Total Complaints
2 filings
MAZDA MX-3 · model year
1996 MAZDA MX-3
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996MAZDAMX-3 carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 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 1996 MX-3 is exterior lighting with 1 filings, followed by visibility:power window devices and controls (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 1996 MX-3, 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.
2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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 |
|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20130808VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WINDOWS CANNOT OPEN IN HOT WEATHER. DEALER'S SERVICE MECHANICS ALWAYS JUST CLEAN THE RUBBER SEAL TRACT AND LUBRICATE IT, AND SO DO WE. WINDOWS GET STUCK AGAIN AFTER 3 DAYS. IT'S DANGEROUS, BECAUSE IF IN AN ACCIDENT, ONE CANNOT GET OUT THRU THE WINDOW. THERE ARE SO MANY CANALS NEXT TO SOUTH FLORIDA ROADS- AND SO MANY DEATH BY DROWNING IN THE CAR... NOT TALKING ABOUT INCONVENIENCE OF HAVING TO GET OUT FROM THE CAR TO PAY TOLLS AND GET THRU GATED COMMUNITY ENTRANCE. MECHANICS IN THE DEALERSHIP ARE SAYING, THAT THIS MODEL OF MAZDA HAS THIS PROBLEM AND THEY CANNOT DO MORE, BECAUSE EVEN IF THEY WOULD PUT NEW RUBBER SEALS OR DOOR, IT WOULD BE DOING THE SAME. *TR
Mileage: 40,000
20090407EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA MX-3 (NA). WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE DIMLY LIT. AS A RESULT, VEHICLES IN THE REAR COULD NOT SEE THE LIGHTS UNTIL THEY WERE CLOSE UP ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE LIGHTS ARE POORLY ILLUMINATED AND COULD CAUSE A SEVERE CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED AND HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND CALLING THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,150.
Mileage: 300
Compare 1996MAZDAMX-3 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 1996 MAZDA MX-3 have?▼
The 1996 MAZDA MX-3 has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 MAZDA MX-3?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 MAZDA MX-3 is EXTERIOR LIGHTING with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS.
Is the 1996 MAZDA MX-3 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.