Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1993 Mazda MX-3. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Ignition Switch may Overheat
- Summary
- 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 overheat.
- 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.
MAZDA/AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RAIL
- Summary
- 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.
MAZDA/FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (54)
54 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The seat belts is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 54 |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 30 | 55.6% |
| Power train | 7 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 11.1% |
| Air bags | 3 | 5.6% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 5.6% |
| Suspension | 3 | 5.6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 5.6% |
| Visibility | 3 | 5.6% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 3.7% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 3.7% |
How 1993 compares with other MX-3 years
Best and worst MX-3 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 | 45 | 3 |
| 1993 | 54 | 3 |
| 1994 | 19 | 1 |
| 1995 | 10 | 1 |
| 1996 | 2 | 0 |
| 1999 | 1 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 27 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,500
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 329 g/mi
- EPA class
- Subcompact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 27 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 32 / 27 | $2,500 | 329 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 29 / 25 | $2,700 | 356 |
| 1.9 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 26 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 1.9 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 25 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1993 MX-3 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1993 Mazda MX-3 FAQ
How many recalls does the 1993 Mazda MX-3 have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 15V674000 (electrical), 97V211000 (seat belt), 97V116000 (suspension). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1993 Mazda MX-3 problems?
Owners filed 54 complaints with NHTSA. Seat belts (30), Power train (7), Electrical system (6) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1993 Mazda MX-3 get?
EPA rates the 1.6 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 24 city, 32 highway and 27 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1993 MX-3 compare with other years?
Among the 1991–1999 Mazda MX-3 model years at least five years old, the 1991 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1993 the most (54). The 1993 drew 54. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.