MAZDA MPV · model year

1993 MAZDA MPV

65 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1993MAZDAMPV carries 65 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 11 crashes, 3 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 1993 MPV is power train:automatic transmission with 10 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (8) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (7). 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 1993 MPV, 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.

65
Complaints
11
Crashes
3
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

65 filings

Crashes Reported

11 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 TRANSMISSION10
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE7
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE4
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM2
TIRES2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS1
SUSPENSION:FRONT1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY1

Recent Complaints

20220608ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

1993 MAZDA MVP. CONSUMER WRITES SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE RELATED TO A SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER DID NOT PROPERLY COMPLETE SAFETY RECALL 15V-674. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REBUILT THE IGNITION SWITCH INSTEAD OF REPLACING IT WITH A NEW ONE. THE DEALER CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE RADIO, STARTER, ALTERNATOR, BATTERY AND IGNITION. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH TO BE REPLACED.

20160212ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I RECEIVED A LETTER OF RECALL 8715J IGNITION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT. I CALLED THE NUMBER GIVEN (800-222-5500 OPTION #6) AND SPOKE WITH BRIANNA ON JAN. 6, 2016 AT 11:30 A.M. I EXPLAINED THAT MY CAR IS OLD (1993) AND HAS SOME PROBLEMS. I AM IN POOR CONDITION, AS WELL. MY CLOSEST MAZDA DEALER IS OVER 80 MILES AWAY OVER THE MOUNTAINS. MY CAR CANNOT MAKE IT THERE FOR SERVICE. SHE TOLD ME SHOULD WOULD TRY TO ARRANGE TOWING AND WOULD EMAIL ME A REFERENCE NUMBER. AS OF FEBRUARY 12, 2016, I HAVE STILL RECEIVED NOTHING.

Mileage: 151,500

20160121FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA MPV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) WAS RECEIVED IN JANUARY OF 2016. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

Mileage: 114,000

20090622FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I COULD NOT RECOGNIZE ANY PRIOR SYMPTOMS OTHER THAN POSSIBLY RELATING TO AN ENGINE KNOCK WHEN THE WIRE GETS VERY HOT BEFORE IGNITION SWITCH SOCKET HAS REPEATEDLY MELTED SINCE THAN. I HAVE TORN OPEN AND INSPECTED EACH INDIVIDUAL WIRE IN THE MAIN HARNESS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE ENTIRE DASH AND EVEN WENT AS FAR AS SEPARATING THE FUSE BLOCK FOR A POSSIBLE SHORT THERE. I HAVE PUT IT IN SHOPS AND NO ONE HAS FOUND ANYTHING WRONG TO CAUSE IT. *TR

Mileage: 84,258

20040107TIRES

THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER'S SIDE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A GUARDRAIL, ROLLOVER AND CAME TO REST IN THE RIGHT LANE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MR *NM

20030305ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

THE HEADLIGHT TURNED ON ALTHOUGH THE SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF AND DRAINED THE BATTERY. *JB *NLM

20030120POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

I HAVE GONE THROUGH TWO TRANSMISSIONS WITH MY MAZDA MPV. THE SECOND FAILURE I WAS TOLD THERE IS A SOFT DEFECT WITH THE MAZDA TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE A 1993 MAZDA MPV.

Mileage: 120,000

20030120ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I HAVE GONE THROUGH TWO TRANSMISSIONS WITH MY MAZDA MPV. THE SECOND FAILURE I WAS TOLD THERE IS A SOFT DEFECT WITH THE MAZDA TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE A 1993 MAZDA MPV.

Mileage: 120,000

20021113CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, COLLIDED HEAD-ON WITH A DEER. THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER ALSO ADVISED THAT THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED VERY SUDDENLY AND THERE WAS NOT TIME TO EVEN APPLY BRAKES. AS WELL, THERE IS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. MR

20020408POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION DIED W/O WARNING. LOUD WHINNING NOISE. NO MOVEMENT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. *AK

20010824FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THEN STOPPED TO FILL UP WITH GAS. BUT SOON AS HE PUT PUMP INTO FUEL TANK AND TURNED IT ON IT IGNITED. *AK *SLC

20010214POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS DIFFICULTIES DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE.HOLD LIGHT FLASHES,VAN WONT SHIFT,TRANSMISSION REPLACED TWICE IN 2 YRS.,CUTTING OUT WHEN DRIVING,REQUESTING INVESTIGATION OF THESE DEFECTS FOR SAFETY . *AK

20010118CrashTIRES

IN 1998 I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE MY REAR, RIGHT TIRE CAME APART CAUSING ME TO CRASH AGAINS A CONCRETE DIVIDER ON I-95 IN BOCA RATON. TIRES HAD BEEN SERVICES NOT MORE THAT A FEW WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE TIRES WHICH I CAN SUBMIT. *AK

20000411ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE MAKES A TERRIBLE KNOCKING NOISE (TAPPING NOISE). I WAS TOLD THAT LIFTERS ARE NOT GETTING LUBRICATED. ADVISED TO USE THINNER OIL ON NEXT OIL CHANGE. THINNER OIL DID NOT HELP. *AK

19991206POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING OF TROUBLE.

19990928UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ENGINE TAPPING AT START UP, GETS LOUDER AND MORE FREQUENT UPON ACCELERATION. DEALER SAID HE HAS SEEN THEM DO THIS FROM 50,000 MILES TO 200,000 MILES.

19990804ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

NO SUMMARY

19990727EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

WHEN PUTTING THE AIR CONDITIONER ON THERE ARE GAS FUMES COMING FROM THE VENTS AND GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE, CAUSING HEADACHES, VOMITING AND NAUSEA.. *AK

19990722POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION DIED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

19990427POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM GROCERY SHOPPING WHEN SHE HEARD A NOISE. CAR WAS LOSING POWER SO SHE PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR COULD NO LONGER MOVE. HAD TO TOW. A MAJOR TRANSMISSION REPAIR FACILITY REBUILT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION.

Compare 1993MAZDAMPV to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1993 MAZDA MPV have?
The 1993 MAZDA MPV has 65 NHTSA complaints, 11 crashes, 3 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 MAZDA MPV?
The most-complained component for the 1993 MAZDA MPV is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 10 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1993 MAZDA MPV 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.