2002 Mazda MPV

The 2002 Mazda MPV sits squarely in the middle of a pronounced five-year spike in field problems. Federal data shows that complaints were nearly nonexistent in 1999 (2 complaints, zero recalls) but surged to 155 complaints and 5 recalls in 2000, then remained elevated through 2004 before declining. The 2002 model year recorded 125 complaints, 4 recalls, and 129 TSBs—numbers essentially mirroring the adjacent 2001, 2003, and 2004 model years, suggesting this generation carried a systemic, unresolved problem set throughout this window. The dominant complaint category by far was Power Train (58 of 125 complaints), followed by Engine & Engine Cooling (17), indicating the drivetrain was the primary source of owner dissatisfaction. Notably, the 2002 MPV also generated 4 crash-related complaints and 5 fire-related complaints, though the root cause of those incidents is not specified in the data. With recalls, TSBs, and complaint volumes remaining consistently high through 2004 and NHTSA opening three investigations in that year, the evidence points to a generation-wide durability concern rather than an isolated defect. The concrete takeaway: the 2002 MPV is among the more problematic model years in this generation's arc, and a buyer should factor in thorough pre-purchase inspection of the powertrain and expect higher-than-average maintenance needs compared to pre-2000 or post-2005 model years.