1997 Mazda B-Series Truck problems & reliability
52 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1997 Mazda B-Series Truck, alongside 1 safety recall campaign. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
2 complaints report injuries (2 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tires → | 13 | 25% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 7 | 13% |
| Power Train | 7 | 13% |
| Suspension | 7 | 13% |
| Visibility | 5 | 10% |
| Electrical System | 3 | 6% |
| Interior Lighting | 3 | 6% |
| Seats | 3 | 6% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 6% |
| Air Bags | 2 | 4% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“At inspection station meyer & sons, 62 sheffield road, egremont, ma 01258: directional lights check; bumpers/fenders check both failed; there is a crack in the driver side rear tail light dome, which does not affect the operation of any lights. There is a large rust spot in the driver side rear wheel well. We do not…”
Structure · filed Oct 24, 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 mazda b-series 4000. While driving at any speed, the clutch failed to operate when attempting to change gears. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that there was a fractured steel casting located under the steering wheel and behind the clutch and brake pedals. The…”
Power Train · filed Jun 22, 2016
“Tl*the contact owns a 1997 mazda b4000( n/a). The contact was driving approximately 15 mph proceeding to a traffic stop signal when unexpectedly, smoke expelled underneath the instrument panel and hood area which caused the driver to pull over to the side of the road. A temporary fix was performed and the vehicle was…”
Vehicle Speed Control · filed Mar 12, 2010
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
91 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 1997 Mazda B-Series Truck. The 10 most recent:
This service bulletin provides testing and charging procedures in order to promote proper battery maintenance, to deliver new vehicles with fully charged batteries, and to reduce unnecessary battery replacement cost…
01-006-21-3779a · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 24, 2021
This service bulletin provides information regarding the proper use of the driverâ  s floor mat to avoid any potential interference with the foot pedals. The following are possible causes of floor mat interference…
09-025-21-3824 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 17, 2021
Accessory instructions can be found on OneMazda under Dealer Resources - Parts & Accessories. The links provided below can be used for quick access: For 2016 models and newer: NOTE: Instructions are found under the…
SA-041-21 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 9, 2021
This service bulletin provides testing and charging procedures in order to promote proper battery maintenance, to deliver new vehicles with fully charged batteries, and to reduce unnecessary battery replacement cost…
01-006-21-3779 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 8, 2021
The Mazda DCA-8000PM is required for all warranty battery testing. If the Mazda DCA-8000PM is not used, incorrect battery testing may result in unnecessary battery replacement. Use the following test procedures in this…
01-005-21-3778 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 8, 2021
In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer
09-002-21-3770 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 21, 2021
In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the…
09-003-20-3671 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 9, 2020
In support of the new MRT distribution, Mazda will ship to dealers a new Dual Purpose Diagnostic Leak Detector beginning March, 2019. Training videos will be posted to MGSS shortly and Workshop Manual procedures will be…
00-003-19-3583 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 20, 2019
In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer's…
09-009-19-3566 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 14, 2019
On some vehicles, a sulfur smell or 'rotten egg' odor may be noticed coming from the exhaust system. The odor is usually noticed after a cold start, fast idle, extended periods of idling and full throttle acceleration…
01-004-19-3558 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 9, 2019
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 1997 Mazda B-Series Truck has 1 NHTSA recall campaign — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 1997 Mazda B-Series Truck?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.