2001 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 30 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 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	5	17%
Power train	5	17%
Visibility	3	10%
Air bags	3	10%
Power train	2	7%
Wheels	2	7%
Steering	2	7%
Air bags	1	3%
Vehicle speed control	1	3%
Tires	1	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY ON A CITY STREET. STARTED THE VEHICLE, FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE.VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT NORMAL RPM. WHEN THE FOOT WAS REMOVED FROM THE BRAKE PETAL, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AT FULL
NHTSA complaint: Power train

MY MECHANIC, MOJARRO AUTO REPAIR, ORDERED FROM AUTOZONE THIS PART....WHEN IT ARRIVED, REALIZED IT DIDN'T AT ALL RESEMBLE THE PART THAT HIS DIAGNOSTIC TOOL STATED WAS THE PROBLEM. JESSE, FOUND 1 AT A WRECKING YARD. IN 3
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA MILLENIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BE
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

I WAS DRIVING ON BYPASS AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL OFF LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO GO. IT WAS TRYING TO STALL AND AN 18 WHEELER WAS BEHIND ME. THE DRIVER OF THE 18 WHEELER ALMOST HI
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

PURCHASED A 2001 MAZDA MILLENIA IN DECEMBER 2003 - ONGOING ENGINE FLOW/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ISSUES; PROBLEM WITHIN 12-MONTHS - LIGHT STAYS ON...ASKED AND WAS NEVER PROVIDED SOLUTION TO ISSUE; REPAIRS DO NOT FIX ISSUE AND
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

MY CAR WAS PURCHASED AT A DEALERSHIP FOUR YEARS AGO WITH AFTERMARKET TINTS ALREADY INSTALLED. THE CAR WAS GIVEN TO ME WITH A VALID INSPECTION STICKER WHICH WAS RENEWED ANNUALLY BY THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL THIS YEAR WHEN THEY
NHTSA complaint: Visibility

2001 MAZDA MILLENIA - ONGOING EGR FLOW/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ISSUES; BOUGHT CAR NEW FROM DEALER AND HAD PROBLEM WITHIN 12-MONTHS - ASKED AND WAS NEVER PROVIDED SOLUTION TO ISSUE; DISSATISFIED FROM DAY 1 OF OWNING CAR; REPAI
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

TIRE BLOW-OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEED FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. THE ENTIRE OUTER SIDEWALL WAS PERFORATED AROUND THE OUTER SIDEWALL, INNER SIDE WALL WAS INTACT. AIR PRESSURE WAS CHECKED CORRECTED TWO DAYS PREVIOUS AS TIRE WAS 5#'S LO
NHTSA complaint: Tires

The seven scores

Reliability raw	85	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 46% 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 85: 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 2001 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 2001 Mazda Millenia?

Owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 5 of them (17%). No recalls are on record for it.

Is the 2001 Mazda Millenia reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 85/100 (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 2001 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 2001 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2001 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.