IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 MAZDA MPV. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, HE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
1990 Mazda Mpv
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1990 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: 2 of 47 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 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports3 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
47 reportsVEHICLE WAS IDLING IN DRIVEWAY WHILE I WAS CHECKING TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL. SUDDENLY, IT DROVE AWAY IN REVERSE, CROSSED THE STREET AND WENT DOWN ANOTHER DRIVEWAY CRASHING INTO THE CORNER OF A GARAGE. IT THEN WENT ACROSS ANOTHER BACK YARD AND CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER GARAGE. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS …
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VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN DRIVEWAY WHILE I WAS CHECKING TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL. SUDDENLY, IT DROVE AWAY IN REVERSE, CROSSED THE STREET AND WENT DOWN ANOTHER DRIVEWAY CRASHING INTO THE CORNER OF A GARAGE. IT THEN WENT ACROSS ANOTHER BACK YARD AND CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER GARAGE. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS MADE. *LA
THE REAR SWAY BAR FAILED. MR SCC *JB
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED, CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINT ON THIS ISSUE. *YD
WHILE DRIVING IN ALL WHEEL DRIVE MODE THE ABS SENSOR FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY COME TO A STOP. NLM
THREE TIMES SINCE THIS I PURCHASED THIS CAR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND REQUIRED A TOTAL REPLACEMENT. ON EACH OCCASION I HAVE REQUESTED SOME INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THESE FAILURES. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS JUST NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I DRIVE MOSTLY ON FREEWAYS AND CONSERVITIVILY AND DO NOT BELI…
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THREE TIMES SINCE THIS I PURCHASED THIS CAR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND REQUIRED A TOTAL REPLACEMENT. ON EACH OCCASION I HAVE REQUESTED SOME INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THESE FAILURES. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS JUST NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I DRIVE MOSTLY ON FREEWAYS AND CONSERVITIVILY AND DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS NORMAL.
ENGINE HEAD GASKET/ WATER PUM, AND HEATER CORE FAILED 3 TIMES, SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE..
IT IS NOT REIABLE VEHICLE FOR ME, SPEACILLY IF THERE IS A KID. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
PAINT IS PEELING IN SHEETS ON FRONT BUMPER, HOOD, BACK BUMPER, TAILGATE AND ROOF OF CAR.
TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER FIRST OVERHAUL. NLM
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
4EA95005 · 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