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1987 Mazda 323

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1987 323.

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1987 Mazda 323 is a compact vehicle equipped with an automatic three-speed transmission, delivering EPA-estimated fuel economy of 22 city, 28 highway, and 24 combined miles per gallon. This model year posted a notably clean reliability record with zero recalls and only 10 total owner complaints, with the most frequently cited issue area being engine and engine cooling. When contextualized against the model's broader complaint history spanning 1990 to 1995—a period that ranged from a peak of 23 complaints in 1991 down to a low of just 4 in 1995—the 1987's modest complaint count suggests it falls within a comparatively stable portion of the vehicle's lifecycle, indicating reasonable durability for researchers evaluating long-term ownership prospects.

Model year1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy22/28/24 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 350 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 35 · 350 CCAOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	161.8 in
Overall width	65 in
Overall height	54.7 in
Wheelbase	94.5 in
Curb weight	2061 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	22 / 28 / 24 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	88 cu ft
Cargo volume	15 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the 323 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.5–10.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.50 sec — 1988 GTX 3-door Hatchback

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1988	GTX 3-door Hatchback 1.6L Turbo I-4	8.50 sec	16.50 sec	132 hp	AWD
1989	SE Sedan 1.6L I-4	10.60 sec	17.70 sec	82 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine GL-5 in the differential.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil	GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3 Pints
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Power Steering Fluid	ATF

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Group Number	35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	350 cca

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi.

Every 7,500 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Rack & Pinion Housing Dust Boot (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Body Fasteners (torque) · Brake Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
At 30,000 mi	Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Power Booster Unit (inspect) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect)
Every 45,000 mi	Shift Linkage Boot (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Timing Belt (replace) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The federal record provided begins in 1990, three years after the 1987 target year, so direct year-over-year comparison for 1987 is not possible from this dataset. The 1987 model shows a complaint profile led by Engine & Engine Cooling (5 reports), followed by Service Brakes, Hydraulic (2), Power Train (1), and Air Bags (1), with one crash complaint and no fire complaints recorded. The subsequent 1990–1995 generation arc displays a clear improving trend: complaints fall from 22 to 4, recalls hold at two before dropping to one in 1995, investigations decline from two to zero, and TSBs drop sharply from 24 to 2. Because 1987 precedes this documented downtrend, its complaint counts cannot be benchmarked against adjacent model years in the federal data. The data does not specify root causes for the 1987 engine, brake, or air bag reports. Without earlier federal records to confirm whether 1987 sits at a peak, trough, or midpoint, a definitive reliability verdict cannot be drawn from this dataset alone; a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the cooling system and hydraulic brakes is the prudent next step.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

1 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 10 complaints on record, top 5 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling5

Service Brakes, Hydraulic2

Power Train1

Air Bags1

Visibility1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 3 of 3 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
008/97	1997-05-19	Equipment	USE OF A/C TRACER DYE. *TW
001/97G	1997-04-08	Electrical System	MAINTENANCE FREE BATTERY - DIAGNOSTIC AND CHARGING PROCEDURE. *TW
003/97G	1997-01-19	Electrical System	WIPER MOTOR INOPERATIVE - CIRCUIT BREAKER ACTIVATION. *TW

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific 323. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 35 battery

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 1987 323 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 323 get?

EPA figures are 22 city / 28 highway / 24 combined mpg.