2001 Mazda MPV LX from North America - Comments

These MPV's are ABSOLUTE JUNK. The reason is that Ford got a hold of these vans in 2000 and stuffed an grossly UNDER POWERED 2.5L engine from the Contour (basically a COMPACT CAR).

My van didn't break 100,000 miles and so far we have had an unidentifiable shake at 60+mph, we have replaced tires 4 times thinking bad tires, done countless alignments and even bough a new set of rims in desperation. Problem UNSOLVED.

At 55K miles, our water pump went bad. Dealer wanted $650, went to a local auto parts place and got one for $55!! The pump is just a simple piece of stamped alloy with a pully on one side and a PLASTIC impeller on the other.

At 60K miles, the alternator goes dead and leaves us on the side of the road. Couldn't get to it as the DRIVE AXLE is in the way and needed to be removed as it is not accessible from the top of the motor. $395 fix from a PRIVATE SHOP!

At 63,000 miles we develop an anti freeze leak IN THE REAR of the van which turns out that Mazda (or Ford) put metal cooling lines to the heater core in the rear (dual climate zones) and it corroded. $450 fix from the dealer as no one had the parts to replace these lines.

At 65,000 miles the Check Engine light comes on for a 'misfire cylinder 5'. Bring it to a local shop who tells me it needs a tune up (so much for the 100K mile tune up). This rig has plugs that no one can even see so I ponied up the $210 bucks for wires and plugs. Drove off only to have the Check Engine light come on 30 miles later. Bring it back and has some 'pre cat not warming to threshold' code meaning the pre cat (whatever that is) went bad and needs replacing (lucky the 3 others on this van were good I thought) Hope this doesn't happen to your van as it cost $1,500 to fix. The reason it went bad was the misfire according to my shop foreman.

Fixed the pre cat and drove another 55 miles and the Check Engine light comes on again. This time for an O2 sensor (one of 4 on this van). The shop recommends replacing all at a tune of $135 EACH NOT INCLUDING LABOR! I say 'sell it' but can't because the Check Engine light is on. Pay $215 to change 1 O2 sensor.

65,000 miles and all was well when my wife calls and tells me the van smells like its on fire and is making a horrific noise. Come down to the mall and start it up and it smells like burning rubber. Call the flat bed (who I am on a first name basis with now) who tells me the AC compressor seized. Should've SOLD THE WRECK!! $1,300 later and I'm thinking 'OK, NOW everything has been replaced, I am good for a while. WRONG! Apparently, some debris from the blown up compressor (at 65,000 miles) fowled the Expansion Valve... the valve alone on this van $450!!...and that's BEFORE LABOR! The mechanic feels bad and 'only' charges me $150 labor bringing my total AC debacle to around $2,000!!!

All these repairs and I forgot to mention that I have since learned how to disassemble the throttle body to clean it as you will have to do this almost as often as changing your oil!! I have had $150 jalopy's stay away from wrenches longer than this $35,000 POS!! The resale on this has tanked (presumably as people are becoming aware of what a wreck this van truly is!).

17 October 2008.

I purchased a used 2001 Mazda MPV LX Sports in January of 2006 from a local dealer here in Mississauga with a little over 100K of mileage.

To-date, this minivan (with minor repairs done, like head lamp, brakes, new battery and tires replacement- October 2008) still runs smoothly and quietly at 145K.

I have no problem whatsoever with this super minivan. I can speed up to 100K on highways straight and without any problem at all.

I think we all need to get Mazda to recall these vans. How can we all have the same problem?

We bought our van brand new 7 years ago, we loved it although I think it's not as roomy and smooth as Toyota :-) Now at 62,000 we have check engine light on and the dealership has no clue. Before the check engine came on, it was acting like it was going to stall and was hesistating when you step on Gas.

I can't get my husband to trade it in and my six year daughter calls it "My car" as it was bought when she was born.

Does anyone has any recommendations for a good roomy and low maintence van that we don't have to rob the bank to have.

Thanks!

