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Mazda MPVModel year report

2002 Mazda MPV Problems

Complaints
124filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
60,950miles, 92 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns 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
18 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl FWD · 16 city / 23 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2002 Mazda MPV (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2002 Mazda MPV report most often about the automatic transmission, usually a complete loss of drive with little or no warning, often at highway speed and commonly between roughly 40,000 and 100,000 miles. A smaller group describes rough or harsh shifting that came before a later failure, and some owners report engine misfires from ignition coils and a strong sulfur smell from the exhaust.

  1. Transmission and drivetrain

    Transmission failure and loss of drive

    • 48 complaints (39%)
    • median 68,490 mi at 6.3 yrs old (45 state mileage)
    • owner-quoted repair $2,600 (median of 13 quotes)
    • filed 2003–2014

    Complaints describe the van suddenly losing power to the wheels, sometimes while driving at highway speed, with the engine revving but no acceleration. Many owners say no warning light came on before the failure; a few mention occasional rough shifts beforehand. According to the complaints, dealers typically diagnosed a failed transmission needing replacement or rebuild, quoted several thousand dollars, and in some cases declined goodwill help once the vehicle was out of warranty. Mostly reported between roughly 40,000 and 100,000 miles, with many in the 55,000-85,000 range.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Ask for transmission service records and whether the fluid was ever flushed or the control module reprogrammed. On a test drive, note any harsh or delayed shifts, and have a pre-purchase inspection confirm the transmission engages and shifts through all gears.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “At 68,000 miles, the transmission on my Mazda MPV totally failed on a busy interstate highway outside of chicago. It was towed in and needed a totally new transmission at a substantially high cost. The vehicle was 18 months out of its 3 year warranty. This is apparently a known issue for Mazda MPV transmissions. I will never purchase Mazda again.”

    NHTSA complaint #10176492, filed 2006-12, 68,000 miles

    “2002 Mazda MPV with 39,000 miles. Transmission totally failed on us55 halfway between bloomington, il and chicago. Had to have car towed back to chicago. Transmission has to be replaced. This is my second one. When I bought car in 2002 transmission failed in 1st week of ownership and had to be replaced.”

    NHTSA complaint #10323840, filed 2010-04, 39,000 miles
  2. Transmission and drivetrain

    Harsh or rough shifting before failure

    • 15 complaints (12%)
    • median 55,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (11 state mileage)
    • filed 2002–2010

    Some owners describe clunky or jolting shifts, hesitation when accelerating, or the overdrive light flashing, sometimes starting within the first few thousand miles. Complaints mention dealers reflashing the transmission control module or changing the fluid, with the rough shifting often returning afterward. Reported from very low mileage up to about 80,000 miles, with several owners noting the symptom from near-new.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Ask whether the transmission control module was ever reprogrammed and whether shift quality was ever documented. Test drive at both low and highway speeds and watch for delayed or hard shifts.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “O/d light flashing and harsh shift. My family and I was planning to take a trip to williamsburg va, and when I start the van, I discovered the o/d (over drive) light is flashing and harsh shifts. I took the van to amoco and ask to check my transmission. The service tech told me everything is normal, however we noticed your gears are not shifting smoothly. They could get any code of what causing. I left their shop and stopped by cottman transmission. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10223513, filed 2008-04, 76,776 miles

    “I have had trouble with the Mazda MPV transmission of my car since I purchased it in september of 2002. The transmission has intermittent rough shifts/jolts. The dealer has tried to make adjustments and also changed the transmission fluid at 20,000 miles (which I was charged for), but the problem continues. This is the worst-feeling automatic transmission I have ever felt, so I purchased an extended warranty because I do not believe that the transmission will last to 100,000 miles.”

    NHTSA complaint #10048958, filed 2003-12, 8,000 miles
  3. Electrical system

    Ignition coil failure and engine misfire

    • 12 complaints (10%)
    • median 68,490 mi at 5.8 yrs old (11 state mileage)
    • filed 2005–2015

    Owners report the engine running rough or misfiring, sometimes with hesitation under acceleration that gets worse as the engine warms up. Complaints describe dealers replacing individual ignition coils, occasionally finding several bad at once, and one mentions a suspected effect on the catalytic converter. Mostly reported between about 24,000 and 90,000 miles.

    What to check: Ask whether any ignition coils have been replaced and how many. During a test drive, listen for a rough idle or misfire under load, and consider having the coils inspected.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Engine was hesitating during acceleration causing difficulty in driving, especially merging into traffic. Problem got worse as engine heated up. Dealer diagnosed problem as a bad coil but could not determine which of the 6 coils were faulting. Dealer finally gave in and replaced them for no charge after I complained to corporate. Possible recall item?”

    NHTSA complaint #10127104, filed 2005-06, 54,022 miles

    “(2) of the back (3) ignition coils failed, causing the minivan to misfire and run poorly. The minivan has 24,000 miles on it. The coils have been redesigned, since there was a design flaw. My minivan is almost (5) years, so it is out of warranty. Many other Mazda mpvs have had the same problem recently.”

