What breaks most · 1991 to 2003 model years
Mazda Millenia problems by year
Owners have filed 240 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Mazda Millenia across model years 1991 to 2003. Three years stand out: 1995 for engine and cooling complaints, 1998 for powertrain and transmission complaints and 2001 for engine and cooling complaints. The quietest years are 1991, 1996 and 1997.
- Years to check closely: 1995, 1998, 2001
- Fewest complaints: 1991, 1996, 1997
- Complaints on file
- 2401991 to 2003, all trims
- Worst year
- 199582 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 272 fires · 26 injuries · 4 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 70kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 0Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | Seat belts (1) | |
| 82 | 11 | 0 | Engine and cooling (28) | |
| 15 | 2 | 0 | Powertrain and transmission (4) | |
| 16 | 2 | 0 | Powertrain and transmission (4) | |
| 29 | 3 | 0 | Powertrain and transmission (5) | |
| 27 | 2 | 0 | Tires (5) | |
| 19 | 1 | 0 | Engine and cooling (7) | |
| 29 | 3 | 0 | Engine and cooling (7) | |
| 21 | 2 | 0 | Engine and cooling (5) | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | Visibility (1) |
What fails on the 1995 Mazda Millenia
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and coolingRadiators, thermostats and cooling | 34% |
28 | 0 | Shop engine and cooling parts for the 1995 Mazda Millenia |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 21% |
17 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Air bags | 18% |
15 | 8 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
| Unknown or other | 11% |
9 | 0 | — |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 10% |
8 | 1 | Shop electrical system parts for the 1995 Mazda Millenia |
| SuspensionStruts, springs and control arms | 9% |
7 | 0 | Shop suspension parts for the 1995 Mazda Millenia |
| VisibilityMirrors and glass | 7% |
6 | 1 | Shop all visibility parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Seat belts | 7% |
6 | 1 | Check recalls for seat belts on NHTSA.gov |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
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Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) just purchased a 1995 mazda millenia and have replaced 2 of the 4 o2 sensors. I now have a tcm error code. In researching the vehicle, i've found this to be a common occurance in these years and models. The VIN # is [xxx].
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Transmission jerks at the beginning of acceleration and when brakes are applied. Dealer has replaced transmission, but problem still exists.*ak
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2001 millenia s engine light went on. Mechanic had to replace an engine cylinder and all plugs. Appears now a second cylinder is going as engine light is repeating. Less then 32,000 miles but oput ow warranty.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Mazda Millenia years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 1995, 1998, 2001 carry the most filings on the Mazda Millenia. The 1995 alone has 82 complaints, led by engine and cooling.
What is the most common Mazda Millenia problem?
On the 1995 model year, the most-reported component is engine and cooling with 28 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Mazda Millenia problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Mazda Millenia complaints that include mileage is about 70,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.