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2003 Mazda Mpv

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Mpv years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Mazda Mpv are substantially higher than the model-year median of 36.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

88 reports with mileage · 25 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 35 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 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports2 fire reports15 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

9 reports
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110,000 miles · Jul 17, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

WE DRIVE TO LAKE TAHOE IN MY MPV VAN WITH 5 PEOPLE IN IT. THE VAN JERKED WHEN DRIVING ACCELERATING FROM 40 TO 50 MPH. WE CHANGED DRIVER ON THE WAY, AND BOTH DRIVER FELLED THE SAME THING. IT SEEMS A TRANSMISSION SHIFT SHOCK OR SHIFT FLARE. THEN WHEN "GOOGLE" THE PROBLEM ON INTERNET, I FOUND OUT THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FO…

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WE DRIVE TO LAKE TAHOE IN MY MPV VAN WITH 5 PEOPLE IN IT. THE VAN JERKED WHEN DRIVING ACCELERATING FROM 40 TO 50 MPH. WE CHANGED DRIVER ON THE WAY, AND BOTH DRIVER FELLED THE SAME THING. IT SEEMS A TRANSMISSION SHIFT SHOCK OR SHIFT FLARE. THEN WHEN "GOOGLE" THE PROBLEM ON INTERNET, I FOUND OUT THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR MAZDA MPV 5-SPEED AUTO TRANSMISSION. MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN FAILURE AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF THE "SHIFT FLARES". THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. MAZDA SHOULD OFFER FREE REPAIR FOR THIS COMMON FAILURE OF THEIR PRODUCT. I'M ENGINEER AND I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CARS AND CHANGE ALL OIL AND ATF ON SCHEDULE. MY FORD MINIVAN 96 AREOSTAR HAVE RUN MORE THAN 260 K MILE WITH ORIGINAL ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. IT IS STILL RUNNING STRONG. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10525428

110,000 miles · Jul 5, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA MPV WAGON. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 90 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY INSPECTED IT AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA MPV WAGON. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 90 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY INSPECTED IT AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10410479

86,398 miles · Sep 16, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA MPV. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL GEAR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING TO HER RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE D…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA MPV. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL GEAR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING TO HER RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT A PART OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD BEEN TIGHTENED WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,298. UPDATED 02/23/11 *BF UPDATED 02/28/11

NHTSA ODI #10355973

29,000 miles · May 8, 2006
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

2003 MAZDA MPV BEGAN TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE WHILE ENTERING MY DRIVEWAY. EVEN THOUGH APPLYING BRAKES AT FULL FORCE, MY VEHICLE CRASHED INTO MY GARAGE DOOR. WHILE TRYING TO PUT GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, I ACCIDENTALLY SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE AGAIN ACCELERATED, THE WHOLE WHILE I HAD BOTH FEET PUSHING ON THE BRAKES AS HARD A…

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2003 MAZDA MPV BEGAN TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE WHILE ENTERING MY DRIVEWAY. EVEN THOUGH APPLYING BRAKES AT FULL FORCE, MY VEHICLE CRASHED INTO MY GARAGE DOOR. WHILE TRYING TO PUT GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, I ACCIDENTALLY SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE AGAIN ACCELERATED, THE WHOLE WHILE I HAD BOTH FEET PUSHING ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I WAS ABLE. THE MINIVAN THEN SHOT OUT IN REVERSE AND HIT MY NEIGHBORS' CAR PARKED ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10157028

Mileage unknown · May 9, 2005
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

DT: THE CONTACT STATES ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS HIS WIFE WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND THE VEHICLE STARTED ACCELERATING, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BOTH TIMES. THE LAST TIME CAR WAS IN DRIVE WHILE SHE WAS PUTTING FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO PUT IT IN DRIVE SHE NEVER TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR. THE SAME THING HAD BOTH TIMES. THE FIRST TIME SHE HI…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATES ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS HIS WIFE WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND THE VEHICLE STARTED ACCELERATING, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BOTH TIMES. THE LAST TIME CAR WAS IN DRIVE WHILE SHE WAS PUTTING FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO PUT IT IN DRIVE SHE NEVER TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR. THE SAME THING HAD BOTH TIMES. THE FIRST TIME SHE HIT A CAR AND A TREE AND THE SECOND TIME SHE HIT A TREE IN THE SAME PARKING LOT. THE SECOND ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON APRIL 30, 2005. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10120481

3,200 miles · Sep 2, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

1. USE OF CRUISE CONTROL ON WEST VIRIGINA TURNPIKE WITH MPV 2. CRUISE CONTROL FAILS TO MAINTAIN SET SPEED. SPEED WILL VARY +/- 3 MPH. IN GOING UP HILL CRUISE CONTROL OVER SPEEDS SET SPEED BY 3-4 MPH, SOMETIMES ACCELERATING AT THE INCREASED SPEED BY SEVERAL SECONDS. AT 70 MPH THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER TO HAVE TO BRAKE TO AVOID…

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1. USE OF CRUISE CONTROL ON WEST VIRIGINA TURNPIKE WITH MPV 2. CRUISE CONTROL FAILS TO MAINTAIN SET SPEED. SPEED WILL VARY +/- 3 MPH. IN GOING UP HILL CRUISE CONTROL OVER SPEEDS SET SPEED BY 3-4 MPH, SOMETIMES ACCELERATING AT THE INCREASED SPEED BY SEVERAL SECONDS. AT 70 MPH THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER TO HAVE TO BRAKE TO AVOID REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT EVEN THOUGH THE CAR AHEAD MAY BE 8 OR MORE CAR LENGTHS AWAY. THIS IS A TOTALLY UNSAFE CONDITION. 3. DEALER WOULD DO NOTHING TO REPAIR SAYING THAT THE SPEED VARIATION WAS WITHIN MFG. LIMITS?*AK

NHTSA ODI #10089028

Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2004
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrash

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO DRIVE. VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH BRICK BUILDING . AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED, ALSO HAS PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER DOOR LOCKING AND UNLOCKING FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10075467

7,000 miles · Jan 14, 2004
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

THROTTLE REVVED, BUT VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. PRIOR THIS TO INCIDENT TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY SHIFTED INTO GEAR. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE MANUFACTURER DECIDED ON A REMEDY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10054078

2,000 miles · Dec 29, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE SLOWLY ACCELERATING, THE RPM JUMPS UP ABOUT 600-800 RPM AND THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS, SOMEWHAT VIOLENTLY, INTO 3RD GEAR. IT ONLY OCCURRS FROM 2ND TO 3RD. IN DOES NOT MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER IS OR HOW LONG THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN OPERATING. IT HAPPENS ABOUT 70% OF THE TIME. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TWICE AND THE DEALER (SHER…

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WHILE SLOWLY ACCELERATING, THE RPM JUMPS UP ABOUT 600-800 RPM AND THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS, SOMEWHAT VIOLENTLY, INTO 3RD GEAR. IT ONLY OCCURRS FROM 2ND TO 3RD. IN DOES NOT MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER IS OR HOW LONG THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN OPERATING. IT HAPPENS ABOUT 70% OF THE TIME. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TWICE AND THE DEALER (SHERRITS SIC.) STATE THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE NOT FOUND ANY FAULT CODES, THEREFOR, THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I AM TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROBLEM. OUR VAN HAS 6010 MILES ON IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10051236

Official recalls

4

04V282000 · Equipment:other:labels

Jun 10, 2004

THE TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE INDICATED ON THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL IS NOT CORRECT. THE LABELS SHOW THE MAXIMUM TIRE PRESSURE AS 240 KPA/32 PSI WHEN IT SHOULD BE SHOWN AS 240 KPA/35 PSI. AS A RESULT OF THIS ERROR, THE LOAD RATIOS FOR THE 205/65R15 94H AND THE 215/60R16 95H TIRES EXCEED THE LEVELS PERMITTED BY FMVSS 120.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE TIRE IS OPERATED IN AN UNDER-INFLATED CONDITION, THE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY OF THE VEHICLE MAY BE COMPROMISED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A CORRECTED LABEL THAT THEY CAN APPLY TO THEIR VEHICLE, OR THEY CAN HAVE A DEALER INSTALL THE LABEL, IF DESIRED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500, OPTION #4.

04V109000 · Equipment:other:labels

Mar 9, 2004

CERTAIN MINIVANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AIR BAG WARNING LABELS INTENDED FOR THE CANADIAN MARKET. THUS, THE LABELS CONTAIN WARNINGS IN BOTH ENGLISH AND FRENCH. AS A RESULT, THE AREA OF THE ENGLISH WARNING IS ONLY 16 SQUARE CENTIMETERS, AS OPPOSED TO THE 30 SQUARE CENTIMETERS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AIR BAG CAUTION LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS WHICH WERE MAILED ON JULY 22, 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.

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.