Problems · NHTSA complaints
2001 Mazda Millenia problems
Owners filed 30 complaints about the 2001 Mazda Millenia with NHTSA between May 2001 and Feb 2020. The most-cited component is power train (8).
Complaints
30
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train8
- Engine and engine cooling7
- Air bags4
- Visibility4
- Vehicle speed control3
- Tires2
- Wheels2
- Steering2
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Traction control system1
- Suspension1
- Structure1
- Exterior lighting1
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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
4
2
5
3
3
2
0
1
4
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 2 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Power train
8 reports2 crashes
“THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY ON A CITY STREET. STARTED THE VEHICLE, FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE.VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT NORMAL RPM. WHEN THE FOOT WAS REMOVED FROM THE BRAKE PETAL, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AT FULL THROTTLE. MY FOOT NEVER TOUCHED THE GAS PEDAL. IT TRAVELED ABOUT 10 FEET STRIKING A VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BY PUSHING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND CAME TO A STOP. THE ENGINE SPEED RETURNED TO NORMAL RPM. I STARTED TO LIFT MY FOOT OFF THE BREAK PEDAL AND THE CAR RESUMED FULL THROTTLE FORWARD. IT PUSHED THE FIRST VEHICLE I HIT INTO THE CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF IT AND PUSHED IT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE BEFORE I COULD GET IT STOPPED. THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL RPM. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT FILED. AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC CHECKED THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CRASH AND FOUND THE THROTTLE LINKAGE WAS FREE, WAS NOT ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE HIGH RPM, AND COULD NOT READ ANY ERROR CODES ON THE COMPUTER. THIS WAS WITHIN 20 MINUTES OF THE CRASH WHILE THE POLICE WERE PRESENT. BOTH VEHICLES I HIT WERE TOTALED. NO SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATHS IN THE ACCIDENT.”
Engine and engine cooling
7 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA MILLENIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000.”
Air bags
4 reports1 crash
“MY MECHANIC, MOJARRO AUTO REPAIR, ORDERED FROM AUTOZONE THIS PART....WHEN IT ARRIVED, REALIZED IT DIDN'T AT ALL RESEMBLE THE PART THAT HIS DIAGNOSTIC TOOL STATED WAS THE PROBLEM. JESSE, FOUND 1 AT A WRECKING YARD. IN 3 DAYS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AGAIN. I PHONED DETROIT, MICHIGAN....GAVE THEM THE VIN & PART'S #, THE GENTLEMAN STATED, " THAT PART IS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED" THIS CAR STILL DRIVES...W/NO HESITATION, CITY OR HWY. CAN I GET A 1 TIME PASS FROM DMV TIL IT'S NEXT RENEWAL?”
Visibility
4 reports
“MY CAR WAS PURCHASED AT A DEALERSHIP FOUR YEARS AGO WITH AFTERMARKET TINTS ALREADY INSTALLED. THE CAR WAS GIVEN TO ME WITH A VALID INSPECTION STICKER WHICH WAS RENEWED ANNUALLY BY THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL THIS YEAR WHEN THEY TOLD ME THAT IT DIDN'T PASS BECAUSE OF THE TINT BEING TO DARK. AM I OR SHOULD I BE HELD FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FACT THAT THIS CAR DID NOT PASS. IF IT DIDN'T PASS THIS YEAR THAN OBVIOUSLY IT SHOULDN'T HAVE PASSED FROM THE TIME THEY HELD THE CAR AND SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN PASSED ON TO THE CUSTOMER. I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF I HAVE GROUNDS FOR A COMPLAINT HAND HOW TO INITIATE SUCH A PROCESS. *TR”
Vehicle speed control
3 reports2 crashes
“I WAS DRIVING ON BYPASS AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL OFF LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO GO. IT WAS TRYING TO STALL AND AN 18 WHEELER WAS BEHIND ME. THE DRIVER OF THE 18 WHEELER ALMOST HIT ME AND HE HONKED HIS HORN AT ME. I GUESS HE THOUGHT I WAS PLAYING SOME SORT OF GAME WITH HIM. *TR”
Tires
2 reports
“TIRE BLOW-OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEED FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. THE ENTIRE OUTER SIDEWALL WAS PERFORATED AROUND THE OUTER SIDEWALL, INNER SIDE WALL WAS INTACT. AIR PRESSURE WAS CHECKED CORRECTED TWO DAYS PREVIOUS AS TIRE WAS 5#'S LOW. GOODYEAR ASSURANCE, 215/55/16. SIDEWALL WAS SEPARATED FROM LINING /BELTS. ALSO HAVE ONE OTHER TIRE THAT WAS REPLACED WHERE GOODYEAR CLAIMED THE BELT SHIFTED CAUSING A CAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT CONDITION. *TR”
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.