1996 Mazda MPV 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 1996 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
- Driver assistance315.0%
- Airbags315.0%
- Heating & air conditioning210.0%
- Engine210.0%
- Suspension210.0%
- Tires & wheels210.0%
- Visibility210.0%
- Brakes210.0%
- Transmission15.0%
- Powertrain (other)15.0%
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
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSING COLLISION INSIDE GARAGE, NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING FRONT END COLLISION. MJS
AT LOW SPEEDS DRIVETRAIN BINDS UP. MAKES POPPING NOISES. VIBRATIONS OCCURS IN ACCELERATOR. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH DRIVE TRAIN.*AK
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
NO DEPLOYMENT OF NEITHER PASSENGER NOR DRIVER'S AIRBAG RESULTED IN IJURY WHEN VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER. NLM
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSING COLLISION INSIDE GARAGE, NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING FRONT END COLLISION. MJS
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
AIR CONDITIONER TAKES TOO LONG TO COOL.
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
OWNER OF 1996 MAZDA MPV, WHILE TRAVELING TO AMMUSEMENT PARK REQUIRING LONG LINES FOR PARKING VEHICLE GOT HOT. WHEN MOTOR WAS TURNED OFF RADIATOR PRESSURE INCREASED, THIS PRESSURE WHILE BEING RELEASED SAFELY TO THE OVERFLOW BOTTLE THROUGH THE CONNECTING HOSE THE OVERFLOW BOTTLE WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF PRESSURE. THIS RESULTED IN THE OVERFLOW BOTTLE TOP EXPLODING AND SPRAYING SCALDING FLUID IN THE FACE OF A 13 YEAR OLD BOY WHO WAS STANDING NEXT TO THE OPEN HOODED COMPARTMENT. HE SUFFERED 1ST & 2ND DEGREE BURNS TO ON MORE THAN 50% OF HIS FACE AND SOME ON HIS TORSO. THIS IS THE ORGINAL FACTORY OVERFLOW BOTTLE, BY CLOSER INSPECTION IT APPEARS THAT THE INPUT TUBE AND OUTPUT VENT ARE DIFFERENT IN SIZE, THE OUTPUT PORT IS SMALLER. THIS PROVIDES FOR THE PRESSURE IN THE OVERFLOW BOTTLE TO INCREASE AND EXCEED THE SNAP-ON-CAP'S HOLDING STRENGTH. HAS THIS BEEN A PROBLEM IN THE PAST?*AK
RUST CAUSED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF EXHAUST SYTEM AFTER 22,400 MILES (3 YEARS). BOTH DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED AND COLE MUFFLER (SPECIALIST) STATE THAT MUFFLER AND EXHAUST PIPES SHOULD NOT RUST OR DETERIORATE IN THIS TIME FRAME. AFTER MUFFLER SEPARATED FROM EXHAUST PIPE, IT REMAINED ATTACHED TO UNDERCARRIAGE OF MPV MINIVAN, AND CREATED A HAZARD BY CONTACTING THE TIRE AND BRAKLE CABLES WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING OPERATED.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
INCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE EVENING OF SAT. OCTOBER 14TH, 2000 WHEREIN MY GIRLFRIEND (WHO IS 9 MONTHS PREGNANT) AND MYSELF WERE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON I-93 IN BOSTON, MA. I HEARD A LOUD CRASH-TYPE SOUND AND MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWERVE UNCONTROLLABLY TO THE RIGHT. MY VEHICLE THEN PRODUCED A LOUD THUD AND THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED DRAMATICALLY. I PROCEEDED TO THE NEAREST SAFE LOCATION WHICH WAS JUST OFF THE HIGHWAY AT THE SOUTH BAY SHOPPING PLAZA (IN FRONT OF THE KMART STORE). IN THE PARKING LOT I NOTICED THAT MY RIM WAS COMPLETELY DAMAGED AND MY TIRE WAS NOT ON THE VEHICLE. I CHANGED MY TIRE WITH A SPARE AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY AXLE AND ALIGNMENT WAS ALSO SEVERELY DAMAGED. I RETURNED TO THE HIGHWAY AND LOCATED MY BLOWN OUT TIRED AND SAW THAT THE TIRE WAS SHREDDED SEVERELY TOO (THE LOCATION ON THE HIGHWAY WAS CLEAN AND PAVED). ON TUESDAY MORNING I THEN PROCEEDED TO THE FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP IN BOSTON WHERE I WAS REFUSED SERVICE BY THE MANAGER...STATING THAT THE TIRE WAS NOT ON THEIR RECALL LIST. I THEN CONTACTED CONSUMER AFFAIRS OF FIRESTONE AND WAS GIVEN THE RUN-A-ROUND FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 1/2 HOURS. AS OF TODAY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17TH, 2000, I AM STILL WITHOUT A VEHICLE WHICH IS A PRIORITY AS MY GIRLFRIEND IS READY TO DELIVER OUR CHILD ANY DAY NOW. I AM ALSO IN RISK OF MY FAMILY'S AND MY LIFE AND LIVILHOOD BY NOT HAVING A SAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE. I WOULD APPRECIATE IMMEDIATE ATTENDANCE TO MY VEHICLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.*AK (DOT NUMBER: HYM3 TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)
