Japan · NHTSA recalls & complaints
Mazda VIN decoder
Mazda Motor Corporation is a Japanese automaker headquartered in Hiroshima. Its 2026 US lineup consists of the Mazda3, the CX-30, CX-5, CX-50, CX-70 and CX-90 SUVs, and the MX-5 roadster. Mazda and Toyota entered a business and capital alliance in 2017, and the two companies share a plant in Alabama.
Enter all 17 characters to see the build details NHTSA holds and the recalls for that model year.
- 32 model pages
- 170 recall campaigns
- 20,018 owner complaints
- model years 1995–2026
- 11 WMI codes in vPIC
- origin: Japan
| Country of origin | Japan |
|---|---|
| Region | Asia |
| NHTSA recall and complaint data | Yes, model years 1995–2026 |
| WMI codes in NHTSA vPIC | 11 |
| Model pages | 32 |
| Other model names in NHTSA data | 4 |
| Vehicle recall campaigns | 170 |
| Owner complaints | 20,018 |
| Complaints reporting a crash | 1,312 (6.6%) |
| Complaints reporting a fire | 303 (1.5%) |
| Complaints reporting an injury | 874 (4.4%) |
| Complaints reporting a death | 17 (0.1%) |
| Data updated | September 25, 2026 |
Mazda's filings with NHTSA list four plants for US-market vehicles: Hiroshima and Hofu in Japan, Mazda Motor Manufacturing de Mexico in Salamanca, Guanajuato, and Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A. in Huntsville, Alabama. The Huntsville joint venture started CX-50 production in January 2022 and also builds the Toyota Corolla Cross. The Salamanca plant builds models including the Mazda3 and CX-30, while the 2026 Mazda3 sold in the US has been reported as built in Japan, so the same model can carry different WMIs.
Every Mazda from model year 1981 onward has a 17-character VIN. For US-market Mazdas, NHTSA's vPIC database usually decodes the line, body, engine and plant. Some older Mazda-badged vehicles were built by Ford, including the Tribute SUV, and carry Ford-registered WMIs; for today's partner brand, see Toyota, and for Ford-built Mazdas, Ford.
NHTSA’s files hold 170 vehicle recall campaigns and 20,018 owner complaints for Mazda vehicles from model years 1995 to 2026, summarised here on 32 model pages. Mazda 3 has the most complaints (2,983), followed by Mazda 626 (2,458) and the CX-5 (2,443). Of those complaints, 1,312 report a crash, 303 a fire, 874 at least one injury and 17 at least one death; the figures count complaints, not people.
The World Manufacturer Identifier is the first three characters of the VIN. NHTSA’s vPIC database decodes 11 WMIs to Mazda; this is the complete list, with the manufacturer name, country and vehicle type vPIC records for each.
| WMI | Manufacturer (vPIC) | Country | Vehicle type | Also decoded as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3MD | MAZDA MOTOR MANUFACTURING DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V. | Mexico | Passenger Car | – |
| 3MV | MAZDA MOTOR MANUFACTURING DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V. | Mexico | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 3MZ | MAZDA MOTOR MANUFACTURING DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V. | Mexico | Passenger Car | – |
| 4F2 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | United States | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 4F3 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | United States | Truck | – |
| 4F4 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | United States | Truck | – |
| 7MM | MAZDA TOYOTA MANUFACTURING, USA, INC. | United States | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Toyota |
| JC1 | MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION | Japan | Passenger Car | Fiat |
| JM1 | MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION | Japan | Passenger Car | – |
| JM2 | MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION | Japan | Truck | – |
Show the other 1 WMIHide the rest
| WMI | Manufacturer (vPIC) | Country | Vehicle type | Also decoded as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JM3 | MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION | Japan | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
Some codes are shared across a manufacturer’s brands; the last column names the other brands in our catalog that vPIC links to the same code. See the WMI code guide for how the codes are assigned.
Each model page lists NHTSA’s recall campaigns and owner complaints for that model name, by model year and component. Models are sorted by complaints; the data covers model years 1995–2026.
