The 1992 Mazda 323 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,502,500 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seat belts. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and…
Consequence
If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.
SEAT BELTS97V2110001997-11-18134,000 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS. THE RAIL OF THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT CAN WEAR SUFFICIENTLY SUCH THAT THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAN BECOME JAMMED IN THE RAIL RENDERING THE SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE.
Consequence
A SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSIVE SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLY WITH A MODIFIED ONE (WITH ADDITIONAL DUST LIP) IN VEHICLES WHICH HAVE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM. IN VEHICLES IN WHICH THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, THE RAILS WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED WITH MODIFIED RAILS IF THEY EXCEED THE INSPECTION CRITERIA.
Complaints by component
SEAT BELTS
4
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
4
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
1
1injuries
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES
1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
1
1crashes2injuries
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
1
Total complaints18
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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…”
“Driver's seatbelt stopped working, stuck in track. *ak”
“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”
“Seat belt restraints often do not retract upon opening of door,once it retracted so tightly on my son I had a very difficult time getting him out. Also the seat belt warning light goes off intermittantly even though we are properly belted. I do not trust these belts to keep us safe in an accident.”
“Ongoing problem with seat belt buzzer going off. Consumer had repairs done approximately two year ago, and problem reoccurred again. Dealer/mfr. Notified and refused to repair unless cost goes to consumer. *ak”
“Ea94039, the driver's side seat belt is stuck in the retractor in the forward position. The problem has not been corrected. *ak”
“On both sides of vehicle shoulder seat belts are stuck and only meeting half way. *ak”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA94039 Opened 1994-11-30 · closed 1997-11-26
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1992 Mazda 323 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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