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1992 Mazda 323

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 323.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1992 Mazda 323, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission and achieving EPA fuel economy ratings of 23 city, 30 highway, and 25 combined mpg, recorded 16 total owner complaints—a figure that places it between the highest-complaint 1991 model (23 complaints) and the lowest-complaint 1995 model (4 complaints) within the 1990–1995 generation. Its top complaint area was seat belts, and the model year carried two recalls, indicating that while not the most problematic year, it still reflects the generation’s moderate reliability concerns. For a researcher, the 1992 323 represents a middle point in the model’s complaint history, offering a baseline for comparing the more troublesome 1991 and the relatively trouble-free 1995.

Model year1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy23/30/25 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 350 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 35 · 350 CCAOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	163.8 in
Overall width	65.7 in
Overall height	54.3 in
Wheelbase	96.5 in
Curb weight	2194 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	23 / 30 / 25 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the 323 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.90 sec — 1992 3-door Hatchback

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1992	3-door Hatchback 1.6L I-4	9.90 sec	17.50 sec	81 hp	FWD
1989	SE Sedan 1.6L I-4	10.60 sec	17.70 sec	82 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Power Steering Fluid	DEXRON VI OR MERCON V

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Group Number	35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	350 cca

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi.

Every 7,500 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Weatherstrip Seal (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Fasteners (torque) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Fuel Filter (replace) · Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Federal filings for the Mazda 323 generation show complaints crested at 23 in 1991 before beginning a steady decline that would carry through 1995. The 1992 model year sits at that inflection point: complaints fell to 16 and investigations dropped from two to one, yet recalls held steady at two and TSBs remained level at 24, indicating the model was moving past its peak defect-reporting period but had not yet reached the calmer later years. Seat belts dominate the 1992 complaint record with 11 entries, and two additional filings pair seat belts with engine or electrical issues, though the data does not specify root cause; notably, crash and fire complaints are minimal at one and zero, respectively. Compared with the quieter 1993–1995 period—when complaints fell to 13, 11, and 4—1992 carries a heavier federal footprint but still improves meaningfully over 1990–1991. For a buyer, this makes 1992 a reasonable middle-ground year, preferable to the earliest models but slightly less attractive than the lower-complaint 1993–1994 examples.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

1 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91’92’93 ’94 ’95

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 16 complaints on record, top 6 components.

Seat Belts11

Engine & Engine Cooling,Seat Belts1

Unknown Or Other1

Electrical System,Seat Belts1

Seats1

Steering1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

15V674000Electrical System:Ignition:SwitchReported 19/10/2015

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected… Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center…

97V211000Seat Belts:Front:WebbingReported 18/11/1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS. THE RAIL OF THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT CAN WEAR SUFFICIENTLY SUCH THAT THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAN BECOME… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSIVE SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLY WITH A MODIFIED ONE (WITH ADDITIONAL DUST LIP) IN VEHICLES WHICH HAVE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM. IN VEHICLES IN WHICH THE…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 24 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
00-003-19-3583	2019-03-20	Engine And Engine Cooling	In support of the new MRT distribution, Mazda will ship to dealers a new Dual Purpose…
09-009-19-3566	2019-01-14	Electrical System	In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…
09-034-18-3430a	2018-10-10	Vehicle Speed Control	In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…
09-034-18-3430	2018-08-31	Vehicle Speed Control	In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…
09-035-17-3080	2017-08-07	Electrical System	In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific 323. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 35 battery

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 1992 323 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 323 get?

EPA figures are 23 city / 30 highway / 25 combined mpg.