RoadVitals

1990 Mazda MPV Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
47
Latest Mar 30, 2016
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
12
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
13

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1990 Mazda MPV, 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

  • Brakes917.3%
  • Engine59.6%
  • Suspension59.6%
  • Body & structure35.8%
  • Visibility35.8%
  • Electrical35.8%
  • Powertrain (other)11.9%
  • Interior & seats11.9%
  • Airbags11.9%
  • Tires & wheels11.9%

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

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

12
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN DRIVEWAY WHILE I WAS CHECKING TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL. SUDDENLY, IT DROVE AWAY IN REVERSE, CROSSED THE STREET AND WENT DOWN ANOTHER DRIVEWAY CRASHING INTO THE CORNER OF A GARAGE. IT THEN WENT ACROSS ANOTHER BACK YARD AND CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER GARAGE. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS MADE. *LA

NHTSA ID 10047682 · filed Nov 27, 2003

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED, CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINT ON THIS ISSUE. *YD

NHTSA ID 786023 · filed Jun 23, 2002
All 12 reports naming transmission

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

9
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING IN ALL WHEEL DRIVE MODE THE ABS SENSOR FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY COME TO A STOP. NLM

NHTSA ID 785225 · filed Jan 3, 2001

RECALLS 95V103005/92V027000; MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS AND BRAKE LININGS. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED AND THERE ARE TWO RECALLS LISTED. BUT THE DEALER SAID THAT THE RECALLS HAD BEEN DONE, AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER SAID THAT THE RECALLS HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN CARE OFF. THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE RECALL PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID 822187 · filed Aug 24, 1998
All 9 reports naming brakes

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

8
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TIRES FAILED.DUNLOP SP SPORT D31J P215/65R15.

NHTSA ID 542376 · filed Nov 2, 1998

RECALLS 95V103005/92V027000; MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS AND BRAKE LININGS. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED AND THERE ARE TWO RECALLS LISTED. BUT THE DEALER SAID THAT THE RECALLS HAD BEEN DONE, AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER SAID THAT THE RECALLS HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN CARE OFF. THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE RECALL PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID 822187 · filed Aug 24, 1998
All 8 reports naming seat belts

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ENGINE HEAD GASKET/ WATER PUM, AND HEATER CORE FAILED 3 TIMES, SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE..

NHTSA ID 716559 · filed Dec 28, 1999

IT IS NOT REIABLE VEHICLE FOR ME, SPEACILLY IF THERE IS A KID. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID 716558 · filed Dec 28, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE REAR SWAY BAR FAILED. MR SCC *JB

NHTSA ID 10012157 · filed Apr 3, 2003

TIRES FAILED.DUNLOP SP SPORT D31J P215/65R15.

NHTSA ID 542376 · filed Nov 2, 1998

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I HAVE NOTICED A NUMBER OF MPV VANS ON THE ROAD WITH THE SAME FLAKING PAINT ON THE HOOD.*AK

NHTSA ID 705971 · filed Apr 25, 1999

TIRES FAILED.DUNLOP SP SPORT D31J P215/65R15.

NHTSA ID 542376 · filed Nov 2, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ENGINE HEAD GASKET/ WATER PUM, AND HEATER CORE FAILED 3 TIMES, SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE..

NHTSA ID 716559 · filed Dec 28, 1999

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. THE BODY LEFT SIDE WINDOW BROKE. ALSO, CHILD SAFETY SEAT WAS FORWARD FACING. *AK THE COLLISION CAUSED THE SIDE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO SHATTER. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED BECAUSE TEMPERED GLASS WAS SUPPOSE TO SHATTER INTO SMALL PIECES, BUT IT DID NOT. *YH *NLM

NHTSA ID 844785 · filed Aug 10, 1999

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

FRONT WIRING HARNESS RELAY SWITCH MELTED AND BROKE, DUE TO HEATER OVERLOAD. *AK

NHTSA ID 983389 · filed Apr 22, 1996

UNDER THE HOOD, ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, WHILE DRIVING, TRANSFER DIFFERENTAL CASE, *AK

NHTSA ID 982203 · filed Apr 2, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

PLANETARY GEARS FAILED BECAUSE OF LACK OF LUBRICATION. TT

NHTSA ID 972306 · filed Sep 21, 1995

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

DURING IMPACT, THE TWO REAR BENCH SEAT ANCHORS BROKE, CAUSING THE SEATS TO FALL FORWARD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID 984330 · filed May 13, 1996

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 MAZDA MPV. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, HE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID 10852402 · filed Mar 30, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TIRES FAILED.DUNLOP SP SPORT D31J P215/65R15.

NHTSA ID 542376 · filed Nov 2, 1998

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

Data on this page last refreshed .