The 1991 Mazda MPV has 3 safety recalls and 66 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (20 complaints).
Recalls3safety recalls
Complaints66filed by owners
Crashes · fires5 · 1reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths5 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
NHTSA recall 15V674000 · Oct 19, 2015 · 1,368,500 vehicles
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.
Risk: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
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.
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
NHTSA recall 95V103005 · May 24, 1995 · 360,433 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Drum › Shoes/linings
NHTSA recall 92V027000 · Feb 27, 1992 · 95,074 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: THE REAR BRAKE LININGS CAN CHANGE OVER TIME. AS THE BRAKES WEAR, THE COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION CAN INCREASE, PRODUCING INCONSISTENT REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE AND PREMATURE ACTIVATION OF THE ABS SYSTEM.
Risk: INCONSISTENT BRAKING AND PREMATURE ACTIVATION OF THE ABSSYSTEM CAN CAUSE SUDDEN STOPS OR INCREASED BRAKING DISTANCES, AND RESULT ININCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix: REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES WITH ASSEMBLIES WHOSE FRICTION CHARACTERISTICS DO NOT CHANGE. THIS WILL REDUCE THE RISK OF PREMATURE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATION.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
1991 Mazda MPV
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
MPV
20mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
MPV
18mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 22 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel
MPV
17mpg combined
City / highway
15 / 20 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel
MPV 4x4
16mpg combined
City / highway
15 / 18 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel
MPV 4x4
15mpg combined
City / highway
14 / 18 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Engine › Gasoline
20
0
0
0
—
Power train Automatic transmission; Clutch assembly › Pedal/hand lever(motorcycle)
17
0
0
0
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Drum › Shoes/linings
16
4
0
2
—
Seat belts Front › Buckle assembly; Front › Webbing
6
1
0
1
—
Fuel system, gasoline Storage › Tank assembly; Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap
4
0
0
2
—
Unknown or other
4
0
0
0
—
Electrical system Ignition
3
0
0
0
—
Structure Body › Hatchback/liftgate › Support device/strut
2
0
0
0
—
Steering Rack and pinion › Rack
2
0
0
0
—
Latches/locks/linkages Doors › Latch
2
0
0
0
—
Seats
1
0
0
0
—
Air bags Frontal
1
1
0
1
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Dec 6, 1996 · 45,000 milesService brakes, hydraulic THE FRONT WHEEL SKIDDED AND THE FRONT BRAKE LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING ON LIGHT SNOW COVERED HIGHWAY. IT CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME IMMOBILIZED. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR AND IT OVERTURNED. *TR
Jan 1, 2004Unknown or other PAINT IS CHIPPING AND FADING ALL OVER THE VAN ESPECIALLY ON THE BACK AND THE ROOF. I SAW LOTS OF MODELS ON THE ROAD WITH THE SAME PAINT PROBLEM. *JB
May 12, 2006 · 100,000 milesSeat belts THE SEAT BELTS ON MY 1991 MAZDA MPV ARE SIMPLY FALLING APART. THE FUEL VAPOR SEPARATOR DOES AN INADEQUATE JOB OF KEEPING GASOLINE FUMES OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON BOTH OF THESE ITEMS. WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO THE LOCAL DEALER THEY ONLY PERFORMED AN INSPECTION. BOTH ISSUES REMAIN UNRESOLVED. BESIDES NOT EVER BUYING ANOTHER MAZDA EVER. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THESE SAFETY ISSUES RESOLVED. *NM
Nov 15, 2003 · 185,000 milesPower train PAINT STARTED TO CHIP AWAY. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME.
Jan 18, 2003 · 90,000 milesService brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HAD TO STOP SUDDENLY AND APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL ABRUPTLY. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AND CONSUMER COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. TS
Sep 19, 2002 · fireEquipment › Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc. CONSUMER STATES THE RIGHT REAR AUDIO SPEAKER CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING.*JB
Aug 13, 1998 · 2 injuriesFuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly AT THE TIME I HAD THIS COMPONENT FAILURE, I DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I TOOK THIS VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED MAZDA DEALER WHO PROCEEDED TO TAKE A FULL 10 MINUTES TO LOOK AT THIS VEHICLE AND TELL ME THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH IT. I PREVIOUSLY FILED A COMPLAINT AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY FEEDBACK. DURING THE TIME I HAD THIS FAILED COMPONENT ON MY FUEL SYSTEM, I DEVELOPED A CHRONIC ASTHMA CONDITION. ANOTHER DEALER FINALLY FOUND A CRACK IN THE FUEL VAPOR SEPARATOR ONE YEAR LATER WHEN I TOOK THIS VEHICLE BACK FOR ANOTHER INSPECTION. IT TOOK 4 MONTHS AFTER THE SECOND MAZDA DEALER FOUND THE CRACK FOR ME TO OBTAIN A REPLACEMENT PART FOR THE FAILED COMPONENT. THE DEALER NEVER…
Feb 26, 2001 · crash · 1 injuryService brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip WHILE TRAVELING AND WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO RUN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH AT THE TIME THE BRAKE FAILED. *YH
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
EA96031 · opened Dec 20, 1996 · closed Mar 31, 1998FUEL LIQUID-VAPOR SEPARATOR EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM LIQUID-VAPOR SEPARATOR MAY FAIL AT NIPPLE FOR FUEL TANK HOSE CONNECTION RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE AREA BEHIND THE RIGHT REAR TRIM PANEL.
PE96055 · opened Sep 13, 1996 · closed Dec 20, 1996FUEL LIQUID-VAPOR SEPARATOR FAILURE RATORS AREEVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM LIQUID-VAPOR SEPARATORS ARE ALLEGEDLY FAILING AND LEAKING FUEL LIQUID/VAPOR.
EA95005 · opened Mar 10, 1995 · closed Aug 1, 1995 · led to recall 95V103005TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE There is no summary currently available
EA92008 · opened Feb 3, 1992 · closed Mar 16, 1992 · led to recall 92V027000INCONSIST.BRK PERFORMANCE There is no summary currently available
PE91134 · opened Oct 1, 1991 · closed Feb 3, 1992INCONSISTENT BRAKE PERFORM ===
PE91088 · opened Jun 18, 1991 · closed Oct 21, 1991THROTTLE STICKING There is no summary currently available