MAZDA MILLENIA · model year

1998 MAZDA MILLENIA

36 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998MAZDAMILLENIA carries 36 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, 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 1998 MILLENIA is power train:automatic transmission with 5 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (3) and vehicle speed control (3). 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 1998 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.

36
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

36 filings

Crashes Reported

4 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 TRANSMISSION5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
WHEELS:RIM2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
AIR BAGS1

Recent Complaints

20190527ENGINE

I FULLY PURCHASED MY CAR ON 02/28/2019 WITH "AUTO LANDMARK". THAT SAME DAY I PAID A $200-300 SERVICE FEE FOR REGISTERATION AND TITLE, I PAID FULL CAR TAX ON THE CAR. I CALL IN REGARDS TO MY CAR AND IF THE MECHANIC IT'S NOT CALLING OUT, HE'S ON VACATION. IT'S BEEN OVER A MONTH AND STILL NO RESULTS. THEY JUST NEED TO REMOVE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR EMISSION WHICH I PAID IN FULL FOR.. I HAVE COURT BECAUSE THE PAPER WORK I HAVE ARE PHOTO COPY NOT ORIGINAL OFFICERS COULDN'T TAKE IT NOR THE DMV. I LOST MY JOB BECAUSE THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR SO LONG AND STILL REFUSE TO UPDATE ME ON THE CAR. PLEASE HELP ME GET CAR BACK OR HAVE THEM FINISH THERE JOBS. THEY'RE DEFINITELY TOYING WITH ME AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT IT. I NEED THE CAR WITH PLATES AND REGISTERED AND THEY REFUSE TO GIVE ME A REFUND FOR ME TO DO IT MYSELF. SO I'M LEFT WITH THEM FINISHING THE JOB. PLEASE HELP.

20090504FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA MILLENIA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 40 MPH. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES LATER, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 40 MPH ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT QUICKLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE DECELERATION FAILURE, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO HEAR THE NOISE. SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2008, THE CONTACT HAS SPENT $7,000 AT TWO DEALERS. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO BEEN SERVICED AT PEP BOYS. IN ADDITION, THE CYLINDERS MISFIRE. ONE OF THE DEALERS PERFORMED A COMPRESSION TEST ON THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING VARIOUS ISSUES SINCE 2006. THE FUEL PUMP, SPARK PLUG WIRES, AND ALL OF THE GASKETS, INCLUDING THE HEAD GASKET, HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE ALSO SHAKES SIGNIFICANTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT THE TIME OF THE DECELERATIONS. OCCASIONALLY, THE ENGINE

Mileage: 200,000

20090504ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA MILLENIA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 40 MPH. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES LATER, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 40 MPH ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT QUICKLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE DECELERATION FAILURE, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO HEAR THE NOISE. SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2008, THE CONTACT HAS SPENT $7,000 AT TWO DEALERS. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO BEEN SERVICED AT PEP BOYS. IN ADDITION, THE CYLINDERS MISFIRE. ONE OF THE DEALERS PERFORMED A COMPRESSION TEST ON THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING VARIOUS ISSUES SINCE 2006. THE FUEL PUMP, SPARK PLUG WIRES, AND ALL OF THE GASKETS, INCLUDING THE HEAD GASKET, HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE ALSO SHAKES SIGNIFICANTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT THE TIME OF THE DECELERATIONS. OCCASIONALLY, THE ENGINE

Mileage: 200,000

20070306EQUIPMENT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA MILLENIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEYLESS ENTRY FAILED FREQUENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE KEYLESS ENTRY KEY TWICE. ALSO, THE CONTACT LOST THE KEY DUE TO THE FREQUENT FAILURES. *AK

20070306LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA MILLENIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEYLESS ENTRY FAILED FREQUENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE KEYLESS ENTRY KEY TWICE. ALSO, THE CONTACT LOST THE KEY DUE TO THE FREQUENT FAILURES. *AK

20060627WHEELS:RIM

IN APRIL OF 2006, I KEPT NOTICING MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE LOSING AIR. I KEPT HAVING TO PUT 15 LBS. EVERY OTHER DAY IN IT. I HAD A FRIEND CHECK THE TIRE AND STEM AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THEM. AS THIS CONTINUED, I FINALLY TOOK IT TO A TIRE REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND OUT THAT MY RIM WAS CRACKED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT AS I WAS TRAVELING BACK AND FORTH 350 MILES EACH WEEK WITH MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDSON ABOARD. I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW RIM FOR $100 AND STILL HAVE THE OLD RIM IN MY POSSESSION. I SEE THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS PROBLEM SO PLEASE ADVISE ON THE PROCEDURE FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THIS RIM. *JB

