1997 Mazda MPV
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 9 of 22 complaints (41%) mention it.
Complaints filed rose from 18 in 1996 to 22 in 1997.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | vs. 1997 Special Purpose Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,300–4,150 | 3,650–4,150 | 3,650–4,150 | 3,650–4,150 | |
| Combined MPG | 15–19 | 15–17 | 15–17 | 15–17 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 14–16 / 17–22 | 14–15 / 17–20 | 14–15 / 17–20 | 13–15 / 17–20 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 468–592 | 523–592 | 523–592 | 523–592 | |
| Complaints filed | 19 | 18 | 22 | 19 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 2 | 2 | 9 | 4 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
| Injuries reported | 3 | 4 | 10 | 4 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 1997 Mazda MPV have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 1997 Mazda MPV?
Airbags & Restraints: 9 of 22 NHTSA complaints (41%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 1997 Mazda MPV get?
EPA rates it 15–17 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 1997 Mazda MPV?
EPA estimates $3,650–$4,150 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Special Purpose Vehicles | 15 mpg (high) | 20 mpg (high) | 17 mpg (high) | $3,650 (low) | 523 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Special Purpose Vehicles | 14 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | 15 mpg (low) | $4,150 (high) | 592 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 9 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH · Campaign 15V674000 · Oct 19, 2015
Defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.
Consequence: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.