2000 Mazda MPV Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year describe a broadly scattered set of problems rather than one dominant failure, with cooling-system leaks, door and liftgate hardware, tire failures and airbag behavior all appearing repeatedly in the sampled complaints. Many reports come from vehicles between roughly 40,000 and 100,000 miles, and several concern items that fail with little or no warning, such as door latches and liftgate struts.

1. 1
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Sliding and front door latches and handles failing

   • 8 complaints (5%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2002–2010

   Owners describe sliding door handles coming off in the hand, front doors that will not unlock or unlatch from either handle, and sliding doors that open while driving. In several reports the dealer replaced latches, screws or actuator cables, and some owners say the same door failed again later. Complaints note that the interior linkage can come loose so neither handle opens the door. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 155,000 miles, with several cases in the 60,000 to 90,000 mile range.

   Recall 99V191000

   What to check: Open and close each sliding door and both front doors several times, checking that handles feel connected and that latches release from inside and outside; ask whether latch or cable repairs have been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Complaint received e-mail. We are having problems with the front door not unlocking. We had to fix the passenger's side about a month ago. Now, the driver's side can not be opened unless using a key on the outside or hold the unlocked button on the inside. I hope we never get into a wreck because no one could get us out of the car.”

   NHTSA complaint #10113616, filed 2005-04, 44,000 miles

   “The driver sliding door handle came off in my hand when I was attempting to open the door of my van....this is the second time this has happened, I already had to pay $300 to fix the passenger side sliding door handle when the exact same things happened within the last year and that time I was holding my son and almost fell!!!! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10140588, filed 2005-10, 80,900 miles
2. 2
   Tires

   Tire tread separation and uneven wear

   • 14 complaints (9%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2008

   Owners describe tread separating from tires at highway speed, sidewall bulges, and tires wearing heavily on one side, in some cases with the tread still largely intact. Several complaints name specific tire brands fitted to the van, and one reports the manufacturer put the wrong size on the vehicle. Damage to fenders, bumpers and wiring is described in the more severe cases. Mostly reported between about 27,000 and 105,000 miles, often at highway speeds.

   Recall 00V113002Recall 00V1130012 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the tire information label against the tires actually fitted, look at the age codes on all five tires, and have a shop check for uneven wear or a shimmy that could point to balance or alignment problems.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving at 70 MPH, the left front tire tread separated and the right front tire developed a knot in the sidewall. Both tires had over 50 % tread left at time of failure. The service dealership indicated that both failures were due to a manufacturing defect. The vehicle experienced three tire failures.”

   NHTSA complaint #10050402, filed 2004-01, 102,000 miles

   “While parked in the driveway consumer noticed that the right front tire was flat. The tire was taken to a tire dealership, who indicated that the tire needed to be replaced because it had worn out on one side, and had a big grove in it. The tire was replaced with a different model tire with the same grade. A week later, the same problem occurred on the rear of driver's side tire, and the other two tires had started wearing the same way. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10081437, filed 2004-08, 27,775 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbags deploying without a crash or failing to deploy

   • 14 complaints (9%)
   • median 144,000 mi at 12.4 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2016

   Complaints describe side or driver airbags inflating with no impact while the van was parked or stopped, causing chest and rib injuries, and in other reports airbags not deploying in frontal collisions. Owners say they contacted the dealer afterward and describe being referred to their insurer or told the cause could not be determined. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 81,000 to 185,000 miles, on vans that were by then well used.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag warning lamp behaves normally at startup and whether any airbag work or accessory wiring has been added, since a bulletin notes non-genuine accessories can affect airbag operation.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was trying to start my new used Mazda MPV using ether sprayed into the air filter-box through a small hole, and my driver's-side -impact airbag went off when I turned the ignition key. I was parked in my driveway at the time. I had been trying to start the car for several minutes, and had sprayed starting fluid into the box one other time several minutes before. This process had worked for me two times in the past with no problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10448786, filed 2012-02, 144,000 miles

   “I got into my car and place my seat belts on. I shifted the car in reverse gear and started reversing for 3 seconds and without any impact or collision to the car, the side airbags deployed and exploded on my whole left chest wall, arm and shoulder throwing me to the right. I was in shock and didn't realized what happen. I sought medical attention 3 times at the hospital and went to make a complaint to the Mazda dealer where I purchase the car at and check a car fax report on the history of the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10663446, filed 2014-12, 185,021 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Rusted heater and rear heater pipes leaking coolant

   • 8 complaints (5%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 5.6 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2002–2008

   Complaints describe coolant loss that appears under the vehicle when parked, traced to rusted heater core pipes or the rear heater tubing, sometimes found only after removing covers. Owners report the repair was done at a dealership or independent shop, and a service bulletin on coolant seepage from the rear heater pipe is referenced in one report. Some describe the leak ruining carpets, floorboards and wiring. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 125,000 miles, on vehicles old enough for the pipes to corrode.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the heater and rear heater pipes have been replaced, and look for coolant stains or damp carpeting in the rear footwells and under the front of the van.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Leak in 2000 MPV that dealer stated was due to outside influence and would not be covered as a manufacturer's defect. Dealer told us that the leak (which ruined our floor boards, rugs and wiring) was due to parking the car outside, which LED to dirt and leaves getting into the hood, (or somewhere) clogging the drainage system . We do park the car outside in a clear driveway. (we were not aware that you had to own a garage to own a Mazda). We have never had an accident or made any modifications to the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10049288, filed 2003-12, 65,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2000 Mazda MPV. The contact stated that coolant began leaking from the vehicle. When the wheel bearing cover was removed, it was discovered that the heating tubing had rusted and contained a hole. The vehicle has not been repaired. The current mileage is 80,200 and failure mileage was 80,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10193887, filed 2007-06, 80,000 miles

Buying note. Look closely at cooling-system condition, door and liftgate hardware and tire age on any example, and ask for service records covering those items. Because reports cover many different systems rather than a single known fault, a pre-purchase inspection is worth the cost on this model year.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.