Automatic seatbelt is stuck in the middle position and cannot secure you in the event of an accident. Vehicle was taken in for an open recall but no work was performed due to lack of parts. They then closed the recall not allowing me to take it back for any repairs if parts become available. I thought they disabled the motor but as I got in one day the seatbelt moved and cannot be retracted anymore.
The worst 1992 Mazda MX3 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Seat belts31
- Suspension6
- Electrical5
- Acceleration1
- Body1
- Engine1
- Steering1
- Transmission1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1992 Mazda MX3
Recalls 3
Electrical system: ignition: switch
- What is wrong
- 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 overheat.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 15V674000 · Recall details
Seat belts: front: webbing
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 97V211000 · Recall details
Suspension: front: springs: coil springs
- What is wrong
- 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 washington, dc. In areas where large quantities of road salt are used, corrosive pits can develop on the surface of the front suspension coil spring. Repeated use can eventually cause the coil spring to break and a tire could be punctured from contact with the broken coil spring.
- Risk
- 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 front coil springs, due to road salt damage, mazda will reimburse these owners for reasonable expenses.
Recall number 97V116000 · Recall details
See all 3 recalls for the 1992 Mazda MX3
Defect investigations
Front coil spring fracture
There is no summary currently available
RQ98001
Auto restraint system fail
There is no summary currently available
EA94039
Alternator fires
There is no summary currently available
PE94075
Technical service bulletins for the 1992 Mazda MX3 32
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Radio Unlocking Codes.
- In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer
- In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer
- Speedometer replacement procedure
- In accordance with federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a...
- Battery test procedure requirements. tt
- Speedometer replacement procedure. tt
- Experiencing popping noise from front brake caliper during slow speed braking. tt
- Experienceing a metallic tapping noise heard from the right ( rear ) cylinder head exhaust cam area. yc
- Some vehicles may exhibit erratic shifting, o/d off indicator light flashing with malfunction indicator...
1992 Mazda MX3 fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4‑cyl | FWD | 22-25 | 29-32 | 25-28 |
| 1.9L 6‑cyl | FWD | 18-20 | 25-26 | 20-22 |
What 1992 Mazda MX3 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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 owned a 1992 mazda mx3. The contact smelled an abnormal burning odor and noticed sparks coming from the steering column near the ignition. In addition, the contact noticed white smoke coming from the steering column. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was turned off and the sparks stopped. The vehicle was repaired; however, they sold the vehicle to be salvaged. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
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 were inoperable. The dealer was contacted who advised that there was a recall for the vehicle for both failures (the federal safety agency campaign id numbers: 97v116000 - suspension: front: springs: coil springs and 97v211000- seat belts: front: webbing) yet the parts would need to be ordered in order to complete the repairs. The vehicle was left with the dealer but was never repaired. The manufacturer was contacted who confirmed that there were two recalls on the vehicle and advised that they would give him a return call but never did. The failure mileage was 168,000.
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 federal safety agency campaign id number was 97v211000 (seat belts: front: webbing). The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The contact had concern of the safety hazard involved. The failure mileage was 120,000. The current mileage was 120,500.
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 the federal safety agency ordered the recall and not mazda.
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 the federal safety agency campaign id number 97v116000 (suspension:front:springs:coil springs). The manufacturer would not assist with the repair since the vehicle was not included in the recall. The current mileage was 117,000 and failure mileage was 100,000.
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 failure. The manufacturer was not alerted.
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 repairs performed the dealer wanted him to pay for the repairs. The dealer stated the recall component was different than the component that failed on vehicle. *ak updated 11/29/2005 -
The automatic seat belt became stuck and is unable to retract on the driver's side. The dealer has examined the vehicle and found that the cable was twisted inside of the housing.
Compare the 1992 Mazda MX3
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Questions about the 1992 Mazda MX3
Is the 1992 Mazda MX3 reliable?
Owners have filed 45 complaints about the 1992 Mazda MX3, 4.5 times a typical MX3 model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1992 Mazda MX3?
Seat belts, with 31 complaints, typically around 120,000 miles. Next is suspension (6).
How many recalls does the 1992 Mazda MX3 have?
3 recalls, covering electrical system, seat belts and suspension.
What gas mileage does the 1992 Mazda MX3 get?
Official estimates for the 1992 Mazda MX3 range from 20 to 28 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.6L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 22-25 city and 29-32 highway.
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