Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see May lease deals!
Options
Mazda MPV: Problems & Solutions
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
I have been having the same problem with my 2000 MPV that seems to occur after a heavy rainfall. Even if I haven't used my car for days after the rain, it will refuse to "catch", even though it turns and turns or it will catch and quickly die. I have had it towed and then it magically starts for the shop before they can diagnose the problem, but then it occurs intermittently afterwards. My mechanic last time told me they would need to come to my car when it was acting up with it's diagnostic equipment, and today I think they might have discovered the problem. They think it is the crank starter that is getting wet that is causing this. I will keep you posted (the tow truck is on it's way). Have they resolved anything with your vehicle yet?
PS
Anyone can advice me if I should fight them for not taking care of the problem before?Does it make any sense to even call?
PS
Sell it befor warranty is gone,though because of tens of other problems and lock of cooperation from mazda(I just paid $3200 for transmissiot repair -after only 80000 miles oil flush after 40000 and few complains at dealership(not resolved).
MattNJ
It does seem odd that your TCM was never reflashed.I'd get my serial number and do a google on Mazda MPV TSB's and find out if it needs to be. Also, consider taking it to another dealership.The good news is the dealership was able to duplicate the problem...so now the burden is on them in fixing it. I'd stay on them like ugly on an ape.
If it's been shifting hard for 2 years...you may want to look into an extended warranty for the transmission. Save all service documentation on work done on transmission. May help is you do have a prob in future.
Yes, the problem has finally been solved (knock on wood) after 2 mos and $350! As the service manager suspected, it was the idle air control valve. For about a month, the car would rev way up every time I started it -- except for a couple of times when it wouldn't start unless I sat w/my foot on the gas til it was close to normal temperature, then I had to drive so my foot was always on the gas (fun). When it idled, the car shook slightly. Over the 2 months I wrestled w/this, I noticed power was down and gas consumption was up a bit. The exhaust also smelled wrong -- maybe more like gasoline, if that makes sense. And near the end, it did groan a couple of times from the dash area when I started it up, as if something stuck was releasing.
What finally tipped the balance was not getting it to start a couple of times in a row, so it was bad enough that the folks in the shop could actually tell what was going on. And of course, it doesn't trigger the check engine light.
Sorry to blather on, but I'm hoping some of this will sound familiar, and you can get your car fixed! Good luck!
I contacted a lemon law attorney in PA in July, and they took the case. Rather or not I'll get anything out of it remains to be seen, but it's worth a try. Currently I have 43000 miles (getting close to out of warranty)
I also have another problem that doesn't want to go away: when making right turns I have a knocking sound coming from the back. The dealership has told me this is also a common problem and there is currently no fix for it.
No more Mazda's for me!
but google for this:
MT000003925
follow the link in the TSB also for this:
05-001/04
sounds like you might need to find another dealership.
good luck.
It seems like people with this problem paid about around $3000 to fix it. but is it really worth it? Should I trade it with another vehicle? Then what kind value would I expect? I also wonder once you fix the tranny, is it running well?....
Just came across your message. We just had the same problem on our MPV ES 2002 with only 21,000 miles. On our way up to Canada for vacation the cel came on as well and the car stalled out twice briefly on a huge bridge. Fortunately there was traffic. After many hours at a great service station they ran around looking for sensor parts for the engine. We left the station and the CEL popped on again. We returned to the station and this time the mechanice figured out it was the spark plugs. He changed them all and so far no CEL. It has been 3 weeks.
We too had to change our front 2 tires at less than 20,000. Up until now we had no problems. Hopefully this is all.
1. Shift lever blocks view of radio controls - poor design.
2. Tailgate hard to pull down - handle only good for about halfway then hands required on
outside of door - poor design.
And the worst problem!!
3. Power sliding doors difficult to open with outside handles. My 3 yr. old granddaughter can open my daughter's Odyssey doors by a gentle pull on the handle. Not so with our MPV - you have to really tug (jerk to the rear) on the handles to get the power to kick in. We've been back to the dealer several times with this complaint but after all kinds of adjustments and excuses they say that's the way they are supposed to work! I can't believe that a light touch on the inside button will open the door beautifully, but it takes such a hard pull to open them from the outside. What were the engineers smoking when they designed the opening system without a switch like other vans? I have sometimes been able to pull on the handle to the rear until the door is open almost one inch before then power kicks in - very annoying to say the least. We've heard that the 2005's aren't
any better! :mad:
Unhappy Mazda Ower form NJ
Thanks
Does 2005 MPV still have transmission problem?
Also does 2005 MPV have any other problems I should consider before I purchase it?????
Other problems?... other than friends, relatives, and total strangers being insanely jealous that you have the best looking and best performing minivan in the world....none.
Hope this helps.
FYI, my wife constanly bugs me to get the new Odyssey, from our positive experience of owning 2 Honda Accords. Also the Odyssey get better gas mileage, especially the EXL and higher trims 20/28 mpg city/highway.
