Complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | vs. typical* | Recalls | Top problem | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 12 | −74% | 2 | Acceleration | Good |
| 2005 | 36 | −41% | 3 | Engine | Good |
| 2004 | 71 | 2.6× | 5 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2003 | 113 | 4.8× | 4 | Transmission | Avoid |
| 2002 | 124 | 5.5× | 4 | Transmission | Avoid |
| 2001 | 70 | 2.9× | 3 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2000 | 149 | 6.5× | 5 | Engine | Avoid |
| 1998 | 19 | −64% | 1 | Airbag | Good |
| 1997 | 22 | −48% | 1 | Airbag | Good |
| 1996 | 18 | −51% | 1 | Airbag | Good |
| 1995 | 19 | −51% | 1 | Engine | Good |
* Complaints compared with the median MPV year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.
Most common Mazda MPV problems
Latest Mazda MPV recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2005 MPV, 2004 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 and 2004 MPV vehicles nationwide. Mazda is also recalling 2005-2006 MPV vehicles in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Mazda MPV vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington,…
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018 for MPV vehicles.
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
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.
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.
Equipment › Other › Labels
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What years of the Mazda MPV should you avoid?
2000, 2002, 2003, 2001 and 2004 — these years have the most complaints relative to other MPV years at the same age, led by engine & cooling problems in the 2000.
What is the best year for the Mazda MPV?
2006 has the fewest complaints compared with other MPV years at the same age, followed by 1998 and 1995. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.
What are the most common Mazda MPV problems?
Across all years, owners report the most problems with the engine & cooling (147), transmission & drivetrain (135) and air bags (82). Engine complaints peak in the 2003 model year.
How many recalls has the Mazda MPV had?
17 recalls across 1995–2006. The model year with the most is 2000. See all Mazda MPV recalls by year.
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.