◆

2003 Mazda MPV repairs by problem area

Engine (72%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (1%)

Brakes and Traction Control (5%)

Suspension and Steering (6%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (12%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (2%)

Other (2%)

Select a problem area

Show all problems

Need advice about a specific Mazda MPV problem?

Chart based on 217 repairs.

See TSBs and recalls for the 2003 Mazda MPV.

2003 Mazda MPV engine repair cost distribution

$2500+ (1%)

$1000 - $2499 (8%)

$500 - $999 (12%)

$100 - $499 (44%)

< $100 (35%)

See most expensive repairs

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 141 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

155000 mi

Check engine light went off, test say "Bank 1 collector full"(Oxygen) erased comp memo, have to drive on high octane fuel.

85000 mi

US $1100

Engine gasket replacement with oil pan.

Return to top

109000 mi US $2500	One of the spark plug poped out while the car was still running. Latter we learned that the ciramic of the plug had melted & fallen into the cylinder, damaging the engine. I had no options but replace the engine.
110000 mi US $2500	one of the cylinders lost compression

117000 mi

US $44

Coil failure cyl 5

214900 mi US $350	Failed ignition coil on rear bank of cylinders which necessitated removing the intake plenum. This is the fifth or sixth time this has happened in the 11 years I have owned this vehicle.
235700 mi US $250	Coolant leak from radiator system
247000 mi US $300	The ignition coils went out again. The back three (under the intake manifold) were replaced even though only one was defective. I approved the additional work. The car began leaking coolant again. The leak was repaired.
247200 mi US $70	One of the front ignition coils failed, causing hesitation and misfire on cylinder four. I replaced the coil myself.

123000 mi US $1200	Noisy - had to replace expensive front pipes (one had integrated cat). Had tranny oil changed while there.
180000 mi	Exhaust leak at manifold. Snapped bolt. Estimaged repair cost $1000+. Will soon go to the junk yard.
180000 mi	Check engine light - multiple O2 sensor problems. Loud, running poorly. Took in for evaluation and was told that a bolt snapped off exhaust manifold - a very expensive repair + whatever else was wrong.

48000 mi US $100	Temp sensor/t-stat/fan module
63000 mi US $75	check engine light.(this is a yearly occurrence for something or other with this car @ about the same time frame). This time it was code p0031 ho2 sensor heater. Probably O2 sensor as heater is built into device.
71000 mi US $75	O2 sensor bank1 sensor1.

66000 mi	Oxygen sensor replaced.
76000 mi US $400	Replace PCV vacuum lines and related parts; clean intake; reset cel
78000 mi US $550	Replace water pump, disconnect rear heat (lines leaking)
84000 mi US $120	Engine cooling fans running erratically. Replaced fan control module. (Note - common MPV repair; use the Mazda part and not the $50 aftermarket alternative. I went the cheap route first and ended up doing the job again a week later.)
79300 mi US $250	Replace motor mount Replace O2 sensor

91000 mi

US $300

flex pipes on exhaust system were rusted out and wide open

105700 mi US $100	Oil pan gasket replaced
115000 mi US $800	Motor Mounts had to be replaced

108580 mi

C $30

# 5 Coil Pack went bad (again)

13500 mi

Re-programmed auto transmission for shift shock and engine control module (removed a false check engine indication).

87000 mi

US $300

PCV hose replacemnt

105000 mi

Past repairs include replaced spark plug coils, replaced EGR hose

14727 mi	Reflash transmission
38196 mi	Replaced ignition coil-cyl #3

114000 mi

US $200

Severe vacuum vacuum leak and bad water pump

112200 mi US $1122	Replace PCV Valve Engine Oil Pan gasket Timing Cover/Gasket + Outer cover gasket
113800 mi US $1120	Replace valve cover gaskets
127364 mi US $264	Engine analysis. Replace cylinder #4 ignition coil. Engine analysis. Replace cylinder #4 ignition coil.
167000 mi US $170	replace ignition coils Replace drive belt

109000 mi

US $550

Strong smell of burnt oil from engine compartment, but nothing obvious seen under hood (smoke or actual oil) and nothing on the ground.

98000 mi

US $350

problem with ignition coils

71300 mi ﷼22	Jerky downshifting, fuel thirsty
74600 mi ﷼40	Heater hoses cracked. Coolant leaked.
83580 mi ﷼99	The O2 sensor (aka B1S1 P0031) malfunctioned and had to replace.
91032740 mi ﷼4	drive belt tensioner bearing noise. bearing replaced and repaired.
94240 mi	fan control module is erratic. runs unnecessarily high most of the time.

79000 mi US $50	Oil pan gasket and crankshaft seal replaced to fix oil leaks.
85000 mi US $300	Coil on cyl #3 failed, incompetent mechanic refused to replace coil. Instead he replaced spark plugs for $300. Problem came back in less than 100 miles. Previous incompetent mechanic did not reconnect IMCC harness, did not properly torque intake manifold causing vacuum leaks. Mechanic also did not replace faulty coil. Replaced coil.
91000 mi US $100	Replaced remaining coils, all showed signs of severe wear. Visible corrosion. PCV valve also replaced, it had been removed and was no longer able to stay in engine block. Crankcase vapors leaking into HVAC system due to this.
90300 mi US $45	Replaced the ECT. The O-ring on the original broke down and coolant started seeping past it eventually corroding the sensor causing it to underreport the coolant temperature.
99000 mi US $100	leaking oil pan, replaced oil pan with updated style.