Just came out of warranty on '02 MPV. Over the last few days; we noticed when at a light or stop--- that the engine or something is causing as my wife describes it: A slight choke/stutter sensation and then the engine shutters briefly, as if it is missing or misfiring--- it appears now to interniitently occur during normal driving conditions. And now noticing it interniitently at idle while parked. Any thoughts/ideas. Definitely not bringing it back to dealer; I have an appt for next Monday at a local garage we trust. Does this sound like a fuel problem or maybe a spark plug issue? MPV has only 28 K miles on it.
Thanks
-Brian
-Brian
I then began disconnecting levers and cables to see where the problem was. I finally tracked it down to the little box that houses the electric motor and circuit board that triggers the motor. It's located halfway down on the near side of the door (like behind where they put the stickers for tire inflation). After getting this unit out and taking it apart, I discovered a small broken printed circuit board that was jamming the mechanism. There are some small copper wipers that ride back and forth across this board and make contact with the metal strips on the board. When the board broke, the brass wiper were getting caught on the broken edge of the board instead of gliding across (if this makes any sense). I can't imagine what would make this board crack except poor design since it doesn't appear to be under any stress whatsoever.
After finding it, I was still determined to fix this myself since I would probably have to pay a small fortune to have the whole motor unit replaced just to get a new circuit board that is probably worth less than twenty five cents! Basically, I ended up gluing the board together with super glue and soldering the broken joint in the board. After putting it all together, it worked perfectly! That was about five months ago and it's still fine. It's not a hard repair if you have any tools.
I can't promise that it's the same problem, but it sure sounds similar! It's not all that hard to do if you can solder or have some experience with working on fairly small items. I'd sure try it myself or try to find someone to help me. I don't wanna know how much a dealer would charge for parts and labor! Thankfully, this repair didn't cost me a cent! (for a change)
I was thinking that 2002 was the year it began because that is the year the MPV went up to a 200hp engine and the 5 speed auto trans.
It's gotten to the point where I'm almost expecting it to break down every time I drive it after reading so many horror stories! (and because of all the other problems we've had so far) I'd sure love to know if there are folks out there who have higher mileages without any transmission problems since we're not in a position to get rid of our MPV yet. It'd be nice to know that it COULD last a good bit longer!
I read a post on the Honda boards somewhere about a Corolla that got the mpg it was suppose to on the highway ...but poor city mileage dragged down the overall.
I'll try to find it and report back here as I can't recall what solved the problem.
Your Mazda mechanic wasn't able to find the problem so now he is saying it is normal for the van...hmmm. Well, it is certainly not normal. Normal is 19mpg combined....we got about 24 mpg(mostly highway) on a recent trip to Florida.
If there are other Mazda dealers in your area I would try one of them...maybe a fresh brain can figure it out. If you would care to drop me an e-mail I could write back a possible solution that I am not allowed to suggest here on Edmunds. You still have 12k of warranty left on your MPV...so at the very least I would keep it another 10k miles. Warranty will cover any repairs. Selling it with 2k left on warranty would make it more attractive to potential buyers. Gas is high....but purchasing another vehicle and paying sales taxes and fees will be much more expensive.
My '01 with 83K miles runs fine - transmission and all. I'm getting about 22 on the road and around 17-18 in the city (I haven't changed plugs yet) and it's driven everyday on the freeways - avoiding the 18 wheelers....
Anyone heard or a fix yet?
Also, anyone heard of the creaking sound when going over things like speed bumps? My front end makes a squeaking/rubbing sound when going over a bump....
Thanks, TCC
Have you had them check that noise out yet? I had my 03 MPV in for that noise last spring and they said it was normal too! Have you heard of fix for this noise yet?
Tom C.
Art
My rear wiper motor seems to have lost all of its power, as the slightest friction from the rubber against the windshield is enough to stop it. Has anyone replaced one of these? I'm looking to buy one on my own and pay the garage to put it in. I'm not sure if it's an easy enough job to do myself. Any advice appreciated!
Thanks,
Glenn
This is my first post.
I've owned a 1990 MPV since '99. Bought it with 75k on it. It now has 195k miles. Great car!
Getting ready to sell it - empty nest syndrom - kids grown don't need to be toted around any more.
Went to start it yesterday - someone's interested in buying it - to my horror nothing. Not even a click. Of course, checked the battery - even charged it up some. Tried jumping too.
In the past this car has had an issue with what I think is either a starter relay or the starter itself. First turn of the key all you would get is a click. Then after a couple of attempts the starter would go and the engine starts - every time. Never had a problem. Suspected the neutral safety switch but was never actually able to do any good moving the shifter around. It always simply seemed that the relay/starter needed just a couple of go's before deciding to work. I'm convinced this is my problem.
So - is it:
1. Starter?
2. Relay?
Or what?
HELP!!!!!
Thanks from Oxford, Maine
b3122: Your starter problem on the 1990 - had the same problem on my old '92. It was the starter.
Good luck - and start your engines.....