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Mazda 323Years to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 163 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on record for the Mazda 323.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints163Top: Seat beltsSafety recalls31986–1995 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Mazda 323 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 323 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1995Not rated–/1004 complaints · 1 recall1994Not rated–/10011 complaints · 2 recalls1993Not rated–/10010 complaints · 2 recalls1992Not rated–/10015 complaints · 2 recalls1991Not rated–/10020 complaints · 2 recalls1990Not rated–/10019 complaints · 2 recalls1989Not rated–/10038 complaints · 1 recall1988Not rated–/10034 complaints · 1 recall1987Not rated–/1008 complaints · 0 recalls1986Not rated–/1004 complaints · 0 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Mazda 323 problems

All model years combined: 163 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Seat belts1058
Engine and engine cooling203
Power train112
Electrical system61
Suspension61
Fuel system, gasoline52
Steering51
Vehicle speed control53
Service brakes, hydraulic42
10 other systems203
3 recalls

Mazda 323 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

1%Ignition: switch15V-674 · 1990–1995 · Oct 19, 2015 · 1,368,500 vehicles–Front: webbing97V-211 · 1990–1994 · Nov 18, 1997 · 134,000 vehicles–Front: buckle assembly95V-103 · 1988–1989 · May 24, 1995 · 360,433 vehicles
2 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the 323

  1. TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILUREEA95005 · 1988–1991 · closed Aug 1, 1995
    Led to recall 95V-103
  2. AUTO RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILEA94039 · 1990–1994 · closed Nov 26, 1997
    Led to recall 97V-211