Most common 1998 Mazda MPV problems
Share of the 19 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mazda MPV complaints by model year
Best MPV years: 2006, 1998, 1995. Years to avoid: 2000, 2002, 2003, 2001, 2004. Compare all years →
1998 Mazda MPV recalls (1)
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.
What 1998 Mazda MPV owners say
Air bags
When attempting to stop, brake pedal went to the floor with no resistance, causing a rear-end collision. No warning lights appeared on dashboard. Vehicle behind me noted rear brake lights on. Airbags did not deploy.
ABS brake problems. While at a complete stop, brake pedal went to floor, van started rolling forward and hit a commerical truck traveling about 50 MPH. Van was totalled. Also, air bags failed to inflate.
Electrical system
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Mazda mvp. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the ignition began to smoke. No fire report was filed. There was no visible flames. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch failed and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V674000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Mazda MPV. The contact stated that the hey failed to turn in the ignition switch intermittently. The contact stated that the failure was getting progressively worst. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V674000 (electrical system) and the parts were not available for months and the contact was unable to determine when the vehicle would be repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
1998 Mazda MPV engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Mazda MPV a good car?
Based on 19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 MPV rates better than average: 64% fewer complaints than a typical year of the MPV at the same age. It is one of the best MPV years by this measure. 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 1998 Mazda MPV?
The air bags — 5 complaints, 26% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the electrical system (3) and brakes (2).
How many recalls does the 1998 Mazda MPV have?
There is 1 recall for the 1998 Mazda MPV, the most recent from October 19, 2015 (switch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mazda MPV?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2006, 1998 and 1995. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000, 2002, 2003, 2001 and 2004. See the full Mazda MPV years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Mazda MPV problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 113,000 miles; 0% 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.