Problems · NHTSA complaints

1998 Mazda Millenia problems

Owners filed 29 complaints about the 1998 Mazda Millenia with NHTSA between Jun 1998 and May 2019. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (5).

Complaints
29
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling5
  2. Power train5
  3. Fuel system, gasoline4
  4. Vehicle speed control4
  5. Wheels2
  6. Electrical system2
  7. Air bags2
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic2
  9. Structure2
  10. Engine1
  11. Latches/locks/linkages1
  12. Equipment1
  13. Seats1
  14. Steering1

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
19982
19991
20005
20013
20025
20032
20044
20053
20061
20071
20080
20091
20100
20110
20120
20130
20140
20150
20160
20170
20180
20191

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

Engine and engine cooling

5 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA MILLENIA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 40 MPH. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES LATER, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 40 MPH ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT QUICKLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE DECELERATION FAILURE, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO HEAR THE NOISE. SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2008, THE CONTACT HAS SPENT $7,000 AT TWO DEALERS. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO BEEN SERVICED AT PEP BOYS. IN ADDITION, THE CYLINDERS MISFIRE. ONE OF THE DEALERS PERFORMED A COMPRESSION TEST ON THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING VARIOUS ISSUES SINCE 2006. THE FUEL PUMP, SPARK PLUG WIRES, AND ALL OF THE GASKETS, INCLUDING THE HEAD GASKET, HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE ALSO SHAKES SIGNIFICANTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT THE TIME OF THE DECELERATIONS. OCCASIONALLY, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 200,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 4, 2009Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasolineODI 10267670

Power train

5 reports
“THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY 98 MAZDA MILLENNIUM. WAS 1 MONTH AFTER WE BROUGHT IT "MAY 2001". THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON THE CAR, THEY PUT AN NEW TRANSMISSION IN. NOW FOR THE SECOND TIME "MARCH 2003" THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP AGAIN, AFTER SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR IT WILL NOT GO INTO THIRD GEAR CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK AND REDLINE. SINCE I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR I HAVE COME INTO CONTACT WITH ALOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS OUT OF THIS CAR. IF MAZDA KNOWS THAT THESE CARS ARE HAVING THESE KINDS OF PROBLEM WHY ARE THEY STILL SELLING THEM. I'M AFRAID TO PUT MY DAUGHTER IN THIS CAR BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT. AND I AM GETTING NO HELP FROM THE PLACE WHERE I BROUGHT THE CAR EXCEPT WE'LL PUT A NEW ONE IN. WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? WHEN SOMEONE GETS HURT AR KILLED? PEOPLE PLEASE DO RESEARCH ON ALL THE CARS THAT YOU PURCHASE. *NLM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2003Power trainODI 10010161

Fuel system, gasoline

4 reports
“OWNER COMPLAINED ABOUT A FUEL TANK PROBLEM. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO HAVE THE FUEL TANK REPLACED BECAUSE THE GAS TANK COLLAPSED. *AK THE PROBLEM WAS WITH, THE FUEL TANK, 2 SENDING UNITS AND THE FUEL CANISTER. *SC *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 24, 2005Fuel system, gasolineODI 10111214

Vehicle speed control

4 reports
“DURING WARM CLIMATE AND IN BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATE. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK ENGINE RPM'S JUMP TO 3000-4000 WHEN IN HEAVY BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER HAD TO STAND ON BRAKE TO HOLD CAR BACK. *BF *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 6, 2005Vehicle speed controlODI 10117629

Wheels

2 reports
“IN APRIL OF 2006, I KEPT NOTICING MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE LOSING AIR. I KEPT HAVING TO PUT 15 LBS. EVERY OTHER DAY IN IT. I HAD A FRIEND CHECK THE TIRE AND STEM AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THEM. AS THIS CONTINUED, I FINALLY TOOK IT TO A TIRE REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND OUT THAT MY RIM WAS CRACKED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT AS I WAS TRAVELING BACK AND FORTH 350 MILES EACH WEEK WITH MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDSON ABOARD. I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW RIM FOR $100 AND STILL HAVE THE OLD RIM IN MY POSSESSION. I SEE THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS PROBLEM SO PLEASE ADVISE ON THE PROCEDURE FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THIS RIM. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 27, 2006WheelsODI 10160920

Electrical system

2 reports1 crash
“CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE PURCHASED A MAZDA LAST YEAR IN JULY, DROVE IT TO LAS VEGAS, AND WHILE SHE WAS THERE, VEHICLE LOST POWER. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC , AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 50-65 MPH VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY LOST POWER. ALSO, CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER DROVE IN CALIFORNIA AND VEHICLE LOST POWER, RESULTING IN A CRASH. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 23, 2004Electrical systemCrash reportedODI 10064744
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.