WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED FUEL OIL PRESSURE WAS LEAKING. *AK
1996 Mazda Millenia
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Millenia years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 5 of 15 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
3 reportsDEAR SIRS -I AM AN ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1996 MAZDA MILLENIA PURCHASED NEW IN SEPT 1996 ON MAY 20TH 2002 WHILE TRAVELLING ON I-17 20 MILES SOUTH OF FLGASTAFF ,AZ , THE MOTOR SUDDELY SEIZED WITH NO IDIOT LIGHTS GOING OFF ,WATER TEMP GAUGE WAS READING NORMAL ..LUCKILY , I WAS IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE AND 250YDS FROM AN EXIT WHICH I CO…
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DEAR SIRS -I AM AN ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1996 MAZDA MILLENIA PURCHASED NEW IN SEPT 1996 ON MAY 20TH 2002 WHILE TRAVELLING ON I-17 20 MILES SOUTH OF FLGASTAFF ,AZ , THE MOTOR SUDDELY SEIZED WITH NO IDIOT LIGHTS GOING OFF ,WATER TEMP GAUGE WAS READING NORMAL ..LUCKILY , I WAS IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE AND 250YDS FROM AN EXIT WHICH I COASTED TO ..MAZDA USA HAS REFUSED TO ACCEPT FULL RESPONSIBILITY CITING THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY (36/50,000). MAZDA HAS REVIEWED THE SERVICE RECORDS AND FOUND THEM TO BE AT INTERVELS FAR EARLIER THAN SCHEDULED MAINTENACE ...THE REFUSAL BY MAZDA TO STAND BEHIND THEIR MOTORS WITH 34,372 MILES DOES NOT SPEAK WELL OF MAZDA..TO THIS DATE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE "MELTDOWN"*AK
THE ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON SPORADICALLY EVERY TIME WE CHECK IT OUT IT GOES BACK OUT THEN THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON WE HAD THE OIL REPLACED THEN THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF WE THEN TOOK THE CAR TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THE HEADER BROKE COMPLETELY OFF THE CAMSHAFT AND IT WOULD BE $5,000 TO FIX OUR WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED BY 42 DAYS …
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THE ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON SPORADICALLY EVERY TIME WE CHECK IT OUT IT GOES BACK OUT THEN THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON WE HAD THE OIL REPLACED THEN THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF WE THEN TOOK THE CAR TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THE HEADER BROKE COMPLETELY OFF THE CAMSHAFT AND IT WOULD BE $5,000 TO FIX OUR WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED BY 42 DAYS AND THEY REFUSED TO HONOR AN EXTENSION AND TOLD US TO PAY OR TAKE THE CAR OFF THE PREMISES. I CONTACTED THE MAZDA WARRANTY DEPT WHO REFUSED TO EXTEND IT AND I ALSO SPOKE WITH THE DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE CAR WHO SAID THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO ABOUT IT. EVEN THE ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE HANDLING MY FINANCE ACCOUNT COULD DO NOTHING TO HELP. THIS CAR IS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD AND WE ONLY HAD IT FOR 13 MONTHS WITH ONLY ONE PRIOR OWNER DAMAGE OF THIS CALIBER WITHOUT HAVING BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IS A BIT EXTREME. OTHER MAZDA OWNER HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM SEEMS LIKE AN ENGINE DEFECT.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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