Most common 2001 Mazda Millenia problems
Share of the 29 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mazda Millenia complaints by model year
Best Millenia years: 1996, 1997, 2000. Years to avoid: 1995, 1998. Compare all years →
What 2001 Mazda Millenia owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
The vehicle was stationary on a city street. Started the vehicle, foot on the brake and shifted into drive.vehicle was idling at normal RPM. When the foot was removed from the brake petal, the car lurched forward at full throttle. My foot never touched the gas pedal. It traveled about 10 feet striking a vehicle. I was able to stop the car by pushing on the brake pedal and came to a stop. The engine speed returned to normal RPM. I started to lift my foot off the break pedal and the car resumed full throttle forward. It pushed the first vehicle I hit into the car parked in front of it and pushed it into another vehicle before I could get it stopped. The engine returned to normal RPM. I put the car in park and turned off the engine. Police were called and a report filed. …
Purchased vehicle brand new from dealer (crossroads Mazda in cary, nc) and from day 1 have had issues with the engine and the check engine light. Transmission completely replaced in May 2004 (right after it went out of warranty); continual problems with check engine light illuminating for no reason and as of 12/08, cannot get car inspected due to check engine light; requesting a repair waiver since this is a known Mazda issue and they have done nothing to resolve/assist their customers.
Engine & cooling
2001 Mazda Millenia - ongoing EGR flow/check engine light issues; bought car new from dealer and had problem within 12-months - asked and was never provided solution to issue; dissatisfied from day 1 of owning car; repairs do not fix issue and check engine light remains lit; no car repair shop or Mazda dealer has been able to fix problem; thousands of dollars and time spent - this is a known Mazda engine issue that needs to be resolved by Mazda; as a customer I should not have to spend more time/money.
Purchased vehicle brand new from dealer (crossroads Mazda in cary, nc) and from day 1 have had issues with the engine and the check engine light. Transmission completely replaced in May 2004 (right after it went out of warranty); continual problems with check engine light illuminating for no reason and as of 12/08, cannot get car inspected due to check engine light; requesting a repair waiver since this is a known Mazda issue and they have done nothing to resolve/assist their customers.
Air bags
My mechanic, mojarro auto repair, ordered from autozone this part....when it arrived, realized it didn't at all resemble the part that his diagnostic tool stated was the problem. Jesse, found 1 at a wrecking yard. In 3 days the check engine light came on, again. I phoned detroit, michigan....gave them the VIN & part's #, the gentleman stated, " that part is no longer manufactured" this car still drives...w/no hesitation, city or hwy. Can I get a 1 time pass from dmv til it's next renewal?
I was involved in a wreckon May 7. My car was struck on the drivers side by another car and then the front of my car hit a tree. The driver's side air bag deployed, but the front airbags did not.
2001 Mazda Millenia engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 6-cyl supercharged | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Mazda Millenia a good car?
Based on 29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Millenia rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Millenia at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Mazda Millenia?
The transmission & drivetrain — 7 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the engine & cooling (7) and air bags (4).
How many recalls does the 2001 Mazda Millenia have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2001 Mazda Millenia. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mazda Millenia?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1996, 1997 and 2000. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995 and 1998. See the full Mazda Millenia years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Mazda Millenia problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 61,000 miles; 44% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.