1997 Mazda MPV: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 14 complaints (21.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 14.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 7.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 7.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 7.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Air Bags: 1; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Electrical System: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 9 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 | 4 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2000: 4; 2001: 3; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2006: 2; 2010: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 10022352 · 2003-06-04 (June 4, 2003)
IT WILL BE HARD TO OPEN THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS FROM THE INSIDE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10103350 · 2004-12-08 (December 8, 2004)
AFTER REFILLING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER SMELLED FUMES INSIDE THE CAR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10164666 · 2006-08-06 (August 6, 2006)
DRIVING UPHILL ON I-70 AT THE SPEED LIMIT (55) THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, THE DRIVER STEERED TO THE SHOULDER. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BEGAN SMOKING. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE MAZDA MPV ('97) WAS CONSUMED IN FIRE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164666 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165569 · 2006-08-15 (August 15, 2006)
I AM FILING A COMPLAINT IN REGARD TO MY VEHICLE'S EQUIPMENT THAT FAILED AND WAS FAULTY IN A RECENT AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH IN A STRAIGHT LANE WHEN A VEHICLE QUICKLY ENTERED ACROSS MY PATH TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. I HAD NO TIME TO BRAKE, SO THE OTHER CAR IS WHAT STOPPED MY MOTION. IT WAS A HARD HIT! MY MAZDA MPV CRASHED INTO THE OTHER PERSON'S CAR. DURING OUR FRONT IMPACT WITH THE OTHER CAR'S DRIVER SIDE, MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURY. HAD THE AIRBAG WORKED, I FEEL I WOULDN'T HAD SLID INTO THE D…
Owner-reported narrative. 93,395 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165569 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10364262 · 2010-11-06 (November 6, 2010)
I HAVE A SET OF AMERICAN PROSPECTOR SUV RADIAL TIRES ON MY 1997 MAZDA MPV THAT HAVE HAD SUDDEN BLOWOUTS. SO FAR 2 TIRES HAVE BLOWN IN THE PAST MONTH, AND AT THE TIME I WAS JUST DRIVING DOWN A PAVED STREET. THESE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN OFF ROAD, I CHECK THE INFLATION ONCE A MONTH, SO I CAN SEE NO REASON WHY THE TIRE BEAD AND SIDE WALL WOULD SUDDENLY GIVE AWAY. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND OTHERS WITH THE EXACT SAME TIRES HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. ONE OF THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAD PROBLEMS, HAD 15000 MILES ON HIS TIRESWHEN SUDDENLY HE HAD THREE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10364262 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10824291 · 2016-02-04 (February 4, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MAZDA MPV. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT A CAR WASH, SMOKE FUMES APPEARED FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HEAVY FUMES OF SMOKE WERE SEEN COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT STALLED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT B…
Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10824291 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 551382 · 2000-02-01 (February 1, 2000)
CONSUMER CONCERNED WITH COLD ENGINE NOISE. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 551382 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 561199 · 2001-05-14 (May 14, 2001)
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, SUFFICIENT FRONT END DAMAGE TO WARRANT DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIR BAGS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 561199 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.
15V674000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Reported: 2015-10-19 (October 19, 2015)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.
Consequence: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.
NHTSA campaign record ↗