LEFT FRONT STRUT IS WEAK CAUSING DAMAGE TO TIRE.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON JUNE 29,2005 MY 5 MONTH OLD SON AND I WERE TRAVELING IN OUR 96' MAZDA MPV NORTH ON 291 HIGHWAY (I WAS MEETING MY HUSBAND) WHEN MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE. WE WERE TRAVELING APPROX. 65 MPH. AS I WAS GETTING READY TO GET OVER THE VAN JERKED HARD TO THE RIGHT CAUSING US TO VEER THROUGH BOTH LANES OF TRAFFIC. I FIGURED MY TIRE HAD BLOWN AND PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. IT WAS A HOT DAY APPROX. 96 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND DUE TO WHERE WE HAD TO PULL OVER I HAD TO GET MY 5 MONTH OUT OF THE CAR BECAUSE WE WERE NEAR AN ENTRANCE RAMP AND ONCOMING CARS WERE CUTTING IT CLOSE TO THE VAN AND I DIDN'T WANT TO RISK THE VAN GETTING HIT WITH MY SON INSIDE. MY BROTHER LENNY HAD JUST CALLED ON MY CELL PHONE MOMENTS BEFORE THE INCIDENT SO HE COULD COME HELP US. HE WASN'T ABLE TO ARRIVE FOR 35-45 MINUTES. THE CAR IT HAD DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK PANEL - SCRATCHES, DENTS, TEARING IN THE PANEL ITSELF, THE WHEEL WELL COVER WAS COMPLETELY MISSING, AND THE MUD GARD IN THE WHEEL WELL HAD BEEN TORN AND MANGELED. IT WAS ODD THAT THE TIRE HADN'T BLOWN - IT WAS STILL AIRED UP BUT ALL OF THE TREAD WAS OFF!!! THE TREAD COMING OFF HIT THE SIDE OF MY VAN AND DID A LOT OF DAMAGE! WHEN MY BROTHER ARRIVED HE SAW THE SITUATION AND TOLD ME TO PULL THROUGH THE MEDIAN TO AVOID BEING HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND AT THAT TIME MY BABY WAS LOOKING A BIT SWEATYAND HOT. I PULLED MY CAR THROUGH THE MEDIAN AND ABOUT 1/4 MILE DOWN THE RAOD THE A PARKING LOT WHERE MY BROTHER CHANGED MY TIRE AND MY HUSBAND (HAD BEEN CONTACTED THROUGH MY SISTER-IN-LAW CALLING THE MCDONALDS ) SHOWED UP TO HELP TOO. MY BROTHER CHANGED MY TIRE AND ALSO FOUND TREAD JAMMED BETWEEN MY SHOCKS AND THE TIRE. UNFORTUNEATLY I HAVE FOUND THAT THE COMPANY COOPER CO THAT MAKES THESE TIRES HAVE HAD A LOT OF INJURIES AND CRASHES (EVEN DEATHS) WITH THEIR TIRES AND I HAPPEN TO HAVE 3 MORE ON MY VAN! THEY WERE COOPER TIRES FUTURA 2000 LTE P215/65R15 TOURING TIRES. THEY HAVE GOOD TREAD LEFT ON THEM BUT I AM GOING TO GET THEM ALL CHANGED.
OWNER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH AND THE TIRE BURST. OWNER ALSO SAID THAT THE TIRE SIZE IN THE MANUAL DOESN'T MATCH TIRE CO. SIZE. *AK
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN GOING 48 MPH OR MORE AND ROLLING DOWN THE ELECTRIC REAR WINDOWS, THE WAY THE AIR COMES IN, IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, AND THE AIR PRESSURE CAUSES SEVERE DAMAGE TO EARS. *AK
PROBLEM WITH DRIVER'S WINDOW.
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
OWNER HAS ABS BRAKES. WHILE TRYING TO DEPRESS THE ABS BRAKE PEDAL, VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. ALSO ABS BRAKES LIGHT WOULD COME ON AT TIMES FOR NO REASON. THERE WERE NUMEROUS BRAKE SENSORS REPLACED WHICH DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED ON WET PAVEMENTS THE VEHICLE SKIDS TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
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
WHILE TRAVELING 40MPH IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE UNIT LOCKED UP. DIRVER AND 5 PASSENGERS WERE PRESENT. VEHICLE STARTED TO SKID AND CAME TO A STOP. DRIVER ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO UNLOCK UNIT, AND SUCCEEDED IN PUTTING VEHICLE BACK INTO 2 WHEEL DRIVE. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES OCCURRED. *AK
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
AT LOW SPEEDS DRIVETRAIN BINDS UP. MAKES POPPING NOISES. VIBRATIONS OCCURS IN ACCELERATOR. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH DRIVE TRAIN.*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 .