2005 Mazda MPV LX from North America - Comments

Gear shift lever obstructing the radio power button.

Very uncomfortable to sit in the 3rd row.

The "check engine light" (or CEL) on and off abnormally.

The "O/D off" light (over-drive off) falshes abnormally.

Actually, this is a shining new 2005 Mazda MPV. I guess this site is not updated for this year yet since the latest model year is 2004.

I bought this brand new Mazda MPV at Long Beach Mazda 21 days ago on March 1st, 2005 at a price of 17000 after 4000 cash rebate. I did a detailed research on the internet before I decided on the model. This ite and Carreviews.com are 2 of my most visited sites and I read all the reviews on Mazda MPV before I took the dive. The reasons: 1. Cheap, 2. it is a Japanese car which supposed to be "reliable".

Well, I am starting to feel this is a wrong decision. After 6 days we took the car home, the "check engine light" (or CEL) is on when I was driving on the highway. I took it right back to the dealor and they took a whole morning to pull the codes and check the connections. They found nothing wrong and send us home. Then yesterday again on the highway, the "O/D off" light (over-drive off) was flashing which according to Mazda is an indication of an electrical problem in the transmission and can cause damage to the vehicle if we continue to drive. So we pulled off and restarted the engine. The light went off.

Being a honda owner, I know what "care free" means. Now, I don't expect the same thing on the Mazda MPV. I expect to get it into the dealor every month and waste a half day there then be sent back home knowing nothing is found. False alarm? How many more times it will be turned on before it turns into a true alarm and break down on the highway?

Dump this brick while it still has some sale or trade-in

value.

Your "O/D off" light might be on simply because you inadvertently pushed the button at the very end of the gear shift lever, which turns off the O/D. Restarting the car probably resets it to the default, which is O/D on, but you could have accomplished the same thing just by pushing the button again.

After having many problems with our 2000 MPV we tried again with a left-over 2004. The price of $17200 seemed very good compared to the high priced Honda and Toyota vans. We like the ride and the acceleration, however we have been in the shop a few times already. The passenger sliding door leaks and the brakes make a horrible grating noise in reverse every morning. The dealer said that this is common, but they can't fix it. I have a 6 year factory warranty which gives me some comfort, yet I hate being inconvenienced.

I have a 2005 MPV I think it looks sporty, but its only skin deep. It is a gutless wonder.

I bought it new and it is my second MPV, first one being a 2003.

The 2003 had a vacuum hose problem that I took in three times to get replaced, and was eventually a recall on that hose.

With my 2005, same hose problems again, but this time it is not covered under any recall or warranty. But another Mazda the same engine size and year IS on recall. I mentioned this to the dealership service in Norco and they told me I was out of luck and had to pay for it. (I asked before I bought this MPV if the problem had been resolved, and it was said to me it had been).

It is now Sep 2008, my MPV has been to same dealership I bought it from and it has been one problem after another. EGR, 3 coils, vacuum lines, (I replace the fan temp sensor because it kept running full speed, but was easy to replace), oil pan replacement and many other items that should have lasted well into the hundred thousand mileage area.

I was told when I got the coils replaced (needed to have the intake manifold taken off, in which I had to take it back after repairs to get a new gasket on it, because they installed it wrong and one of the coils was not right, plus add a new O2 sensor that trip to the dealership), I was told the new coils will probably only last 60,000 miles till they will need replacement again.

And to add insult to injury, my salesman told me if we bring our MPV into that same dealership, we would get oil changes for life at $9.99. I was recently charged over $19.00 because service said they are a different part of Mazda.

I see more trips to the dealership for repairs again for my wife. I am in the service and just wanted a car that we could trust and the company would stand behind its product.

Mazda, start your recall on the coils, oil pans and vacuum lines... and if the EGR goes before 80,000 miles, you may want to look at that too.

Thanks for reading this, I know it was long but made me feel better I am getting the word out. Brian at BCURBOX@AOL.COM.

What is an EGR?

I have a 2003 Mazda MPV. I've had the shift shock repaired under warranty. The PCV hose went bad and I had it repaired under warranty.

Last year the hose went bad again, and I bullied the dealer into replacing it for free because they replaced the defective hose with the same part # hose (ie replaced a defective hose with another defective hose).

Also just replaced the fan control module on my own. Look on www.mpvclub.com for lots of good DIY advice - that's how I changed out the FCM.

As of this morning my oil pan gasket just went bad, and it's back at the dealer with a 450 fix. I have 83k miles on it.

I think if it leaves me on the side of the road, I will trade it in, but as long as it keeps running I'll keep it...

Still better than my '99 Dodge Grand Caravan, that thing was a disaster.

Own a 2005 LX with nearly 40,000 miles and LOVE it!!! Dealer support has been FANTASTIC (better than 2 local Honda dealers that I have had experience with). Too bad they don't import the new MPV - it is even BETTER!

EGR means: exhaust gas recirculation.

Wikipedia: "EGR works by recirculating a portion of an engine's exhaust gas back to the engine cylinders. Intermixing the incoming air with recirculated exhaust gas dilutes the mix with inert gas, lowering the adiabatic flame temperature and (in diesel engines) reducing the amount of excess oxygen. The exhaust gas also increases the specific heat capacity of the mix, lowering the peak combustion temperature. Because NOx formation progresses much faster at high temperatures, EGR serves to limit the generation of NOx. NOx is primarily formed when a mix of nitrogen and oxygen is subjected to high temperatures."

I own a 2003 Mazda MPV LX and have over 105,000 miles on it. It has performed beautifully like my previous 1994 Protege that lasted for 112,000.

Over the last five years, the only major thing I had to replace was the ignition coils. I change oil and rotate tires every 4000 miles. Don't know if that has anything to do with it or the fact that Florida is winter free from salt used for snow removal.

I have so much confidence in this car that I made a trip from Southwest Florida to Nashville, TN and didn't worry for a minute about car issues and it still rides as smooth as the first day I got it. Many people can't believe that my MPV is 5 years old and with over 105,000 miles.