The 1989 draws 2.33 complaints per run and the 1991 1.18, a 2.0-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age, so 76.5% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Service Brakes, with 28 complaints, typically at 3.4 years.
Mazda 929 years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 11 | 8 | yes | |
| 1993 | 9 | 7 | yes | |
| 1992 | 26 | 13 | yes | |
| 1991 | 13 | 11 | yes | |
| 1990 | 9 | 7 | yes | |
| 1989 | 28 | 12 | yes | |
| 1988 | 25 | 13 | yes |
Among the 4 Mazda 929 years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 1989, 1992, 1988; the three worth hunting are 1991, 1988, 1992.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 3.9% | covered | |
| 1 year | 11.8% | covered | |
| 2 years | 23.5% | covered | |
| 3 years | 33.3% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 47.1% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 64.7% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 76.5% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 88.2% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 90.2% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 92.2% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 94.1% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 98% | you pay | |
| 14 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 23.5% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 76.5% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 18% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Mazda 929, the early trouble is Service Brakes and Hydraulic — reported at around 3.4 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Seat Belts at 7 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 3.4 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Hydraulic | 3.3 yrs | — | — | |
| Structure | 4 yrs | — | — | |
| Seat Belts | 7 yrs | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6.3 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Power Train | 7.8 yrs | — | — | |
| Electrical System | 7 yrs | — | 1 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 yrs | 2 | 1 |
What else in this class
6 models share the 929's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Camry draws 5.65, the Honda Accord 4.02 and the Dodge Challenger 3.27, against 1.71 for the 929. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the 929 | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry | 161 | 1983–2026 | |
| Honda Accord | 415 | 1981–2026 | |
| Dodge Challenger | 77 | 1981–2026 | |
| Toyota Prius | 109 | 2001–2026 | |
| Hyundai Elantra | 117 | 1992–2026 | |
| Nissan Altima | 148 | 1993–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
Is the Mazda 929 reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.71 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.
Which 929 years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 1989, 1992, 1988. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 1991, 1988, 1992. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do 929 problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age. The most reported system is Service Brakes, typically at 3.4 years, followed by Hydraulic.
Will the warranty cover 929 problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 23.5% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 18% of the complaints here.
Is the 929 more reliable than the Toyota Camry?
Yes: 1.71 complaints per production run for the 929 against 5.65 for the Toyota Camry.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.