Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 73 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 11 | 15% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 11 | 15% |
| Power train | 8 | 11% |
| Structure | 5 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 5 | 7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 7% |
| Equipment | 3 | 4% |
| Tires | 2 | 3% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
WHEN I INITIALLY BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IT HAD BEEN THROUGH PREVIOUS OWNERS AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIX THINGS BUT AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF THREE AND I JUST CAN AFFORD MUCH BUT I HAPPEN TO PUT THE YR MAKE AND MODEL INTO THE
NHTSA complaint: Power train
MY BROTHERS MAZDA MPV 2001 VAN HAS A MUSTY OR FREON LEAKING LIKE SMELL NOT SURE WHAT BUT WHEN AIR CONDITIONING IS ON IT'S REALLY BAD IS THIS HARMFUL TO BREATH FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN. I READ UP O
NHTSA complaint: Structure
HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION MAZDA MPV 2001 WHILE DRIVING MY MPV ON CITY STREETS & FREEWAYS, THE LOW BEAMS FLICKER, OR TURN OFF, AND THE HIGH BEAM INDICATOR ILLUMINATES ON DASH BOARD. HOWEVER THE HIGH BEAMS DO WORK. WHEN THIS
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THE SPARE TIRE WINCH MOUNTED CENTRALLY UNDER THE PASSENGERS SIDE SECOND ROW SEAT WILL CORRODE AND JAM NOT ALLOWING FOR ACCESS TO THE SPARE TIRE IN A ROAD SIDE EMERGENCY.
NHTSA complaint: Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA MPV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SIDE AIRBAG ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED AS THE PASSENGER WAS GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED AN
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
ON MAY THE 5TH 2014 WHILE SITTING STILL AND THE ENGINE NOT RUNNING THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED CAUSING DEEP BRUISING AND A CRACKED RIB TO MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT AT THE TIME. SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA MPV. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE THEN SPUN AROUND AND CRASHED INTO THE SAME VEHICLE A SECOND TIME FROM THE FRONT
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA MPV. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED BY THE AIR BAG AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSP
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2001 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.
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL, THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR CABLE MAY BE BROKEN DUE TO INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH (GROUP 1). ALSO INCLUDED ARE CERTAIN 2000-2001 MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 31, 1999 AND MARCH 31, 2001, THAT HAVE HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL REP
Risk: IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE BROKEN ACTUATOR CABLE MAY BE OUT OF POSITION AND COULD INTERFERE WITH THE OPERATION OF THE ACCELERATOR CABLE, PREVENTING A DECREASE IN ENGINE SPEED WHILE DRIVING, INCREASING TH
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACTUATOR CABLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR VEHICLES INVOLVED IN GROUP 1 BEGAN ON JULY 7, 2004. OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR VEHICLES INVOLVED IN GROUP 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2004.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SOME OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULES WERE NOT PROPERLY WELDED AND MAY NOT DEPLOY IN A COLLISION.
Risk: THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY PROTECTED IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 4, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN MINI VANS WITHOUT ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEMS (ABS) FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS." DUE TO INAPPROPRIATE BRAKE PIPE LAYOUT, THESE VEHICLES DO NOT MEET THE BRAKE STOPPING DISTANCE WITH P
Risk: IF PARTIAL FAILURE OCCURRED IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM, THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE COULD INCREASE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE BRAKE SYSTEM. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REM
| Reliability raw | 83 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 82 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 80 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 66 | good |
| Performance | 50 | average |
| Efficiency | 35 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other minivans & vans in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 73 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 11 of them (15%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 83/100 (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 82/100, 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.
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.