1997 Mazda B2300 SE from North America - Comments

In the first month we had this truck the air conditioner quit. Even after it was fixed it took a while for it to get cooled off usually we'd already arrived before it got cool. $527.68.

After that the door sensor on the passenger side messed up. You can't get to this yourself you have to take it to a mechanic because it's wiring inside the door. A month later the other side messed up. It probably wouldn't have bothered me, but the dome light would not shut off so we had to pull the fuse. $97.53.

I know four cylinders don't have much power, but this truck didn't even want to pull itself up the driveway.

The truck all in all had way too many problems and costed more than it was worth.

There isn't a lot of room in the cab.

I myself own a 97 b2300 and when I purchased the truck in 2003, the door ajar light stays on all the time, so I had to pull a bulb out of the cab light so it would be manually functional. how did you fix this problem? email me at ownijjmazda@yahoo.com.

I just bought a 1997 b2300 from a private owner he said only two things have ever gone wrong with his. The gas gauge didn't work (which I want to get fixed, but don't know exactly what the problem is), and the door ajar light stays on, I eventually pulled the fuse, but after about 2 weeks it started working again I might just take it to a mechanic to get it fixed, but I was wondering if anybody else had the same problem with the gas tank. So please write back.

The door ajar light problem is computer based and too expensive to fix, just undo the cain bulbs.

For the door ajar light and constant bell sounding problem, spray WD40 (with straw) liberally on the door lock. Then open and close door about ten times.

I just did this on my 95 Mazda B2300 and it worked like a charm! No more Ding Ding Ding!

Brothers! (or sisters!) My 1997 model no longer has a functioning gas gauge (finally went completely out in Feb. 2005) and the interior light has stuck since March 2000. I just use the tackometer for gas (over 200, start looking for a gas station) and would tell my wife when the light stuck at night to bring something to read. It only sticks, however, when the doors are opened repeatedly.

Other than that, the truck has been great. I'm at 196,000 and still going. Has anyone experienced problems with the cooling system? That's been the only nagging problem. But only twice has it not started in eight years - both due to dead battery.

I have a 97 B2300 with 85,000 miles. Since the warranty ran out, it has had four trips for Check Engine and each one cost $100-200, except the one last week. It cost $350 to replace the EIGHT spark plugs and EIGHT wires on a 4 cylinder engine.

It cost $300 three months ago to replace the fuel pump which quit working.

Now the gas gauge is not working and that is $300.

Also, the rubber tube connecting the tank to the filler tube is cracked and leaking and that is $440. Tube alone is $300.

Two different garages all say none of these are related - just aging.

IT'S A FORD! Don't buy one.

I have a 1995 Mazda B2300 that I have been driving for years. It has about 260,000 miles on it, still has the original engine, never been overnight in a shop, and always has started very easily.

Other than the regular maintenance that is required for an old vehicle (new master cylinder for clutch, radiator, etc..), I've never had a problem with the engine itself, and the truck has served me well.However, it seems there a two problems I share with a lot of the posts about the Mazda B2300.

The first is how the fuel gauge mysteriously quits working. I have been searching for an answer online, but have not found a probable solution. If could either be a bad connection, the float in the fuel pump, or even a computer problem (If anyone knows how to fix this, email me at joshgodwin@hotmail.com).

The second problem is Dinger/Light problem. Although I think it's a problem with one of the modules or possibly an electronic problem, I found it easier just to put a switch on the wire to the computer module and use it to turn the light on and off rather than have a mechanic charge $300 for an obsolete part. But that's just me...

Overall though, in spite of these problems, I really like this truck. It gets great distance on fuel, and is one of the most dependable vehicles for getting one from point A to point B. The air conditioner has always worked, and the engine still runs like a top.