IllustrationVEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN ALL OF SUDDEN THE DRIVER SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT, AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS SMOKING. RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED.*AK
2002 Mazda Millenia
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Mazda Millenia do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 20.
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: 13 of 21 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 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. 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.
2 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
21 reportsTHERE WERE BATTERY ACID FUMES SPILLING ONTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE COMPONENTS TO CORRODE. THE FUMES SOMETIMES ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. *JB *SC
FRONT END SUSPENSION! I HAVE FOR THE PAST YEAR BEEN TRYING TO GET THEM TO ADHERE TO MY FINDINGS. THERE ARE SOUNDS COMING FROM THE END, AS THOUGH THERE WAS A HELICOPTER COMING IN FROM THE DISTANT. THE FASTER YOU GO THE LOUDER IT GETS. ALSO, DRIVING REAL SLOW OR PULLING IN AND OUT OF PARKING SPACES THERE IS A RUBBING NOISE. EV…
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FRONT END SUSPENSION! I HAVE FOR THE PAST YEAR BEEN TRYING TO GET THEM TO ADHERE TO MY FINDINGS. THERE ARE SOUNDS COMING FROM THE END, AS THOUGH THERE WAS A HELICOPTER COMING IN FROM THE DISTANT. THE FASTER YOU GO THE LOUDER IT GETS. ALSO, DRIVING REAL SLOW OR PULLING IN AND OUT OF PARKING SPACES THERE IS A RUBBING NOISE. EVEN THE SOUND OF A METAL TAP WHEN BRAKING AND BACKING UP AS THOUGH SOMETHING IS SHIFTING. I HAVE PUT UP WITH ARLINGTON ROSENTHAL MAZDA FOR TOO LONG WITH THIS. I REALLY NEED ASSISTANCE FROM SOMEONE AND THAT'S JUST THE MAJOR PROBLEM. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS WITH MY REAR DECK THAT HOLDS THE SPEAKERS. SOUNDS LIKE BUSTED SPEAKERS OR SOMETHING IS NOT PROPERLY PLACED SEALED TIGHTLY WITH THE DECK. THEY JIMMY-RIGGED THE BRAKE LIGHT COVER IN THE REAR WINDOW WITH A LITTLE PIEACE OF RUBBER TO APPLY PRESSURE A YEAR AGO. WHICH I HAVE BEEN BACK SEVERAL TIMES SINCE FOR THE SAME ISSUE, BECAUSE IT HAS COME LOOSE OR THE RUBBER WAS JUST WORN. I THINK IT'S REALLY A SPEAKER AND MAYBE THE DECK AS WELL. WHY DON'T THEY JUST REPLACE THE WHOLE THING ALONG WITH THE SPEAKERS. BUT OF COURSE THEY WILL PROBABLY CLAIM MY WARRANTY MAY HAVE EXPIRED ON THAT PART. THE FIRST DATE OF PROBLEMS WAS STARTED BACK IN LATE AUGUST 2002 ALL THE WAY THROUGH JUNE 2004. I'M JUST TIRED NOW OF DEALING WITH AND THEY CLAIM TO BE THE BEST SERVICE SHOP IN THE AREA. CAN ANY SOMEONE ASSIST WITH THIS MATTER PLEASE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A WHINING AND GRINDING NOISE. THE FASTER THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING THE LOUDER THE NOISE. ALSO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKING LONGER TO CHANGE GEARS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. AFTER BEING TO THE DEALER TWICE AND A MECHANICS SHOP ONCE, A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. *JB
PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATING.*MR *CB
I DROVE A MAZDA MILLENIA. IF THERE IS ANY QUESTION OF THE INTEGRITY OF THIS VEHICLE, TALK TO ME! THIS CAR HELD TOGETHER AND SAVED MY LIFE AFTER A VERY BAD ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS HIT TWICE,SPUN AND HIT A CONCRETE POST! THIS IS A MIRACLE AND I AM A BELIEVER! BAD VALENTINES DAY, GREAT CAR! THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT, BUT I DI…
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I DROVE A MAZDA MILLENIA. IF THERE IS ANY QUESTION OF THE INTEGRITY OF THIS VEHICLE, TALK TO ME! THIS CAR HELD TOGETHER AND SAVED MY LIFE AFTER A VERY BAD ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS HIT TWICE,SPUN AND HIT A CONCRETE POST! THIS IS A MIRACLE AND I AM A BELIEVER! BAD VALENTINES DAY, GREAT CAR! THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT, BUT I DIDNT KNOW WHERE TO SUBMIT A GREAT COMPLIMENT! I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THIS CAR DID SAVE MY LIFE.
CONSUMER STATES THE HEADLIGHTS PROVIDE VERY POOR VISIBILITY AT NIGHT. CONSUMER CAN NOT SEE 20FT IN FRONT OF VEHICLE AT NIGHT. TS
CONSUMER STATES THEY WHEN FASTEN A CHILD SEAT IN THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT,THE SEAT BELT CAME APART WHEN BUCKLING BELT. CONSUMER AFRAID THAT IF THIS HAD HAPPEN WHILE IN A CAR ACCIDENTCHILD WILL NOT HAVE BEEN PROTECTED. MR
THE DEALERSHIP EFFECTED REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE WAS "LEFT FRONT DAMPER FORK BROKE AND IT CUT THE AXLE BOOT AND STRUT IS SLIGH". TECH NOTES INCLUDE "TLY BENT, REPLACED FORK STRUT, LEFT AXLE ON LEFT FRONT AND PERFORMED ALIGNMENT". REPAIRS COVERED BY WARRANTY. REPAIR COST $1,269.06. THIS INCIDENT MAY BE SIMLIAR TO ODI ID:…
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THE DEALERSHIP EFFECTED REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE WAS "LEFT FRONT DAMPER FORK BROKE AND IT CUT THE AXLE BOOT AND STRUT IS SLIGH". TECH NOTES INCLUDE "TLY BENT, REPLACED FORK STRUT, LEFT AXLE ON LEFT FRONT AND PERFORMED ALIGNMENT". REPAIRS COVERED BY WARRANTY. REPAIR COST $1,269.06. THIS INCIDENT MAY BE SIMLIAR TO ODI ID: 8009829. POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE CONTROL ARMS ON 2002 MAZDA MILLENIA. NLM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
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.