| Model | Model years | Recall campaigns | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2004–2026 | 29 | 2,983 |
| 626 | 1995–2003 | 7 | 2,458 |
| CX-5 | 2012–2026 | 8 | 2,443 |
| 6 | 2002–2021 | 28 | 2,234 |
| Tribute | 2000–2011 | 20 | 2,102 |
| CX-9 | 2007–2023 | 13 | 1,487 |
| CX-7 | 2007–2013 | 6 | 1,131 |
| Protege | 1995–2003 | 6 | 805 |
| RX-8 | 2004–2011 | 14 | 783 |
| MPV | 1995–2006 | 17 | 655 |
| B-Series Truck | 1995–2009 | 17 | 541 |
| 5 | 2006–2016 | 5 | 412 |
| CX-90 | 2024–2026 | 11 | 381 |
| CX-30 | 2020–2026 | 7 | 252 |
| MX-5 Miata | 1995–2005 | – | 242 |
| Millenia | 1995–2003 | – | 239 |
| MX-5 | 2006–2026 | 6 | 155 |
| CX-50 | 2023–2026 | 5 | 147 |
| Mazdaspeed3 | 2007–2013 | 5 | 121 |
| CX-3 | 2014–2021 | 4 | 114 |
| CX-90 Plug-In Hybrid | 2024–2025 | – | 108 |
| CX-70 | 2025–2026 | 4 | 53 |
| 2 | 2011–2021 | 4 | 48 |
| MX-6 | 1995–1997 | 3 | 47 |
| Mazdaspeed6 | 2006–2007 | 4 | 29 |
| Tribute Hybrid | 2006–2011 | 2 | 13 |
| MX-3 | 1995–1999 | 1 | 13 |
| CX-50 Hybrid | 2025 | 5 | 9 |
| 323 | 1995 | 1 | 4 |
| 929 | 1995 | 1 | 3 |
Show 2 more Mazda modelsHide the other models
– means NHTSA has no records of that kind under the model name.
Other Mazda models in NHTSA data
NHTSA also lists these Mazda model names, but with no recall campaign and fewer than 25 complaints each, so they have no page of their own: Atenza, CX-70 Plug-In Hybrid, MX-30, Protege 5.
Which WMI codes appear on Mazda VINs?
Mazda's model-year 2026 generic VIN format lists JM1 and JM3 for passenger cars and MPVs built by Mazda in Japan, 3MZ, 3MV and 3MD for the Mexican plant, and 7MM for Mazda Toyota Manufacturing. vPIC also lists older WMIs registered to other manufacturers with the Mazda make.
| WMI | Manufacturer (NHTSA vPIC) | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| JM1 | MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION | Japan | Passenger car |
| JM3 | MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION | Japan | MPV |
| 3MZ | MAZDA MOTOR MANUFACTURING DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V. | Mexico | Passenger car |
| 3MV | MAZDA MOTOR MANUFACTURING DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V. | Mexico | MPV |
| 7MM | MAZDA TOYOTA MANUFACTURING, USA, INC. | United States | MPV |
| 1YV | AUTO ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL, USA | United States | Passenger car |
| 4F2 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | United States | MPV |
| 4F4 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | United States | Truck |
What do positions 4 to 11 mean on a Mazda VIN?
In Mazda's model-year 2026 filing with NHTSA (NHTSA Manufacturer Information Database file ORG26138, January 2026), positions 4 to 8 cover the line, series, body type, engine type and restraint devices, defined model by model; the CX-30 sheet, for example, shows 3MVDM in positions 1 to 5. Position 9 is the check digit, 10 the model year (T for 2026) and 11 the plant:
| Position 11 | Plant |
|---|---|
| 0 | Mazda, Hiroshima, Japan |
| 1 | Mazda, Hofu, Yamaguchi, Japan |
| M | Mazda Motor Manufacturing de Mexico, Salamanca, Guanajuato |
| N | Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A., Huntsville, Alabama |
Ford's VIN filing for the 2010 model year also covered the Ford-built Mazda Tribute and reserved serial numbers M00001 to N99999 for Mazda vehicles.
Where was my Mazda CX-50 built?
The CX-50 is built at Mazda Toyota Manufacturing in Huntsville, Alabama. Mazda's filing lists WMI 7MM for that plant and plant code N in position 11.
Why does my Mazda VIN start with 4F?
Some older Mazda-badged vehicles were built by Ford in the US. NHTSA's vPIC lists 4F2 (MPV) and 4F4 (truck) under Ford Motor Company with the Mazda make, and Ford's 2010 VIN filing includes the Mazda Tribute.
Can I check Mazda recalls with this decoder?
The decoder lists recalls NHTSA has issued for your Mazda's make, model and model year, using NHTSA's public data for US-market vehicles. For one VIN's open-recall status, use NHTSA's VIN search or a Mazda dealer. See recalls.
Does a Mazda VIN decode show ownership or accident history?
No. It shows factory data such as line, body, engine, restraints, model year and plant. Ownership, title and accident records come from state agencies and licensed history providers, which this site does not connect to.
Brands mentioned in the notes above, then other Asian brands, each with its own VIN notes and WMI list.
- Toyota (66) Japan · 375 recall campaigns
- Ford (161) United States · 1,229 recall campaigns
- Acura (22) Japan · 117 recall campaigns
- Genesis (12) South Korea · 34 recall campaigns
- Honda (127) Japan · 363 recall campaigns
- Hyundai (49) South Korea · 285 recall campaigns
Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files and NHTSA vPIC, updated September 25, 2026.