Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Mazda MPV problems

Owners filed 114 complaints about the 2003 Mazda MPV with NHTSA between Feb 2003 and Jan 2019. The most-cited component is power train (35).

Complaints
114
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
12
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
18
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train35
  2. Engine and engine cooling23
  3. Electrical system16
  4. Air bags10
  5. Vehicle speed control9
  6. Structure8
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic5
  8. Engine4
  9. Steering3
  10. Tires3
  11. Seat belts3
  12. Wheels2
  13. Suspension2
  14. Equipment2

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 27, 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
200317
200427
200510
20066
20076
20087
20099
201010
20118
20121
20133
20142
20150
20162
20172
20183
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

Power train

35 reports2 crashes1 fire
“MY 2003 MAZDA MPV HAS A HORRIBLE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEM. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT'S THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. THEY CHARGED ME 1,500 DOLLARS TO INSTALL NEW AND AND REFLASH IT AND THE TRANSMISSION STILL DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 31, 2019Power trainODI 11173211

Engine and engine cooling

23 reports
“2003 MAZDA MPV. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNSATISFACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM DEALERSHIP AND VEHICLE COMPANY. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE DID NOT PASS A SAFETY INSPECTION, DUE TO A FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTER, DESPITE SPENDING OVER $3,000 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2013Engine and engine coolingODI 10506103

Electrical system

16 reports
“EVERY TIME THIS MAZDA MPV GETS A LITTLE WET IT WILL NOT GO OVER 40 MPH. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WITH NO RETURN PHONE CALL OR EMAIL. THE COILS ALLOW MOISTURE TO GET IN WHICH WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO THINK IT IS OVERHEATING AND WILL NOT GO NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED IN JACKSONVILLE DURING RUSH HOUR AND BEING STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE BECAUSE OF A FAULTY COIL THAT THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR, IS BEYOND FRUSTRATING. I HAVE KIDS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE VEHICLE OTHER TIMES WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED AND WE HAD TO SIT IN THE VAN OR GO TO GAS STATIONS AND WAIT UNTIL IT WAS SOMEWHAT DERIVABLE AGAIN. I HAVE READ FORUM AFTER FORUM AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS ISSUE WITH THEIR MPV, RANGING FROM 1993-2006 MODELS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 4, 2014Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), EngineODI 10586423

Air bags

10 reports5 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA MPV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT 48 HOURS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE FROM HONDA OF WINTER HAVEN IN WINTER HAVEN, FLORIDA, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION. THE FRONT PASSENGER'S RIGHT ARM AND LUNG WERE BRUISED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY THE DRIVER. THE PASSENGER WAS TREATED AND RELEASED. THE POLICE WAS CONTACTED, BUT A REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2017Air bagsODI 11015654

Vehicle speed control

9 reports3 crashes
“WE DRIVE TO LAKE TAHOE IN MY MPV VAN WITH 5 PEOPLE IN IT. THE VAN JERKED WHEN DRIVING ACCELERATING FROM 40 TO 50 MPH. WE CHANGED DRIVER ON THE WAY, AND BOTH DRIVER FELLED THE SAME THING. IT SEEMS A TRANSMISSION SHIFT SHOCK OR SHIFT FLARE. THEN WHEN "GOOGLE" THE PROBLEM ON INTERNET, I FOUND OUT THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR MAZDA MPV 5-SPEED AUTO TRANSMISSION. MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN FAILURE AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF THE "SHIFT FLARES". THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. MAZDA SHOULD OFFER FREE REPAIR FOR THIS COMMON FAILURE OF THEIR PRODUCT. I'M ENGINEER AND I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CARS AND CHANGE ALL OIL AND ATF ON SCHEDULE. MY FORD MINIVAN 96 AREOSTAR HAVE RUN MORE THAN 260 K MILE WITH ORIGINAL ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. IT IS STILL RUNNING STRONG. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 17, 2013Vehicle speed controlODI 10525428

Structure

8 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA MPV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK LATCH FRACTURED, CAUSING THE HOOD TO STRIKE HER ON THE HEAD. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A MINOR CONCUSSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 72,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 11, 2011StructureODI 10429426
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.