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1997 Mazda Mpv

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Mazda Mpv do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 36.

About this comparison →
22Owner complaints

Model-year median: 36

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
36
199419
199518
199622
199719
19982
1999149
2000
Compare all Mpv years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
8Engine And Engine Cooling
5Latches/locks/linkages
2Power Train
2Seats
2
All reported categories
Electrical System
1Engine
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Seat Belts
1Steering
1Suspension
1Tires
1

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: 5 of 22 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

Power Train complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

ENGINE KNOCKING, SVC DEPT ADVISED US TO MAZDA OIL ADDITIVE, BUT STILL KNOCKS EVEN THOUGH LOW MILES. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION WILL GET STUCK WHEN TRYING TO BACK UP AND TURNING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. ALSO, VERY DANGEROUS/NEAR COLLISION BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GO INTO 4WD ON ITS OWN WHILE WE WERE DRIVING 65 ON THE INTERSTATE IN…

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ENGINE KNOCKING, SVC DEPT ADVISED US TO MAZDA OIL ADDITIVE, BUT STILL KNOCKS EVEN THOUGH LOW MILES. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION WILL GET STUCK WHEN TRYING TO BACK UP AND TURNING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. ALSO, VERY DANGEROUS/NEAR COLLISION BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GO INTO 4WD ON ITS OWN WHILE WE WERE DRIVING 65 ON THE INTERSTATE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI #750951

Mileage unknown · May 18, 2001
Power Train

OVERDRIVE INDICATOR BLINKS CONSTANTLY WHEN IGNITION APPLIED, BROUGHT TO DEALER TO SERVICE, TOLD NEED TO REPLACE COMPLETE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #745514

Official recalls

1

15V674000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.