1998 Mazda Millenia

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

72/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Mazda Millenia, and it carries no 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.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Engine and engine cooling	4	14%
Power train	4	14%
Fuel system	3	10%
Wheels	2	7%
Vehicle speed control	2	7%
Air bags	2	7%
Service brakes	2	7%
Structure	2	7%
Engine	1	3%
Engine and engine cooling	1	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

I FULLY PURCHASED MY CAR ON 02/28/2019 WITH "AUTO LANDMARK". THAT SAME DAY I PAID A $200-300 SERVICE FEE FOR REGISTERATION AND TITLE, I PAID FULL CAR TAX ON THE CAR. I CALL IN REGARDS TO MY CAR AND IF THE MECHANIC IT'S N
NHTSA complaint: Engine

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA MILLENIA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 40 MPH. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES LATER, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 40 MPH ACCO
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA MILLENIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEYLESS ENTRY FAILED FREQUENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE KEYLESS ENTRY KEY TWICE. ALSO, THE CONTACT LOST THE KEY DUE TO THE FREQUENT FA
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages

IN APRIL OF 2006, I KEPT NOTICING MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE LOSING AIR. I KEPT HAVING TO PUT 15 LBS. EVERY OTHER DAY IN IT. I HAD A FRIEND CHECK THE TIRE AND STEM AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THEM. AS THIS CONTINUED, I FINALL
NHTSA complaint: Wheels

DURING WARM CLIMATE AND IN BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATE. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK ENGI
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

OWNER COMPLAINED ABOUT A FUEL TANK PROBLEM. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO HAVE THE FUEL TAN
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THREE OUT OF FOUR RIMS HAVE CRACKED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE TIRES LEAKED AIR. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT HE WILL EXPERIENCE A BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMI
NHTSA complaint: Wheels

WHILE ENGING IS RUNNING WHETHER PARKED OR DRIVING THERE IS A VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR - 1. STANDING OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE PARTICULARLY AT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND 2. INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, THIS MAKES IT IMPOSS
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system

The seven scores

Reliability raw	86	excellent
Longevity est.	83	excellent
Maintenance	81	excellent
Depreciation	62	average
Performance	48	below average
Efficiency	36	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 50% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 82% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 63% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 58% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 86: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 83: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1998 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 81: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1998 Mazda Millenia?

Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 4 of them (14%). No recalls are on record for it.

Is the 1998 Mazda Millenia reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (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.

How long will a 1998 Mazda Millenia last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 83/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1998 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1998 Mazda Millenia?

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.