KnownCarProblems2003 Mazda Mpv Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 113 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Mazda Mpv, most often about the transmission (31% of complaints, typically around 7,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Mpv model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2003 Mazda Mpv problems
Transmission
35 complaints · 31%Half of these problems showed up before 7,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
Throttle revved, but vehicle failed to accelerate when the gas pedal was depressed. Prior this to incident transmission abruptly shifted into gear. Dealership refused to repair the problem until the manufacturer decided on a remedy.
Transmission between 2nd and 3rd gear- in the last month or so, we have noticed a hesitation and then hard shift into third gear during regular city driving. We spent 2/16/2004 at the dealership for an oil change, tire rotation, and examination of this problem. They performed a reflash of the TCM/ptm and left the…
Engine
27 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 55,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system, engine, cooling system.
Carbon monoxide was released into the passenger compartment due to catalytic converter malfunctioning. This part was replaced seven times. However the problem recurred.
On 2 separate occasions, engine coil on 2004 Mazda Mpv broke while driving in the rain and another occasion on a 2003 Mazda Mpv I also own an engine coil broke while driving in wet weather. Each time it caused the engine to shake violently. The service department at the dealership admitted to problems with the engine…
Electrical
16 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 52,500 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, 12v/24v/48v battery.
The contact owns a 2003 Mazda Mpv. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle would begin to jerk and it would not respond to the accelerator pedal. The failure recurred while driving at various speeds and the check engine light would also illuminate on the instrument panel during the failures. The…
Significant engine missing on acceleration caused vehicle to hesitate while clearing intersection. Near miss on major accident. Mechanic states that this is a very common problem on the 2003 Mpv due to defective ignition coils. Repair is to replace all 6 coils as it is unknown which is causing the misfire.
Air bags
10 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
- the contact was driving a Mazda Mpv with an odometer reading of 75000 miles, in foggy conditions on a two lane highway, her vehicle was hit from behind causing her to hit the vehicle in front of her. The contact stated that the traffic had stopped, and she was slowing down. At the time of the impact, the vehicle was…
Tl contact owns a 2003 Mazda Mpv. The contact stated that the air bag light was flashing continuously on the dashboard. The dealer diagnosis indicated that the pressure in the seat belt caused the air bag light to flash. A recall was issue by Mazda regarding the air bags:frontal; however, the VIN was not included. The…
Speed control
9 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 29,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, cruise control.
2003 Mazda Mpv began to rapidly accelerate while entering my driveway. Even though applying brakes at full force, my vehicle crashed into my garage door. While trying to put gear shift into neutral, I accidentally shifted into reverse. The vehicle again accelerated, the whole while I had both feet pushing on the…
Throttle revved, but vehicle failed to accelerate when the gas pedal was depressed. Prior this to incident transmission abruptly shifted into gear. Dealership refused to repair the problem until the manufacturer decided on a remedy.
Body and structure
8 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 31,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
In march 2005, I noticed that the rear bumper had cracks in it approximately 6 - 8 inches in length on both sides, directly in line with the tires. The cracks were not pushed in as would be indicative of an impact but the top of them came out over the bottom of the crack. When I took it to mainline Mazda in saskatoon…
Tl contact owns 2003 Mazda Mpv. The contact stated that the vehicle had a flat tire and when the towing company attempted to remove the spare tire the technicians had a difficult time removing the tire from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technicians stated that the lift for the…
Brakes
6 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
The rear brakes squeaked very loudly when coming to a stop. The consumer had the brakes inspected by the dealer three times but the dealer has noyt been able to find or correct the problem.
Bad vibration caused by the front brake rotors being out of round. Dealer resurfaced rotors two times and now needs resurfacing a third time. The Mpv only has 31,000 miles on it. The dealer will not replace under warranty. This should not happen at approximately every 10,000 miles. It is a 2003 purchased new in 2004.…
Other or unspecified
5 complaints · 4%2003 Mazda Mpv. 70,276 miles. 3/8/11 - started running rough. Two rear coils bad; dealer repaired all three rear coils because (according to dealer) once one goes, they all go. ($855.01) one week later - 3/16/11, rough idle and odor of gasoline. Check engine light goes on. 70,339 miles. Dealer replaced all 3 front…
Car was stationary and in park. Upon turning key in ignition, the passenger side air bag deployed. Mazda service agent could find no mechanical cause. It is not normal wear and tear. Resulting airbags cannot be turned on, leaving US with a vehicle with no airbag protection. Mazda declined our request to replace the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Mazda Mpv recalls
Equipment: labels
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Equipment: labels
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Lights: fog lights
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Lights: fog lights
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.
Full defect summary
On certain mini vans equipped with front fog lights,the fog light bulb socket may have been installed improperly.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2003 Mazda Mpv
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Mazda Mpv?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (35 complaints, typically around 7,000 miles); engine (27 complaints, typically around 55,000 miles); electrical (16 complaints, typically around 52,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Mazda Mpv have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 10, 2004 (equipment). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Mazda Mpv?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Mpv model year since 2000, with 113 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.