Mazda MPV problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
796 owner complaints analyzed
22 distinct recall campaigns
63,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 to 2006 model years. Data snapshot: . 390 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 134 of 796 complaints (16.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 155 | 19.5% |
| Braking behavior | 99 | 12.4% |
| Engine operation | 35 | 4.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 27 | 3.4% |
| Steering behavior | 24 | 3.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 11 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 134 |
| Air Bags | 52 |
| Electrical System | 46 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 36 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 33 |
| Tires | 30 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 28 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 27 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 134; Air Bags: 52; Electrical System: 46; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 36; Engine And Engine Cooling: 33; Tires: 30; Air Bags:Frontal: 28; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 27
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 76 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 75 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 87 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 56 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 67 |
| 150,000 and above | 29 |
Under 25,000: 76; 25,000 to 49,999: 75; 50,000 to 74,999: 87; 75,000 to 99,999: 56; 100,000 to 149,999: 67; 150,000 and above: 29
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (87). 406 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 | 74 |
| 1996 | 39 |
| 2000 | 47 |
| 2001 | 50 |
| 2002 | 50 |
| 2003 | 75 |
| 2004 | 77 |
| 2005 | 48 |
| 2006 | 39 |
| 2007 | 48 |
| 2008 | 51 |
| 2009 | 35 |
| 2010 | 45 |
| 2011 | 19 |
| 2012 | 15 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 23 |
| 2017 | 15 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
1995: 74; 1996: 39; 2000: 47; 2001: 50; 2002: 50; 2003: 75; 2004: 77; 2005: 48; 2006: 39; 2007: 48; 2008: 51; 2009: 35; 2010: 45; 2011: 19; 2012: 15; 2013: 7; 2014: 15; 2015: 7; 2016: 23; 2017: 15; 2018: 11; 2019: 1; 2021: 2; 2022: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 155 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 99 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 35 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 10047682 · 2003-11-27 (November 27, 2003)
VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN DRIVEWAY WHILE I WAS CHECKING TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL. SUDDENLY, IT DROVE AWAY IN REVERSE, CROSSED THE STREET AND WENT DOWN ANOTHER DRIVEWAY CRASHING INTO THE CORNER OF A GARAGE. IT THEN WENT ACROSS ANOTHER BACK YARD AND CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER GARAGE. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS MADE. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 154,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047682 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 474210 · 1995-10-19 (October 19, 1995)
PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 474210 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 979118 · 1996-02-13 (February 13, 1996)
BRAKES DO NOT WORK-CONSUMER'S WIFE HAD ACCIDENT HITTING ANOTHER AUTO FROM REAR BECAUSE AUTO WOULD NOT STOP. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 979118 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 981017 · 1996-03-20 (March 20, 1996)
ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, RESULTING IN NO BRAKING ABILITY, PEDAL GETS HARD, REPLACED/REPAIRED SEVERAL PARTS OF THE SYSTEM, TO NO AVAIL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 981017 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 967205 · 1995-06-19 (June 19, 1995)
THE VEHICLE STALLED THREE DAYS AFTER IT WAS BOUGHT. NOW THE VEHICLE HAS DONE IT AGAIN 9 MONTHS LATER AND THEY SAY IT IS THE DISTRIBUTOR. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 967205 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 962320 · 1995-03-21 (March 21, 1995)
VEHICLE HAS SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING INTERMITTENTLY WITH NO WARNING DUE TO THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 962320 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 980775 · 1996-03-15 (March 15, 1996)
THE FUEL INJECTOR IS LEAKING GAS THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL CONECTOR. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 980775 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 983389 · 1996-04-22 (April 22, 1996)
FRONT WIRING HARNESS RELAY SWITCH MELTED AND BROKE, DUE TO HEATER OVERLOAD. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983389 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 958398 · 1995-01-09 (January 9, 1995)
DEFECTIVE STRUT MOUNTS, CAUSING CREEKING NOISE/SOUND WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958398 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10244399 · 2008-10-05 (October 5, 2008)
THE FRONT WHEEL SKIDDED AND THE FRONT BRAKE LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING ON LIGHT SNOW COVERED HIGHWAY. IT CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME IMMOBILIZED. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR AND IT OVERTURNED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10244399 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8020038 · 2002-10-02 (October 2, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE FUEL TANK HAD CRACK CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK OUT AND CONSUMER CAN STRONGLY SMELL GAS FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE DEALER NOTIFIED. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8020038 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 |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 3 |
| 1991 | 3 |
| 1992 | 1 |
| 1993 | 1 |
| 1994 | 1 |
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
1990: 3; 1991: 3; 1992: 1; 1993: 1; 1994: 1; 1995: 1; 1996: 1; 1997: 1; 1998: 1; 1999: 0; 2000: 5; 2001: 3; 2002: 4; 2003: 4; 2004: 5; 2005: 3; 2006: 2