← New search

2002 Mazda Mpv

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Mpv years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Mazda Mpv are substantially higher than the model-year median of 36.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected 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

92 reports with mileage · 32 unknown

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 66 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports5 fire reports6 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

23 reports
Clear category filter
75,000 miles · Jan 28, 2009
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

MY 2002 MPV SUFFERED A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT ABOUT 75K MILES, STALLING OUT IN MORNING TRAFFIC AND NEEDING TO BE PUSHED FROM THE ROAD. THE TRANSMISSION OCCASIONALLY KICKED WHEN SHIFTING SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. I CALLED MAZDA, WHICH REFUSED TO PAY ANYTHING TOWARD THE REPAIR, SAYING IT HAD RELINQUISHED LIABILITY FOR A V…

Read full complaint

MY 2002 MPV SUFFERED A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT ABOUT 75K MILES, STALLING OUT IN MORNING TRAFFIC AND NEEDING TO BE PUSHED FROM THE ROAD. THE TRANSMISSION OCCASIONALLY KICKED WHEN SHIFTING SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. I CALLED MAZDA, WHICH REFUSED TO PAY ANYTHING TOWARD THE REPAIR, SAYING IT HAD RELINQUISHED LIABILITY FOR A VEHICLE SEVERAL YEARS PAST WARRANTY. DESPITE WHAT I SEE IN NHTSA'S COMPLAINT LOG AND ELSEWHERE ON THE NET, MAZDA TOLD ME THAT IT DOES NOT AGREE THAT THE TRANSMISSION ON THE 2002 MPV IS UNUSUALLY PRONE TO FAILURE. IN THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS, THIS MPV HAS NEEDED SEVERAL OTHER EXPENSIVE ENGINE REPAIRS, SOME OF WHICH ALSO REPEATEDLY SHOW UP ON THE NHTSA COMPLAINT LOG: 3 IGNITION COILS, A PCV HOSE, AN IDLE CONTROL VALVE, AND AN OXYGEN SENSOR. THIS IS QUITE A STRING OF EXPENSIVE FAILURES FOR A CAR LESS THAN 7 YEARS OLD. THE DEALER OFFERED TO DO THE TRANSMISSION WORK FOR $3600, ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS LIKE I WILL HAVE IT DONE ELSEWHERE FOR SOMEWHAT LESS. I STRONGLY URGE NHTSA TO REEVALUATE WHETHER A RECALL IS MERITED FOR THE 2002 MPV'S DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO HAVE 3 IGNITION COILS, A PCV HOSE, AND IDLE CONTROL VALVE NAS A RIGHT UPPER OXYGEN SENSOR. UPDATED 02/12/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10256614

66,677 miles · Jan 8, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingCrash

2000-2003 MAZDA MPV MODELS HAVE A COOLANT SEEPAGE FROM REAR HEATER PIPE WHICH CAN CAUSE SEVERE ENGINE FAILURE AND TRAFFIC HAZARD DUE TO NON-DRIVABLE VEHICLE. MAZDA MPV 2002 WAS FOUND TO HAVE A COOLANT LEAK IN REAR HEATER PIPES AND WAS TAKEN TO MAZDA REPAIR CENTER. MAZDA ADVISED A VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE RUN WITHOUT COOLANT SINC…

Read full complaint

2000-2003 MAZDA MPV MODELS HAVE A COOLANT SEEPAGE FROM REAR HEATER PIPE WHICH CAN CAUSE SEVERE ENGINE FAILURE AND TRAFFIC HAZARD DUE TO NON-DRIVABLE VEHICLE. MAZDA MPV 2002 WAS FOUND TO HAVE A COOLANT LEAK IN REAR HEATER PIPES AND WAS TAKEN TO MAZDA REPAIR CENTER. MAZDA ADVISED A VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE RUN WITHOUT COOLANT SINCE IT CAN DAMAGE THE ENGINE, AND REPLACED THE LINES FOR A COST OF $1000 (PARTS + LABOR). MPV WAS DRIVEN 18 MILES AFTER COMPLETED REPAIR, THEN THE ENGINE SUFFERED A COMPLETE FAILURE IN TRAFFIC AND VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION, POSING A DANGER TO MPV PASSENGERS AS WELL AS OTHER VEHICLES. MAZDA REPAIR CENTER CLAIMS THE ENGINE FAILURE IS DUE TO DRIVING WITH LOW/NO COOLANT PRIOR TO REPAIR. REGARDLESS, IF THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAILED REPAIR OR DUE TO THE REASON MAZDA STATES, THIS IS A KNOWN PRODUCT DEFECT BY MAZDA THAT SHOULD BE ISSUED AS A RECALL NOTICE TO ALL AFFECTED MPV OWNERS. MAZDA HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (US BULLETIN NO: 07-002/05) STATING THAT WARRANTY REPAIR IS APPROVED ONLY IF THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS COOLANT LEAKAGE AND THE VEHICLE IS WITHIN THE EXTENDED 7-YEAR WARRANTY FROM VEHICLE IN-SERVICE DATE. TSB REFERENCE: HTTP://MAZDA5CLUB.COM/TSB.PHP?ID=168 THIS KNOWN PRODUCT DEFECT SHOULD BE ISSUED AS A RECALL NOTICE FOR ALL AFFECTED MAZDA MPV MODELS DUE TO THE HIGH RISK THAT COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE POSES WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10254213

