Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 78 complaints with NHTSA about the 1991 Mazda MPV, and it carries 3 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 18 | 23% |
| Service brakes | 17 | 22% |
| Power train | 16 | 21% |
| Seat belts | 5 | 6% |
| Fuel system | 3 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 3% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 3% |
| Structure | 2 | 3% |
| Steering | 1 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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
NHTSA complaint: Steering
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
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
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 I
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
PAINT STARTED TO CHIP AWAY. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME.
NHTSA complaint: Power train
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
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
CONSUMER STATES THE RIGHT REAR AUDIO SPEAKER CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING.*JB
NHTSA complaint: Equipment
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
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
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
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1991 Mazda MPV. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 co
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,
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.
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 A
| Reliability raw | 80 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 81 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 85 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 62 | average |
| Performance | 56 | average |
| Efficiency | 35 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 78 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 18 of them (23%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 81/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1991 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.