IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A CHECK UP. DEALER DETERMINED THAT PCV HOSE SPLIT. CONSUMER REPLACED PCV HOSE TWO TIMES IN THE LAST 9 MONTHS. *AK *PH
2002 Mazda Mpv
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Mpv years
Owner complaints for the 2002 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
190–25K
1425–50K
2950–75K
1875–100K
9100–150K
3150K+
92 reports with mileage · 32 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 66 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 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports5 fire reports6 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
23 reportsI BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR 6 MONTHS, THE ENGINE LIGHT ON TWICE, DIDN'T FIX IT FIRST TIME, THE ADVISOR SAID THE GAS TANK CAP IS NOT CLOSE TIGHT ENOUGHT. COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ONE AGAIN, THIS TIME THEY FOUND CONTROL SYSTEM INCORRECT FLOW, SMALL LEAK, HOSE OFF OF PURGE VALVE AT AIR CLEANER HOUSING. CAR PULLS TO L…
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I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR 6 MONTHS, THE ENGINE LIGHT ON TWICE, DIDN'T FIX IT FIRST TIME, THE ADVISOR SAID THE GAS TANK CAP IS NOT CLOSE TIGHT ENOUGHT. COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ONE AGAIN, THIS TIME THEY FOUND CONTROL SYSTEM INCORRECT FLOW, SMALL LEAK, HOSE OFF OF PURGE VALVE AT AIR CLEANER HOUSING. CAR PULLS TO LEFT ON HIGHWAY AND RIGHT ON LOCAL STREET. BROUGHT IN 4 TIME, ADMIT ALIGNMENT ON THE 3RD TIME AND FIX IT, BUT STILL PULL. BROUGHT IN AGAIN THE FOURTH TIME, SAID FOUND NO PULLING PROBLEM. WE COMPLAINT THAT THE CAR OCCASIONALLY JERK WHEN PRESS GAS PADDLE, THE JERK FEELING SIMLIAR TO THE WAY THE CAR GOT HIT IN BEHIND. THEY FOUND NO CODE FOR IT. THE CAR BEEP, THEY CAN'T FIND ANY CODE FOR IT. THERE ARE MANY PROBLEM WE FOUND IN THE CAR, BUT THEY SAID THEY CAN'T FIND THE CODE. ONE ADVISOR THINK THAT THE CAR'S PULLING BECAUSE THE CAR IS TOO HIGH. ALSO, IT HAPPEN 3 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR THAT AFTER I PLACED THE GEAR TO REVERSE, THEN PLACE IT BACK TO DRIVE, THE CAR WON'T GO BUT THE ENGINE RUN. TO FIX IT, THEN I PLACE THE GEAR BACK TO PARK AND TO DRIVE, THEN THE CAR BACK TO NORMAL RUN. I'M VERY REGRETFUL TO HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR. IT HAS SO MANY PROBLEM AND THE DEALEAR DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM EITHER. I'M, THE CONSUMER HAVE TO PAID FINANCIALLY, AND MENTALLY FOR THIS CAR. IT IS A DISASTER.
THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MALFUNCTIONED AND AS A RESULT A FOUL ODOR SEEPED THROUGH THE VENTS AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE COMPARTMENT. *AK THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE SMELL IS VERY FOUL AND HAS CAUSED PROBLEMS FOR THE CONSUMER'S ASTHMATIC CHILD. *PH *NLM
EXHAUST SYSTEM: CATALYTIC CONVERTOR VEHICLE EMITTING STRONG SULFUR ODER FROM CATBACK SYSTEM. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY AT 20,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. NOTED THIS WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THIS VECHICLE ( MPV). DEALER SAID- "THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE COMMON IN NEW V6 AND V8 ENGINES.- SOMETHING IN THE DESIGN OF…
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EXHAUST SYSTEM: CATALYTIC CONVERTOR VEHICLE EMITTING STRONG SULFUR ODER FROM CATBACK SYSTEM. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY AT 20,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. NOTED THIS WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THIS VECHICLE ( MPV). DEALER SAID- "THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE COMMON IN NEW V6 AND V8 ENGINES.- SOMETHING IN THE DESIGN OF LOWER EMMISSIONS. AGAIN, UNRESOLVED- THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE (FOR ANY VEHICLE). *AK
THE TRANSMISSION "BUCKS" WHEN SHIFTING OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THIS HAPPENS MAINLY AFTER ACCELERATING, LETTING YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS, AND THEN RE-ACCELERATING. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE, AND IT CONTINURES TO OCCUR. THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A WARRANTY ISSUE, THOUGH WE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLE…
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THE TRANSMISSION "BUCKS" WHEN SHIFTING OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THIS HAPPENS MAINLY AFTER ACCELERATING, LETTING YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS, AND THEN RE-ACCELERATING. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE, AND IT CONTINURES TO OCCUR. THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A WARRANTY ISSUE, THOUGH WE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CAR SINCE WE THE 2ND WEEK WE OWNED THE VEHICLE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF TRANSMISSION "UPDATES" THAT THE VEHICLE HAS GONE THROUGH AS PART OF SERVICE. IN ADDITION THERE IS A SULFUR SMELL EMITTED BY THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. WE WERE TOLD TO CHANGE TO "GOOD GAS" WHICH WE DID AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SMELL. WE WERE THEN TOLD THAT MAZDA WOULD NOT LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM AGAIN UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAD 10K MILES ON.
A STRONG CHEMICAL FUME ENTERED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
ROTTEN EGG SMELL COMING FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM. VEHICLE HAS 13,000 MILES ON AND ODOR SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE.*JB
THE EXHAUST SYSTEM EMITTED BAD FUMES.*JB
THE EXHAUST SYSTEM RELEASED A BAD ODOR.*JB THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED THE CONSUMER CHANGE THE TYPE OF GAS WHICH WAS BEING USED, HOWEVER THE ODOR STILL EXISTED. *JB
CONSUMER NOTICED A "ROTTEN EGG" ODOR IN CABIN. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT CONSUMER A LETTER STATING THAT SEVERAL MODELS EXHIBIT THE ODOR. CONSUMER BELIEVES VEHICLE HAS AN EXHAUST LEAK INTO CABIN WHICH INCLUDES CARBON MONOXIDE. CONSUMER HAS EXHIBITED SYMPTOMS OF BREATHING THOSE PARTICULA…
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CONSUMER NOTICED A "ROTTEN EGG" ODOR IN CABIN. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT CONSUMER A LETTER STATING THAT SEVERAL MODELS EXHIBIT THE ODOR. CONSUMER BELIEVES VEHICLE HAS AN EXHAUST LEAK INTO CABIN WHICH INCLUDES CARBON MONOXIDE. CONSUMER HAS EXHIBITED SYMPTOMS OF BREATHING THOSE PARTICULAR FUMES. PH
Official recalls
404V234000 · Vehicle Speed Control:cables
May 19, 2004
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL, THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR CABLE MAY BE BROKEN DUE TO INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH (GROUP 1). ALSO INCLUDED ARE CERTAIN 2000-2001 MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 31, 1999 AND MARCH 31, 2001, THAT HAVE HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL REPAIRED AND POSSIBLY HAD A DEFECTIVE CABLE INSTALLED DURING THAT REPAIR (GROUP 2).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE BROKEN ACTUATOR CABLE MAY BE OUT OF POSITION AND COULD INTERFERE WITH THE OPERATION OF THE ACCELERATOR CABLE, PREVENTING A DECREASE IN ENGINE SPEED WHILE DRIVING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACTUATOR CABLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR VEHICLES INVOLVED IN GROUP 1 BEGAN ON JULY 7, 2004. OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR VEHICLES INVOLVED IN GROUP 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 10, 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.
02V078000 · Equipment:other:labels
Mar 20, 2002
CERTAIN MINI VANS FAIL TO COMPLY TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS." AN INCORRECT GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING (GAWR) WAS INDICATED ON THE CERTIFICATION LABEL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE MAILED ACCURATE CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSERTS FOR THE OWNER'S MANUAL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 12, 2002. 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.