- The problem
- Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.
- The risk
- If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
- The fix
- Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.
Vehicle safety record
1997 Mazda MPV Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 24 complaints about the 1997 Mazda MPV with NHTSA, most often about the airbags (8) and the engine & cooling (6). Those complaints describe 9 crashes, 3 fires and 10 injuries. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in October 2015 for the switch. For comparison, the 1996 has 21 and the 1998 has 19.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical MPV year, for its age
#126 most complained-about 1997 vehicle
- Complaints
- 24
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 9
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 10
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 1997 Mazda MPV problems
Share of all 24 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1997 Mazda MPV recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
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24 complaints about the 1997 Mazda MPV
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 mazda mpv. While the vehicle was parked at a car wash, smoke fumes appeared from the hood of the vehicle and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was serviced under nhtsa campaign number: 15v674000 (electrical system), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The contact mentioned that heavy fumes of smoke were seen coming from the hood of the vehicle before it stalled after the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer could not be reached. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.
I have a set of american prospector suv radial tires on my 1997 mazda mpv that have had sudden blowouts. So far 2 tires have blown in the past month, and at the time I was just driving down a paved street. These tires have not been off road, I check the inflation once a month, so I can see no reason why the tire bead and side wall would suddenly give away. I have looked online and found others with the exact same tires having similar problems. One of the other people that had problems, had 15000 miles on his...
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tireswhen suddenly he had three tires blow over a 6 month period of time. My tires have 20000 miles on them, and I have lost 2 tires in tires in the past month. The tire dealer replaced the first one as defective. I have not taken the second tire in yet. In this last tire I was just driving down the road at 45 mph, after getting off the interstate and suddenly a loud boom was heard, and then the vehicle became unstable and with in 1/4 mile I got it to a safe place to change the tire. This was the passenger side rear tire. The tire was not hot, all the other tires were also cool. The passenger side front tire blew just sitting in the driveway. The tire size is 225-70r-15, the dot number is 3035 xhh 2905. *Tr
I am filing a complaint in regard to my vehicle's equipment that failed and was faulty in a recent automobile accident. I was traveling approximately 40-45 mph in a straight lane when a vehicle quickly entered across my path to make a left hand turn. I had no time to brake, so the other car is what stopped my motion. It was a hard hit! My mazda mpv crashed into the other person's car. During our front impact with the other car's driver side, my airbags did not deploy causing injury. Had the airbag worked, I feel...
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I wouldn't had slid into the dash and been jerked backwards by my seat belt restraint causing injury to my back and or spinal alignment. I have been suffering every day from the accident due to this injury. In addition to the chest/lap belt being used in the passenger seat, I secured my daughter's chest during the crash with my right arm, which I believe helped her to not attain even more injury from the air bag not deploying. She was, however,injured on her leg from the storage compartment under her seat releasing on it's own from the crash and hitting her legs causing a cut that was treated at the e.R. The storage compartment should not be able to release in a wreck. I believe you will consider this problem to also be faulty in nature. I urge you to investigate these problems so that other people may be notified with this particular vehicle. I ask that you and/or mazda investigate the defects with my vehicle very soon before I have to sign the title over to the driver's insurance that was at fault. My vehicle has been declared "totaled" on 8/14 by usaa and is at a salvage yard. Please contact me soon to let me know what you plan to do about the situation. I called mazda today at 800-222-5500, was on hold for a little over 15 minutes to report this with them and ask them who made the air bags, sensor and compartment under the passenger seat. A man told me he was unable to give me that information and hung up. *Jb
Driving uphill on i-70 at the speed limit (55) the car lost all power, the driver steered to the shoulder. The engine compartment began smoking. By the time the fire department arrived the mazda mpv ('97) was consumed in fire. *Nm
After refilling the vehicle consumer smelled fumes inside the car. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.*Ak
The consumer stated the filler neck tube has rusted. As a result fuel vapors seeped into the passenger compartment. A recall for the fuel tank filler neck has been issued, however the vehicle identification number was outside of the remedy scope. Please provide additional information. *Jb
My 1997 626 is having a severe transmission problem. There is only 60000 miles on it. Considering the number of complaints files on this issue, I sincerely hope that mazda does something about (recall or better go out of business). *Nlm
It will be hard to open the rear passenger doors from the inside. *Ak
Consumer states that the drivers side seatbelt buckle keeps unlocking. Please provide any further information. *Mr
Engine knocking, svc dept advised us to mazda oil additive, but still knocks even though low miles. Also, the transmission will get stuck when trying to back up and turning wheel to the right. Also, very dangerous/near collision because the transmission would go into 4wd on its own while we were driving 65 on the interstate in heavy traffic.
