Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 Mazda 929, and it carries no 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 6 | 16% |
| Service brakes | 5 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 11% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 8% |
| Structure | 2 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 5% |
| Tires | 2 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 5% |
| Visibility | 2 | 5% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING AT AN INTERSECTION WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH ON 07/15/06. THE VEHICLE ENGINE STARTED UP AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS AND PREVIOUSLY STALLED ON 9 OTHER OCCASIONS.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING, AND JUMPED A CONCRETE BARRIER AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. MAZDA DENIED ANY LIABILITY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *C
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
DOOR SEPARATED FROM FRAMING. DEALER DOOR CLIP DETERIORATED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Structure
VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD AFTER BRAKES WERE APPLIED.*MR AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER HIT A PARKED CAR. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
THE TIRE QUALITY GRADING(TREADWEAR,TRACTION,AND TEMPRATURE)ARE NOT MARKED WITH NUMERALS OR LETTERS ON THE TIRES, THREE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THIS IMPRINT IS NOT NECESSARY (FIREST
NHTSA complaint: Tires
CAR WILL RUN FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES BEFORE IT STARTS TO OVERHEAT, TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES UP. ONLY WAY TO STOP OVER HEATING IS TO TURN ON THE HEAT. CONSUMER STATES THIS IS SECOND TIME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
SEVERAL YEARS AGO BEGAN A SERIES OF BLOWOUTS AND RAPID AIR PRESSURE LOSS IN TIRES. TIRES REMOVED ONE BY ONE AND NEW BEAD SEAL APPLIED. BEAD SEAL FAILURE ATTRIBUTED TO ALLOY WHEELS. SITUATION PRONOUNCED "FIXED" BY LAR
NHTSA complaint: Tires
FRONT DOOR PANELS ARE CRACKED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Structure
| Reliability raw | 87 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 84 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 87 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 62 | average |
| Performance | 59 | average |
| Efficiency | 34 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seats is the most reported area with 6 of them (16%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (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 84/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1992 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 75/100. 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.