Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 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 | 8 | 19% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 6 | 14% |
| Engine | 4 | 10% |
| Seat belts | 3 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 5% |
| Structure | 2 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 5% |
| Power train | 2 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda MPV. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard and the vehicle failed to come to a complete stop. As a result of
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2005 Mazda MPV. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V404000 (Air Bags) however, the nearest dealer location was nearly 5 hours away. The manufacturer was notifi
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK DOING THE SPEED LIMIT AND MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP I PRESS THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND IT STILL DID NOT STOP I PULLED UP MY EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THAT DID NOT WORK SO FINALLY I GOT THE
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
DOS NOTE TUN ON CHECKLIGHT.ENGINE WENT OUT RUNNING ANDE DOS NOTE GIVE CONDE.TRIED WIHT OTHER ECU ANDE HACE THE DAME.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
ENGINE STALLS OR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY WHEN AUTO MOVES FROM HIGH SPEED TO LOW SPEED. MAZDA 6 W/ 3.0 LITER ENGINE, WHICH IS THE SAME ENGINE AS THIS UNIT, HAS A SIMILAR ISSUE - SEE HERE: HTTP://WWW.6CREW.COM/FILES/TSB/01-01
NHTSA complaint: Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA MPV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THE CONTACT HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOWS TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE HANDLE. THE
NHTSA complaint: Structure
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA MPV. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V354000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURE
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA MPV. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE REAR WHEELS WAS RUSTED AND SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE
NHTSA complaint: Structure
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2005 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 America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Mazda MPV vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakot
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018 for MPV vehicles. The recall began J
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 and 2004 MPV vehicles nationwide. Mazda is also recalling 2005-2006 MPV vehicles in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Ind
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2005 MPV, 2004 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may e
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of ch
| Reliability raw | 73 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | good |
| Maintenance | 78 | good |
| Depreciation | 66 | good |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 36 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other minivans & vans in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 8 of them (19%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 73/100 (good) 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 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2005 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 68/100. 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.