Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Engines
The most common engines in 1998 Mazda 323 cars on Dutch roads are the 1.5 petrol (65 kW, 87 hp), 1.3 petrol (54 kW, 72 hp) and 1.8 petrol (84 kW, 113 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 petrol | 65 kW 87 hp | 192 |
| 1.3 petrol | 54 kW 72 hp | 36 |
| 1.8 petrol | 84 kW 113 hp | 24 |
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
298 first registered in 1998 are on Dutch roads; 3% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde120
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen99
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld74
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af69
- Band onvoldoende profiel68
- Licht- donkerscheiding dimlicht onduidelijk61
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht59
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm57
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
100 cars built in 1998 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 377 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, 185 of these cars first registered in 1998 took their annual MOT test. 56% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1998 the figure was 64%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1998 |
|---|---|---|
| Body, chassis, structure | 20.0% | 9.3% |
| Suspension | 19.5% | 12.4% |
| Brakes | 18.4% | 11.8% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 14.6% | 16.0% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 9.7% | 7.2% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 4.3% | 3.4% |
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
193 of these cars first registered in 1998 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 219,000 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
96 1998 cars are on the New Zealand register; 2% arrived as used imports, 95% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1998 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 1998 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 |
| 10222564 | Some customers may experience a squeaking noise may be heard from the exhaust manifold when the idle speed drops from fast idle to normal idle speed during cold start. This is caused by a variable valve being stuck in the closed position. When returning from fast idle to normal, the stuck valve suddenly opens due to thermal change around it which causes abnormal noise. To eliminate this concern, the internal design of the exhaust manifold has been modified. |
| 10217209 | In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. |
| 10213185 | Some customers may complain of signs of oil on the struts or shock absorbers. In most cases the oil that is present is normal, and a result of the oil that remains on the shaft during the normal sweeping process of the shaft seal. Follow the inspection guidelines below to determine if the condition is a result of the normal sweeping process or a failure of the shaft seal. |
| 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. |
| 10198571 | Some customers may experience the MAZDA CONNECT rebooting or the screen turning black under any temperature. When the concern occurs, MAZDA CONNECT reboots repeatedly, and if the SD card is removed during this reboot cycle, the rebooting cycle ends. This is caused by some SD cards for the MAZDA CONNECT navigation system being manufactured with improper hardware, resulting in a data reading error. To correct the concern, the SD card hardware has been changed. |
| 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)