85,000 miles · Jul 14, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

SINCE NEW, HESITATES BETWEEN 40-50 MPH, CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, HIGH RPMS BUT NO ACCELERATION. REMOVING FOOT FROM GAS VAN SOMETIMES RECOVERS. HAS HAD TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE REPLACED AS A RESULT, THEN IGNITION COILS WERE BLAMED AND THOSE WERE REPLACED ONE BY ONE, SOMETIMES MORE THAN ONCE, THEN COOLANT TEMPERATURE SEN…

Read full complaint

SINCE NEW, HESITATES BETWEEN 40-50 MPH, CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, HIGH RPMS BUT NO ACCELERATION. REMOVING FOOT FROM GAS VAN SOMETIMES RECOVERS. HAS HAD TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE REPLACED AS A RESULT, THEN IGNITION COILS WERE BLAMED AND THOSE WERE REPLACED ONE BY ONE, SOMETIMES MORE THAN ONCE, THEN COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR WENT, NOW AT 85,000 TRANSMISSION WENT. EACH EVENT STRANDED MY FAMILY BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234245

66,815 miles · May 15, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

LOUD TAPPING NOISE EXISTED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, SOUNDED LIKE A VALVE TAPPING. PROBLEM WAS A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. DEALER FOUND CRACKED MANIFOLD AND A STRIPPED ATTACHING BOLT. BOTH WERE REPLACED. MANUFACTURER SUBSEQUENTLY REPAID ME FOR COST OF PARTS. I PAID LABOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10227894

7,000 miles · Feb 11, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA MPV. AS SOON AS THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH HER VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE. SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2007, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN DRIVING 40-50 MPH AND STALLS WHEN APPROACHING A STOP. THE VEHICLE IS ABLE TO BE REST…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA MPV. AS SOON AS THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH HER VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE. SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2007, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN DRIVING 40-50 MPH AND STALLS WHEN APPROACHING A STOP. THE VEHICLE IS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT CYLINDER THREE WAS MISFIRING AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT NEWER MODELS HAVE BEEN UPGRADED. WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, BUT THERE WAS NO BRAKE OR STEERING FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO SMELLED ROTTEN EGGS IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED, IN ADDITION TO OTHER SMALL FAILURES. THE VEHICLE BEGAN RUSTING WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF BEING PURCHASED. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, TRANSMISSION TYPE, POWERTRAIN, AND FUEL SYSTEM WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

NHTSA ODI #10218324

56,000 miles · Jul 17, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND MISFIRED. ONE DEALER SAID THIS WAS A TRANSMISSION MODULE. AFTER KEEPING IT FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND SAID THE SPARKS NEEDED ADJUSTING, WAITED ON THE TRANSMISSION MODULE BECAUSE IT WAS RUNNING FINE. THEN IT STOPPED SUDDENLY IN SNOWY WEATHER, TOWED, I WAS LEFT STRANDED FOR 2 HOURS IN COLD WEATHER, BATTERY …

Read full complaint

ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND MISFIRED. ONE DEALER SAID THIS WAS A TRANSMISSION MODULE. AFTER KEEPING IT FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND SAID THE SPARKS NEEDED ADJUSTING, WAITED ON THE TRANSMISSION MODULE BECAUSE IT WAS RUNNING FINE. THEN IT STOPPED SUDDENLY IN SNOWY WEATHER, TOWED, I WAS LEFT STRANDED FOR 2 HOURS IN COLD WEATHER, BATTERY REPLACED, 2 MONTHS LATER IT WAS RUNNING EXTREMELY ROUGH AND MISFIRED. A NEW DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT THE TRANSMISSION MODULE BUT THE COILS AND ALL WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR A $1,000. THEY SAID 3 WERE BAD, BUT IF THEY REPLACED THOSE THEY WOULD BE BACK REDOING THE OTHERS WITH IN A FEW WEEKS. CAR HAD 56,000 MILES ,BUT WAS PAST WARRANTY DATE NOT WARRANTY MILEAGE. THIS SEEMED TO BE WHAT WAS WRONG ALL ALONG. I UNDERSTAND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MIGHT GO DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE HEARD THAT COILS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT THIS POINT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10196548