We run a shop, and this MPV, a 98, was towed in.. story supposedly goes like this... died on highway, towed home, they did tune up and fuel pump, then towed to us, still no start..

All lights on the dash are on, no fire, put used computer in it, got it to let us in to genysis, and all lights go out on dash, no fire, put in new distributor, now have fire, will only stay running if you plug MAF with a rag or your hand... any ideas???

I am sorry to hear of your issues... must have got a lemon or perhaps a vehicle that was not treated well by the previous owner.

We bought our MPV new in 2001. Eight years and 110,000 miles later, van runs like a top. Other than routine maintenance, never a problem. We couldn't be happier with our MPV and plan on owning it for many years (and many miles) more.

To own a car is to to shoulder responsibility on handling and maintaining such. Common sense applied, if you treat it like a trash, SOON, no doubt about it, it will become garbage.

I've got a '98 (thru used cars), and other than a replaced timing belt and tensioner, I had no any other problem at all since I bought it.

Another key perhaps is to not let many people (driver) use it. I FELT the vibration as soon as the tensioner mis-aligned due to a loose bolt and immediately ask a qualified mechanic to have a look. Who knows how much trouble it will be if the timing belt jumped due to negligence? I love this MPV.

We have a 2001 Mazda LX MPV. We loved it but at 134K I am about to sell it. I don't trust it anymore on long trips.

We have had similar gas pedal sticking and engine light coming on and off. We had the fuel injector cleaned out at 60K and 130K and that helped a great deal. We learned that if you use non Mazda spark plugs, it causes all sorts of problems. The spark plug wire shorted out several times as a result. We had the oxygen sensors changed when the computer told us to, but now I think we wasted money because it was the fuel injector service that was needed. I think the computer was wrong. Try that first at $130 and save yourself $500 for the 02 sensor.

We are buying a 2006 Honda Odyssey. Dealers offered us $500 to $1000 to buy our 2001 Mazda. I should have considered resale value.

Woe is me. I have 103K miles and starting missing. Now I'm told it's either a valve or piston. Overall, the car was pretty reliable for 8 yrs, not a lot of problems. Now I can't give away. They say the engine is a DOG. Not a happy camper.

We have the same 2001 MPV model and are ready to send it to the dealer for them to diagnose those exact problems after having three different mechanic shops try to find what is really wrong with it. Countless alignments, gas pedal sticking, engine light on and misfire of the engine.

Is there anyone with a recommendation? Shoud we buy a new engine or just get rid of this van?

frustrated and broke!!!

I too have a LOT of problems.

Now it seems the transmission is on the verge of going.

I have done all the regular maintenance and still repairs, repairs, repairs.

I want Mazda to pay for my transmission.

I only have 111,000 km and have spent a fortune on engine light problems, rotor ridges and now transmission issues.

I will NEVER BUY a MAZDA again!!!

Yeah, I also own a Mazda MPV - bought it with 42000km on the clock.

A few months later the starter would make a grating sound when turning the key (at least once a week) - had it repaired but started doing it again.

Also the electric motors on front door locks gave notice.

Engine sometimes makes a surging sound when idling.

Had to replace the audio as the digital display wasn't working.

My 1992 Mazda MX6 on the other hand hasn't given any problems (89 000kms). Surprisingly I noticed the Ford logo stamped on the lower part of the oil dipstick... makes you wonder.

Anyway, I have to buy a bigger van now and it is definitely going to be a Toyota.

2002 MPV LX, these puppies are lemons for the most part.

We had engine lights on and off, MAF sensor cleaning seems to help (try this first before replacing gaskets), we had to replace the transmission, and that is 3-4k depending on what you chose to rebuild (dealer wanted 3300 to replace with 1 yr warranty).

Friends have no problems and someone else has same

engine light problems..."running lean" ** overall junk ****

Bye bye Mazdas, step up and take ownership of your junk.

"Bye bye Mazdas, step up and take ownership of your junk."

Well, since Ford now owns Mazda, you can blame Ford for their junk.