Illustration2002 MAZDA MPV TIRES WEAR OUT PREMATURELY.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED, BALANCED AND ALIGNED. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. *TT
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 reportsTHE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HAVE A HARD TIME SHIFTING GEARS. THE ROUGH SHIFTING BEGAN VERY INTERMITTENTLY AT ABOUT 45,000 MILES. AT 51,000 THE SHIFTING WAS SO HARD THAT THE TIRES ACTUALLY SCREECHED WHEN THE VAN SHIFTED GEARS. PROBLEM CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE SOLENOIDS. 2 OF THE 8 SOLENOIDS PLUS THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED TO…
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THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HAVE A HARD TIME SHIFTING GEARS. THE ROUGH SHIFTING BEGAN VERY INTERMITTENTLY AT ABOUT 45,000 MILES. AT 51,000 THE SHIFTING WAS SO HARD THAT THE TIRES ACTUALLY SCREECHED WHEN THE VAN SHIFTED GEARS. PROBLEM CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE SOLENOIDS. 2 OF THE 8 SOLENOIDS PLUS THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR SINCE WE DID NOT GET THE VAN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT PRIOR THE 50,000 MILE MARK. THE TORQUE WAS AVAILABLE AS 'REBUILT". *NM
WHILE DRIVING ON RT. 95 FROM NJ TO BALTIMORE AT 65 MPH, TIRE LOCATED AT REAR DRIVER SIDE EXPLODED. VEHICLE STARTED QUAKERING AFFECTING VEHICLE'S DIRECTION AND CONTROL. THE BROKEN TIRE WAS REPLACED BY AN EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE. TIRE'S INFORMATION: DUNLOP SP 40 205/65 R15 94S M+S
ENGINE WAS HESITATING DURING ACCELERATION CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN DRIVING, ESPECIALLY MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. PROBLEM GOT WORSE AS ENGINE HEATED UP. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS A BAD COIL BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE WHICH OF THE 6 COILS WERE FAULTING. DEALER FINALLY GAVE IN AND REPLACED THEM FOR NO CHARGE AFTER I COMPLAINED TO CORPORA…
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ENGINE WAS HESITATING DURING ACCELERATION CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN DRIVING, ESPECIALLY MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. PROBLEM GOT WORSE AS ENGINE HEATED UP. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS A BAD COIL BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE WHICH OF THE 6 COILS WERE FAULTING. DEALER FINALLY GAVE IN AND REPLACED THEM FOR NO CHARGE AFTER I COMPLAINED TO CORPORATE. POSSIBLE RECALL ITEM?
THE DRIVER WAS PULLING INSIDE OF THE GARAGE AND WITHOUT WARNING THE DRIVER'S LEFT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE,BUT NOTICED THAT THE LUG NUTS WOULD NOT COME OFF ON THEIR OWN. THE DRIVER CHANGED THE TIRE WITH A STRUGGLE AND DROVE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT …
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THE DRIVER WAS PULLING INSIDE OF THE GARAGE AND WITHOUT WARNING THE DRIVER'S LEFT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE,BUT NOTICED THAT THE LUG NUTS WOULD NOT COME OFF ON THEIR OWN. THE DRIVER CHANGED THE TIRE WITH A STRUGGLE AND DROVE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. PLEASE FILL IN FURTHER INFORMATION.
LEFT (BEHIND DRIVER) REAR AUTO-SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT SHUT. ELECTRIC DOOR FEATURE MUST BE DISABLED & DOOR MUST BE SHUT AND RE-OPENED MANUALLY. IF NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM FOR MAZDA REPAIRPERSON, THEY WOULD NOT PERFORM SERVICE; BUT PROBLEM WAS SPORADIC & COULD NOT BE PREDICTED. FINALLY THE PROBLEM PERSISTED & LOWER DOOR SW…
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LEFT (BEHIND DRIVER) REAR AUTO-SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT SHUT. ELECTRIC DOOR FEATURE MUST BE DISABLED & DOOR MUST BE SHUT AND RE-OPENED MANUALLY. IF NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM FOR MAZDA REPAIRPERSON, THEY WOULD NOT PERFORM SERVICE; BUT PROBLEM WAS SPORADIC & COULD NOT BE PREDICTED. FINALLY THE PROBLEM PERSISTED & LOWER DOOR SWITCH WAS REPLACED. ONE YEAR LATER, PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN. DOOR TERMINALS WERE CLEANED B/C CONTACTS WERE NOT MAKING GOOD CONNECTIONS. *AK
WHILE WAITING AT AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE STOPPED COMPLETELY. MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE UPGRADED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AT 35 MPH. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *AK *SC
SHIFTING WAS "CLUNKY" SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN MARCH OF 2002. HAD DEALER LOOK AT PROBLEM IN OCT 2004 AND THEY "REFLASHED" (REWROTE THE COMPUTER CODE) ON THE TCM: TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. THIS SEEMED TO HELP FOR A DAY, THEN THE ABRUPT SHIFTING RETURNED. ON NOV 10, 2004, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY, UNABLE TO GO INTO …
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SHIFTING WAS "CLUNKY" SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN MARCH OF 2002. HAD DEALER LOOK AT PROBLEM IN OCT 2004 AND THEY "REFLASHED" (REWROTE THE COMPUTER CODE) ON THE TCM: TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. THIS SEEMED TO HELP FOR A DAY, THEN THE ABRUPT SHIFTING RETURNED. ON NOV 10, 2004, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY, UNABLE TO GO INTO GEAR AT ALL. I WAS TRAVELING AT 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY, IT SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR, AND WOULD NOT GO BACK IN. I WAS LEFT WITHOUT POWER TO THE WHEELS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. DEALERSHIP REPLACING TRANSMISSION UNDER WAARRANTY. *JB
STARTING IN 06/04 WHENEVER ONE OF MY CHILDREN SITS IN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE PASSANGER SEAT THEY BECOME SICK COMPLAINING OF FEELING SICK IN THE STOMACH AND CRYING. MY YOUNGEST HAS VOMITED. WE HAVE HAD THE MAZDA MPV 2002 FOR TWO YEARS IN SEPTEMBER AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. THESE CHILDREN HAVE NEVER COMPLAINED OF FEELING S…
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STARTING IN 06/04 WHENEVER ONE OF MY CHILDREN SITS IN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE PASSANGER SEAT THEY BECOME SICK COMPLAINING OF FEELING SICK IN THE STOMACH AND CRYING. MY YOUNGEST HAS VOMITED. WE HAVE HAD THE MAZDA MPV 2002 FOR TWO YEARS IN SEPTEMBER AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. THESE CHILDREN HAVE NEVER COMPLAINED OF FEELING SICK IN THE CAR BEFORE. IF WE KEEP ALL THE WINDOWS DOWN THEY DON'T GET SICK. WE TOOK THE CARE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TESTED IT FOR FUMES SAYING THEY FOUND NOTHING. *AK
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.