1998 Mazda Millenia Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1998 Mazda Millenia, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine618.2%
- Transmission515.2%
- Driver assistance412.1%
- Fuel system412.1%
- Other / unspecified39.1%
- Airbags26.1%
- Electrical26.1%
- Body & structure26.1%
- Brakes26.1%
- Heating & air conditioning13.0%
- Steering13.0%
- Interior & seats13.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I FULLY PURCHASED MY CAR ON 02/28/2019 WITH "AUTO LANDMARK". THAT SAME DAY I PAID A $200-300 SERVICE FEE FOR REGISTERATION AND TITLE, I PAID FULL CAR TAX ON THE CAR. I CALL IN REGARDS TO MY CAR AND IF THE MECHANIC IT'S NOT CALLING OUT, HE'S ON VACATION. IT'S BEEN OVER A MONTH AND STILL NO RESULTS. THEY JUST NEED TO REMOVE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR EMISSION WHICH I PAID IN FULL FOR.. I HAVE COURT BECAUSE THE PAPER WORK I HAVE ARE PHOTO COPY NOT ORIGINAL OFFICERS COULDN'T TAKE IT NOR THE DMV. I LOST MY JOB BECAUSE THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR SO LONG AND STILL REFUSE TO UPDATE ME ON THE CAR. PLEASE HELP ME GET CAR BACK OR HAVE THEM FINISH THERE JOBS. THEY'RE DEFINITELY TOYING WITH ME AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT IT. I NEED THE CAR WITH PLATES AND REGISTERED AND THEY REFUSE TO GIVE ME A REFUND FOR ME TO DO IT MYSELF. SO I'M LEFT WITH THEM FINISHING THE JOB. PLEASE HELP.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA MILLENIA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 40 MPH. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES LATER, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 40 MPH ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT QUICKLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE DECELERATION FAILURE, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO HEAR THE NOISE. SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2008, THE CONTACT HAS SPENT $7,000 AT TWO DEALERS. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO BEEN SERVICED AT PEP BOYS. IN ADDITION, THE CYLINDERS MISFIRE. ONE OF THE DEALERS PERFORMED A COMPRESSION TEST ON THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING VARIOUS ISSUES SINCE 2006. THE FUEL PUMP, SPARK PLUG WIRES, AND ALL OF THE GASKETS, INCLUDING THE HEAD GASKET, HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE ALSO SHAKES SIGNIFICANTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT THE TIME OF THE DECELERATIONS. OCCASIONALLY, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 200,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY 98 MAZDA MILLENNIUM. WAS 1 MONTH AFTER WE BROUGHT IT "MAY 2001". THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON THE CAR, THEY PUT AN NEW TRANSMISSION IN. NOW FOR THE SECOND TIME "MARCH 2003" THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP AGAIN, AFTER SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR IT WILL NOT GO INTO THIRD GEAR CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK AND REDLINE. SINCE I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR I HAVE COME INTO CONTACT WITH ALOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS OUT OF THIS CAR. IF MAZDA KNOWS THAT THESE CARS ARE HAVING THESE KINDS OF PROBLEM WHY ARE THEY STILL SELLING THEM. I'M AFRAID TO PUT MY DAUGHTER IN THIS CAR BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT. AND I AM GETTING NO HELP FROM THE PLACE WHERE I BROUGHT THE CAR EXCEPT WE'LL PUT A NEW ONE IN. WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? WHEN SOMEONE GETS HURT AR KILLED? PEOPLE PLEASE DO RESEARCH ON ALL THE CARS THAT YOU PURCHASE. *NLM
TRANSMISSION FAILURE, AT 55K MILES CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE MAJOR TRANS. PROBLEMS. CHECKED INTERNET AND FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MAZDA VEHICLES FOR MANY YEARS. WHY ARE THEY STILL HAVING THESE PROBLEMS? DRIVERS MAY BE INJURED TRYING TO GET INTO TRAFFIC WHEN THE TRANS. FAILS. DT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
DURING WARM CLIMATE AND IN BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATE. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK ENGINE RPM'S JUMP TO 3000-4000 WHEN IN HEAVY BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER HAD TO STAND ON BRAKE TO HOLD CAR BACK. *BF *NM
WHILE IDLING AT A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT, VEHICLE RACES TO EXTREMELY HIGH RPMS. AFTER VEHICLE IS RESTARTED, IT THEN RETURNS TO NORMAL. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK CONSUMER ADDS THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL RESUME FEATURE WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. *TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA MILLENIA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 40 MPH. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES LATER, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 40 MPH ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT QUICKLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE DECELERATION FAILURE, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO HEAR THE NOISE. SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2008, THE CONTACT HAS SPENT $7,000 AT TWO DEALERS. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO BEEN SERVICED AT PEP BOYS. IN ADDITION, THE CYLINDERS MISFIRE. ONE OF THE DEALERS PERFORMED A COMPRESSION TEST ON THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING VARIOUS ISSUES SINCE 2006. THE FUEL PUMP, SPARK PLUG WIRES, AND ALL OF THE GASKETS, INCLUDING THE HEAD GASKET, HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE ALSO SHAKES SIGNIFICANTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT THE TIME OF THE DECELERATIONS. OCCASIONALLY, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 200,000.
