2002 Mazda MPV: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

CONSUMER NOTICED A "ROTTEN EGG" ODOR IN CABIN. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT CONSUMER A LETTER STATING THAT SEVERAL MODELS EXHIBIT THE ODOR. CONSUMER BELIEVES VEHICLE HAS AN EXHAUST LEAK INTO CABIN WHICH INCLUDES CARBON MONOXIDE. CONSUMER HAS EXHIBITED SYMPTOMS OF BREATHING THOSE PARTICULAR FUMES. PH

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003990 at NHTSA ↗

THE EXHAUST SYSTEM RELEASED A BAD ODOR.*JB THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED THE CONSUMER CHANGE THE TYPE OF GAS WHICH WAS BEING USED, HOWEVER THE ODOR STILL EXISTED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007337 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

ROTTEN EGG SMELL COMING FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM. VEHICLE HAS 13,000 MILES ON AND ODOR SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008303 at NHTSA ↗

THE EXHAUST SYSTEM EMITTED BAD FUMES.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008630 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015074 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-03-20 (March 20, 2002)

CERTAIN MINI VANS FAIL TO COMPLY TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS." AN INCORRECT GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING (GAWR) WAS INDICATED ON THE CERTIFICATION LABEL.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE MAILED ACCURATE CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSERTS FOR THE OWNER'S MANUAL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 12, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

Reported: 2003-02-13 (February 13, 2003)

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH FRONT FOG LIGHTS,THE FOG LIGHT BULB SOCKET MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IMPROPERLY.

Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE USED WITH THIS CONDITION, THE BULB SOCKET AND THE WIRING HARNESS MAY SEPARATE FROM THE FOG LIGHT HOUSING IF EXPOSED TO SHOCK AND/OR VIBRATION AND DROP INSIDE THE BUMPER. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE OPERATION OF THE FOG LIGHT MAY THEN CAUSE THE BUMPER TO BURN.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE INSTALLATION CONDITION OF THE FOG LIGHT BULB ASSEMBLY, AND REPAIR IT WHEN NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 31, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

Reported: 2003-06-05 (June 5, 2003)

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SOCKET HOLDER IN THE FOG LIGHTS IS INSTALLED IN THE LAMP CASING USING PRESSURE. DURING OPERATION OF THE FOG LIGHT, THE HEAT FROM THE BULB CAN EXPAND THE SOCKET HOLDER. THE EXPANSION CAN FORCE THE SOCKET HOLDER REARWARD. AFTER REPEATEDLY BEING SUBJECT TO THIS EXPANSION, IF THE FOG LIGHT IS ALSO SUBJECTED TO VIBRATION DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE SOCKET HOLDER WITH THE BULB HOLDER AND THE WIRING HARNESS MAY SEPARATE FROM THE FOG LIGHT CASING.

Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE BULB SOCKET AND THE HARNESS CAN DROP INSIDE THE BUMPER AND POSSIBLY BUT RARELY, THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE BULB CAN CAUSE THE BUMPER TO BURN.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING TO PREVENT THE SOCKET HOLDER FROM SEPARATING FROM THE LAMP CASE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

Reported: 2004-05-19 (May 19, 2004)

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL, THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR CABLE MAY BE BROKEN DUE TO INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH (GROUP 1). ALSO INCLUDED ARE CERTAIN 2000-2001 MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 31, 1999 AND MARCH 31, 2001, THAT HAVE HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL REPAIRED AND POSSIBLY HAD A DEFECTIVE CABLE INSTALLED DURING THAT REPAIR (GROUP 2).

Consequence: IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE BROKEN ACTUATOR CABLE MAY BE OUT OF POSITION AND COULD INTERFERE WITH THE OPERATION OF THE ACCELERATOR CABLE, PREVENTING A DECREASE IN ENGINE SPEED WHILE DRIVING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACTUATOR CABLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR VEHICLES INVOLVED IN GROUP 1 BEGAN ON JULY 7, 2004. OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR VEHICLES INVOLVED IN GROUP 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.