20050407VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DURING WARM CLIMATE AND IN BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATE. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK ENGINE RPM'S JUMP TO 3000-4000 WHEN IN HEAVY BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER HAD TO STAND ON BRAKE TO HOLD CAR BACK. *BF *NM

Mileage: 55,000

20050307WHEELS:RIM

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THREE OUT OF FOUR RIMS HAVE CRACKED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE TIRES LEAKED AIR. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT HE WILL EXPERIENCE A BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

Mileage: 80,000

20050209FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

OWNER COMPLAINED ABOUT A FUEL TANK PROBLEM. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO HAVE THE FUEL TANK REPLACED BECAUSE THE GAS TANK COLLAPSED. *AK THE PROBLEM WAS WITH, THE FUEL TANK, 2 SENDING UNITS AND THE FUEL CANISTER. *SC *JB

Mileage: 76,500

20041201FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

WHILE ENGING IS RUNNING WHETHER PARKED OR DRIVING THERE IS A VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR - 1. STANDING OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE PARTICULARLY AT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND 2. INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, THIS MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT OPENING WINDOWS. VEHICLE ALSO HAS VERY POOR GAS MILEAGE, MECHANIC DISCOVERD FAILED FUEL LINE CONNECTOR AND IS IN PROCESS OF REPLACING PART, THE REPLACED PART WILL BE SAVED AND WILL BE AVAILABLE, OTHER SUCH FAILURES HAVE BEEN FOUND ON OTHER MAZDA VEHICLES LIKE THE TRIBUTE. *AK

Mileage: 87,000

20040716ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAVE HAD A TERRIBLE TIME WITH MY 1998 MAZDA MILLENIA. WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2001 WITH APPROX. 30,000 MILES. IT SEEMED LIKE A GREAT CAR. THEN ONE DAY IT DIED AS I WAS TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY AT HOME. THANK GOODNESS I WASN'T DRIVING ON THE MAIN ROAD. IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM SHORTLY AT 70,000 MILES. WE IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE GASKET. MY MECHANIC DISCOVERED, AFTER ENTERING THE ENGINE, THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE BLOCK. SO WE REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH A USED ENGINE WITH 30,000 MILES ON IT. IT, TOO, HAD COOLANT IN THE OIL. THE THIRD ENGINE IS ALSO THE SAME. I SPOKE WITH A SERVICE AND PARTS MANAGER, JIM KELLEY, AT CENTURY MAZDA IN AUGUST 2003. HE KNEW THE PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY. SEVERAL MAZDA MILLENIAS MADE IN THAT YEAR HAD A "FAULTY WATERPUMP". HE SAID IT WASN'T RECALLED. HE OFFERED ME A NEW REMANUFACTURED MAZDA ENGINE WITH A WARRANTY OF 3 YEARS/UNLIMITED MILES. BUT FOR $5,000+. I DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY AT THE TIME. I FOUND OUT NOW, MAZDA

Mileage: 71,000

20040716ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

I HAVE HAD A TERRIBLE TIME WITH MY 1998 MAZDA MILLENIA. WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2001 WITH APPROX. 30,000 MILES. IT SEEMED LIKE A GREAT CAR. THEN ONE DAY IT DIED AS I WAS TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY AT HOME. THANK GOODNESS I WASN'T DRIVING ON THE MAIN ROAD. IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM SHORTLY AT 70,000 MILES. WE IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE GASKET. MY MECHANIC DISCOVERED, AFTER ENTERING THE ENGINE, THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE BLOCK. SO WE REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH A USED ENGINE WITH 30,000 MILES ON IT. IT, TOO, HAD COOLANT IN THE OIL. THE THIRD ENGINE IS ALSO THE SAME. I SPOKE WITH A SERVICE AND PARTS MANAGER, JIM KELLEY, AT CENTURY MAZDA IN AUGUST 2003. HE KNEW THE PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY. SEVERAL MAZDA MILLENIAS MADE IN THAT YEAR HAD A "FAULTY WATERPUMP". HE SAID IT WASN'T RECALLED. HE OFFERED ME A NEW REMANUFACTURED MAZDA ENGINE WITH A WARRANTY OF 3 YEARS/UNLIMITED MILES. BUT FOR $5,000+. I DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY AT THE TIME. I FOUND OUT NOW, MAZDA

