2003 Mazda MPV Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other MPV years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 12 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 113 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Mazda MPV. That ranks 3rd out of 12 MPV model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (35 complaints, 31%), typically at around 7,000 miles. Complaints mention 12 crashes, 2 fires, 18 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 113owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 12complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Mazda MPV problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 35 | 31% | 7,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 23 | 20% | 39,901 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 16 | 14% | 52,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 10 | 9% | 71,900 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 8% | 29,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 8 | 7% | 31,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 | 4% | 1,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 5 | 4% | 109,113 | — | — |
| Engine | 4 | 4% | 146,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 3% | 37,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 3% | 33,441 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 3% | 14,500 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 2% | 14,990 | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 2% | 1,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 2% | 176,592 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1% | 146,000 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1% | 135,928 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | 47,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1% | 168,183 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 1% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1% | 17,500 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Mazda MPV recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: The tire inflation pressure indicated on the vehicle certification label is not correct. The labels show the maximum tire pressure as 240 kpa/32 psi when it should be shown as 240 kpa/35 psi. As a result of this error, the load ratios for the 205/65r15 94h and the 215/60r16 95h tires exceed the levels permitted by fmvss 120.
Risk: If the tire is operated in an under-inflated condition, the load carrying capacity of the vehicle may be compromised, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners will be provided with a corrected label that they can apply to their vehicle, or they can have a dealer install the label, if desired. The recall began on july 16, 2004. Owners should contact mazda at 1-800-222-5500, option #4.
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: Certain minivans fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, "occupant crash protection." some of these vehicles were produced with air bag warning labels intended for the canadian market. Thus, the labels contain warnings in both english and french. As a result, the area of the english warning is only 16 square centimeters, as opposed to the 30 square centimeters required by the standard.
Fix: Owners will be provided with air bag caution labels and installation instructions which were mailed on july 22, 2004. Owners should contact mazda at 1-800-222-5500.
Exterior lighting:fog lights
Problem: On certain mini vans and passenger vehicles, the socket holder in the fog lights is installed in the lamp casing using pressure. During operation of the fog light, the heat from the bulb can expand the socket holder. The expansion can force the socket holder rearward. After repeatedly being subject to this expansion, if the fog light is also subjected to vibration during vehicle operation, the socket holder with the bulb holder and the wiring harness may separate from the fog light casing.
Risk: Should this occur, the bulb socket and the harness can drop inside the bumper and possibly but rarely, the heat generated by the bulb can cause the bumper to burn.
Fix: Dealers will install a spring to prevent the socket holder from separating from the lamp case. Owner notification began on july 14, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact mazda at 1-800-222-5500.
Exterior lighting:fog lights
Problem: On certain mini vans equipped with front fog lights,the fog light bulb socket may have been installed improperly.
Risk: If the vehicle continues to be used with this condition, the bulb socket and the wiring harness may separate from the fog light housing if exposed to shock and/or vibration and drop inside the bumper. Should this occur, the operation of the fog light may then cause the bumper to burn.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the installation condition of the fog light bulb assembly, and repair it when necessary. Owner notification began march 31, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact mazda at 1-800-222-5500.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
My 2003 mazda mpv has a horrible transmission shifting problem. Took it to dealer and they said it's the transmission control module. They charged me 1,500 dollars to install new and and reflash it and the transmission still doesn't shift properly.
I would like to report the vance who is the auto manager at sears auto in salem, oregon at 955 lancaster drive ne salem, oregon 97301. I bought 4 new tires in june 2018 and purchased a road hazard plus warranty. In between this incident i am reporting to you; i reported vance for being very…
It stalls with no apparent reason while driving on city streets
Both sunvisors mirror housings drops hanging from the cables every time you lower the sunvisors. It happens stationary and in motion. Can't virtually use sunvisors. *js
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mazda mpv. The contact stated that 48 hours after purchasing the vehicle from honda of winter haven in winter haven, florida, the passenger side air bag deployed when the key was inserted into the ignition. The front passenger's right arm and lung were bruised and was…
Other Mazda MPV years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 MPV | 12 | 2 |
| 2005 MPV | 36 | 3 |
| 2004 MPV | 71 | 5 |
| 2003 | 113 | 4 |
| 2002 MPV | 124 | 4 |
| 2001 MPV | 70 | 3 |
| 2000 MPV | 149 | 5 |
| 1999 MPV | 2 | 0 |
| 1998 MPV | 19 | 1 |
| 1997 MPV | 22 | 1 |
| 1996 MPV | 18 | 1 |
| 1995 MPV | 19 | 1 |
See all Mazda MPV problems by year, every Mazda model, or the Mazda VIN decoder.
Similar Mazda models
Embed this 2003 Mazda MPV badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Mazda MPV?
Owners most often report power train, engine and engine cooling, electrical system problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 35 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Mazda MPV?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Mazda MPV a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other MPV model years, the 2003 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.