Mazda VIN Decoder & VIN Check — Models, Recalls, Specs, MPG & Safety
“Zoom-Zoom”
Mazda Motor Corporation is a Japanese automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Hiroshima Prefecture. Founded as Toyo Cork Kogyo Co. in 1920 by Jujiro Matsuda, the company began producing trucks in 1931 and adopted the Mazda name (an anglicization of Matsuda also referencing Ahura Mazda, the Zoroastrian deity of light) for export.
Mazda is the only automaker that ever mass-produced rotary (Wankel) engines, sold in the Cosmo, RX-7 and RX-8 from 1967 through 2012, and announced the rotary's return as a range-extender in the 2024 MX-30 R-EV. The Skyactiv engine and chassis architecture, introduced in 2011, represented Mazda's decision to pursue efficiency through internal-combustion refinement rather than aggressive electrification. The CX-5, CX-50, CX-90 and CX-30 lead Mazda's SUV lineup, while the MX-5 Miata remains the world's best-selling roadster of all time.
Mazda trades on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under 7261. Recall data for every Mazda VIN is reported to NHTSA, and EPA fuel-economy ratings, IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designations (which Mazda has won across nearly every model line) and J.D. Power studies provide independent benchmarks. ForCar.org decodes any Mazda VIN to surface trim, factory options, open recalls and original MSRP.
Mazda at a glance
- Founded
- 1920 (as Toyo Cork Kogyo)
- Founder
- Jujiro Matsuda
- Headquarters
- Hiroshima, Japan
- Stock ticker
- OTC: MZDAY / Tokyo: 7261
- Iconic engine
- Wankel rotary (Cosmo, RX-7, RX-8)
- Bestselling roadster
- MX-5 Miata (1.2M+ units, Guinness record)
- Engine philosophy
- Skyactiv-X compression ignition
- Independent
- Ended Ford partnership in 2015
- Basic warranty
- 3 years / 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty
- 5 years / 60,000 miles
Decode any Mazda VIN
Enter a 17-character VIN below to retrieve the trim, factory options, original window-sticker MSRP and any open NHTSA recall affecting that specific vehicle. ForCar.org pulls the same dataset that Mazda dealers use to notify owners of safety recalls.
VIN Decoder
Signature Mazda technology
Mazda heritage
Toyo Cork Kogyo was founded in Hiroshima in 1920 to manufacture cork. Jujiro Matsuda took over in 1921 and pivoted the company to machine tools and trucks. The 1967 Cosmo Sport became the second mass-produced rotary-engine car after NSU. The 1989 MX-5 Miata revived the affordable roadster segment and has produced over 1.2 million units across four generations, with the world record for highest-selling two-seat sports car certified by Guinness in 2016.
Market position
Mazda competes in mass-market segments but positions itself one tier above Toyota and Honda on driving dynamics, interior craftsmanship and design — what the brand calls premium-mainstream. The CX-50, CX-70 and CX-90 represent Mazda's 2022-2024 push upmarket using a longitudinal-engine inline-six platform shared across the larger SUVs. Mazda is one of the few independent automakers, having ended its 22-year capital alliance with Ford in 2015.
New-vehicle warranty
MAZDA VIN Decoder — Free VIN Check Video Guide
Watch our quick MAZDA VIN decoder walkthrough. Learn how to decode any MAZDA VIN number to get full vehicle history, recall alerts, specifications, fuel economy (MPG), safety ratings, and known problems — completely free on ForCar.org.
All Mazda models (28)
Frequently asked questions
When was Mazda founded and by whom?
Mazda was founded in 1920 by Jujiro Matsuda and is headquartered in Hiroshima, Japan.
Where is the VIN on a Mazda vehicle?
The 17-character VIN appears in four standard locations: dashboard at the windshield base (driver side), driver-side door jamb sticker, the engine bay (firewall or engine block stamping), and the vehicle's title, registration and insurance documents.
How many Mazda models can ForCar.org decode?
ForCar.org indexes 28 Mazda nameplates. Any 17-character Mazda VIN is decoded against the NHTSA dataset to return trim, factory options, open recalls and original window-sticker MSRP.
What is the Mazda warranty?
Basic: 3 years / 36,000 miles. Powertrain: 5 years / 60,000 miles.
How to check Mazda recalls by VIN?
Enter your VIN in the decoder above. ForCar.org queries NHTSA's open-recall dataset for that specific VIN and returns any safety recalls or Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) that affect your vehicle.
Disambiguation: This page covers Mazda Motor Corporation, the automaker — not the Ahura Mazda deity or any unrelated Mazda surname uses.
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