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Problems · NHTSA complaints

1996 Mazda Millenia problems

Owners filed 18 complaints about the 1996 Mazda Millenia with NHTSA between Apr 1996 and Aug 2009. The most-cited component is power train (5).

Full 1996 Millenia research
Complaints
18
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train5
  2. Engine and engine cooling4
  3. Air bags3
  4. Electrical system3
  5. Wheels1
  6. Suspension1
  7. Exterior lighting1
  8. Seats1
  9. Other / unknown1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19961
19975
19980
19994
20001
20011
20021
20030
20042
20051
20060
20070
20081
20091

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

5 reports
“I HAVE A 1996 MAZDA THAT HAS HAD TWO TRANSMISSIONS IN IT. AFTER RESEARCHING I HAVE FOUND THAT BETWEEN 1994-2002 THESE TRANSMISSIONS HAVE FAILED GREATLY. MY TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AT A SPEED OF 55MPH AND MY FAMILY AND I ALMOST WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE BY MAZDA TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AND COMPENSATE THE VICTIMS OF THIS POORLY DESIGNED MACHINE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 25, 2008Power trainODI 10239555
Get this fixed

Engine and engine cooling

4 reports
“WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED FUEL OIL PRESSURE WAS LEAKING. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 5, 2004Engine and engine coolingODI 10072160
Get this fixed

Air bags

3 reports2 crashes
“I WAS STOPPED AT STOPLIGHT AND BOTH AIRBAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. I HAVE A 1996 MAZDA MILLENNIA S AND NO OTHER PASSENGERS WERE IN THE CAR. THE FORCE OF THE AIRBAG TORE SOME SKIN OFF MY LEFT ARM AND THE INSIDE OF MY LEFT ARM IS VERY BRUISED FROM THE ELBOW TO THE WRIST. THE FORCE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SHATTERED MY WINDSHIELD. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 3, 2009Air bagsODI 10279226
Get this fixed

Electrical system

3 reports1 fire
“CAR WAS TURNING OFF WHEN STOPPED, TOOK TO A MAZDA DEALER CABLES WERE REPLACED, PROBLEM CONTINUED. MAZDA BURNED, FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, FIREFIGHTERS COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 10, 2004Electrical systemFire reportedODI 10086552
Get this fixed

Wheels

1 report
“WHEEL RIMS CORRODED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 19, 1999WheelsODI 545079
Get this fixed

Suspension

1 report
“SUSPENSION DOES NOT ISOLATE FEEDBACK FROM ROUGH ROADS. DASHBOARD GETTING LOOSE. INTERIOR TRIM GETTING LOOSE. SOMETIMES (ON THE BUMPY ROADS), TRACKTION CONTROL SYSTEM DISABLES WHILE DRIVING. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 25, 1999Suspension, Power train, Unknown or otherODI 702541
Get this fixed
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.