2002 Mazda MPV problems & reliability
124 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Mazda MPV, alongside 4 safety recall campaigns. 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.
6 complaints report injuries (6 injured).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2002 Mazda MPV vehicles were involved in 6 fatal crashes with 5 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 66 | 53% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 23 | 19% |
| Electrical System | 9 | 7% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 4% |
| Air Bags | 4 | 3% |
| Structure | 4 | 3% |
| Equipment | 3 | 2% |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 2% |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 2% |
| Seats | 3 | 2% |
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.
Mileage when problems occurred
Half of the failures with a reported odometer reading occurred by 64,000 miles (middle 50% between 42,000 and 84,475 miles), based on 87 complaints that included mileage.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mazda mpv. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle would also not accelerate properly and shook while idling. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine coil pack failed…”
Engine · filed Apr 28, 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mazda mpv. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, the vehicle shook violently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who could not diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 122,000.”
Engine · filed Apr 18, 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mazda mpv. The contact stated that upon inspection, it was found that the actuator cable needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number 04v234000 (vehicle speed control). The vehicle was not repaired…”
Vehicle Speed Control · filed Apr 16, 2014
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
129 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2002 Mazda MPV. The 10 most recent:
This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. 09-042/04 12/10/04 DESCRIPTION Some vehicles may exhibit inoperative electric rear window defroster grid lines…
09-022-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 29, 2026
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are noted in Red. SA-011/24 02/12/24, 06/06/24, 07/29/24 DESCRIPTION Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance…
SA-029-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 21, 2026
A musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system is operating. It is most noticeable when the A/C is first turned ON. This odor is the result of mold growth in the A/C…
07-004-25a · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 10, 2025
A musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system is operating. It is most noticeable when the A/C is first turned ON. This odor is the result of mold growth in the A/C…
07-004-25 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 25, 2025
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…
09-038-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 8, 2024
Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop…
SA-011-24b · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 29, 2024
Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop…
SA-011-24a · Other · issued Jun 7, 2024
Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop…
SA-011-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 12, 2024
Speedometer replacement procedure
09-016-23 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 28, 2023
Some customers may complain of signs of oil on the struts or shock absorbers. In most cases the oil that is present is normal, and a result of the oil that remains on the shaft during the normal sweeping process of the…
02-004-22a · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 18, 2022
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 2002 Mazda MPV has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns — 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 2002 Mazda MPV?
- · 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.
- · Owners most often reported problems around 64,000 miles — budget accordingly if the car is approaching that mileage.