The Mazda MX-3 is a compact car built from 1989 to 1996. Most were assembled in Japan — 100% of those on record. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6. Worth buying? It depends heavily on which year you buy at 3.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the MX-3 is
The Mazda MX-3 is a compact car that Mazda built from 1989 to 1996 — 8 model years. It has been offered with 4-cyl, V6 power. Its closest siblings in the Mazda range: RX-8, GLC.
Where the MX-3 is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 21 MX-3s on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | JM1 | 1992-1996 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Mazda VIN decide which of these 1 lines your MX-3 belongs to. What every character in a MX-3 VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Mazda MX-3 adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Mazda MX-3 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment MX-3 owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Mazda MX-3 have? Power & range
The Mazda MX-3 is offered with 2 powertrains — 1.8L 6-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Mazda MX-3, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 1.8L · 6-cyl | Manual 5-spd | FWD | Regular |
| 4-cyl | 1.6L · 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The MX-3 by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Mazda MX-3. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | MX-3 | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 10 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 149 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Mazda MX-3?
The MX-3 is a compact car, built from 1989 to 1996. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6.
Where is the Mazda MX-3 made?
Across 21 cars in our records the split is: Japan (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
What is the Mazda MX-3 warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the MX-3 reliable?
It scores 3.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific MX-3?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Mazda
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda CX-5 | 2013–2026 | 33 | 38 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Mazda CX-50 | 2023–2026 | 10 | 38 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Mazda MX-5 | 1990–2026 | 34 | 30 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Mazda RX-7 | 1981–1996 | 23 | 18 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Mazda CX-30 | 2020–2026 | 11 | 29 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Mazda CX-90 | 2024–2026 | 15 | 26 mpg | 4.5/5 |