VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Mazda MPV2000–2006
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Mazda MPV
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Mazda MPV Years to Avoid
2 recalls · 98 complaints
13 reported injuries
Top issue: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
2 recalls · 68 complaints
11 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2 recalls · 81 complaints
2 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Mazda MPV — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 0 | 4 | — | — | 96 | 38 | 76 | Excellent |
| 2005 | 0 | 25 | 3 | — | 74 | 38 | 61 | Good |
| 2004 | 3 | 53 | 2 | — | 54 | 38 | 48 | Caution |
| 2003 | 2 | 68 | 11 | — | 55 | 38 | 49 | Avoid |
| 2002 | 2 | 81 | 2 | — | 59 | 38 | 52 | Avoid |
| 2001 | 2 | 48 | 13 | — | 54 | 38 | 48 | Caution |
| 2000 | 2 | 98 | 13 | — | 54 | 38 | 48 | Avoid |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Mazda MPV Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the MPV compares — best year within each era shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year MPV to buy?+
The 2006 Mazda MPV scores highest on our Buyer Score (76/100) — combining a reliability score of 96/100 with a value score of 38/100. It has 0 recalls and 4 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which MPV years have the most problems?+
The 2000, 2003, 2002 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2000 MPV leads with 2 recalls and 98 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common MPV problems?+
The most frequently reported Mazda MPV issues involve: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.