IllustrationFRONT DRIVERS SEAT SEPARATED FROM FRAME. *NM
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
What owners actually said
124 reportsWHEN RAISING THE REAR LIFT GATE DOOR, ONE OF THE BOLTS THAT SECURES THE LIFTING PISTON TO THE VAN BROKE AND THE LIFT GATE FELL. THE PERSON LIFTING THE DOOR WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY SO NO ONE WAS INJURED. I CONTACTED MY MAZDA DEALER TO REPORT IT TO MAZDA BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER TALKED ME INTO LETTING THEM REPLACE BOTH PISTO…
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WHEN RAISING THE REAR LIFT GATE DOOR, ONE OF THE BOLTS THAT SECURES THE LIFTING PISTON TO THE VAN BROKE AND THE LIFT GATE FELL. THE PERSON LIFTING THE DOOR WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY SO NO ONE WAS INJURED. I CONTACTED MY MAZDA DEALER TO REPORT IT TO MAZDA BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER TALKED ME INTO LETTING THEM REPLACE BOTH PISTONS NO CHARGE. THE BOLT THAT BROKE WAS RUSTED AND SO WAS THE OTHER ONE. I THINK THEY SHOULD INSPECT ALL VEHICLES AND REPLACE THEM. *JB
TRANSMISSION FAILURE: IF YOU READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE MPV YOU WILL SEE MANY PROBLEMS W/ SHIFTING IN THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AND WAS TOLD THE SAME STORY BY THE DEALER; THAT THE SOFTWARE NEEDED UPGRADE, CHANGE THE TRANS-FLUID. AT 55,000 MILES MY TRANSMISSION DIED WHILE I WAS GOING 75 MPH ON A FREEWAY. …
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TRANSMISSION FAILURE: IF YOU READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE MPV YOU WILL SEE MANY PROBLEMS W/ SHIFTING IN THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AND WAS TOLD THE SAME STORY BY THE DEALER; THAT THE SOFTWARE NEEDED UPGRADE, CHANGE THE TRANS-FLUID. AT 55,000 MILES MY TRANSMISSION DIED WHILE I WAS GOING 75 MPH ON A FREEWAY. I WAS NEARLY HIT BY A SEMI TRYING TO PULL MY CAR OFF THE ROAD. I WAS 5,000 MILES AND 3 MONTHS PAST THE WARRANTY OF THE VEHICLE. MAZDA DID NEGOTIATE W/ ME TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A REDUCED COST BECAUSE I HAD REPAIR HISTORY WITH A MAZDA DEALER. THE COST WENT FROM 3,500 DOLLARS (I DID RECEIVE 3 QUOTES FROM DIFFERENT COMPANIES) TO 600 DOLLARS. LIKE MANY OF YOU I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE CONSUMER REPORT RATINGS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS VEHICLE AND NO LONGER TRUST IT. BY THE WAY I HAVE NOT HAD THE ROTTEN EGG PROBLEM THAT I HAVE READ IN MANY PAST COMPLAINTS.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING, THE TRANSMISSION HAS SHIFTED HARD SINCE PURCHASE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS PERFORMED MULTIPLE SOFTWARE UPGRADES, BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED. THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED WHILE TRAVELING UP A HILL AT 75 MPH, AND THE RPM'S REVVED ABOVE THE RED LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVE…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING, THE TRANSMISSION HAS SHIFTED HARD SINCE PURCHASE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS PERFORMED MULTIPLE SOFTWARE UPGRADES, BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED. THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED WHILE TRAVELING UP A HILL AT 75 MPH, AND THE RPM'S REVVED ABOVE THE RED LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION.
MY TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2002 MAZDA MPV (ONLY 49,000 MILES! ON IT) ON A BUSY CALIFORNIA FREE AND I WAS LUCKY I WASN'T INJURED. I HAD NO WARNING, JUST COMPLETE FAILURE WHILE ON A BUSY INCLINE. WAS 250 MILES AWAY FROM HOME TOO, AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO NEAREST MAZDA DEALER. FOUND OUT THE WARRANTY IS ONLY FOR 3 YEARS ON TRANS,…
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MY TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2002 MAZDA MPV (ONLY 49,000 MILES! ON IT) ON A BUSY CALIFORNIA FREE AND I WAS LUCKY I WASN'T INJURED. I HAD NO WARNING, JUST COMPLETE FAILURE WHILE ON A BUSY INCLINE. WAS 250 MILES AWAY FROM HOME TOO, AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO NEAREST MAZDA DEALER. FOUND OUT THE WARRANTY IS ONLY FOR 3 YEARS ON TRANS, BUT IF I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2003, THE WARRANTY WOULD HAVE BEEN 4 YEARS AND I WOULDN'T BE STUCK WITH A $3500 BILL. ALSO RECEIVED SHODDY SERVICE BY SALESMAN AT DEALERSHIP BECAUSE SERVICE WASN'T OPEN AND I HAD TO FIND MY OWN WAY TO GET RENTAL CAR AND ENDED UP SPENDING 3 DAYS IN THIS TOWN. WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER MAZDA EVER! *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH ON NEIGHBORHOOD ROADS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LURCH AS IF BRAKING VERY HARD, AND NEARLY CAUSING A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO 3 DIFFERENT SERVICE DEALER MECHANICS, WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE REPLACED. *NM
(1) 2002 MAZDA MPV REQUIRED TWO TRANSMISSION REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY: ONE MODULE, THEN A SECOND MODULE INSTALLED AS PART OF RECALL, THEN THIRD MODULE MISTAKENLY INSTALLED WHEN A BURNED-OUT COIL WAS THE ACTUAL PROBLEM. (2) AT 68,490 MILES AND AGE OF 41 MONTHS, WITH WARRANTY EXPIRED, TRANSMISSION FAILED DEC. 13, 2005. DIAGNOSIS W…
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(1) 2002 MAZDA MPV REQUIRED TWO TRANSMISSION REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY: ONE MODULE, THEN A SECOND MODULE INSTALLED AS PART OF RECALL, THEN THIRD MODULE MISTAKENLY INSTALLED WHEN A BURNED-OUT COIL WAS THE ACTUAL PROBLEM. (2) AT 68,490 MILES AND AGE OF 41 MONTHS, WITH WARRANTY EXPIRED, TRANSMISSION FAILED DEC. 13, 2005. DIAGNOSIS WAS FAILED SEALS. (3) LEE MYLES TRANSMISSIONS INSTALLED REBUILT TRANSMISSION WITH UPDATED PARTS DESIGNED TO FIX WEAKNESSES IN ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION AT COST OF $4632.10. *NM
2002 MAZDA MPV STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE WOULD JUST SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS. *JB
SEAT BELT FAILS TO LATCH, MAKING IT UNUSEABLE. *NM
CONSUMER SUPPORT OF THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS ON THE 2002 MAZDA MPV. *MR *SC
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.