Mileage: 71,000

20040323CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE PURCHASED A MAZDA LAST YEAR IN JULY, DROVE IT TO LAS VEGAS, AND WHILE SHE WAS THERE, VEHICLE LOST POWER. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC , AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 50-65 MPH VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY LOST POWER. ALSO, CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER DROVE IN CALIFORNIA AND VEHICLE LOST POWER, RESULTING IN A CRASH. *AK

20040106SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

DRIVER'S SEAT ELECTRIC SEAT WARMER BURNED HOLE THROUGH LEATHER SEAT BACK, AS WELL AS MY JACKET AND SWEATER I WAS WEARING AT THE TIME. MAZDA'S POSITION IS THAT IT IS AN OUT OF WARRANTY FAILURE. MY POSITION IS A COMPONENT "FAILURE" THAT BURNS THROUGH DRIVER'S CLOTHING IS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT MAZDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR.*AK

Mileage: 53,900

20030421STEERING

THE POWER TILT STEERING WHEEL HAS FAILED AND WILL NO LONGER OPERATE. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY DEFECT, AS THE WHEEL IS STUCK IN AN EXTREMELY UPRIGHT POSITION AND WILL NOT COME DOWN, MAKING THE CAR VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER SAFELY. FROM MY RESEARCH ON THIS SITE AND OTHERS, AS WELL AS CALLS TO 5 DIFFERENT MAZDA DEALERSHIPS, THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM. IN FACT, ACCORDING TO ONE DEALER, THE PROBLEM IS SO COMMON THAT MAZDA HAS BEGUN OFFERING A SPECIAL REPAIR KIT THAT JUST INCLUDES THE DEFECTIVE ACTUATOR RATHER THAN THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. IT IS MY VIEW THAT THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT THAT MAZDA SHOULD COVER UNDER A SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM OR BY RECALL. *JB

Mileage: 50,000

20030308POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY 98 MAZDA MILLENNIUM. WAS 1 MONTH AFTER WE BROUGHT IT "MAY 2001". THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON THE CAR, THEY PUT AN NEW TRANSMISSION IN. NOW FOR THE SECOND TIME "MARCH 2003" THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP AGAIN, AFTER SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR IT WILL NOT GO INTO THIRD GEAR CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK AND REDLINE. SINCE I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR I HAVE COME INTO CONTACT WITH ALOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS OUT OF THIS CAR. IF MAZDA KNOWS THAT THESE CARS ARE HAVING THESE KINDS OF PROBLEM WHY ARE THEY STILL SELLING THEM. I'M AFRAID TO PUT MY DAUGHTER IN THIS CAR BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT. AND I AM GETTING NO HELP FROM THE PLACE WHERE I BROUGHT THE CAR EXCEPT WE'LL PUT A NEW ONE IN. WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? WHEN SOMEONE GETS HURT AR KILLED? PEOPLE PLEASE DO RESEARCH ON ALL THE CARS THAT YOU PURCHASE. *NLM

Mileage: 96,458

20021127POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, AT 55K MILES CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE MAJOR TRANS. PROBLEMS. CHECKED INTERNET AND FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MAZDA VEHICLES FOR MANY YEARS. WHY ARE THEY STILL HAVING THESE PROBLEMS? DRIVERS MAY BE INJURED TRYING TO GET INTO TRAFFIC WHEN THE TRANS. FAILS. DT

20021107ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THERE IS A FUEL LEAK INSIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DUE TO AN ODOR FUEL SMELL COMING INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE DEALER NOTIFIED TS

20021001AIR BAGS

CONSUEMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION INTO AN EMBANKMENT OF 35 MPH. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSES BURNS ON CONSUMER LEFT SIDE OF ARM AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOREHEAD. MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. NLM

20020816AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT VEHICLE BEING IN AN ACCIDENT,DAMAGING WINDSHIELD AND SUNROOF.DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

Compare 1998MAZDAMILLENIA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 MAZDA MILLENIA have?
The 1998 MAZDA MILLENIA has 36 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 MAZDA MILLENIA?
The most-complained component for the 1998 MAZDA MILLENIA is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1998 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.