Problems · NHTSA complaints
1997 Mazda MPV problems
Owners filed 24 complaints about the 1997 Mazda MPV with NHTSA between Jul 1997 and Feb 2016. The most-cited component is air bags (8).
Complaints
24
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
9
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
10
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags8
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Power train3
- Latches/locks/linkages2
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Seats2
- Electrical system1
- Engine1
- Tires1
- Steering1
- Suspension1
- Seat belts1
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 Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
3
1
4
3
1
2
2
0
2
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 4 |
| 1998 | 3 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 |
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
Air bags
8 reports8 crashes
“I AM FILING A COMPLAINT IN REGARD TO MY VEHICLE'S EQUIPMENT THAT FAILED AND WAS FAULTY IN A RECENT AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH IN A STRAIGHT LANE WHEN A VEHICLE QUICKLY ENTERED ACROSS MY PATH TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. I HAD NO TIME TO BRAKE, SO THE OTHER CAR IS WHAT STOPPED MY MOTION. IT WAS A HARD HIT! MY MAZDA MPV CRASHED INTO THE OTHER PERSON'S CAR. DURING OUR FRONT IMPACT WITH THE OTHER CAR'S DRIVER SIDE, MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURY. HAD THE AIRBAG WORKED, I FEEL I WOULDN'T HAD SLID INTO THE DASH AND BEEN JERKED BACKWARDS BY MY SEAT BELT RESTRAINT CAUSING INJURY TO MY BACK AND OR SPINAL ALIGNMENT. I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING EVERY DAY FROM THE ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS INJURY. IN ADDITION TO THE CHEST/LAP BELT BEING USED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, I SECURED MY DAUGHTER'S CHEST DURING THE CRASH WITH MY RIGHT ARM, WHICH I BELIEVE HELPED HER TO NOT ATTAIN EVEN MORE INJURY FROM THE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING. SHE WAS, HOWEVER,INJURED ON HER LEG FROM THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT UNDER HER SEAT RELEASING ON IT'S OWN FROM THE CRASH AND HITTING HER LEGS CAUSING A CUT THAT WAS TREATED AT THE E.R. THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO…”
Engine and engine cooling
5 reports2 fires
“DRIVING UPHILL ON I-70 AT THE SPEED LIMIT (55) THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, THE DRIVER STEERED TO THE SHOULDER. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BEGAN SMOKING. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE MAZDA MPV ('97) WAS CONSUMED IN FIRE. *NM”
Power train
3 reports
“MY 1997 626 IS HAVING A SEVERE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THERE IS ONLY 60000 MILES ON IT. CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FILES ON THIS ISSUE, I SINCERELY HOPE THAT MAZDA DOES SOMETHING ABOUT (RECALL OR BETTER GO OUT OF BUSINESS). *NLM”
Latches/locks/linkages
2 reports1 crash
“IT WILL BE HARD TO OPEN THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS FROM THE INSIDE. *AK”
Fuel system, gasoline
2 reports
“AFTER REFILLING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER SMELLED FUMES INSIDE THE CAR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK”
Seats
2 reports1 crash
“CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE KEEPS UNLOCKING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.