OWNER COMPLAINED ABOUT A FUEL TANK PROBLEM. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO HAVE THE FUEL TANK REPLACED BECAUSE THE GAS TANK COLLAPSED. *AK THE PROBLEM WAS WITH, THE FUEL TANK, 2 SENDING UNITS AND THE FUEL CANISTER. *SC *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA MILLENIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEYLESS ENTRY FAILED FREQUENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE KEYLESS ENTRY KEY TWICE. ALSO, THE CONTACT LOST THE KEY DUE TO THE FREQUENT FAILURES. *AK
IN APRIL OF 2006, I KEPT NOTICING MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE LOSING AIR. I KEPT HAVING TO PUT 15 LBS. EVERY OTHER DAY IN IT. I HAD A FRIEND CHECK THE TIRE AND STEM AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THEM. AS THIS CONTINUED, I FINALLY TOOK IT TO A TIRE REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND OUT THAT MY RIM WAS CRACKED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT AS I WAS TRAVELING BACK AND FORTH 350 MILES EACH WEEK WITH MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDSON ABOARD. I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW RIM FOR $100 AND STILL HAVE THE OLD RIM IN MY POSSESSION. I SEE THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS PROBLEM SO PLEASE ADVISE ON THE PROCEDURE FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THIS RIM. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUEMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION INTO AN EMBANKMENT OF 35 MPH. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSES BURNS ON CONSUMER LEFT SIDE OF ARM AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOREHEAD. MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. NLM
WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT VEHICLE BEING IN AN ACCIDENT,DAMAGING WINDSHIELD AND SUNROOF.DEALER CONTACTED.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE PURCHASED A MAZDA LAST YEAR IN JULY, DROVE IT TO LAS VEGAS, AND WHILE SHE WAS THERE, VEHICLE LOST POWER. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC , AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 50-65 MPH VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY LOST POWER. ALSO, CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER DROVE IN CALIFORNIA AND VEHICLE LOST POWER, RESULTING IN A CRASH. *AK
3 TIMES GAS PEDAL HAS CAUSED VEHICLE TO HESITATE. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN MADE REGARDING THIS PROLBEM. VEHICLE WAS PLUGGED TO COMPUTER, BUT NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED, BUT NO REMEDY HAS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
PAINT ON VEHICLE CAME OFF WHILE CONSUMER WAS WASHING VEHICLE.*AK THE DEALER INITIALLY AGREED TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED VEHICLE WITH NEW, BUT LATER ON DECLINED AND THE CONSUMER WAS PURSUING THE CASE WITH MANUFACTURER. *YH
WHILE DRIVING IN LIGHT MODERATE RAIN, WENT THROUGH A 4-5 INCHES OF WATER AND THE CAR STALLED. FOUR OTHER VEHICLE WENT THROUGH THE WATER FINE. RESTART CAR AND DROVE IT HOME. NEXT MORNING STARTED VEHICLE AND HEARD RATTLING AND KNOCKING NOICE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. HUSBAND SAID DEFECTIVE ROCKER ARM AND DEALER AGREE. MANUFACTURE WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. INTAKE SYSTEM IN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR AND WE DISCOVERED AND
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A BRAKE LOSS WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND APPLYING BRAKES. BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE CONTINUES INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, CAUSING A VEHICLE CRASH.DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
ABS BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN NORMAL CONDITIONS THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE WAS A FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER'S SEAT ELECTRIC SEAT WARMER BURNED HOLE THROUGH LEATHER SEAT BACK, AS WELL AS MY JACKET AND SWEATER I WAS WEARING AT THE TIME. MAZDA'S POSITION IS THAT IT IS AN OUT OF WARRANTY FAILURE. MY POSITION IS A COMPONENT "FAILURE" THAT BURNS THROUGH DRIVER'S CLOTHING IS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT MAZDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE POWER TILT STEERING WHEEL HAS FAILED AND WILL NO LONGER OPERATE. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY DEFECT, AS THE WHEEL IS STUCK IN AN EXTREMELY UPRIGHT POSITION AND WILL NOT COME DOWN, MAKING THE CAR VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER SAFELY. FROM MY RESEARCH ON THIS SITE AND OTHERS, AS WELL AS CALLS TO 5 DIFFERENT MAZDA DEALERSHIPS, THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM. IN FACT, ACCORDING TO ONE DEALER, THE PROBLEM IS SO COMMON THAT MAZDA HAS BEGUN OFFERING A SPECIAL REPAIR KIT THAT JUST INCLUDES THE DEFECTIVE ACTUATOR RATHER THAN THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. IT IS MY VIEW THAT THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT THAT MAZDA SHOULD COVER UNDER A SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM OR BY RECALL. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA MILLENIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEYLESS ENTRY FAILED FREQUENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE KEYLESS ENTRY KEY TWICE. ALSO, THE CONTACT LOST THE KEY DUE TO THE FREQUENT FAILURES. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .