Total Complaints
10 filings
MAZDA 323 · model year
1986 MAZDA 323
10 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986MAZDA323 carries 10 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1986 323 is wheels with 1 filings, followed by electrical system (1) and seat belts (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 21 investigation files overlapping the 1986 323, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
10
Complaints
7
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
7 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| WHEELS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20040422CrashSTEERING
Mileage: 33,857
20040422CrashPOWER TRAIN
Mileage: 33,857
20040422CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Mileage: 33,857
20040422CrashTIRES
Mileage: 33,857
20040422CrashENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Mileage: 33,857
20040422CrashENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
Mileage: 33,857
20040422CrashSUSPENSION
Mileage: 33,857
20010622FireSEAT BELTS
WINDOWS IN VEHICLE WERE SMOKEY, AND DOOR WAS MELTED/SHUT. AN INVESTIGATOR INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THAT ORIGINATED FROM A SENSOR DEALING WITH RESTRAINT SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
19990325ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF VEHICLE. AFTERWARDS, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE CAR SHUT OFF ALONG WITH THE MOTOR. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
19970424WHEELS
RIGHT REAR WHEEL FELL OFF, CAUSING ACCIDENT. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
Compare 1986MAZDA323 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
RQ26002Recall QueryOpen
Momentary increase in steering effort after recall remedy
PE19006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Inadvertent Curtain Air Bag Deployment
PE18006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Front Subframe Corrosion
PE15022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Lower ball joint separation
PE14005Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Brake Booster Failure
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1986 MAZDA 323 have?▼
The 1986 MAZDA 323 has 10 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 MAZDA 323?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 MAZDA 323 is WHEELS with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and SEAT BELTS.
Is the 1986 MAZDA 323 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.