IllustrationCONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH AN OIL LEAK THAT IS CAUSING SMOKE AND A HORRIBLE SMELL, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER 5 TIMES AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED, VALVE COVER GASKETS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, REAR CAP SEALS REPLACED, AND O RINGS WERE REPLACED. *SLC
1991 Mazda Mpv
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 Mazda Mpv do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 36.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Mpv 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: 4 of 66 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
16 reportsREPAIR SHOP NOTIFIED ME THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS KNOWN TO MAZDA AND IS IN A TSB REGARDING ROCKER ARMS WHICH WERE MODIFIED . HOW CAN MAZDA BE ALLOWED TO SELL A KNOWN DEFECT TO CONSUMERS. IS THERE ANY REPAIR COMPENSATION ALLOWED TO OWNERS? THANK YOU.
THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW, CAUSING WATER / COOLANT LEAKAGE, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER AND INDEPENDENT SHOPS. *AK *YC
WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY 40MPH HEARD A SNAP, VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING.CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE NOISE (TICKING LIFTERS & PISTON SLAP) AT 40K; DEALER REPLACED SHORT BLOCK ENGINE, BUT PROBLEM WAS BACK BY 60K. IN SPITE OF CHANGING THE OIL EVERY 2K, USING A SYNTHETIC (MOBIL 1 AND OTHER FRICTION REDUCERS - SLICK 50, PROLONG) MY PROBLEM PERSISTED. IF I ALLOWED THE OIL TO STAY IN W/O CHANGING FO…
Read full complaint
EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE NOISE (TICKING LIFTERS & PISTON SLAP) AT 40K; DEALER REPLACED SHORT BLOCK ENGINE, BUT PROBLEM WAS BACK BY 60K. IN SPITE OF CHANGING THE OIL EVERY 2K, USING A SYNTHETIC (MOBIL 1 AND OTHER FRICTION REDUCERS - SLICK 50, PROLONG) MY PROBLEM PERSISTED. IF I ALLOWED THE OIL TO STAY IN W/O CHANGING FOR MORE THAN 2K I WOULD GET THIS LOUD, TERRIBLE TICKING NOISE WHEN I STARTED IN THE MORNING AND EVEN WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS YOU COULD HEAR THIS TICKING OVER THE HIGHWAY NOISE. I HAVE LIVED WITH THIS PROBLEM DURING THE LIFE OF THIS ENGINE FEELING POWERLESS TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. EVEN THOUGH I WAS ABLE TO GET GOOD SERVICE FROM MY ENGINE, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT COULD HAVE PERFORMED EVEN LONGER IF THIS PROBLEM DIDN'T EXIST.
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. TEMPERATURE READ HOT. ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE CAR OVER AND ALL INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE ON. THE CAR DIED. CAR TOWED TO DEALER, WOULD NOT START. DEALER DISCOVERED A HOLE IN RADIATOR AND BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. INTERNAL DAMAGE AND CONSUMER HAS NO CAR. *AK
CRACKED ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD.
FRONT STRUTS FAILED, CAUSING NOISE.
ENGINE LIFTERS WENT BAD TWO YEARS AGO , SO THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE LIFTERS . OWNER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE LIFTERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
ENGINE STALLED 15 TIMES.
Official recalls
315V674000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Oct 19, 2015
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.
95V103005 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
May 24, 1995
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
92V027000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:drum:shoes/linings
Feb 27, 1992
THE REAR BRAKE LININGS CAN CHANGE OVER TIME. AS THE BRAKES WEAR, THE COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION CAN INCREASE, PRODUCING INCONSISTENT REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE AND PREMATURE ACTIVATION OF THE ABS SYSTEM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INCONSISTENT BRAKING AND PREMATURE ACTIVATION OF THE ABSSYSTEM CAN CAUSE SUDDEN STOPS OR INCREASED BRAKING DISTANCES, AND RESULT ININCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES WITH ASSEMBLIES WHOSE FRICTION CHARACTERISTICS DO NOT CHANGE. THIS WILL REDUCE THE RISK OF PREMATURE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATION.
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
6EA96031 · Fuel LIQUID-VAPOR Separator
Opened Dec 20, 1996 · Closed Mar 31, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM LIQUID-VAPOR SEPARATOR MAY FAIL AT NIPPLE FOR FUEL TANK HOSE CONNECTION RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE AREA BEHIND THE RIGHT REAR TRIM PANEL.
PE96055 · Fuel LIQUID-VAPOR Separator Failure
Opened Sep 13, 1996 · Closed Dec 20, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
RATORS AREEVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM LIQUID-VAPOR SEPARATORS ARE ALLEGEDLY FAILING AND LEAKING FUEL LIQUID/VAPOR.
EA95005 · Takata Seat Belt Buckle Failure
Opened Mar 10, 1995 · Closed Aug 1, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available
EA92008 · Inconsist.brk Performance
Opened Feb 3, 1992 · Closed Mar 16, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Air:antilock
There is no summary currently available
PE91134 · Inconsistent Brake Perform
Opened Oct 1, 1991 · Closed Feb 3, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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PE91088 · Throttle Sticking
Opened Jun 18, 1991 · Closed Oct 21, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available