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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train8
  2. Engine and engine cooling7
  3. Air bags4
  4. Visibility4
  5. Vehicle speed control3
  6. Tires2
  7. Wheels2
  8. Steering2
  9. Fuel/propulsion system1
  10. Traction control system1
  11. Suspension1
  12. Structure1
  13. 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
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
20012
20024
20032
20045
20053
20063
20072
20080
20091
20104
20110
20120
20131
20141
20150
20160
20170
20180
20190
20202

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

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 25, 2020Power train, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 11311458

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 14, 2014Engine and engine coolingODI 10655085

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?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 14, 2020Air bags, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11309130

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 17, 2010VisibilityODI 10330736

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 29, 2013Vehicle speed control, Traction control systemODI 10550069

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 3, 2010TiresODI 10304578
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.