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Mazda MPVModel year report

1997 Mazda MPV Problems

Complaints
22filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
100,000miles, 5 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
17 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl RWD · 15 city / 20 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1997 Mazda MPV (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 22 consumer complaints for the 1997 Mazda MPV. The part named most often is air bags, with 8 complaints (36% of the total), followed by engine cooling (5) and latches, locks and linkages (2). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 20% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 100,000 miles. Of all complaints, 9 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 10 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 43 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 4 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Suspension (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “I am filing a complaint in regard to my vehicle's equipment that failed and was faulty in a recent automobile accident. I was traveling approximately 40-45 MPH in a straight lane when a vehicle quickly entered across my path to make a left hand turn. I had no time to brake, so the other car is what stopped my motion. It was a hard hit! My Mazda MPV crashed into the other person's car. During our front impact with the other car's driver side, my airbags did not deploy causing injury. …”

NHTSA complaint #10165569, filed 2006-08, 93,395 miles

Engine cooling: “Driving uphill on I-70 at the speed limit (55) the car lost all power, the driver steered to the shoulder. The engine compartment began smoking. By the time the fire department arrived the Mazda MPV ('97) was consumed in fire.”

NHTSA complaint #10164666, filed 2006-08, 140,000 miles

Seats: “Consumer was involved in a 30 MPH frontal collision in which the driver's or passenger's air bags did not deploy, also the driver's seat collasped forward, causing the driver to sustain injuries. Please give any further details.”

NHTSA complaint #819712, filed 1997-12

Mileage when problems were reported

20% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 93,395 and 140,000 miles.

0%0–1020%10–250%25–500%50–7520%75–10040%100–15020%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (5 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 100,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

19974199942001200320062016
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1997 Mazda MPV. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
MPV · sedan FWDnot rated4 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1997 Mazda MPV version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
MPV RWD3.0L 6-cyl4-speed automatic152017$3,950
MPV 4x43.0L 6-cyl4-speed automatic141715$4,450

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1997 Mazda MPV → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 43 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 43 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mazda MPV

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20061238,9442—18—Not enough data
20053653,4143—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20047155,0005—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200311337,5864—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200212460,9504—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20017071,7503—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200014975,8275—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199819113,0001—17—Stable
199722100,0001—17—Stable
199618122,7951—17—Stable
199519132,5001—19—Stable
199436125,0001—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199351117,0001—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199261142,0001—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19916695,0003—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199047134,0003—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198922—5—19—Stable

All Mazda MPV model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1997 Mazda MPV have?

NHTSA recorded 22 consumer complaints for the 1997 Mazda MPV as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1997 Mazda MPV is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 8 complaints (36% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 5.

Has the 1997 Mazda MPV been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1997 Mazda MPV get?

The EPA rates the 1997 Mazda MPV (MPV, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 17 mpg combined, 15 city and 20 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,950 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1997 Mazda MPV reported?

Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 100,000 miles and the middle half falls between 93,395 and 140,000 miles; 20% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.