IllustrationTRANSMISSION LAGS, THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR ON 2-3 SHIFT, PARTICULARLY UNDER INCONSISTENT ACCELERATION (SUCH AS IN TRAFFIC). CAUSES NOISE, UNCOMFORTABLE JERK, POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION WHEN OTHER VEHICLES ARE CLOSE. *LA
2003 Mazda Mpv
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Mpv years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Mazda Mpv are substantially higher than 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
330–25K
1725–50K
1650–75K
675–100K
14100–150K
2150K+
88 reports with mileage · 25 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 35 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 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports2 fire reports15 injury reports
What owners actually said
113 reportsTHE CONSUMER SMELLED A STRONG CHEMICAL ODOR IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE SMELL CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO FEEL NAUSEOUS AND MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEATHER SEAT AND OTHER ACCESSORIES YET THE SMELL WAS STILL PRESENT. *NLM *SC *JB
AIR QUALITY INSIDE VEHICLE IS TOXIC.*MR 2003 MAZDA MPV AIR QUALITY INSIDE OF VEHICLE IS TOXIC.*MR
THROTTLE REVVED, BUT VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. PRIOR THIS TO INCIDENT TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY SHIFTED INTO GEAR. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE MANUFACTURER DECIDED ON A REMEDY.*AK
MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2003 MAZDA MPV IN AUGUST. WE ARE VERY HAPPY OVERALL WITH THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, ABOUT 70% OF THE TIME WHEN THE VAN IS SHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS THE TRANMISSION HESITATES AND SHIFTS HARD. THE TRANMISSION MAKES A CLUNKING SOUND. WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE CRYSTAL AUTO MALL ON NOVEMBER 28TH AND …
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MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2003 MAZDA MPV IN AUGUST. WE ARE VERY HAPPY OVERALL WITH THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, ABOUT 70% OF THE TIME WHEN THE VAN IS SHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS THE TRANMISSION HESITATES AND SHIFTS HARD. THE TRANMISSION MAKES A CLUNKING SOUND. WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE CRYSTAL AUTO MALL ON NOVEMBER 28TH AND THEY SAID THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE UPDATED AND THAT IT WAS FIXED. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS WE REALIZED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. WE RECEIVED A SURVEY FROM MAZDA TO MEASURE OUR SATISFACTION OF THE REPAIR AND IT WAS INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. WE NEVER HEARD FROM MAZDA. WE BROUGHT THE VAN BACK TO THE DEALER ON DECEMBER 30TH AND WERE TOLD THAT THE TECHNICIAN NEEDED TO SPEAK WITH MAZDA TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. AS OF TODAY (JANUARY 2ND) THEY STILL HAVEN'T SPOKEN WITH MAZDA ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I MENTIONED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE SEEM TO BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND HE ADMITTED THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS FOR SOME MPVS. MY WIFE CALLED MAZDA TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SERVICE TAKING SO LONG AND THAT THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THE VAN WAS BROUGHT IN, BUT MAZDA'S RESPONSE WAS THAT THE DEALER WAS WORKING ON THE PROBLEM. THE VAN HAS LESS THAN 6,000 MILES ON IT, SO HOPEFULLY THE PROBLEM WILL BE FIXED OR WE WILL BE LOOKING INTO INVOKING OUR STATE'S LEMON LAW.*AK
I HAVE A 2003 MAZDA MPV WITH 8,000 MILES ON IT. MY TRANSMISSION (2ND TO 3RD SHIFT) STARTED SHIFTING WITH A JOLT FROM ABOUT 1,000 MILES. IT ONLY HAPPENED OCCASIONALLY AT FIRST BUT NOW IT IS EVERY DAY. HAVE TAKEN IT TO MALLOY MAZDA. THEY CALLED MAZDA AND TOLD ME TO WAIT UNTIL MAZDA GETS A FIX. THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO CALL ME. *A…
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I HAVE A 2003 MAZDA MPV WITH 8,000 MILES ON IT. MY TRANSMISSION (2ND TO 3RD SHIFT) STARTED SHIFTING WITH A JOLT FROM ABOUT 1,000 MILES. IT ONLY HAPPENED OCCASIONALLY AT FIRST BUT NOW IT IS EVERY DAY. HAVE TAKEN IT TO MALLOY MAZDA. THEY CALLED MAZDA AND TOLD ME TO WAIT UNTIL MAZDA GETS A FIX. THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO CALL ME. *AK
I PURCHASED A 2003 MAZDA MPV ES ON 12/23/03.VEHICLE HAS APPROX 320 MILES ON IT AND I'M BEGINNING TO EXPERIANCE AND HARSH BANG ON UPSHIFT BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR.I FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO THE SAME PROBLEM.I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THERES A FIX OR NOT.*AK
WHILE SLOWLY ACCELERATING, THE RPM JUMPS UP ABOUT 600-800 RPM AND THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS, SOMEWHAT VIOLENTLY, INTO 3RD GEAR. IT ONLY OCCURRS FROM 2ND TO 3RD. IN DOES NOT MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER IS OR HOW LONG THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN OPERATING. IT HAPPENS ABOUT 70% OF THE TIME. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TWICE AND THE DEALER (SHER…
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WHILE SLOWLY ACCELERATING, THE RPM JUMPS UP ABOUT 600-800 RPM AND THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS, SOMEWHAT VIOLENTLY, INTO 3RD GEAR. IT ONLY OCCURRS FROM 2ND TO 3RD. IN DOES NOT MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER IS OR HOW LONG THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN OPERATING. IT HAPPENS ABOUT 70% OF THE TIME. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TWICE AND THE DEALER (SHERRITS SIC.) STATE THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE NOT FOUND ANY FAULT CODES, THEREFOR, THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I AM TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROBLEM. OUR VAN HAS 6010 MILES ON IT.*AK
ON OCCASION, UPON ACCELERATION, ENGINE SLIPS, THEN BANGS INTO GEAR. TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE AND THEY FOUND NOTHING. PULLING OUT OF THE SERVICE PARKING LOT IT HAPPENED TO ME TWICE. ALSO MAN IN FRONT OF ME IN THE SERVICE LINE HAS THE SAME YEAR MODEL AND IS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING. *AK
THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY. THE MOTOR REVVED UP THEN SLAMMED INTO GEAR, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JUMP. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS................................................................*JB
Official recalls
404V282000 · Equipment:other:labels
Jun 10, 2004
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE TIRE IS OPERATED IN AN UNDER-INFLATED CONDITION, THE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY OF THE VEHICLE MAY BE COMPROMISED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A CORRECTED LABEL THAT THEY CAN APPLY TO THEIR VEHICLE, OR THEY CAN HAVE A DEALER INSTALL THE LABEL, IF DESIRED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500, OPTION #4.
04V109000 · Equipment:other:labels
Mar 9, 2004
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AIR BAG CAUTION LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS WHICH WERE MAILED ON JULY 22, 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.
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.