Problems · NHTSA complaints
2002 Mazda MPV problems
Owners filed 125 complaints about the 2002 Mazda MPV with NHTSA between Aug 2002 and Apr 2015. The most-cited component is power train (66).
Complaints
125
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train66
- Engine and engine cooling23
- Electrical system9
- Vehicle speed control5
- Air bags4
- Tires4
- Structure4
- Seat belts3
- Exterior lighting3
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Equipment3
- Seats3
- Engine2
- Fuel system, gasoline2
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
7
17
15
9
9
23
14
7
11
3
4
1
4
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 23 |
| 2008 | 14 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 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
Power train
66 reports
“TRANSMISSION FAILED, COMPLETELY DISENGAGED. NO WARNING. HAD TO BE TOWED. REQUIRED A $2500.00 COMPLETE OVERHAUL. VERY LOW MILES ON THIS VEHICLE, ALWAYS PROPERLY MAINTAINED. *TR”
Engine and engine cooling
23 reports1 crash
“MY 2002 MPV SUFFERED A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT ABOUT 75K MILES, STALLING OUT IN MORNING TRAFFIC AND NEEDING TO BE PUSHED FROM THE ROAD. THE TRANSMISSION OCCASIONALLY KICKED WHEN SHIFTING SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. I CALLED MAZDA, WHICH REFUSED TO PAY ANYTHING TOWARD THE REPAIR, SAYING IT HAD RELINQUISHED LIABILITY FOR A VEHICLE SEVERAL YEARS PAST WARRANTY. DESPITE WHAT I SEE IN NHTSA'S COMPLAINT LOG AND ELSEWHERE ON THE NET, MAZDA TOLD ME THAT IT DOES NOT AGREE THAT THE TRANSMISSION ON THE 2002 MPV IS UNUSUALLY PRONE TO FAILURE. IN THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS, THIS MPV HAS NEEDED SEVERAL OTHER EXPENSIVE ENGINE REPAIRS, SOME OF WHICH ALSO REPEATEDLY SHOW UP ON THE NHTSA COMPLAINT LOG: 3 IGNITION COILS, A PCV HOSE, AN IDLE CONTROL VALVE, AND AN OXYGEN SENSOR. THIS IS QUITE A STRING OF EXPENSIVE FAILURES FOR A CAR LESS THAN 7 YEARS OLD. THE DEALER OFFERED TO DO THE TRANSMISSION WORK FOR $3600, ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS LIKE I WILL HAVE IT DONE ELSEWHERE FOR SOMEWHAT LESS. I STRONGLY URGE NHTSA TO REEVALUATE WHETHER A RECALL IS MERITED FOR THE 2002 MPV'S DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO HAVE 3 IGNITION COILS, A PCV HOSE, AND IDLE CONTROL VALVE NAS A…”
Electrical system
9 reports1 fire
“AT 72K, TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT HWY SPEEDS. TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL ON ITS OWN. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. ALSO ALL 6 COILS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. 1 FAILED AT APPROX. 38K, 2ND AT 50K, THE REMAINING AT 72K. *TR”
Vehicle speed control
5 reports1 crash1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA MPV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ACTUATOR CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V234000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”
Air bags
4 reports2 crashes
“2002 MAZDA MPV. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT BEING ON. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.”
Tires
4 reports
“TIRE VALVE STEMS ALL FOUR ,CAUSED TWO FLAT TIRES AND TWO VALUE STEM CREAKING, 13 MONTHS OLD, SUMITOMO TIRES P21560H16 FROM SEARS. I WAS TOLD IT WAS DRY ROT, I TOLD THE MDG. HE WAS FULL OF B.S. . I HAD MIDAS REPLACE ALL FOUR VALUE STEMS. *TR”
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.