IllustrationTHE ENGINE IS MAKING A LOUD TKICKING NOISE.THE CONSUMER STATES THE ENGINE IS ABOUT TO GO OUT DUE TO DEFECTIVE ENGINE LIFTERS. *AK PISTON RING, HEAD GASKETAND ROCKER ARM FAILED. *YH
1992 Mazda Mpv
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1992 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: 1 of 61 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 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports0 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
61 reportsDRIVING AT APPROXIMATLEY 25-30MPH REAR WHEEL DIFFERENTIAL BROKE WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK
THE REPLACEMENT SEARS DIEHARD BATTERY, PURCHASED 3/94, HAD 6 MONTHS LEFT ON ITS WARRANTY. IT LITERALLY EXPLODED JUST AS I TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE PLACE OF PURCHASE, WHERE SERVICE TECHNICIANS TESTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE BATTERY OBVIOUSLY MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO …
Read full complaint
THE REPLACEMENT SEARS DIEHARD BATTERY, PURCHASED 3/94, HAD 6 MONTHS LEFT ON ITS WARRANTY. IT LITERALLY EXPLODED JUST AS I TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE PLACE OF PURCHASE, WHERE SERVICE TECHNICIANS TESTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE BATTERY OBVIOUSLY MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO A DEFECT. THE SERVICE PERSONNEL DID NOT SEEM TO BE INTERESTED IN REPORTING THIS MALFUNCTION; THEY SEEMED TO CARE MORE ABOUT WHICH REPLACEMENT BATTERY I WANTED INSTALLED IN THE CAR. I FELT THEY DIDN'T FULLY APPRECIATE THE SAFETY DANGER INVOLVED WHEN A BATTERY EXPLODES LIKE IT DID. YOUR COMMENTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55-60 MPH THE POWER STEERING PUMP EXPLODED, WHICH CAUSED DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VAN. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GET VAN OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. *AK
BRAKE PADS FAILED, FALLING ONTO PAVEMENT TWO TIMES.
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATLY 55 MPH FOR AT LEAST 1 MILE ,OIL LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER WENT TO OPEN HOOD WHEN HOT, ANTI-FREEZE CAME SPRAYING OUT ONTO CONSUMER, CAUSING 1ST AND 2ND DEGREE BURNS TO BODY. DELAER HAS CHANGED WATER PUMP THREE TIMES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. **AK
BRAKE SHOES FELL OFF VEHICLE ON TWO OCCASIONS.
DRIVING 35MPH, HEARD A BUZZING NOISE WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED FOR NO REASON. VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE IN NEUTRAL. COULD NOT SHIFT IN TO REVERSE OR DRIVE. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER PRIOR TO PROBLEM & WAS INFORMED NOTHIN WRONG W/TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE. TOOK IT BACK TO BE CHECKED AGAIN AND TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
BROKEN PCV VALVE, EMITTING STRONG GASOLINE FUMES. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
Official recalls
115V674000 · 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.
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
2EA96031 · 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.