Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Mazda MPV problems

Owners filed 42 complaints about the 2005 Mazda MPV with NHTSA between Mar 2005 and Jan 2024. The most-cited component is air bags (10).

Complaints
42
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags10
  2. Engine6
  3. Engine and engine cooling6
  4. Electrical system4
  5. Service brakes3
  6. Structure3
  7. Seat belts3
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic3
  9. Equipment2
  10. Visibility2
  11. Vehicle speed control2
  12. Power train2
  13. Interior lighting1
  14. Suspension1

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
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
20055
20062
20075
20084
20091
20104
20110
20123
20131
20142
20151
20164
20177
20181
20190
20200
20210
20221
20230
20241

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

Air bags

10 reports1 crash3 related recalls
“Takata recall. The contact owns a 2005 Mazda MPV. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V404000 (Air Bags) however, the nearest dealer location was nearly 5 hours away. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and attempted to send a mechanic from the dealer to the residence for the recall repair however, the dealer declined. The contact was then referred to a Subaru dealer for assistance; however, the manufacturer failed to send the part to the dealer. The contact had gone back and forth with the manufacturer and other dealers but the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 20, 2022Air bagsODI 11465505

Engine

6 reports
“ENGINE STALLS OR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY WHEN AUTO MOVES FROM HIGH SPEED TO LOW SPEED. MAZDA 6 W/ 3.0 LITER ENGINE, WHICH IS THE SAME ENGINE AS THIS UNIT, HAS A SIMILAR ISSUE - SEE HERE: HTTP://WWW.6CREW.COM/FILES/TSB/01-016-06-2135.PDF THIS IS HAPPENING PERSISTENTLY FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 6, 2017EngineODI 11052832

Engine and engine cooling

6 reports
“MY MAZDA 2005 MPV VAN ENGINE SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY WHEN SLOWING DOWN, SLOWING AROUND CORNERS AND SITTING AT RED LIGHTS. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO ANY SPUDDERING OR ANYTHING ENGINE RUNS GREAT. LOSS OF STEERING IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE WHEN ENGINE CUTS OFF. I HAVE SEEN A BUNCH OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE SAME MODEL VAN IM SURE THERE'S LOTS MORE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10349544

Electrical system

4 reports
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA MPV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RANDOM FAILURE AND VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED, INCLUDING THE SERVICE ENGINE AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS. IN ADDITION, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V354000 (AIR BAGS) SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND WAS UNABLE TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR WITH A DEALER WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN OF WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 13, 2017Electrical system, Air bags, Interior lighting, EngineODI 10960427

Service brakes

3 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2005 Mazda MPV. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard and the vehicle failed to come to a complete stop. As a result of the failure, the contact crashed into a tree on the passenger side of the vehicle. The driver's side air bag deployed; however, the passenger’s side air bag did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. A Police report was filed, but no injuries were reported. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V781000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that the VIN was included; however, the vehicle had previously been repaired by the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 251,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 16, 2024Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11565797

Structure

3 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA MPV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THE CONTACT HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOWS TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE HANDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 12, 2017StructureODI 11022890
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.