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U.S. public vehicle records

1998 Mazda B-SERIES TRUCK problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

58 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

67,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 58 complaints (17.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior813.8%
Steering behavior58.6%
Engine operation46.9%
Electrical and battery issues23.4%
Fuel system concerns11.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Tires
10
Tires:Tread/Belt
8
Vehicle Speed Control
8
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
4
Interior Lighting
3
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
3
Air Bags
2
Air Bags:Frontal
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Tires10
Tires:Tread/Belt8
Vehicle Speed Control8
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline4
Interior Lighting3
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control3
Air Bags2
Air Bags:Frontal2

Tires: 10; Tires:Tread/Belt: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Interior Lighting: 3; Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control: 3; Air Bags: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
6
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9996
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 44 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000
19
2001
7
2002
5
2003
3
2004
3
2005
2
2006
1
2007
1
2008
5
2009
1
2010
3
2012
2
2013
1
2017
1
2018
1
2021
1
2022
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200019
20017
20025
20033
20043
20052
20061
20071
20085
20091
20103
20122
20131
20171
20181
20211
20222

2000: 19; 2001: 7; 2002: 5; 2003: 3; 2004: 3; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 5; 2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 2

Pattern summary

Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10057399 · 2004-02-02 (February 2, 2004)

WHILE BRAKING ABRUPTLY THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. NEITHER OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER WAS NOT HURT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057399 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10143325 · 2005-11-21 (November 21, 2005)

DT: CONSUMER WAS PULLED OVER FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING. HE CHANGED THE FUSE. WHEN CHANGING THE FUSE HE NOTICED SMOKE, AND FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE SWITCH. THE SWITCH WAS CORRODED. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. THE DEALER HAD NOT LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AS STATED IN THE FORD RECALL EVEN THOUGH HIS VEHICLE IS NOT A FORD, HOWEVER FORD DID MANUFACTURER THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 12/07/05. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10143325 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10164900 · 2006-08-08 (August 8, 2006)

I HAVE HEARD THAT FORD HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES. I HAVE A 1998 MAZDA 2500 PICKUP, SO MY TRUCK MAY HAVE SOME OF THE SOME PROBLEMS. LAST YEAR THE CRUISE CONTROL "ON" AND "OFF" BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH ARE BACK LIT, BECAME VERY HOT WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON, REGARDLESS OF THE CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED OR NOT. THE CONTROL LIGHTS HAVE SINCE BURNED OUT. THIS IS A MINOR INCONVENIENCE IF IT IS ONLY A BURNED OUT LIGHT. IF THIS IS A PART OF A LARGER ELECTRICAL PROBLEM I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW AND IF OTHERS …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10164900 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10245218 · 2008-10-13 (October 13, 2008)

I OWN A 1998 MAZDA PICKUP, 2500 MODEL. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FLORIDA VEHICLE. I DID A FRONT END SUSPENSION CHECK, AND FOUND ALL 4 BALL JOINTS WITH DEEP RUST, NO RUBBER SEALS LEFT OTHER THAN BRITTLE AND CRACKED REMAINS OF THE RUBBER BOOT AROUND THE JOINTS. THE RUBBER BUSHINGS ON THE FRONT STABILIZER ASSEMBLY WERE ALSO EITHER TOTALLY DISINTEGRATED OR MISSING. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE CONDITION HAD BEEN PRESENT FOR SOME TIME, THE BALL JOINTS WERE BADLY WORN, AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WOULD HAVE OCCURRED WITHIN MONTHS. THIS VEHICLE WAS…

Owner-reported narrative. 128,131 miles reported. Look up ODI 10245218 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 755680 · 2001-12-15 (December 15, 2001)

TWO INCIDENTS OF ENGINE FAILURE WITHIN 2 MILES OF HOME. BOTH OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER PULLING AWAY FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. TRUCK EXPERIENCES WIDE EXCURSIONS IN RPMS, ACCOMPANIED BY BY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON THE DOWNWARD SWINGS. WITHIN 5 TO 8 SECONDS ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART IMMEDIATELY AFTER INCIDENT FAIL. CRANKING OF ENGINE IS NORMAL, HOWEVER NO START. BOTH INCIDENTS RESULT IN TOWING, AFTER WHICH THE TRUCK STARTS NORMALLY, WITH NO CODES ENTERED IN THE COMPUTER. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 755680 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 762279 · 2002-05-25 (May 25, 2002)

ENGINE STALLS AND IDLE IS UNSTABLE WHILE AT STOPLIGHT. LOSES POWER WHEN DRIVING

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 762279 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8004764 · 2002-02-28 (February 28, 2002)

DOOR SWITCH THAT CONTROLS INTERIOR LIGHTS STAYS ON. LIGHT INTERFERES WITH DRIVING AND RUNS DOWN BATTERY. THREE TIMES THE SWITCH HAS BEEN CHANGED IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *JG *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8004764 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11491394 · 2022-10-28 (October 28, 2022)

Mazdaspeed 3 turbo Vin:[XXX] ************************* Fuel pump EfI 400hp @ idel Turbo propultion not installed Cricket wireless broadband internet Connection.....? Swiage leakage: [XXX] [XXX] West covina sheriff dept. West covina ca INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11491394 at NHTSA ↗