RecallRepo

1993 Mazda Mx3 Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1993 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 67 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seat belts. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15V674000 2015-10-19 1,368,500 affected
Defect

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 BELTS 97V211000 1997-11-18 134,000 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.

SUSPENSION 97V116000 1997-07-22 25,000 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
17
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
6
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
5
1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
4
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
3
2injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
3
AIR BAGS
2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2
2crashes2injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
1fires
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
2
Total complaints67

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Tl* the contact owns a 1993 mazda mx3. While driving approximately 30 mph, the contact noticed smoke coming from the steering column. The contact coasted the vehicle over to the side of the road and the battery caught on fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. A fire report was not filed.…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2016-03-22

“Tl* the contact owns a 1993 mazda mx3. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v674000 (electrical system). The part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2015-12-15

“Tl*the contact owns a 1993 mazda mx3. While driving approximately 55-65 mph, the driver side seat belt became stuck in the back position and would not move forward. The contact pressed the emergency release button to get out of the seat belt. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the…”

SEAT BELTS · reported 2010-03-24

“Tl* the contact owns a 1993 mazda mx3. While entering the vehicle the cable which retracts the buckle assembly became jammed in the rail. The condition rendered the shoulder belt inoperative. The previous owner had the vehicle repaired according to recall # 97v211000( seat belts:front:webbing).…”

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING · reported 2009-10-30

“Tl*the contact owns a 1993 mazda mx3. While driving approximately 30 mph, the driver heard a loud noise and the front passenger side tire detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the repair shop and the mechanic stated that the front passenger side coil spring punctured the tire and…”

SUSPENSION:FRONT · reported 2009-02-09

“Drivers side automatic belt does not work. Can only use lap belt. Had dealership correct during initial recall but there was not a problem then. Years later problem began and mazda will not correct. Seat belt keeps moving back and forth in track and will not lock in place. I have to remove fuse…”

SEAT BELTS · reported 2009-01-01

“Tl*the contact owns a 1993 mazda mx3. The driver side front seat belt was repaired under nhtsa campaign id number 97v211000 (seat belts:front:webbing) in january 15, 2002. Recently, the front passenger side front seat belt cable and retractor failed. The manufacturer stated that the front driver…”

SEAT BELTS · reported 2008-07-20

“Tl*the contact owns a 1993 mazda mx3. The contact stated that the passenger side seat belt cord came offtrack. The dealer is charging over $1,000 for the repair. The manufacturer stated that the seat belt recall was previously reparied on the vehicle in late 2000. The failure mileage was 93,200.”

SEAT BELTS · reported 2008-05-01

Defect investigations

Investigation EA94039 Opened 1994-11-30 · closed 1997-11-26

AUTO RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAIL

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE94075 Opened 1994-10-12 · closed 1994-12-21

ALTERNATOR FIRES

There is no summary currently available

Investigation RQ98001 Opened 1998-03-03 · closed 1998-11-16

FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURE

There is no summary currently available

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1993 Mazda Mx3 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.