Most common 2002 Mazda MPV problems
Share of the 124 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 →
2002 Mazda MPV recalls (4)
Vehicle speed control › Cables
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…
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.
Exterior lighting › Fog lights
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install a spring to prevent the socket holder from separating from the lamp case. Owner notification began on July 14, 2003.
Exterior lighting › Fog lights
On certain Mini vans equipped with front fog lights,the fog light bulb socket May have been installed improperly.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the installation condition of the fog light bulb assembly, and repair it when necessary. Owner notification began March 31, 2003.
Equipment › Other › Labels
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.
What 2002 Mazda MPV owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 66 →
I have a lemon 2002 Mazda MPV. We have taken the van in for several attempts to fix the transmission problem, only to be told that there was no indication that the transmission was going bad. I also experienced the nasty rotton egg smell in my van only to assume it was the area I was in (sewer). On April 1, 2004 I was driving on a highway with my three children in the van when my van stopped working. I pulled over onto the snowy highway to try to restart the car but failed. After sitting on the highway for 2 hours, waiting for a tow, I came to find out that the transmission went bad in my van. They replaced my transmission over a period of 8 days. The very next day after receiving my van back, it would not start in the mornings and began to backfire and stall. I took the van in the night before the service day only to be with out it for another week. I just got my van back on April 23. …
Driving along with my 2 1/2 year old daughter on the freeway in very fast and very busy traffic conditions the van suddenly and without warning lost all power transfer to the wheels. The red lines raced up into the red, but the van would not be propelled any further by engine power. I had to coast nearly a mile or more on shoulder less rush hour highway, all the while transitioned lanes to the first exit I could access, then as momentum decreased I had to step out of the car into extremely heavy traffic and push a further 30 yards to the first turn-off, drivers door open, baby screaming with 55 mile an hour traffic screeching and swerving around me and the blind corner I was hidden behind. The van has 54,000 miles on it and is well looked after May I add. Now Mazda says "not their problem" but look at all the other people on here with the exact same story! …
Engine & cooling all 25 →
2000-2003 Mazda MPV models have a coolant seepage from rear heater pipe which can cause severe engine failure and traffic hazard due to non-drivable vehicle. Mazda MPV 2002 was found to have a coolant leak in rear heater pipes and was taken to Mazda repair center. Mazda advised a vehicle should not be run without coolant since it can damage the engine, and replaced the lines for a cost of $1000 (parts + labor). MPV was driven 18 miles after completed repair, then the engine suffered a complete failure in traffic and vehicle stopped in the middle of an intersection, posing a danger to MPV passengers as well as other vehicles. Mazda repair center claims the engine failure is due to driving with low/no coolant prior to repair. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Mazda MPV. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle would also not accelerate properly and shook while idling. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine coil pack failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.
Electrical system
My 2002 MPV suffered a complete transmission failure at about 75K miles, stalling out in morning traffic and needing to be pushed from the road. The transmission occasionally kicked when shifting since the car was new. I called Mazda, which refused to pay anything toward the repair, saying it had relinquished liability for a vehicle several years past warranty. Despite what I see in NHTSA's complaint log and elsewhere on the net, Mazda told me that it does not agree that the transmission on the 2002 MPV is unusually prone to failure. In the past seven months, this MPV has needed several other expensive engine repairs, some of which also repeatedly show up on the NHTSA complaint log: 3 ignition coils, a pcv hose, an idle control valve, and an oxygen sensor. This is quite a string of expensive failures for a car less than 7 years old. …
Engine was hesitating during acceleration causing difficulty in driving, especially merging into traffic. Problem got worse as engine heated up. Dealer diagnosed problem as a bad coil but could not determine which of the 6 coils were faulting. Dealer finally gave in and replaced them for no charge after I complained to corporate. Possible recall item?
2002 Mazda MPV engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Mazda MPV a good car?
Based on 124 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 MPV rates avoid: 5.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the MPV at the same age. It is one of the MPV years we suggest avoiding. 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 2002 Mazda MPV?
The transmission & drivetrain — 66 complaints, 53% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the engine & cooling (25) and electrical system (9).
How many recalls does the 2002 Mazda MPV have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2002 Mazda MPV, the most recent from May 19, 2004 (cables). 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 2002 Mazda MPV problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 62,000 miles; 36% 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.