Illustration1) TRANSMISSION HAS VERY HARD SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. 2) OCCURRED AT LEAST ONCE A DAY AND MOSTLY IN LOCAL TRAFFIC. 3) TOOK IT TO THE LONG BEACH MAZDA DEALER TO REPROGRAM THE TCM BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING.*AK
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 →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
330–25K
1725–50K
1650–75K
675–100K
14100–150K
2150K+
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 reportsFOR OVER 6 MONTHS, MY 2003 MAZDA MPV'S DRIVER'S SIDE BACK SEAT PASSENGER DOOR HAS BEEN OPENING SPONTANEOUSLY AND HAS NOT BEEN CLOSING CORRECTLY. IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO BE REPAIRED TWICE, AND THE SAME PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE LOCKING MECHANISM, BUT THAT HAS NOT CORRECTED IT. WITH CHILDREN IN THE B…
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FOR OVER 6 MONTHS, MY 2003 MAZDA MPV'S DRIVER'S SIDE BACK SEAT PASSENGER DOOR HAS BEEN OPENING SPONTANEOUSLY AND HAS NOT BEEN CLOSING CORRECTLY. IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO BE REPAIRED TWICE, AND THE SAME PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE LOCKING MECHANISM, BUT THAT HAS NOT CORRECTED IT. WITH CHILDREN IN THE BACKSEAT, THIS POSSES A GREAT DANGER AS IT HAPPENS NEARLY EVERY TIME THAT DOOR IS OPENED.*AK
MY DAUGHTER, DANIELLE GRANDE, WAS BURNED ON THE LEG BY THE TAILPIPE OF MY MAZDA MPV MINIVAN. HER LEG TOUCHED THE TAILPIPE BECAUSE IT STICKS OUT PAST THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE BACK BUMPER. I CALLED MAZDA AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM BUT THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT OR TAKE ANY ACTION.
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
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WASI NVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE DEALER REPAIRED THE DOOR, BUT DAMAGED THE SIDE BODY MOLDING. SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO REPAIR WHAT WAS DAMAGED, AND ASKED CONSUMER NOT TO RETURN. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS IN FOR A TIRE ROTATION. CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW HOW THEY GAINED ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WITH…
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CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WASI NVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE DEALER REPAIRED THE DOOR, BUT DAMAGED THE SIDE BODY MOLDING. SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO REPAIR WHAT WAS DAMAGED, AND ASKED CONSUMER NOT TO RETURN. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS IN FOR A TIRE ROTATION. CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW HOW THEY GAINED ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HAVING THE KEYS. CONSUMER WAS VERY ANGRY BECAUSE IT WAS A FORMER EMPLOYEE WHO DID THIS. THE SERVICE MANAGER DENIED THE INCIDENT, AND ASKED CONSUMER AGAIN NOT TO RETURN TO THIS DEALERSHIP. *AK
2004 MAZDA MPV EX. WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING LOT (CAR TURNED OFF), IN PASSENGER BUCKET SEAT BEHIND DRIVER, I SAT DOWN MY 2 YEAR OLD IN ORDER TO CHANGE HIS DIAPER. I KNEW THAT THE SEATS RECLINED USING THE LEVER ON THE SIDE. WHILE MY SON SAT ON THE SEAT, I TURNED THE LEVER, EXPECTING SEAT TO RECLINE, HOWEVER, THERE IS A SPRING MEC…
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2004 MAZDA MPV EX. WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING LOT (CAR TURNED OFF), IN PASSENGER BUCKET SEAT BEHIND DRIVER, I SAT DOWN MY 2 YEAR OLD IN ORDER TO CHANGE HIS DIAPER. I KNEW THAT THE SEATS RECLINED USING THE LEVER ON THE SIDE. WHILE MY SON SAT ON THE SEAT, I TURNED THE LEVER, EXPECTING SEAT TO RECLINE, HOWEVER, THERE IS A SPRING MECHANISM (?) THAT AUTOMATICALLY TRIES TO CLOSE THE SEAT, FOLDING THE BACK OF THE SEAT FORWARD, FOR STORAGE AND REMOVAL. I WAS NOT EXPECTING THE AUTOMATIC FOLDING OF THE SEATBACK AT THE FORCE AT WHICH IT CLOSED. WHEN I PULLED THE LEVER THE LEAT BACK CLOSED ON MY SON AND PUSHED HIM INTO THE BACK OF THE DRIVERS SEAT (WHICH HAS A HANDLE ON THE BACK OF IT). HE HIT HIS MOUTH AND FOREHEAD ON THE BACK OF THE DRIVERS SEAT AND COMPLAINED OF A SORE MOUTH/TONGUE AND HAD AN ABRASION ON HIS FOREHEAD. *LA
TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ROUGH. IT SEEMS THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR. IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY, SOME DAYS MORE THAN OTHERS AND SOME DAYS HARDER THAN OTHERS. SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I AM GOING TO GET WHIPLASH WHENEVER IT SLAMS INTO GEAR. I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE LATE LAST YEAR BUT THE …
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TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ROUGH. IT SEEMS THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR. IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY, SOME DAYS MORE THAN OTHERS AND SOME DAYS HARDER THAN OTHERS. SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I AM GOING TO GET WHIPLASH WHENEVER IT SLAMS INTO GEAR. I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE LATE LAST YEAR BUT THE DEALER CANNOT SEEM TO FIX IT. THEY KEEP REPLACING THE COILS BUT THAT DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY MENTIONED THAT THEY SEEM TO BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF 2003 MPV'S. IT HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP FIVE TIMES SINCE JANUARY AND IT IS STILL NOT FIXED.*AK
WHILE BRAKING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK AND ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND HIT THE CONSUMER'S PREGNANT WIFE. *MR THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB
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
Official recalls
404V282000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.