89,000 miles · Apr 11, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

HAD TO REPLACE TWO IGNITION COILS WITHIN 100 MILES OF EACH OTHER, AND AT LEAST ONE OF THE COILS HAS BEEN CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR A YEAR. ALSO, IT LED TO A CATALYTIC CONVERTER MALFUNCTION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10187564

70,691 miles · Jan 24, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA MPV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELBOW FITTING CONNECTED TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD DEVELOPED A TEAR WHICH CAUSED A VACUUM LEAK IN THE ENGINE AND MADE THE BRAKES LOSE VACUUM ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE HE FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PART THAT WAS GO…

Read full complaint

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA MPV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELBOW FITTING CONNECTED TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD DEVELOPED A TEAR WHICH CAUSED A VACUUM LEAK IN THE ENGINE AND MADE THE BRAKES LOSE VACUUM ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE HE FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PART THAT WAS GOOD UP TO 70000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10180613

Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

2002 MAZDA MPV STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE WOULD JUST SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10145349

Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE HAD THREE ISSUES WITH MY MINIVAN. I HAVE HAD A ROTTEN EGG SMELL FOR THE LONGEST TIME AND WAS TOLD TO CHANGE THE TYPE OF GAS I USED. AFTER FURTHER PERSISTENCE WITH THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND THEY ARE NOW FINALLY REPLACING THEM AFTER 5 TRIPS TO THE DEALER COMPLAI…

Read full complaint

I HAVE HAD THREE ISSUES WITH MY MINIVAN. I HAVE HAD A ROTTEN EGG SMELL FOR THE LONGEST TIME AND WAS TOLD TO CHANGE THE TYPE OF GAS I USED. AFTER FURTHER PERSISTENCE WITH THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND THEY ARE NOW FINALLY REPLACING THEM AFTER 5 TRIPS TO THE DEALER COMPLAINING. SECOND, THERE WAS A COMPUTER SENSOR FAILURE WHICH CAUSED THE VAN TO OVERHEAT...I HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND GET A NEW SENSOR AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE. THIRD, I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT HESITATION IN THE TRANSMISSION ON TURNS AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND THEN ACCELERATING. THIS IS STILL UNRESOLVED. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO STATE THAT THE STEARING COLUMN GEAR SHIFT IS EXTREMELY ANNOYING AND I HAVE ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION HIT THE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10074568

Official recalls

4

04V234000 · Vehicle Speed Control:cables

May 19, 2004

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).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE BROKEN ACTUATOR CABLE MAY BE OUT OF POSITION AND COULD INTERFERE WITH THE OPERATION OF THE ACCELERATOR CABLE, PREVENTING A DECREASE IN ENGINE SPEED WHILE DRIVING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACTUATOR CABLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR VEHICLES INVOLVED IN GROUP 1 BEGAN ON JULY 7, 2004. OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR VEHICLES INVOLVED IN GROUP 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

03V206000 · Exterior Lighting:fog Lights

Jun 5, 2003

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE BULB SOCKET AND THE HARNESS CAN DROP INSIDE THE BUMPER AND POSSIBLY BUT RARELY, THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE BULB CAN CAUSE THE BUMPER TO BURN.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING TO PREVENT THE SOCKET HOLDER FROM SEPARATING FROM THE LAMP CASE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

03V053000 · Exterior Lighting:fog Lights

Feb 13, 2003

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH FRONT FOG LIGHTS,THE FOG LIGHT BULB SOCKET MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IMPROPERLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE USED WITH THIS CONDITION, THE BULB SOCKET AND THE WIRING HARNESS MAY SEPARATE FROM THE FOG LIGHT HOUSING IF EXPOSED TO SHOCK AND/OR VIBRATION AND DROP INSIDE THE BUMPER. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE OPERATION OF THE FOG LIGHT MAY THEN CAUSE THE BUMPER TO BURN.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE INSTALLATION CONDITION OF THE FOG LIGHT BULB ASSEMBLY, AND REPAIR IT WHEN NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 31, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

02V078000 · Equipment:other:labels

Mar 20, 2002

CERTAIN MINI VANS FAIL TO COMPLY TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS." AN INCORRECT GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING (GAWR) WAS INDICATED ON THE CERTIFICATION LABEL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE MAILED ACCURATE CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSERTS FOR THE OWNER'S MANUAL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 12, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.