Every generation
Power
0–62 mph (0–100 km/h)
Top speed (200 km/h)
Combined, EPA 2006
What owners say
Our take, from owner reports
Sentiment is mixed and heavily dependent on the vehicle's age and maintenance history.
8 problems reported (3 very frequent, 2 recurrent, 3 isolated) · high confidence
Problems owners report
- Very frequentAutomatic transmission failures
Includes torque converter failure (causing shuddering, stalling when put in gear), torque converter clutch solenoid circuit faults (P0740), and general "bad" transmissions requiring replacement.
- Very frequentCooling system problems
Radiator leaks, thermostat failures (codes P0126, P0128), and sudden coolant loss leading to overheating, sometimes linked to recent repair work.
- Very frequentEngine sensor and control faults
Includes knock sensor failure (P0327), VTCS/IMRC valve faults (P1512), rough idle/misfires (P0300, P0302), and high idle issues potentially linked to IAC valve or vacuum leaks.
+ 5 more issuesShow fewer
- RecurrentElectrical gremlins and stalling
Vehicle suddenly shutting off while driving (everything cuts out) but restarting normally afterward; flickering dash/cab lights; faulty window regulators; broken rear wiper.
- RecurrentOil consumption and leaks
Significant oil consumption (e.g., 5L over 4500 km) with no visible smoke or leaks; various oil leak points including valve cover gaskets.
- IsolatedAlternator failure
Diagnosed as cause for a no-start condition after a battery replacement.
- IsolatedSuspension system complexity
On 4WD models with automatic levelling rear suspension, system failures are noted as expensive to diagnose and repair.
- IsolatedLack of power on inclines
Vehicle struggles, slows down, and overheats on uphill slopes without responding to gear changes or throttle input.
The version owners recommend
Insufficient owner data available. No specific trim or model year is singled out as superior. The data suggests all older models are susceptible to similar age-related failures.
Is the MPV right for you?
Get an answer for your year, mileage and budget.
Full owner reportHide full owner report
Overall sentiment
Sentiment is mixed and heavily dependent on the vehicle's age and maintenance history. For older, high-mileage examples (typically pre-2006 models), the feedback is dominated by recurrent mechanical and electrical issues, leading to significant reliability concerns and frustration among owners. These vehicles are often described as requiring frequent repairs, with specific problems plaguing the automatic transmission, engine sensors, and cooling systems. However, there is a contingent of owners who appreciate the MPV for its practicality, low purchase cost, and ease of repair for DIY enthusiasts, viewing it as a cheap, spacious beater vehicle. A single owner of a 2003 model reported excellent reliability and longevity before it was totaled, but this is an isolated positive report against a backdrop of frequent problem discussions. The vehicle is generally not seen as a refined or engaging drive, with one owner noting it "really felt like driving a bus."
Positioning vs competitors
Insufficient owner data available.
Recommended configurations
Insufficient owner data available. No specific configurations (drivetrain, trim, options) are recommended by owners.
General recommendations
Only suitable as a budget, high-mileage used vehicle for owners with mechanical aptitude, low financial expectations, and a high tolerance for repairs. Strongly recommended to have any vehicle thoroughly inspected by a mechanic prior to purchase, with a focus on the automatic transmission, cooling system, and for oil leaks. Not recommended as a primary, reliable family vehicle for long-distance or urgent transportation needs without a significant repair budget. Ownership satisfaction appears highest among those who purchase the vehicle for very low prices (e.g., $600-$900) and can perform repairs themselves.
Remarks
The overwhelming majority of owner feedback pertains to MPVs from the 1990s through the 2006 model year, with many reports involving vehicles with over 150,000 miles. The 2.5L V6 (Ford Duratec) and 2.3L engines are mentioned. Problems are chronic and systemic for aging examples, suggesting these are not vehicles for owners seeking trouble-free transportation. The community of owners is often self-reliant, utilizing online forums and repair manuals to address issues. One owner noted a period where Mazda vehicles, including the MPV, were known for reliability problems and body rust, though specific rust issues for the MPV are not detailed in the provided data. Analysis based on approximately 35 substantive owner discussions and problem reports.
Generation by generation
Owner insights per generation and US complaint/recall records (NHTSA).
Complaints and recalls by model yearNo year grades F. Best year: 2006Source: NHTSA (US)Show table
Each year graded against the model's other years: Year Score.
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 12 | 2 | air bags |
| 2005 | 42 | 3 | air bags |
| 2004 | 96 | 5 | engine and engine cooling |
| 2003 | 114 | 4 | power train |
| 2002 | 125 | 4 | power train |
| 2001 | 73 | 3 | engine and engine cooling |
| 2000 | 155 | 5 | engine and engine cooling |
| 1999 | 2 | 0 | service brakes |
| 1998 | 24 | 1 | air bags |
| 1997 | 25 | 1 | air bags |
| 1996 | 22 | 1 | engine and engine cooling |
Complaint counts come from owner reports filed with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Higher-selling years naturally accumulate more complaints.
