The 1994 Mazda Mx-3 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 25,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the suspension. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
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
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
7
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
5
5crashes3injuries
AIR BAGS
1
1crashes1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
1
1crashes1injuries
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
1
1crashes
SUSPENSION
1
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
1
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
1
Total complaints20
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl the contact owns a 1994 mazda mx3. The contact stated that immediately after parking in a residential garage, she heard a loud pop. After inspecting the vehicle, she realized that the coil spring fractured and punctured the tire. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1994 mazda mx-3. While driving 5 mph, the front coil spring failed and caused the front passenger side tire to blow out. The rotation of the coil spring punctured the tire. The vehicle has not been diagnosed or repaired by the dealer. The tire must be replaced. The dealer…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1994 mazda mx-3. The contact stated that the two front coil springs failed, which caused the cd axles on both sides to fail. The manufacturer stated that nothing could be done because the vin was excluded from the recall. In addition, the area where the vehicle was…”
“Dt*: the contact stated while driving at 60 mph on normal road conditions, the right front tire exploded due to a puncture from a fractured coil spring. There is a recall, # 97v116000 for the coil spring on the contacts year, make and model. However the contacts vin was not included. The recall…”
“Dt*: the contact stated while parking the front coil springs broke. There is a nhtsa recall, # 97v116000, regarding the suspension front springs coil springs. The vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however it is not included in the recall due to the vin.”
“Either dec 2000 or jan 2001 my mazda mx-3 had a front coil spring break. My mechanic contacted mazda district representative and showed the coil to him. My mechanic felt this was not something that should have happened. The district rep said there was nothing mazda could do. I contacted mazda…”
“While backing out of the driveway at 10 mph or less consumer heard a noise and noticed the right front tire was flat. Vehicle was towed to the repair shop. Mechanic informed determined that coil spring broke and punctured the tire. The repair shop notified a local mazda dealer.*ak”
“The left front (driver's side) coil spring broke while I was driving home from work. The tire and rim were damaged, leaving me stranded on highway. *nlm”
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 1994 Mazda Mx-3 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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