Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2003 Mazda MPV
NHTSA data on file today
The 2003 Mazda MPV has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 113 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #04V282000 MAZDA/FMVSS 120 TIRE INFLATION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V109000 MAZDA/FMVSS 208/LABELING NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V206000 MAZDA/FOG LIGHT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V053000 MAZDA/FRONT FOG LIGHTS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 35 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 23 complaints
- Electrical System 16 complaints
- Air Bags 10 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 9 complaints
- Structure 8 complaints
Of the 113 complaints on file, 12 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 113 complaints, owners report 18 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2003 Mazda MPV has a below-average reliability rating due to high complaint volume in the powertrain and engine systems, alongside multiple recalls related to exterior lighting and labeling. These issues suggest potential expensive repairs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| powertrain | 70,000–100,000 miles | $1,200–$2,500 | very common |
| engine cooling | 60,000–90,000 miles | $800–$1,800 | common |
| electrical system | 50,000–80,000 miles | $300–$1,000 | common |
| air bags | 100,000–120,000 miles | $500–$1,000 | occasional |
| brakes | 80,000–110,000 miles | $400–$800 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil change every 5,000 miles
- Replace brake pads every 40,000 miles
- Coolant flush every 60,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change at 90,000 miles
- Inspect suspension components annually
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Strange noises from powertrain
- Overheating engine
- Electrical system malfunctions
- Sudden braking issues
- Airbag warning lights
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2003 Mazda MPV at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.