Recall notices29 on record · Source: NHTSA (US)Show recalls
2006 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 18V404000
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Mazda MPV vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2005-2009 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 17V-011 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
2006 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 18V402000
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 and 2004 MPV vehicles nationwide. Mazda is also recalling 2005-2006 MPV vehicles in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2004-2011 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-354 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
2005 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 18V404000
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Mazda MPV vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2005-2009 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 17V-011 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
2005 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 18V402000
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 and 2004 MPV vehicles nationwide. Mazda is also recalling 2005-2006 MPV vehicles in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2004-2011 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-354 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
2005 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 19V781000
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2005 MPV, 2004 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
2004 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 18V402000
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 and 2004 MPV vehicles nationwide. Mazda is also recalling 2005-2006 MPV vehicles in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2004-2011 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-354 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
2004 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 19V781000
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2005 MPV, 2004 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
2004 · equipment:other:labelscampaign 04V109000
CERTAIN MINIVANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AIR BAG WARNING LABELS INTENDED FOR THE CANADIAN MARKET. THUS, THE LABELS CONTAIN WARNINGS IN BOTH ENGLISH AND FRENCH. AS A RESULT, THE AREA OF THE ENGLISH WARNING IS ONLY 16 SQUARE CENTIMETERS, AS OPPOSED TO THE 30 SQUARE CENTIMETERS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
2004 · equipment:other:labelscampaign 04V282000
THE TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE INDICATED ON THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL IS NOT CORRECT. THE LABELS SHOW THE MAXIMUM TIRE PRESSURE AS 240 KPA/32 PSI WHEN IT SHOULD BE SHOWN AS 240 KPA/35 PSI. AS A RESULT OF THIS ERROR, THE LOAD RATIOS FOR THE 205/65R15 94H AND THE 215/60R16 95H TIRES EXCEED THE LEVELS PERMITTED BY FMVSS 120.
2004 · air bags:frontalcampaign 04V073000
AS A RESULT OF AN NCAP TEST, CERTAIN MINIVANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG WAS NOT CORRECTLY WIRING.
2003 · equipment:other:labelscampaign 04V109000
CERTAIN MINIVANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AIR BAG WARNING LABELS INTENDED FOR THE CANADIAN MARKET. THUS, THE LABELS CONTAIN WARNINGS IN BOTH ENGLISH AND FRENCH. AS A RESULT, THE AREA OF THE ENGLISH WARNING IS ONLY 16 SQUARE CENTIMETERS, AS OPPOSED TO THE 30 SQUARE CENTIMETERS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
2003 · exterior lighting:fog lightscampaign 03V206000
ON CERTAIN MINI VANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SOCKET HOLDER IN THE FOG LIGHTS IS INSTALLED IN THE LAMP CASING USING PRESSURE. DURING OPERATION OF THE FOG LIGHT, THE HEAT FROM THE BULB CAN EXPAND THE SOCKET HOLDER. THE EXPANSION CAN FORCE THE SOCKET HOLDER REARWARD. AFTER REPEATEDLY BEING SUBJECT TO THIS EXPANSION, IF THE FOG LIGHT IS ALSO SUBJECTED TO VIBRATION DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE SOCKET HOLDER WITH THE BULB HOLDER AND THE WIRING HARNESS MAY SEPARATE FROM THE FOG LIGHT CASING.
2003 · equipment:other:labelscampaign 04V282000
THE TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE INDICATED ON THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL IS NOT CORRECT. THE LABELS SHOW THE MAXIMUM TIRE PRESSURE AS 240 KPA/32 PSI WHEN IT SHOULD BE SHOWN AS 240 KPA/35 PSI. AS A RESULT OF THIS ERROR, THE LOAD RATIOS FOR THE 205/65R15 94H AND THE 215/60R16 95H TIRES EXCEED THE LEVELS PERMITTED BY FMVSS 120.
2003 · exterior lighting:fog lightscampaign 03V053000
ON CERTAIN MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH FRONT FOG LIGHTS,THE FOG LIGHT BULB SOCKET MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IMPROPERLY.
2002 · vehicle speed control:cablescampaign 04V234000
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL, THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR CABLE MAY BE BROKEN DUE TO INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH (GROUP 1). ALSO INCLUDED ARE CERTAIN 2000-2001 MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 31, 1999 AND MARCH 31, 2001, THAT HAVE HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL REPAIRED AND POSSIBLY HAD A DEFECTIVE CABLE INSTALLED DURING THAT REPAIR (GROUP 2).
14 older recalls not shown. Check nhtsa.gov with your VIN for the full history.
Specifications
Enthusiast code: LW
3.0 i V6 24V
3.0L 6-cylinder · 203 hp · FWD · automatic
Built 2002–2006