1991 Mazda MPV Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 1991 Mazda MPV report a mix of engine-cooling, transmission, and brake problems, with cooling and head gasket complaints often appearing early in the van's life and brake complaints ranging from rotor vibration to ABS-related locking. Many reports come from vans with well over 100,000 miles, and several note that dealers inspected the vehicle but the underlying problem remained.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brake pedal goes to floor, ABS locks or skids

   • 11 complaints (17%)
   • median 67,500 mi at 9.2 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2008

   Complaints describe the brake pedal sinking to the floor or the van taking longer to stop, especially under hard or sudden braking. Some owners report a rear wheel locking and the van skidding sideways, and one described a front brake locking on a snow-covered road with the steering wheel becoming immobile. Others mention vibration through the wheel and repeated pad and rotor replacements that did not stop it, and one owner linked continued front brake wear to a prior recall remedy on the rear brakes. Reported from roughly 45,000 to 100,000 miles in the sample, often during hard stops or on slick roads.

   Recall 92V027000

   What to check: Ask about brake service history and have the rear brakes and ABS operation checked on a test drive, including a firm stop from moderate speed. Confirm whether the rear brake lining recall was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The front wheel skidded and the front brake locked up while driving on light snow covered highway. It caused the steering wheel to become immobilized. The driver was unable to maneuver the car and it overturned.”

   NHTSA complaint #10244399, filed 2008-10, 45,000 miles

   “While driving, consumer had to stop suddenly and applied brake pedal abruptly. The anti-lock brake system failed and consumer collided with another vehicle. The brakes locked up. Ts”

   NHTSA complaint #10004777, filed 2003-01, 90,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Head gasket failure and overheating

   • 5 complaints (8%)
   • typically at 8.0 yrs old
   • filed 1996–2000

   Owners describe the engine overheating, coolant loss, and in several cases a failed head gasket. One report describes a hole in the radiator and blown head gaskets after the temperature gauge went to hot and the engine died; another says the head gasket let coolant into the engine and the engine cracked and stopped running. Complaints also mention oil leaks that produced smoke and odor, with valve cover gaskets and seals replaced repeatedly without resolving it. Most sample reports do not state mileage; the described failures appear across the life of the van rather than at one specific interval.

   What to check: Check coolant level and condition, look for coolant stains or a sweet smell, and have a compression or leak-down test done if there is any history of overheating. Ask whether the head gasket or radiator has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer has been experiencing an ongoing problem with an oil leak that is causing smoke and a horrible smell, vehicle has been taken to a dealer 5 times and the problem has not been remedied, valve cover gaskets were replaced several times, rear cap seals replaced, and o rings were replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #876784, filed 2000-12

   “Engine check light came on. Temperature read hot. Attempted to pull the car over and all indicator lights were on. The car died. Car towed to dealer, would not start. Dealer discovered a hole in radiator and blown head gaskets. Internal damage and consumer has no car.”

   NHTSA complaint #827988, filed 1998-09
3. 3
   Seat belts

   Front seat belts release or fail to latch

   Mentioned in 4 of 25 sampled complaints

   Owners report that front driver and passenger seat belts pop out of the buckle or release when the occupant leans forward, and that buckles have been replaced at no charge but the problem returned. One complaint notes the buckles were falling apart, and another says the dealer had no parts available for the seat belt buckle recall for an extended period. Reported at varying mileage, including a van at about 100,000 miles; several complaints were filed while the vehicle was stationary.

   Recall 95V103005

   What to check: Try each front belt: pull it sharply to confirm it locks and check that the buckle holds when you lean forward. Confirm whether the front buckle recall 95V103005 was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The seat belts on my 1991 Mazda MPV are simply falling apart. The fuel vapor separator does an inadequate job of keeping gasoline fumes out of the vehicle. There have been recalls on both of these items. When I took it in to the local dealer they only performed an inspection. Both issues remain unresolved. Besides not ever buying another Mazda ever. I would like to see these safety issues resolved.”

   NHTSA complaint #10157444, filed 2006-05, 100,000 miles

   “Sometimes the driver and the passenger seat belts come a loose while driving. Consumer states the driver seat belt released from latch on three separate occasions, the delaer replaced it at no charge, the replacement belt released, the passenger's seat belt released on all occasions consumer states she would lean foward after the belt had been properly secured and it would release, each time they released the vehicle was sitting still.”

   NHTSA complaint #982567, filed 1996-04

Buying note. These vans are now decades old, so condition and maintenance records matter more than the model itself. Prioritize a pre-purchase inspection covering brakes and ABS, cooling system and head gasket, transmission, seat belts, and the fuel system, and confirm whether the open recalls for the brake linings, front buckles, and ignition switch were completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 25 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.