3%
Electrical System
18.3%
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.
Dec 1995peak 3Jun 2007
NHTSA investigations into the 1995 Mazda MX-3
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.
RQ98001Opened 3 Mar 1998Closed 16 Nov 1998SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURE
Recalls on the 1995 Mazda MX-3
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.
Recall 199713417,000 units in Canada
Suspension
IN AREAS OF HIGH ROAD SALT USE (ALL PROVINCES EAST OF THE MANITOBA BORDER), CORROSIVE PITS MAY DEVELOP ON THE SURFACE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS. THIS COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE COIL SPRING TO BREAK AT A POINT 1.0 TO 1.5 INCHES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE COIL SPRING. THIS COULD CAUSE A TIRE TO BE PUNCTURED FROM CONTACT WITH THE BROKEN SPRING. CORRECTION: DEALERS WILL INSTALL GUARD ASSEMBLIES WHICH WILL PREVENT A BROKEN COIL SPRING FROM CONTACTING A TIRE.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Boston, MACrash2 injured
AIR BAGS
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS DURING HEAD ON COLLISION WITH UTILITY POLE.
NHTSA complaint #513864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Troutdale, ORCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AT STOP LIGHT, PROCEEDED FORWARD, TRUCK MAKING RIGHT TURN, APPLIED BRAKES, VEHICLE SLID INTO TRUCK, PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT; TRUCK LEFT SCENE OF ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #806329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LA Mirada, CACrash
SUSPENSION:FRONT
DRIVING VEHICLE AT SPEED OF 25MPH, MAKING A RIGHT, VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL DUE FAULTY SUSPENSION, IMPACT 12:00, AND FLIPPED OVER.
NHTSA complaint #806131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Granite, ILCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGD DURING A FRONTAL IMPACT.
NHTSA complaint #801737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
South Haven, MSCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVERS DID NOT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA complaint #977705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Lauder, FLCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHEN IN ACCIDENT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT LID HIT WINDSHIELD WHEN AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND SHATTERED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #977408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 130,000 milesDuluth, MN
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MAZDA MX-3. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. HE REMOVED THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE AND NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING HAD FAILED. HIS VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL # 97V116000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS). THE CONTACT FEELS THAT IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED BECAUSE HE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS NOTED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 145,222 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #10194745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boston, MACrash2 injured
AIR BAGS
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS DURING HEAD ON COLLISION WITH UTILITY POLE.
NHTSA complaint #513864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Millwakie, WI
SUSPENSION
CONSUMER HAVE BEEN CONTINUALLY EXPRIENCING SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. REPLACED TIRE EVERY 3000 MILES. DEALER NOTIFIED, BUT MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ALLOW DEALER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR UNKNOWN REASON.
NHTSA complaint #825510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Millwakie, WI
STRUCTURE:BODY
CONSUMER HAVE BEEN CONTINUALLY EXPRIENCING SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. REPLACED TIRE EVERY 3000 MILES. DEALER NOTIFIED, BUT MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ALLOW DEALER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR UNKNOWN REASON.
NHTSA complaint #825510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Millwakie, WI
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
CONSUMER HAVE BEEN CONTINUALLY EXPRIENCING SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. REPLACED TIRE EVERY 3000 MILES. DEALER NOTIFIED, BUT MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ALLOW DEALER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR UNKNOWN REASON.
NHTSA complaint #825510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jupiter, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #521296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Troutdale, ORCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AT STOP LIGHT, PROCEEDED FORWARD, TRUCK MAKING RIGHT TURN, APPLIED BRAKES, VEHICLE SLID INTO TRUCK, PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT; TRUCK LEFT SCENE OF ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #806329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LA Mirada, CACrash
SUSPENSION:FRONT
DRIVING VEHICLE AT SPEED OF 25MPH, MAKING A RIGHT, VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL DUE FAULTY SUSPENSION, IMPACT 12:00, AND FLIPPED OVER.
NHTSA complaint #806131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Granite, ILCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGD DURING A FRONTAL IMPACT.
NHTSA complaint #801737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
South Haven, MSCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVERS DID NOT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA complaint #977705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Lauder, FLCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHEN IN ACCIDENT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT LID HIT WINDSHIELD WHEN AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND SHATTERED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #977408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Keene, NH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED ELECTRICAL ITEMS WOULD DIM. GIVE MORE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #976431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.