1993 Mazda MX-3 seat belts problems

The 1993 Mazda MX-3 has 31 seat belts complaints filed with NHTSA — 45% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

Seat Belts complaints

45%

Share of year

Crash-involved

Related recalls

Seat Belts complaints by year

MX-3 seat belts complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

97V211000Seat BeltsNovember 18, 1997 · 134,000 units

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.

What owners report

“RECALL 97V211000, AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RAIL. CONTACTED THE DEALER IN OCT. 23, 1998. AS OF NOW THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE. THE SHOUDLER BELTS ARE INOPERATIVE WHICH WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. DEALER IS HIXSON AUTO PLACE, 2506 MACARTHER DRIVE, ALEXANDRIA, LA 71301, PHONE…”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Seat Belts · October 23, 1998

Common questions

How many seat belts complaints does the 1993 Mazda MX-3 have?

NHTSA has 31 complaints about the 1993 Mazda MX-3 seat belts — 45% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1993 Mazda MX-3 seat belts?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the seat belts: 97V211000.

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.