1992 Mazda Mx-3

1992 Mazda MX-3 2-DR

Overall

Not Rated

Front Crash

Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

SEAT BELTS

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.

STRUCTURE

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)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

SUSPENSION,SEAT BELTS

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 (NHTSA 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.

SEAT BELTS

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 NHTSA 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.

SEAT BELTS

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 NHTSA ORDERED THE RECALL AND NOT MAZDA. *TR

SUSPENSION

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 NHTSA 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.

POWER TRAIN

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.

SEAT BELTS

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 - *NM

SEAT BELTS

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. *NM