2003 Mazda MPV: complaints, problems and recalls

CHILD'S NECK SOMEHOW GOT CAUGHT UP IN THE SEAT BELT AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006595 at NHTSA ↗

BRAKES REAR- SQUEAK FREQUENTLY WHEN STOPPING. ALREADY SERVICED ONCE, SQUEEKED ON THE WAY HOME. DUE FOR 2ND SERVICE. OCCURS ON MOST EVERY STOP, NEAR THE END OF THE STOP.

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007590 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS A SULFUR SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE EXHAUST, DEALER SAID TO TRY DIFFERENT GAS, AND IT SHOULD GO AWAY, I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL BRANDS OF GAS AND THE SMELL IS STILL THERE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014089 at NHTSA ↗

2003 MAZDA MPV - TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY ROUGH FROM 2ND TO 3RD. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND UNPREDICTABLE. DEALER SAYS THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE DIAGNOSED AND FIXED UNLESS IT CAN BE DUPLICATED IN THE REPAIR SHOP. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 10,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043436 at NHTSA ↗

THE REAR BRAKES SQUEAKED VERY LOUDLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE CONSUMER HAD THE BRAKES INSPECTED BY THE DEALER THREE TIMES BUT THE DEALER HAS NOYT BEEN ABLE TO FIND OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044472 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE HAS CLUNKING WHEN IT SHIFTS FROM 2ND TO 3RD ESPECIALLY AT SLOWER SPEEDS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP 4 TIMES AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALER INSTALLED 2 NEW SOFTWARE UPDATES. DEALER THAT HAS TRIED FIXING PROBLEM IS NEW COUNTRY- MAZDA SARATOGA SPRINGS NY. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045588 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS A SULFUR SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, DEALER SAID ITS THE ETHANOL GAS THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS SEASONAL; DEALER SAID TO TRY OTHER GAS; DEALER HAS SAID THEY HAVE RECEIVED OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME SMELL AND THAT AT LEAST ONE (PREGNANT) OWNER CANNOT DRIVE HER CAR WITHOUT BECOMING SICK. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 3,980 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047073 at NHTSA ↗

MAZDA MPV 2003 PURCHASED IN FEB 03. SINCE THEN, HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH PASSENGER POWER SLIDING DOOR NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES FOR REPAIR. EACH TIME, DEALER CLAIMS IT'S "FIXED." SYMPTOMS INCLUDE: DOOR WILL NOT SHUT PROPERLY, WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL OR DOES NOT CLOSE FLUSH WITH VAN. INITIATED STEPS TO CLAIM VA LEMON LAW ON NOV 21, 2003. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10047461 at NHTSA ↗

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: 2004-03-09 (March 9, 2004)

CERTAIN MINIVANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AIR BAG WARNING LABELS INTENDED FOR THE CANADIAN MARKET. THUS, THE LABELS CONTAIN WARNINGS IN BOTH ENGLISH AND FRENCH. AS A RESULT, THE AREA OF THE ENGLISH WARNING IS ONLY 16 SQUARE CENTIMETERS, AS OPPOSED TO THE 30 SQUARE CENTIMETERS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AIR BAG CAUTION LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS WHICH WERE MAILED ON JULY 22, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

Reported: 2004-06-10 (June 10, 2004)

THE TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE INDICATED ON THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL IS NOT CORRECT. THE LABELS SHOW THE MAXIMUM TIRE PRESSURE AS 240 KPA/32 PSI WHEN IT SHOULD BE SHOWN AS 240 KPA/35 PSI. AS A RESULT OF THIS ERROR, THE LOAD RATIOS FOR THE 205/65R15 94H AND THE 215/60R16 95H TIRES EXCEED THE LEVELS PERMITTED BY FMVSS 120.

Consequence: IF THE TIRE IS OPERATED IN AN UNDER-INFLATED CONDITION, THE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY OF THE VEHICLE MAY BE COMPROMISED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A CORRECTED LABEL THAT THEY CAN APPLY TO THEIR VEHICLE, OR THEY CAN HAVE A DEALER INSTALL THE LABEL, IF DESIRED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500, OPTION #4.