1999 Mazda Millenia

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

71/100

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 1999 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
Tires	5	17%
Electrical system	3	10%
Power train	3	10%
Engine and engine cooling	3	10%
Vehicle speed control	2	7%
Air bags	2	7%
Unknown or other	1	3%
Wheels	1	3%
Engine and engine cooling	1	3%
Engine and engine cooling	1	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

1999 MAZDA MILLENNIA. CONSUMER STATES SUDDEN INCREASE OF SPEED *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WITH THE SUDDEN INCREASE IN SPEED OCCURRED WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL YEA
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) HELLO: MY WIFE'S 1999 MAZDA MILLENNIA S [XXX] IS ANOTHER VEHICLE HAVING ACCELERATION PROBLEMS THAT THE COMPANY HAS REFUSED
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

I TOOK THE CAR INTO A TIRE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE 17 INCH, CHROME WHEELS CHECKED FOR SLOW TIRE DEFLATION AND THE COMPANY TOLD ME THAT ALL THE WHEELS WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND THAT THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY FAIL STRUCTURALLY
NHTSA complaint: Wheels

1999 MAZDA MILLENIA TRAVELLING AT 60 MPH REAR-ENDED A CAR T HAT PULLED IN FRONT . NEITHER THE DRIVER OR PASSANGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO COLLIDE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL RESULTING IN INJURIES. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

I CURRENTLY OWN A 1999 MADZA MILLENIA, WHICH I PURCHASED PRE-OWNED, IN 2002. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AND EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPAIR BILLS SINCE THAT TIME. THE CAR BREAKS DOWN/IS IN NEED OF REPAIR EVERY 3-4 MONT
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. COMPUTER INDICATES KNOCK SENOR, BUT NO ENGINE PROBLEM. LIGHT CAME ON AFTER WE BEGAN USING 87 OCTANE INSTEAD OF MID OR PREMIUM GRADE. WAS ADVISED IT IS A BAD KNOCK SENSOR AND THERE IS A T
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT 60 MILES PER HOUR THE TCS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER. IT HAD TO BE RESTARTED IN NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING IN THE LANE OF TRAFFIC CAUSING CARS BEHIND US TO SWITCH LANE
NHTSA complaint: Power train

I BOUGHT MY CAR IN NOV 2002, AT 60,000 MILES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUALLY STAYS ON. THE CAR RUNS ROUGH AND HAS POOR ACCERLATION. WE HAVE IT IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES, AND THATS ONLY FOR THIS YEAR. WE'VE REPLACED 3 O2 SE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

The seven scores

Reliability raw	84	excellent
Longevity est.	82	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 43% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 76% 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 84: 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 82: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1999 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 1999 Mazda Millenia?

Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and tires is the most reported area with 5 of them (17%). No recalls are on record for it.

Is the 1999 Mazda Millenia reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (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 1999 Mazda Millenia last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 82/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1999 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1999 Mazda Millenia?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. 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.