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NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1995–1999

Mazda MX-3 recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 13 owner complaints for the Mazda MX-3, covering model years 1995 to 1999. The 1995 model year drew the most complaints (10), and Air Bags is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Mazda MX-3 VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 1 recall campaign on file
  • 13 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 3 model years with data (1995–1999)
  • most complaints: 1995 (10 for that model year)
  • top component: Air Bags (5 complaints)
  • latest recall 97V116000 (reported Jul 22, 1997)
  • 6 complaints reporting a crash (46.2%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
  • 2 complaints reporting an injury (15.4%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Mazda MX-3 complaints by model year

3 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 1995 model year has the most complaints: 10 of 13, or 76.9%. Next come 1996 (2) and 1999 (1).

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years
Mazda MX-3 owner complaints to NHTSA by model year, 1995–1999Column chart of 13 complaints across 5 model years. The highest is 1995 with 10. The full figures are in the table below the chart.1995: 10 complaints1019951996: 2 complaints219961997: 0 complaints19971998: 0 complaints19981999: 1 complaint11999
Mazda MX-3 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Mazda MX-3 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
1995106020
199620000
199910000
All model years136020

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Mazda MX-3 components

top 9 · NHTSA categories

Air Bags is the component named most often, in 5 complaints (38.5% of all 13), followed by Suspension (3) and Electrical System (1).

Components named most often in Mazda MX-3 complaints (top 9)
Components named most often in Mazda MX-3 complaints (top 9)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Air Bags538.5%
Suspension323.1%
Electrical System17.7%
Equipment17.7%
Exterior Lighting17.7%
Fuel System, Other17.7%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic17.7%
Structure17.7%
Visibility17.7%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Mazda MX-3 recalls

1 campaign · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name MX-3, newest first. The only campaign, 97V116000, covers model year 1995.

  • 1 recall campaign
Mazda MX-3 recall campaigns covering each model year
1995: 1 campaign

  1. NHTSA campaign 97V116000

    Reported

    Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs

    Model year 1995

    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.

    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 front coil springs, due to road salt damage, Mazda will reimburse these owners for reasonable expenses.

    Filed by Mazda Motor Corp.

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Mazda MX-3 questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Mazda MX-3 have?

NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall campaign for the Mazda MX-3, covering model years 1995 to 1999. The campaign, 97V116000, was reported on July 22, 1997 and is filed under “Suspension”.

Which Mazda MX-3 model year has the most complaints?

The 1995 model year, with 10 of the 13 complaints in NHTSA’s file (76.9%). The next are 1996 (2) and 1999 (1). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Mazda MX-3 complaint?

Air Bags is the component named most often: 5 complaints, or 38.5% of all 13. Suspension (3) and Electrical System (1) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Mazda MX-3?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Mazda dealer.

How many Mazda MX-3 complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 13 complaints, 6 report a crash, 0 a fire, 2 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other Mazda models

8 models · most complaints first

The Mazda models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Mazda VIN decoder with every Mazda model page, WMI code and VIN note.

  • Mazda 3 2004–2026 · 29 recalls · 2,983 complaints
  • Mazda 626 1995–2003 · 7 recalls · 2,458 complaints
  • Mazda CX-5 2012–2026 · 8 recalls · 2,443 complaints
  • Mazda 6 2002–2021 · 28 recalls · 2,234 complaints
  • Mazda Tribute 2000–2011 · 20 recalls · 2,102 complaints
  • Mazda CX-9 2007–2023 · 13 recalls · 1,487 complaints
  • Mazda CX-7 2007–2013 · 6 recalls · 1,131 complaints
  • Mazda Protege 1995–2003 · 6 recalls · 805 complaints

All Mazda models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.