Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Engines
The most common engines in 1997 Mazda 323 cars on Dutch roads are the 1.5 petrol (65 kW, 87 hp) and 1.3 petrol (54 kW, 72 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 petrol | 65 kW 87 hp | 103 |
| 1.3 petrol | 54 kW 72 hp | 20 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
219 first registered in 1997 are on Dutch roads; 5% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde104
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen58
- Band onvoldoende profiel51
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af45
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)34
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse33
- Schokdemper aanwezig die lekkage vertoont30
- Remverschil op 1 as te groot30
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
70 cars built in 1997 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 282 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 145 of these cars first registered in 1997 took their annual MOT test. 51% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1997 the figure was 64%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1997 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 20.0% | 12.2% |
| Brakes | 17.9% | 11.8% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 15.9% | 9.7% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 14.5% | 16.1% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 13.1% | 7.2% |
| Visibility | 9.7% | 6.6% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
129 of these cars first registered in 1997 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 206,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
134 1997 cars are on the New Zealand register.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1997 Mazda 323.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mazda told its dealers about the 1997 Mazda 323: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 603891 | CONDITIONS WITH STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY OFF CENTER. *YC |
| 54319 | PRE-PAINTING PREPARATIONS FOR FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS. *YC |
| 52520 | PARTS REPLACEMENT AFTER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TW |
| 52503 | MAINTENANCE FREE BATTERY - DIAGNOSTIC AND CHARGING PROCEDURE. *TW |
| 52497 | USE OF A/C TRACER DYE. *TW |
| 52492 | WIPER MOTOR INOPERATIVE - CIRCUIT BREAKER ACTIVATION. *TW |
| 10200527 | This service bulletin provides information regarding the proper use of the drivers floor mat to avoid any potential interference with the foot pedals. The following are possible causes of floor mat interference, which can be avoided with proper usage. |
| 10186703 | In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer |
| 10170661 | In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealers responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)