2001 Mazda MPV problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
70 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
71,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 40 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 70 complaints (10.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 12.9% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 11.4% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 5.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.9% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 3 |
Air Bags: 7; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Air Bags:Frontal: 4; Electrical System: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 30 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
2000: 1; 2001: 5; 2002: 12; 2003: 10; 2004: 7; 2005: 7; 2006: 5; 2008: 4; 2009: 4; 2010: 6; 2011: 3; 2014: 2; 2016: 2; 2018: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 10074606 · 2004-06-01 (June 1, 2004)
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VIOLENTLY DURING 1-2 SHIFT DURING A BRISK GET AWAY FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE SHIFT ALMOST SEEMS TO STOP THE VAN'S FORWARD MOMENTUM AND STALL THE ENGINE. THIS OCCURS MAINLY WHEN THE CAR IS COLD. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074606 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147302 · 2006-01-09 (January 9, 2006)
THE TRANSMISSION OF MY 2001 MAZDA MPV SE BEGAN TO SLIP VERY BADLY IN 3RD AND THERE WAS NO 4TH GEAR AFTER 100K MILES. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS AND THE 3 FACILITIES THAT LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE STATED THE FLUID WAS FINE AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED FOR AN AVERAGE COST OF $2500.00. ON MECHANIC WENT ON TO SAY THE MAZDA TRANSMISSIONS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR PROBLEMS AND ARE AMONG THE WORST IN THE INDUSTRY. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147302 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112046 · 2005-02-23 (February 23, 2005)
BURRING SMELL CAME FROM ENGINE SINCE LAST MAINTAINCE PERFORMED TO RESOLVE RECALL. ABS LIGHT CAME ON, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED AND HAD TO BE JUMPED TO START - THIS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES AND WAS TAKEN IN. THE ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE AT FAULT, BUT IT IS ONLY DAYS OUT OF WARRENTY AND MAZDA REFUSES TO COVER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 35,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112046 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10128196 · 2005-07-09 (July 9, 2005)
TRANSPORT CANADA HAS ISSUED TC RECALL #: 2004376 FOR A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT. MY WIFE ANDI WERE INVOLVED IN THREE SEPARATE INCIDENTS INVOLVING AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCES, NEARLY RESULTING IN CRASHES! IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES, (MINUS 25 DEGREES FARENHEIT), I ATTEMPTED TO STOP WHILE APPROACHING A LINE OF VEHICLES STOPPED AT A TOLL BOOTH. MY VEHICLE BEGAN SLOWING WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT AT AN UNEXPECTEDLY REDUCED AND INADEQUATE RATE. MY VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED VIRTUALLY ONE INCH FROM THE STOPPED VEHICLE AHEAD OF…
Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128196 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10275777 · 2009-07-04 (July 4, 2009)
THERE IS AN OCCASIONAL SHORT IN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IN MY 2001 MAZDA MPV DX WHICH RESULTS IN THE HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING UNLESS I DISASSEMBLE AND CLEAN THE CONTACTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING THE VAN AND I NOW HAVE TO CARRY TOOLS TO FIX IT AT ANY GIVEN TIME. WE ALSO TRY TO AVOID DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF IT. THE PLASTIC AROUND THEM ARE BURNED AND MELTED WHICH IS WHAT CAUSED THE SMOKE. TONIGHT WHEN WE WERE DRIVING HOME THE SMELL WAS THERE AGAIN AS WELL AS QUITE A BIT OF HEAT WHEN YOU FEEL THE STEERING COLUMN THEN THE HEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10275777 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10926325 · 2016-11-16 (November 16, 2016)
HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION MAZDA MPV 2001 WHILE DRIVING MY MPV ON CITY STREETS & FREEWAYS, THE LOW BEAMS FLICKER, OR TURN OFF, AND THE HIGH BEAM INDICATOR ILLUMINATES ON DASH BOARD. HOWEVER THE HIGH BEAMS DO WORK. WHEN THIS OCCURS IT PERSISTS BOTH WHEN STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. THE LOW BEAMS WILL INTERMITTENTLY AND MOMENTARILY TURN ON, LATER THE "HIGH BEAM" INDICATOR WILL ILLUMINATE THAT THE LOW BEAMS OFF AGAIN. NO REASON. I CANNOT DRIVE AT DUSK OR AT NIGHT DUE TO THE ISSUE OF NEVER KNOWING IF THE LOW BEAMS WILL WORK OR NOT! IF I DRIVE WITH HIGH …
Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10926325 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090969 · 2004-09-14 (September 14, 2004)
IGNITION KEY STUCK AND WON'T COME OUT OF IGNITION SWITCH. I NEEDED TO REPLACE ALL THE COLUMN, A NEW BATTERY, A NEW IGNITION SYSTEM......THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE DEALERK IS NOW NOTIFIED.
Owner-reported narrative. 58,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090969 at NHTSA ↗