Overdrive indicator blinks constantly when ignition applied, brought to dealer to service, told need to replace complete transmission.
Consumer was involved in an accident in which air bags did not deploy and suffered minor injuries, sufficient front end damage to warrant deployment of both air bags. *Jb
Vehicle was involved in a head-on crash with another vehicle while both vehicles were traveling about 50-60. Upon impact, there was no deployment of driver's side or passenger's side air bags. Not sure if the van would be totalled. *Ak *ml
On four occassions my steering when going from a complete stop to changing lanes to the right lane and then correcting back to the left, got stiff and would not turn. Subsequestly this last time I ended up on the shoulder of a busy freeway during rush hour. I took the car in again as I had two times previously, to have them tell me that they were able to duplicate the problem, and find that other 1997 madza mpv's also reacted the same. It was a "normal steering function". I have two small children and I can not...
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afford to have their safety jeopordized. I have complained to mazda on two occassions and they claim there is nothing I can do. I know that if I have had this happen four times, someone else has had to have it happen, especially when we were able to make it happen on the other mpv's that were testdriven. *Ak
Have cold engine knock since vehicle was new. Dealer says knock is normal for that engine. Knock is consistently getting worse as engine wears and getting close to the three year expiration of warranty. I do not feel the manufacturer will acknowledge the engine problem and make appropriate repairs &/or engine replacement. They seem to be attempting to allow the warranty period to expire causing unecessary expenses to be paid by the owner. *Ak
CONSUMER CONCERNED WITH COLD ENGINE NOISE. NLM
When driving at 55 mph to 60 mph front wheels are vibrating and the vehicle is going to the right. Causing uneven wearing of tires. Dealer notified, but unable to solve the problem to consumer's satisfaction. *Ak *ml
Consumer was involved in a 30 mph frontal collision in which the driver's and passenger's air bags did not deploy. Please give any further details. *Ak
Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision at 25 mph. Upon impact, the airbags did not deploy, causing minor injuries to the occupant. *Ak
While driving at 30 mph had a frontal impact with a tree, and both driver's and passenger's airbags did not deploy, which did not protect the occupant in the accident. Driver's seat belt failed in accident. Vehicle slid on icy road, skidding 200 feet into a tree, hit tree at 40 mph. Both driver and passenger sustained injuries. *Ak
Consumer was involved in a 30 mph frontal collision in which the driver's or passenger's air bags did not deploy, also the driver's seat collasped forward, causing the driver to sustain injuries. Please give any further details. *Ak
When applying the abs brakes at 20 mph the pedal traveled to the floor, causing extended stopping distance which resulted in a frontal collision. The driver's or passenger's air bags did not deploy. Please give any further details. *Ak
Consumer parked vehicle and 5-10 minutes later was told that van was on fire. Fire dept. Said rear tail pipe came into contact with pine straw that was on the ground where catalytic converter contacts pine straw, starting a fire. Fire dept. Ph. #770-513-5500. *Ak
Bench seat center seat belt mechanism slides up and down. Cause: improper engagement of lock position. *Ak
Mazda MPV: every year compared
All MPV years1997 Mazda MPV vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 Mazda MPV | 24 | 1 | C | |
| 1997 Mazda 626 | 360 | 4 | F | Compare |
| 1997 Mazda Protege | 68 | 2 | D | Compare |
| 1997 Mazda B-Series | 54 | 0 | D | Compare |
| 1997 Mazda Millenia | 18 | 0 | B | Compare |
| 1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata | 11 | 0 | B | Compare |
| 1997 Mazda MX-6 | 4 | 3 | B | Compare |
| 1997 Mazda Miata | 2 | 1 | C | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1997 Mazda MPV
Does the 1997 Mazda MPV have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 1997 Mazda MPV: switch (October 2015). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Mazda MPV?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the airbags (8), engine & cooling (6), seats & seat belts (3).
How many complaints has the 1997 Mazda MPV had?
24 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on July 1, 1997 and the latest on February 4, 2016. Of these, 9 describe a crash and 3 a fire, and together they report 10 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 1997 Mazda MPV a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 53 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Mazda MPV year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Mazda MPV years have the most complaints?
2000 (149), 2002 (125), 2003 (114). See every Mazda MPV year compared.
What should I do if my 1997 Mazda MPV has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data