Mazda MILLENIA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
198 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
68,400 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 to 2003 model years. Data snapshot: . 77 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 198 complaints (11.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 27 | 13.6% |
| Braking behavior | 14 | 7.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 4.0% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 3.5% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 3.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 3.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 23 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 18 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 13 |
| Air Bags | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 7 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 23; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 18; Air Bags:Frontal: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling: 13; Air Bags: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 11; Unknown Or Other: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 4
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 121 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 13 |
| 1996 | 6 |
| 2000 | 26 |
| 2001 | 25 |
| 2002 | 27 |
| 2003 | 24 |
| 2004 | 24 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
1995: 13; 1996: 6; 2000: 26; 2001: 25; 2002: 27; 2003: 24; 2004: 24; 2005: 11; 2006: 10; 2007: 7; 2008: 4; 2009: 5; 2010: 7; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 27 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 8 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 10098453 · 2004-11-08 (November 8, 2004)
I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALER FOR FRONT IN WOBBLE / NOISE AND ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. 3 WEEKS AND $1980 LATER, THE FRONT END WAS WORSE AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE OIL IS BURNING INTERNALLY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MAZDA WOULD WORK WITH ME TO GET BACK SOME OF THE MONEY. 3 MONTHS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH NO WARNING. THIS CAR IS DEALER MAINTAINED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10098453 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 717120 · 2000-01-09 (January 9, 2000)
TRANSMISSION HAS SERIOUS LEAK. LOCAL DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION SEALS AND RINGS WHICH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY NOW RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT FOR OVER $4,000!! THEY CHARGED ME LABOR COSTS WHICH I PAID SO I COULD GET THE CAR OUT. THEY TOOK OVER 5 WEEKS TO FAIL AT THE REPAIR JOB. THEIR BEST GUESS NOW IS THE TRANSMISSION CASE HAS A DEFECTIVE CRACK IN IT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 717120 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 723842 · 2000-06-10 (June 10, 2000)
BRAKE & SHOE SYSTEM (ABS) WHEELS ,SUPENSION FRONT & REAR ,TIRES ,TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT TRUNK LINKGES, WEEL AND COLUMN ENGINE NEED WORK CAR NEEDS BRAKES PUT BRAKES ON CAR APRIL 2000 LIGHTS DONT WORK .
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 723842 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 884340 · 2001-03-27 (March 27, 2001)
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH AND LOST ALL POWER. THERE WAS MANUVERING OF STEERING & BRAKES. MECHANIC AT A GARAGE SHOWED CONSUMER HOW CAMSHAFT CRACKED, AND SEPARATED FROM ENGINE BLOCK. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE. *AK THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALL WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DUE TO THE ENGINE FAILURE. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 884340 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 876756 · 2000-12-19 (December 19, 2000)
HEATING GAUGE WOULD GO TO TOP. ENGINE WOULD OVERHEAT. ENGINE BECAME DAMAGED DUE TO DRIVING WHILE IT HAD OVERHEATED. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY. TOOK TO PRIVATE MECHANIC & INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CURRENTLY, PROBLEM IS STILL OVERHEATING & STALLING OUT. *AK OIL WAS FOUND IN THE HEAD GASKET BECAUSE THE CAUSE FOR VEHICLE'S RADIATOR FAILURE AND FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONING WAS NOT KNOWN, THE CUSTOMER REPLACED THE RADIATOR. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 876756 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023152 · 2003-06-16 (June 16, 2003)
I PURCHASED A 97 MAZDA MILLENNIA IN 8/97 WITH 29K MILES. TODAY IT IS AT 77K MILES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANK HAS STARTED IMPLODING DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF SUCTION IN THE TANK. THE SUCTION HAS ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LEVEL SENSORS. THE QUOTED REPAIR PRICE WAS $1,800. THE SERVICE REP INFORMED ME THAT MAZDA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED AN ADVISORY TO MECHANICS TO NOT ONLY CHECK THE FUEL GAUGE BUT ALSO THE FUEL TANK. THIS IS NOT CURRENTLY A RECALL ITEM OR A DEFEC…
Owner-reported narrative. 77,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023152 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 486901 · 1995-06-08 (June 8, 1995)
BACK ON STEERING WHEEL IS OPEN WHICH COULD CAUSE DRIVER TO GET HAND STUCK/PREVENTING STEERING WHEEL FROM TURNING. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486901 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 737360 · 2000-12-05 (December 5, 2000)
STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT LOCK AND KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. WAS SUCCESSFUL ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS TO REMOVE KEY ONLY AFTER CAR HAS SAT FOR A MINIMUM OF ABOUT 2 HOURS, THEN KEY WILL RELEASE EASILY. KEYS ARE NOT DAMAGED AND EACH KEY GETS STUCK FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME, CAUSING WEAR ON THE BATTERY. CLOCK REMAINS ON. KEY STUCK BETWEEN "LOCK" AND "ACC" POSITION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 737360 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 505560 · 1996-06-15 (June 15, 1996)
BATTERY CONNECTIONS-BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE BECAME LOOSE TWICE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO UNLOCK/START VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 505560 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1991 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
1991: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0