Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA about the 1989 Mazda 929, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 20 | 51% |
| Power train | 4 | 10% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 10% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 8% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 3% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
THE HORN NOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL WORK. I'VE CHECKED ALL OF THE FUSES THEY ARE ALL WORKING.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
WHILE VEHICLE STOPPED TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD RISE. ON THE OTHER HAND, WHILE TRAVELING TEMPERATURE WOULD LOWER. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
GAS FUMES WERE GETTING INTO VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING\. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED ONE OF THREE INJECTORS. CURRENTLY, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PPROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. IMMEDIATELY PLACED SHIFT IN NEUTRAL WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, ENGINE WITH NO LOAD RACED TO 5000 RPM AND WAS CLIMBING HIGHER UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO OFF. R
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
CONSUMERS UNION RECOMMENDED I CONTACT YOU. CAM DRIVE BELT MANUFACTURED BY THE KELLY-SPRINGFIELD DIVSION OF GOODYEAR TIRE AND RUBBER, SEPARATED INTO SHREDS AFTER 49,800 MILES. LOCAL DEALER REPLACED BELT FREE OF CHARGE,
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
PASSENGER'S DOOR HANDLE WILL NOT OPEN THE DOORS AT ALL. AT THIS TIME THERE IS A RECALL ON THE FRONT DOORS, BUT NOT ON PASSENGER'S DOOR. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Structure
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHEN CHANGING. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD BE ROUGHT SHIFTING FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. TRANSMISSION GOT W
NHTSA complaint: Power train
THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES, BOTH FRONT AND REAR, KEEP BREAKING, THEREBY MAKING THE DOORS INOPERATIVE FROM THE OUTSIDE. BOTH REAR HANDLES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND BOTH FRONT HANDLES WERE REPLACED DUE TO A RECALL, THE LE
NHTSA complaint: Structure
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1989 Mazda 929. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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.
Risk: INADVERTENT ACTUATION OF THE DOOR LATCH CAUSES THE DOORTO OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN OCCUPANT FALLING OUT OF THEVEHICLE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR HANDLE/LATCH ASSEMBLY.
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.
Risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES A
| Reliability raw | 86 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 83 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 87 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 62 | average |
| Performance | 59 | average |
| Efficiency | 36 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and structure is the most reported area with 20 of them (51%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 83/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1989 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 74/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.