2002 Mazda MPV problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
124 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
60,950 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 92 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 53 of 124 complaints (42.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 65 | 52.4% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 7.3% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 5.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 2.4% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.8% |
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 | 53 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 7 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 53; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 7; Power Train: 7; Electrical System:Ignition: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Air Bags: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 19 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 29 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 29; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (29). 32 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 23 |
| 2008 | 14 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2002: 6; 2003: 17; 2004: 15; 2005: 9; 2006: 9; 2007: 23; 2008: 14; 2009: 7; 2010: 11; 2011: 3; 2012: 4; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 65 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 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 10002823 · 2003-01-16 (January 16, 2003)
OIL BURNING SMELL WAS FILLING THE CABIN OF THE VAN WHENEVER IT WAS RUNNING. BROUGHT THE VAN IN TO HAVE THEM FIND OUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING, THEY PUT DYE IN THE OIL TO TRACK AN OIL LEAK WHICH WAS LEAKING ON THE EXHAUST DIRECTLY BEHIND THE ENGINE. RETURNED A WEEK LATER TO FIND OUT THEY BELIEVED IT WAS THE TIMING COVER AND ORDERED PARTS TO REPLACE THE GASKET. RETURNED A WEEK LATER AND LEFT VAN TO BE REPAIRED. TWO DAYS LATER WE PICKED THE VAN UP AND DROVE HOME. THE NEXT DAY THE SMELL WAS BACK. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BACK AND HAD TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER APO…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,102 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014134 · 2003-04-08 (April 8, 2003)
GEAR SHIFT DETENT AT DRIVE IS TOO EASY TO MISS WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK - LEVER SKIPS DRIVE AND GOES INTO HIGHER (LESS POWERFUL) GEAR. WHEN AT REST AND PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, THERE IS INSUFFICIENT POWER TO ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED, SO ONCOMING TRAFFIC GETS DANGEROUSLY CLOSE BEFORE YOU REALIZE THE GEAR SHIFT IS NOT IN DRIVE. NEED WARNING THAT CAR IS NOT IN LOWEST GEAR WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK OR REVERSE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014134 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021189 · 2003-06-07 (June 7, 2003)
BRAKE PAD DESIGN FAULT RESULTING IN LOOSENING OF BRAKE PADS AND GIVING CRANKING NOISE WHILE BRAKING. VEHICLE IN COMPLAINT -- 2002 MAZDA MPV. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021189 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058649 · 2004-02-21 (February 21, 2004)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION "BUCKS" OR OTHERWISE SHIFTS VIOLENTLY INTO THE NEXT GEAR (ANY GEAR, PICK ONE). MY MPV CURRENTLY HAS 26,000 ON IT. WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR, BUT HAVEN'T HAD THE TIME TO TAKE IT IN. FINALLY TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER. SERVICE MANAGER STATED (WITH A STRAIGHT FACE) TO ME THAT THE BRAKES (CALIPERS) WERE CREATING "DRAG" AND THE VIOLENT SHIFT WOULD OCCUR WHEN REACHING THE THRESHOLD OF POWER TO GO INTO THE NEXT GEAR. HE RECOMMENDED THAT WE HAVE THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED AND THE ROTORS "TURNED" (FOR …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10058649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063176 · 2004-03-15 (March 15, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A CHECK UP. DEALER DETERMINED THAT PCV HOSE SPLIT. CONSUMER REPLACED PCV HOSE TWO TIMES IN THE LAST 9 MONTHS. *AK *PH
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063176 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067964 · 2004-04-28 (April 28, 2004)