    NHTSA complaint #10196342, filed 2007-07, 24,200 miles
  4. Engine cooling

    Strong sulfur (rotten egg) exhaust odor

    • 14 complaints (11%)
    • median 7,000 mi at 1.2 yrs old (11 state mileage)
    • filed 2002–2008

    Owners describe a strong rotten-egg smell from the exhaust, most noticeable when idling or stopped at lights, and one notes it led them to limit defroster use. Complaints mention dealers suggesting a different fuel type, which did not resolve it; a service bulletin notes the odor may be noticed after cold starts, extended idling and full-throttle acceleration. Reported at very low mileage in the sample, from under a few hundred miles up to about 37,000 miles.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Note any sulfur smell during a cold start and after idling for a while. Ask whether the catalytic converter or exhaust components have been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Exhaust system: catalytic convertor vehicle emitting strong sulfur oder from catback system. This is not acceptable, especially at 20,000 miles. Dealership service dept. Noted this was a common complaint with this vechicle ( MPV). Dealer said- this problem seems to be common in new v6 and v8 engines.- something in the design of lower emmissions. Again, unresolved- this is not acceptable (for any vehicle).”

    NHTSA complaint #10032761, filed 2003-08, 100 miles

    “Van has a horrible sulfur smell. It is worse when stopped at stop signs and red lights. I feel this is a safety issue because defroster is shut off to keep smell out creating bad visibility and possible dangerous situation. Also smell is so bad driver is distracted and/or nauseous.”

    NHTSA complaint #10030485, filed 2003-07, 55 miles

Buying note. The transmission is the main thing to scrutinize on this model year: request full service records, have a shop inspect the transmission, and test drive thoroughly at highway speed. Also listen for exhaust odor and rough running on a cold start before deciding.

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.

NHTSA recorded 124 consumer complaints for the 2002 Mazda MPV. 92 of the complaints include a mileage, and 36% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 60,950 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 5 a fire, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 99 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

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: Seat belts (3), Seats (3), Tires (3), Engine (2), Other or unknown (2), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Steering (1), Suspension (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “We have a 2002 Mazda MPV (first owners) with 104k; followed all manufacturers recommendations for maintenance. Died on the way to work this morning, had to be towed to shop. They want 6000$ to replace transmission (with a rebuilt one). I'm shopping around. The car isn't worth 1/2 that for trade-in. We have had the trans module replaced about 3 years ago.”

NHTSA complaint #10334424, filed 2010-06, 104,000 miles

Engine cooling: “Loud tapping noise existed for several months, sounded like a valve tapping. Problem was a cracked exhaust manifold. Dealer found cracked manifold and a stripped attaching bolt. Both were replaced. Manufacturer subsequently repaid me for cost of parts. I paid labor.”

NHTSA complaint #10227894, filed 2008-05, 66,815 miles

Electrical system: “My 2002 MPV suffered a complete transmission failure at about 75k miles, stalling out in morning traffic and needing to be pushed from the road. The transmission occasionally kicked when shifting since the car was new. I called Mazda, which refused to pay anything toward the repair, saying it had relinquished liability for a vehicle several years past warranty. Despite what I see in NHTSA's complaint log and elsewhere on the net, Mazda told me that it does not agree that the transmission on the 2002 MPV is unusually prone to failure. …”

NHTSA complaint #10256614, filed 2009-01, 75,000 miles

Vehicle speed control: “Was driving down the street with cruise control on and set. Coming up to red light. Hit cancel on cruise lever and it did not disengage. The turned it off with the button. Light went off but was still engaged. I also was applying the brakes in a panic.....still not disengaging. Put car in neutral.....engine rpms went to redline...I then turned ignition off before crashing into the cars stopped at the light......very very scary. Saw recall and other people with exact same problem. …”

NHTSA complaint #10451445, filed 2012-03, 169,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

36% of the 92 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 39,000 and 83,000 miles.

9%0–1012%10–2515%25–5032%50–7520%75–10010%100–1503%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (92 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 60,950 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

’03’05’0723’09’11’13’15
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 2002 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 rated5 / 5———

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 2002 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 FWD3.0L 6-cyl5-speed automatic162318$3,700

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 2002 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. 99 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 99 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

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Mazda MPV?

Owners of the 2002 Mazda MPV report most often about the automatic transmission, usually a complete loss of drive with little or no warning, often at highway speed and commonly between roughly 40,000 and 100,000 miles. The issues reported most often: Transmission failure and loss of drive; Harsh or rough shifting before failure; Ignition coil failure and engine misfire.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002 Mazda MPV have?

NHTSA recorded 124 consumer complaints for the 2002 Mazda MPV as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2002 Mazda MPV is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 66 complaints (53% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 23.

Has the 2002 Mazda MPV been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2002 Mazda MPV get?

The EPA rates the 2002 Mazda MPV (MPV, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 16 city and 23 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2002 Mazda MPV reported?

Among the 92 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 60,950 miles and the middle half falls between 39,000 and 83,000 miles; 36% 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.