Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1988 Mazda 929, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Seat belts10
- Structure7
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Latches/locks/linkages4
- Vehicle speed control2
- Electrical system2
- Power train2
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Fuel system, other1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
In the United Kingdom
0 cars built in 1988 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1 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
In New Zealand
5 1988 cars are on the New Zealand register; 20% arrived as used imports, 80% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 1988 Mazda 929.
| 1995085 24 May 1995 | Seats And Restraints THE (Takata) ABS PLASTIC FRONT SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTONS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY BREAK ALLOWING PLASTIC PIECES TO FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. IF THIS SHOULD HA… |
| 1994027 10 Feb 1994 | Structure NOTE: 626 - 16,682 UNITS. 929 - 3,001 UNITS. THE FRONT OUTER DOOR HANDLES CAN PREMATURELY FAIL AT THE POINT WHERE THE HANDLE CONNECTS TO THE ROD THAT ACTIVATES… |
| 1988009 20 Jan 1988 | Emissions THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1105 - EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS. V.I.N. RANGE - JM1HC2210J0100001 TO JM1HC2216J0113013 |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
RESIN MOLDED FRONT HANDLES FAIL AT THE DOOR LATCH ACTUATING ROD ATTACHMENT, FREEING THE ROD TO FALL INSIDE THE DOOR FRAME. SUBSEQUENT LOWERING OF THE ASSOCIATED WINDOW MAY FORCE THE ACTUATING ROD DOWNWARD AND RELEASE THE DOOR LATCH.
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 1988 Mazda 929: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 603854 | INFORMATION REGARDING SEAT BELT EXTENDERS. *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 |
| 39688 | HARD SHIFT, R-TYPE TRANSMISSION. *TW |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
INADVERTENT DOOR OPENING
INADVERTENT DOOR OPENING
THROTTLE STICKING
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation