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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

113 reports
37,673 miles · Oct 1, 2007
Electrical System

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. VEHICLE STUTTERS AND SOMETIMES DIES. DEALER REPLACED IGNITION COILS ##1 AND #3. BIG SAFETY ISSUE WHEN DIES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. VEHICLE MILES 27673. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM 2002-2006 MPV OWNERS ABOUT THE IGNITION COILS GOING BAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10204560

65,000 miles · Aug 26, 2007
Electrical System

BROWSING THE COMPLAINTS 2002 - 2006 FOR THE MAZDA MPV, I THINK YOU WILL FIND MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE IGNITION COILS. I HAVE A 2003 MPV AND HAD 3 COILS AND ALL 6 PLUGS REPLACED IN THE SPRING AT A COST OF $700. I NOW HAVE ONE OR MORE COILS FAILING AGAIN AND AM FACED WITH A SIMILAR CHARGE. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY…

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BROWSING THE COMPLAINTS 2002 - 2006 FOR THE MAZDA MPV, I THINK YOU WILL FIND MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE IGNITION COILS. I HAVE A 2003 MPV AND HAD 3 COILS AND ALL 6 PLUGS REPLACED IN THE SPRING AT A COST OF $700. I NOW HAVE ONE OR MORE COILS FAILING AGAIN AND AM FACED WITH A SIMILAR CHARGE. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL ISSUE AS IT IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10200818

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA MPV. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERYTIME THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED IN 2004 AND THE REPAIR WAS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAD REOCCURED. HE WAS UNCERTAIN ABOUT THE EXACT MILEAGE ON HIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10198965

75,000 miles · Jan 18, 2007
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

TL* - THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING A MAZDA MPV WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 75000 MILES, IN FOGGY CONDITIONS ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY, HER VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND CAUSING HER TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRAFFIC HAD STOPPED, AND SHE WAS SLOWING DOWN. AT THE TIME OF THE IMPACT, THE VEHICLE WAS …

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TL* - THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING A MAZDA MPV WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 75000 MILES, IN FOGGY CONDITIONS ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY, HER VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND CAUSING HER TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRAFFIC HAD STOPPED, AND SHE WAS SLOWING DOWN. AT THE TIME OF THE IMPACT, THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE SECOND VEHICLE BEHIND HER DID NOT STOP AND STRUCK HER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, ACCORDING TO THE POLICE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELT FAILED AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS INJURED. THERE WERE A TOTAL OF THREE PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE, ALL OF THE PASSENGERS WERE BELTED AND ALL SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED BOTH FRONT & REAR END DAMAGE AND HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY. THE CONTACT HAS A POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10179020

14,500 miles · Oct 10, 2006
Tires

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TIRE WAS VERY LOW AND SEEMED TO BE FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACE AND THE TIRE WAS INFLATED. IN JULY, ONE OF THE OTHER TIRES WERE VERY LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TIRE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE TREAD WAS WORN OUT AND THE TIRE WAS REPLAC…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TIRE WAS VERY LOW AND SEEMED TO BE FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACE AND THE TIRE WAS INFLATED. IN JULY, ONE OF THE OTHER TIRES WERE VERY LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TIRE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE TREAD WAS WORN OUT AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE TIRE DEALER ALSO DETERMINED THAT ALL THE TREAD ON ALL TIRES WERE WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONLY ONE TIRE WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION WHO AGREED THAT THE TREAD OF THE TIRES WERE WORN AND RECOMMENDED NEW TIRES. THE OTHER THREE TIRES WERE REPLACED AT THE TIRE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR AN ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN FOR 14,500 MILES BEFORE THE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO TREAD WEAR. THE TIRES HAD BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY FOR TIRE PRESSURE AND TIRE ROTATION. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DETERMINED THAT THEY WOULD REIMBURSE FOR THE TIRES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10170425

Mileage unknown · May 31, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

1 MONTH AGO (4/10/06) I EXPERIENCED THE FIRST OF MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES. WHILE DRIVING AT ONLY 30 MPH MY VEHICLE'S RPM GAUGE WENT UP TO 4.5 ON THE SCALE AND STAYED THAT WAY FOR 15 MINUTES. PRODUCING THE SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER OR METAL. CARS AND TRACTOR TRAILERS WERE APPROACHING ME FASTER THAN I COULD MOVE TO GET OUT OF…

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1 MONTH AGO (4/10/06) I EXPERIENCED THE FIRST OF MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES. WHILE DRIVING AT ONLY 30 MPH MY VEHICLE'S RPM GAUGE WENT UP TO 4.5 ON THE SCALE AND STAYED THAT WAY FOR 15 MINUTES. PRODUCING THE SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER OR METAL. CARS AND TRACTOR TRAILERS WERE APPROACHING ME FASTER THAN I COULD MOVE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. MANY TIMES I CAN SIT IDLE AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKES STICK SO MUCH THAT I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO APPLY THEM IN ORDER TO STOP. THE CAR ABRUPTLY STOPS WHEN I RELEASE PRESSURE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT WAS SUGGESTED BY A CERTIFIED MAZDA TECHNICIAN THAT I MUST HAVE MY CALIPERS REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE LOCKING. AND SO I DID ON 5/8. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ONE WEEK, THE VERY SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. ON 5/16 MY CAR WAS REPAIRED BY THE SAME TECHNICIAN WHO SAID THAT WE MUST REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES BECAUSE THEY COULD HAVE COLLAPSED. AND SO I DID ON 5/22. BEFORE DRIVING OFF, I TEST DROVE THE CAR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. MUCH TO MY SURPRISE THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED. LITTLE TO MY SURPRISE TWO SHORT DAYS LATER ON 5/24 AT 11:00 PM ON BLADENSBURG ROAD AND NEW YORK AVENUE IN WASHINGTON, DC MY CARS' SPEED WAS REDUCED TO 15 MPH WITH AN RPM READING OF 5! THIS SCARED ME AS IT WAS LATE AND I WAS IN A NOT SO DESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOOD ALONG WITH MY MOTHER WHO WALKS WITH A CANE AND I AM 3 MONTHS PREGNANT. DRIVERS WERE BLOWING THEIR HORNS AND YELLING OBSCENITIES TO US TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. FINALLY I REACHED AN AREA WHERE THERE WAS A SHOULDER TO PULL OFF ON. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY FOR EMERGENCY ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND IT TOOK 1 1/2 HOURS & $125.00 CASH FOR AN EMERGENCY TOW VEHICLE TO COME PICK US UP. IN SUMMARY, I HAVE RECEIVED NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN SERVICED. I'VE HAD MULTIPLE DAYS OFF OF WORK AND A TREMENDOUS DENT IN MY PURSE. I WAS TOLD MY CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THIS RECALL. I AM IN DESPERATE NEED OF SOME SORT OF ASSISTANCE. IS THERE ANYTHING NHTSA CAN DO??*JB

NHTSA ODI #10158683

1,000 miles · May 29, 2006
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspensionTires

BAD VIBRATION CAUSED BY THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS BEING OUT OF ROUND. DEALER RESURFACED ROTORS TWO TIMES AND NOW NEEDS RESURFACING A THIRD TIME. THE MPV ONLY HAS 31,000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT APPROXIMATELY EVERY 10,000 MILES. IT IS A 2003 PURCHASED NEW IN 2004. THE TIRES …

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BAD VIBRATION CAUSED BY THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS BEING OUT OF ROUND. DEALER RESURFACED ROTORS TWO TIMES AND NOW NEEDS RESURFACING A THIRD TIME. THE MPV ONLY HAS 31,000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT APPROXIMATELY EVERY 10,000 MILES. IT IS A 2003 PURCHASED NEW IN 2004. THE TIRES ARE WEARING IN THE FRONT DUE TO THE ALIGNMENT TO THE POINT OF NEEDING REPLACED. THE ALIGNMENT SHOULD NOT OF GONE BAD IN THIS SHORT OF TIME. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10158502

33,441 miles · May 20, 2006
SteeringCrashInjury

I WAS GOING 55 MPH, SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEELED PULLED TO THE RIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED IT BACK TO THE LEFT. ONCE AGAIN, THE WHEEL PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT. I TRIED TO PULL IT BACK TO THE LEFT BUT COULDN'T. IT FELT LIKE A 500 POUND GORILLA WAS SITTING NEXT TO ME TUGGING THE WHEEL. I GOT SCARED AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES.…

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I WAS GOING 55 MPH, SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEELED PULLED TO THE RIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED IT BACK TO THE LEFT. ONCE AGAIN, THE WHEEL PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT. I TRIED TO PULL IT BACK TO THE LEFT BUT COULDN'T. IT FELT LIKE A 500 POUND GORILLA WAS SITTING NEXT TO ME TUGGING THE WHEEL. I GOT SCARED AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. THE CAR WENT ROUND IN CIRCLES AND SPUN OUT INTO THE JERSEY BARRIER. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10157925

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 · Mar 27, 2006
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10153839

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.