1988 Mazda 929 Problems
- Complaints
- 34filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 197,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 2campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 19 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl RWD · 17 city / 21 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1988 Mazda 929 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 34 consumer complaints for the 1988 Mazda 929. The part named most often is seat belts, with 10 complaints (29% of the total), followed by body and structure (7) and fuel system (5). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 197,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year. Seat belts complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the buckle assembly filed under the same part. Body and structure complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the door filed under the same part.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Seat belts10 29%
- Body and structure7 21%
- Fuel system5 15%
- Brakes4 12%
- Electrical system2 5.9%
- Vehicle speed control2 5.9%
- Engine cooling1 2.9%
Example complaints
Seat belts: “Vehicle was in an accident and when the vehicle was struck the seat belt did not operate like it should of had. The seat belt did not lock when the vehicle was hit.”
NHTSA complaint #802743, filed 1996-09Body and structure: “All 4 door handles on the outside broke. The doors cannot be open from the outside. The problem has been reported to the dealer. The problem has not been corrected. Recall# 93v174000, does not include rear door handles.”
NHTSA complaint #837371, filed 1999-05Fuel system: “When I start the car in the morning it idles about 2000 RPM then drops to 1000 RPM and revs back up to 1800 RPM and continues pulsate in neutral every second until you put it in drive. In drive it remains idling at 1500 RPM until you shut it off and restart. If the engine is not warm enough it starts over doing the same thing otherwise it begins to idle correctly. With the idle high it makes it very hard to stop the car. What can be done?”
NHTSA complaint #10047196, filed 2003-11, 197,000 milesBrakes: “Consumer experiencing problem concerning reoccurring brake mulfunction due to rotor warpage every 3000 miles of wear; dealer notified and problem cannot be resolved. All cost still to the consumer. Dealer flush ABS, replaced front and rear brake pads, calipers, rotors, and wheel bearings, however consumer states that symptoms of rotor warpage still exists.”
NHTSA complaint #825332, filed 1998-07Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 197,000 and 197,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1988 Mazda 929 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 929 RWD | 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 17 | 21 | 19 | $3,550 |
| 929 RWD | 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 16 | 22 | 18 | $3,700 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 95V103005May 24, 1995Seat belts › Front › Buckle assemblyCovers: Mazda 929 1988–1991, MPV 1989–1991, MX-6 1988–1989 +1 more
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.
- 93V174000Oct 29, 1993Structure › Body › DoorCovers: Mazda 929 1988–1989, 626 1988–1991
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.
Recall details for the 1988 Mazda 929 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1988 Mazda 929.
Other model years of the Mazda 929
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 12 | — | 1 | — | 19 | — | Not enough data |
| 1993 | 19 | — | 1 | — | 19 | — | Stable |
| 1992 | 35 | 94,500 | 0 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 18 | 86,000 | 1 | — | 18 | — | Stable |
| 1990 | 12 | — | 1 | — | 18 | — | Not enough data |
| 1989 | 36 | — | 2 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 34 | 197,000 | 2 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All Mazda 929 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1988 Mazda 929 have?
NHTSA recorded 34 consumer complaints for the 1988 Mazda 929 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1988 Mazda 929 is reported most often?
Seat belts is named most often, in 10 complaints (29% of the total), followed by body and structure with 7.
Has the 1988 Mazda 929 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1988 Mazda 929 get?
The EPA rates the 1988 Mazda 929 (929, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 17 city and 21 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1988 Mazda 929 reported?
Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 197,000 miles and the middle half falls between 197,000 and 197,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.