The 1992 Mazda Mx3 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,527,500 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 49 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.
SUSPENSION97V1160001997-07-2225,000 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND…
Consequence
THIS CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GUARD ASSEMBLY WHICH WILL PREVENT THE BROKEN COIL SPRING FROM CONTACTING THE TIRE. IN ADDITION TO PERFORMING THE RECALL CAMPAIGN, MAZDA IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS FOR THE LIFT OF THE VEHICLE. IF OWNERS HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THESE…
Complaints by component
SEAT BELTS
16
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
7
1crashes1injuries
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
5
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
SUSPENSION:FRONT
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
Total complaints49
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl* contact owns a 1992 mazda mx3. The vehicle was parked and the contact observed the driver side seat belt retractor does not extract the webbing properly. The authorized dealer was notified and informed that a prior recall repair was performed on the vehicle in december of 1998. The nhtsa…”
“1992 to 1993 mazda mx-3 automatic shoulder belt recall mazda dealership is not willing to honor the lifetime warranty on the automatic shoulder belt in spite of the documentation that was provided. The automatic seat belt is a safety issue and nhtsa ordered the recall and not mazda. *tr”
“Car has a interior frame metal problem inside the structure of the car its welds,are coming apart sheet metal,wheel wells core support,front bumper,floor rear spare tire,sheetmetal,the rust proofing was not enough on car,or they forgot to zinc coat the inside+outside of the car metal frame(body)”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1992 mazda mx3. The contact stated that the front coil spring fractured continuously. The coil spring was repaired by the contact the first three times the failure occurred yet the failure persisted. In addition, both the front driver and passenger side automatic seat belts…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1992 mazda mx3. The contact stated that the front coil spring fractured continuously. The coil spring was repaired by the contact the first three times the failure occurred yet the failure persisted. In addition, both the front driver and passenger side automatic seat belts…”
“Dt*: the contact stated while driving 60 mph the vehicle's transmission lost first and second gears, the vehicle was slowed to 30 mph and lost third and fourth gears. It was coasted off the road without incident. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. This is the third transmission…”
“Dt: the contact stated recall 97v211000 for the front seat belts was issued. A warning light illuminated, indicating the seat belt was not fastened. When stopping the vehicle the passive restraint will not lock to keep the occupant from moving forward. When he took the vehicle to have the recall…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1992 mazda mx3. While driving 30 mph, the front wheels on the vehicle moved uncontrollably. A mechanic stated that the front coils springs failed. The mazda dealer stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 97v116000 (suspension:front:springs:coil…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA94039 Opened 1994-11-30 · closed 1997-11-26
AUTO RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAIL
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE94075 Opened 1994-10-12 · closed 1994-12-21
ALTERNATOR FIRES
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationRQ98001 Opened 1998-03-03 · closed 1998-11-16
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 Mx3 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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