I HAVE A LEMON 2002 MAZDA MPV. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VAN IN FOR SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING BAD. I ALSO EXPERIENCED THE NASTY ROTTON EGG SMELL IN MY VAN ONLY TO ASSUME IT WAS THE AREA I WAS IN (SEWER). ON APRIL 1, 2004 I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WITH MY THREE CHILDREN IN THE VAN WHEN MY VAN STOPPED WORKING. I PULLED OVER ONTO THE SNOWY HIGHWAY TO TRY TO RESTART THE CAR BUT FAILED. AFTER SITTING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR 2 HOURS, WAITING FOR A TOW, I CAME TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 36,874 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067964 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037800 · 2003-08-27 (August 27, 2003)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT ELECTRICAL DOOR PROBLEMS. CONSUMER WAS PUTTING HER CHILD IN VEHICLE AND HER WRIST HIT THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM THAT CAUSED THE DOOR TO CLOSE PARTIALLY, AND IT GAVE HER AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK WHICH BRUISED HER WRIST. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND MECHANIC AT DEALER TOLD HER THAT IT WAS NORMAL ,THAT HE ALWAYS GETS A SHOCK WHEN USING ANY TYPE OF METAL TOOLS. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037800 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063906 · 2004-03-25 (March 25, 2004)
I BOUGHT A MAZDA 2002 MPV LX USED WITH 9K MILES ON IT. IT HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM SIMILAR TO THOSE I HAVE REVIEWED ON YOUR SITE, INTERMITTENT HARD SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND A CODE REFERENCE AN ELECTRICAL ADJUSTMENT. SUPOSSEDLY FIXED, NOT! TOOK IT BACK AND WAS TOLD THE 2002 MPV HAS HARD SHIFTING. SO DOES MY OLD POLICE BATON! I AM TAKING IT BACK AND TALKING TO THE OWNER TO GET THE TRANS FIXED OR REPLACED. IF THEY WILL NOT DO THAT THEN I WILL GO TO 3 REPUTABLE TRANSMISS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10063906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008167 · 2003-02-26 (February 26, 2003)
THIS IS ABOUT A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD AND A COUPLE OF NEAR ACCIDENTS. I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT MY NEW MPV EXCEPT FOR THE INCREDIBLY POORLY DESIGNED STEERING COLUMN MOUNTED SHIFTER. IT IS UNNECESSARILY LONG AND INTERFERES WITH ACCESS TO AND VIEW OF THE CLIMATE AND AUDIO CONTROLS. I HAVE KNOCKED IT OUT OF GEAR MORE THAN ONCE (INCLUDING ONCE WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STEEP DOWNHILL GRADE OF THE I-5 GRAPEVINE) REACHING TO TURN ON OR OFF THE RADIO, AND I HOPPED A SHOULDER ONCE ON THE FREEWAY WHEN TRYING TO LOOK AROUND IT TO FIND THE A/C BUTTO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008167 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10218324 · 2008-02-11 (February 11, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA MPV. AS SOON AS THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH HER VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE. SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2007, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN DRIVING 40-50 MPH AND STALLS WHEN APPROACHING A STOP. THE VEHICLE IS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT CYLINDER THREE WAS MISFIRING AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT NEWER MODELS HAVE BEEN UPGRADED. WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, BUT THERE WAS NO BRAKE OR STEERING…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10218324 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069630 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR 6 MONTHS, THE ENGINE LIGHT ON TWICE, DIDN'T FIX IT FIRST TIME, THE ADVISOR SAID THE GAS TANK CAP IS NOT CLOSE TIGHT ENOUGHT. COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ONE AGAIN, THIS TIME THEY FOUND CONTROL SYSTEM INCORRECT FLOW, SMALL LEAK, HOSE OFF OF PURGE VALVE AT AIR CLEANER HOUSING. CAR PULLS TO LEFT ON HIGHWAY AND RIGHT ON LOCAL STREET. BROUGHT IN 4 TIME, ADMIT ALIGNMENT ON THE 3RD TIME AND FIX IT, BUT STILL PULL. BROUGHT IN AGAIN THE FOURTH TIME, SAID FOUND NO PULLING PROBLEM. WE COMPLAINT THAT THE CAR OCCAS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069630 at NHTSA ↗