1997 Mazda B-SERIES TRUCK: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
40 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 40 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 12.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 10.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.5% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Tires | 8 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 5 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 4 |
| Interior Lighting | 3 |
| Suspension:Front | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Abs Warning Light | 2 |
Tires: 8; Tires:Tread/Belt: 5; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 4; Interior Lighting: 3; Suspension:Front: 3; Exterior Lighting: 2; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Abs Warning Light: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 3
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 31 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 | 18 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
2000: 18; 2001: 6; 2002: 5; 2003: 3; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2016: 2
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10006170 · 2003-02-13 (February 13, 2003)
THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY VIBRATED, THE TIRES WERE REPLACED 5 TIMES, ALSO THE ABS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY.*SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 6,114 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006170 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008332 · 2003-03-02 (March 2, 2003)
ABS LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO SEVERAL DEALERS. THE DEALERS CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. IF VEHICLE IS STALLED AN THEN RESTARTED, ABS LIGHT WILL GO OFF. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKE TO 3 DEALERS. THERE IS NO PROBLEM. LIGHT SEEMS TO COME ON MORE OFTEN WHEN VEHICLE IS WARM. WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE TURNED OFF, OCCASIONALLY THEY WILL START OPERATING AT THE HIGHEST SPEED. TAKES SEVERAL TRIES OF TURNING THEM ON AND THEN OFF AGAIN TO MAKE THEM STOP. FRONT EN…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008332 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011347 · 2003-03-05 (March 5, 2003)
NAR 03/05/2003 THE CONSUMER EXPERINCED SEVERE FRONT SUSPENSION VIBRATIONS AND DATE THE PROBLEM THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED BY EITHER MAZDA OR FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011347 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10101954 · 2004-12-01 (December 1, 2004)
VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, AND THEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHILE IN MOTION. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONSUMER'S HOUSE, WHERE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT TIE ROD BROKE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10101954 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113725 · 2005-03-08 (March 8, 2005)
1997 MAZDA PICKUP CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE FIRE MAY HAVE BEEN A RESULT OF STICKING CONTACTS IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. UPDATED 08/28/07. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10113725 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149409 · 2006-02-03 (February 3, 2006)
THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK IN MY MAZDA PICKUP TRUCK UNEXPECTEDLY RELEASED FALLING BACKWARDS WHILE DRIVING. FORTUNATELY I WAS GOING SLOWLY IN A PARKING LOT AT THE TIME AND THERE WAS NO LOSS OF CONTROL. I FOUND THE LARGE TORX-HEAD SCREWS THAT ANCHOR THE SEAT BACK TO THE RECLINING FRAME HAD SHEARED OFF.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149409 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170431 · 2006-10-10 (October 10, 2006)
UPON FILLING MAZDA 1997 B-2300 TRUCK WITH GAS NOTICED A STREAM OF FUEL LEAKING UNDER THE GAS TANK INCHES AWAY FROM EXHAUST. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD AND WANT TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170431 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10281481 · 2009-08-23 (August 23, 2009)
FRONT AND REAR LEAF SPRING SUPPORT MOUNTS ROTTED AWAY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10281481 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
09V414000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
Reported: 2009-10-23 (October 23, 2009)
MAZDA IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 1995 THROUGH 1997 AND MODEL YEAR 2001 THROUGH 2003 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS) AND/OR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) AND MANUFACTURED ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 5, 2002. A COMPONENT OF THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY DETERIORATE OVER TIME AND DEVELOP A LEAK. THIS OCCURRENCE COULD CAUSE THE SWITCH TO OVERHEAT, SMOKE OR BURN WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN UNDER HOOD FIRE.
Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Remedy: MAZDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A UNIVERSAL FUSED JUMPER HARNESS ON THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500 OPTION #6.
NHTSA campaign record ↗