Total Complaints
10 filings
MAZDA 323 · model year
1987 MAZDA 323
10 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987MAZDA323 carries 10 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1987 323 is engine and engine cooling:engine with 2 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (2) and engine and engine cooling:cooling system:radiator assembly (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 21 investigation files overlapping the 1987 323, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
10
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020425ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED/ ANY TIME. VEHICLE AT REPAIR SHOP AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.*AK
20010522POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION IS OPERATING POORLY, IT IS STARTING TO SLIP. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
20001101ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND RAN INTO THE CAR AHEAD OR HER. *ET
19970627SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ANTILOCK BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON.
19970627SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING NOISE.
19970627AIR BAGS
AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE IN AN ACCIDENT.
19951218VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD ARM BOLT FAILS IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
19951213CrashENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
THE OVERFLOW RESERVOIR OF THE RADIATOR,THE CAP POPS UP TO EASILY.PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
19950302ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CRANKSHAFT FAILED. *AK
19950111ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CRANKSHAFT CRACKED WHERE IT ATTACHED TO THE TIMING BELT PULLEY. TT
Compare 1987MAZDA323 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 1987 MAZDA 323 have?▼
The 1987 MAZDA 323 has 10 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 MAZDA 323?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 MAZDA 323 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1987 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 vintage: August 2026. 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.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1987 MAZDA 323; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.