MAZDA MILLENIA · model year

1997 MAZDA MILLENIA

21 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1997MAZDAMILLENIA carries 21 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 MILLENIA is power train:automatic transmission with 3 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (2) and air bags:frontal (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 21 investigation files overlapping the 1997 MILLENIA, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

21
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

21 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT1
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER1
AIR BAGS1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER1
WHEELS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1

Recent Complaints

20060224SEAT BELTS:FRONT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT STRAPS EXTENDED AND WOULD NOT RETRACT EXPOSING THE MANUFACTURER'S WARNING STICKER INDICATING A NEED TO REPLACE THE STRAPS. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE ALERTED. THE DEALER SUGGESTED REPLACING THE FRONT SEATBELT STRAPS, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

Mileage: 109,097

20050204CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH IN SEVERE COLD WEATHER BRAKE PEDAL COMMENCED TO MAKE A POPPING NOISE WHILE BRAKING. VEHICLE LOST BRAKING AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. UPDATED 12/12/07

Mileage: 63,000

20050204CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH IN SEVERE COLD WEATHER BRAKE PEDAL COMMENCED TO MAKE A POPPING NOISE WHILE BRAKING. VEHICLE LOST BRAKING AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. UPDATED 12/12/07

Mileage: 63,000

20031207ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND OFF FOR TWO YEARS. I'VE TOOK IT TO 5 DIFFERENT MAZDA SPECIALIST INCLUDING THE DEALER AND EVERYONE OF THEM TELLS ME SOMETHING DIFFERENT... THINGS THAT WERE ALREADY DONE. KNOW ONE CAN SEEM TO PIN POINT WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE CAR. OH BY THE WAY... THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE GEAR SWITCHING FROM THE FIRST TO SECOND AND IT'S NOT THE TRANSMISSION. THIS CAR HAS COST ME A LOT OF MONEY AND IT'S UP THERE WITH THE 626. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MAZDA AGAIN. *LA

Mileage: 125,000

20031207POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND OFF FOR TWO YEARS. I'VE TOOK IT TO 5 DIFFERENT MAZDA SPECIALIST INCLUDING THE DEALER AND EVERYONE OF THEM TELLS ME SOMETHING DIFFERENT... THINGS THAT WERE ALREADY DONE. KNOW ONE CAN SEEM TO PIN POINT WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE CAR. OH BY THE WAY... THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE GEAR SWITCHING FROM THE FIRST TO SECOND AND IT'S NOT THE TRANSMISSION. THIS CAR HAS COST ME A LOT OF MONEY AND IT'S UP THERE WITH THE 626. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MAZDA AGAIN. *LA

Mileage: 125,000

20031029WHEELS

TWO WHEELS HAVE CRACKED AT LESS THAN 50,000 MILES OF CITY DRIVING ON MY 1997 MAZDA MILLENIAS. THIS HAS CAUSED GRADUAL ESCAPE OF AIR--UNKNOWN TO THE DRIVER UNTIL POTENTIALLY UNSAFE TIRE PRESSURE DEVELOPED AND VISIBLE DEFLATION NOTED.

Mileage: 48,000

20030616FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

I PURCHASED A 97 MAZDA MILLENNIA IN 8/97 WITH 29K MILES. TODAY IT IS AT 77K MILES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANK HAS STARTED IMPLODING DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF SUCTION IN THE TANK. THE SUCTION HAS ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LEVEL SENSORS. THE QUOTED REPAIR PRICE WAS $1,800. THE SERVICE REP INFORMED ME THAT MAZDA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED AN ADVISORY TO MECHANICS TO NOT ONLY CHECK THE FUEL GAUGE BUT ALSO THE FUEL TANK. THIS IS NOT CURRENTLY A RECALL ITEM OR A DEFECT BUT SHOULD BE. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL CASES OF OTHER MILLENNIA OWNERS WITH SAME MODEL YEAR EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE REPAIRS SHOULD BE AT MAZDA'S EXPENSE SINCE THE SUCTION IN THE TANK IS TOO HIGH OR THE FUEL TANK ITSELF IS NOT STRUCTURALLY CAPABLE OF HANDLING THE PRESSURE. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL/DEFECT NOTICE SO THAT THIS ISSUE CAN BE FIXED. *NLM

Mileage: 77,500

20030409SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM PASSENGER SEAT WHICH IS WHERE THE AUTOMATIC SEAT WARMERS ARE LOCATED. *NLM

20021231CrashAIR BAGS

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE GOING 30MPH. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED.

20020404FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AND WITHOUT WARNING FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT MARK THE CORRECT MEASUREMENT OF FUEL IN GAS TANK. FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY NEEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

20020404FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AND WITHOUT WARNING FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT MARK THE CORRECT MEASUREMENT OF FUEL IN GAS TANK. FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY NEEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

20010803POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAD PROBLEMS GOING TO A MAZDA DEALER (VAL STROUGH MAZDA, OAKLAND, CA)IN GETTING THE TRANSMISSION DIAGNOSED. THEY FIRST SAID IT WAS THE SELECTOR WHCIH COST $300 PLUS , THEN AFTER CHANGING IT SAID IT WAS THE VALVE BODY AND WOULD COST $1200PLUS BUT WERE ONLY 90% SURE. IF IT WASNT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL $3000 PLUS FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY REFUNDED ONLY THE COST OF THE PART APPROX $100 BUT STILL CHARGED ME FOR LABOR THAT WAS UNECESSARY.I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO IMMEDIATLEY TOLD ME IT WAS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH INTERIOR DAMAGE TO THE GEARS. IT COST ME $2500 TO HAVE A REBUILT TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. MAZDA SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT RATHER THAN TRYING TO RUN UP A BILL WHICH STILL WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A NEW TRANSMISSION OF COURSE AFTER PAYING $1500 PLUS DOLLARS TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I ALSO FIND IT UPSETTING THAT A TRANSMISSION WOULD FAIL AFTER ONLY 68K MILES. MY MECHANIC (GEORGES AUTO, SAN LEANDRO ,CA) AND THE TRANSMISSION SHOP (DON

20010731UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON EVERY FOUR MONTHS IN THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS. EACH TIME I TAKE IT TO PULLIAM WRAY, I'M INFORMED THAT IT'S A DIFFERENT PROBLEM. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THERE IS THREE HUNDRED DIFFERENT THINGS THAT CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. WITH THIS IN MIND , I COULD SPEND A SMALL FORTURE. EACH TIME THAT I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP, I'M CHARGE NEARLY THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS. THE FIRST TIME THAT IT WAS IN THE SHOP, THE PART WAS UNDER WARRENTY. IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, I HAVE HAD SOME SENSOR REPLACED TWICE. AT THE PRESENT THE LIGHT IS ON, AGAIN.*AK

20000905AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP WHEN DUAL FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT OR UNDER CARRIAGE IMPACT . VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT, AND THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING OF DEFECT. DEFECT CAUSED BURN ON ELBOW. *AK

19991015POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS

CONSUMER HAS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE HUBS/ CLUTCH AND WHEEL BEARINGS. SHE HEARS A THUMPING NOISE. *AK

19991015POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

CONSUMER HAS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE HUBS/ CLUTCH AND WHEEL BEARINGS. SHE HEARS A THUMPING NOISE. *AK

19991015POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER HAS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE HUBS/ CLUTCH AND WHEEL BEARINGS. SHE HEARS A THUMPING NOISE. *AK

19990823SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKES FROZE AFTER WASHING CAR BRAKES. YH

19990730POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION IS NOISY IN LOW GEAR. YH

19990217SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES & THEY CANNOT FIX IT. THEY HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR PARTS ALL OVER THE WORLD, THEY SAY, AND CANNOT FIND ONE. THEY CANNOT GIVE ME A DATE WHEN IT WILL BE REPAIRED. I AM LEASING THE CAR BUT I DON'T HAVE USE OF IT. THEY HAVE LOANED ME A CAR THAT IS NOT TO THE STANDARD I AM PAYING THE LEASE FOR. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING.

Compare 1997MAZDAMILLENIA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 MAZDA MILLENIA have?
The 1997 MAZDA MILLENIA has 21 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 MAZDA MILLENIA?
The most-complained component for the 1997 MAZDA MILLENIA is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 1997 MAZDA MILLENIA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.