87000 mi

US $240

Wouldn't start temp sensor

68000 mi US $248	Ignition Coil #4 failed causing a check engine light, loss of power, vibration in engine, misfire. Coil replaced and MPV runs like new. Not bad considering almost 68,000 miles and 8 years old.
70000 mi US $1700	Engine had loss of power and increase exhaust noise. Mechanic discovered hairline crack in Orig front stainless steel Exhaust Manifold. Crack was in rusted out seam weld in the exhaust manifold. Driver LF top Orig Oxygen Sensor Bad.
72000 mi US $245	Original Ignition Coil #5 failed and replaced. Also # 5 Original Spark Plug replaced.
75500 mi US $340	Original rear Oxygen Sensor went bad and was replaced.
86100 mi US $264	Engine misfire. Original Ignition coil #6 Along with Original Mazda Platinum spark plug replaced. Engine smooth and power restored.
90000 mi US $605	Loss of power during acceleration and when A/C on. Replaced all original spark plugs and the original 3 ignition coils and spark plugs closest to the firewall even though coils were still good since the labor was the same without the coils.
88300 mi US $131	Original exhaust flex pipe on passenger side rusted and rotted causing a hole resulting in noise. New flex pipe was welded in.
107000 mi US $281	Front Oxygen Sensor failure. Part replaced.
107690 mi US $9	Two OEM flex pipes replace along with OriginalOEM Catalytic pipe , Original OEM intermediate pipe and Original OEM exhaust tailpipe replaced due to rust and corrosion from salt.. Check engine light on. Computer code read both engine banks running lean. Removed Original OEM Mass Air Flow Sensor as recommend by parts store and sprayed with CRC Mass Air Flow cleaner at $8.99. Reinstalled cleaned Mass Air flow Sensor and check engine light cleared by parts store. Engine runs perfect.
108553 mi US $250	Bank 1 Sensor 1 upstream Oxygen sensor by firewall replaced.

125000 mi US $650	Engine light - diagnossis bad ingition coil. Coil replaced. Additionally replaced plugs.
155000 mi US $550	Cooling System - Crack in radiator at upper hose connection.
181000 mi US $200	Bad coil on number 3 cylinder
189100 mi US $900	"Front" Engine seal replaced due to oil leak that dripped on exhaust pipe creating a very bad smell
206000 mi US $45	EVAP related CEL. Replaced purge valve and gas cap.
220300 mi US $12	Gasket for IIAC valve (actuator) replaced
222700 mi US $75	Emissions: O2 Sensor Bank 2, Sensor 1
232000 mi US $50	Replaced Purge Valve, IIAC valve. Seemed to be fixed for a while, but engine light returned Took it to repair $$$hop. Replaced intake gaskets, PCV valve, air hose. Also performed smog check. A week later, same engine light / codes returned. Returned to repair shop, replaced purge valve (again)
235000 mi US $175	Cooling fan running loud and erratic

65000 mi US $340	Engine was idling rough. It turns out the PCV hose had a hole in it (again). This was repaired a couple of years ago under recall but failed again.
100000 mi US $359	Car was losing lots of coolant while driving. No puddles. Noticed coolant residue around water pump. Pressure test performed - no leaking hoses. Water pump was shot and they replaced it and all the coolant. Works great.

114000 mi US $491	Exhaust leak. Had to change the flex pipe.
117000 mi US $220	Replaced spark plugs and ignition coil

	TSB for Temp Sensor
61300 mi US $340	Coolant crossover pipe cracked. Part was a Mazda only part and took a couple of days to get in. Not a bad leak and wanted it replaced before any major damage happened.
70000 mi US $1000	New brakes, 5 coils and plugs. All original.

108000 mi	One Catalytic converter & two O2 sensors failed, due to engine misfiring.
110400 mi US $2500	coils failed & needed to be replaced with plugs
117700 mi US $250	coil failed - again & CAT Convertor damaged. Will not pass inspection. Going to trade this thing in- I'm done sinking $$$ into it....
126000 mi	Traded with toasted cats.

107000 mi US $552	Replaced water pump.
117000 mi US $330	Vehicle jerked when at stoplight. A hose was replaced that was leaking air. $90 for a rubber hose? Successful repair.

53000 mi US $360	Ignition coil for one cylinder failed, causing rough running in wet weather and CEL to stay on. Required two trips to shop: two hours' diagnosis, which was unsuccessful, but shop swapped ignition wires around so that when problem reappeared, they were abl
64000 mi US $310	Oil pan gasket leaked engine leaked oil. Necessary to remove part of exhaust to access oil pan, adding to cost of replacing gasket.
78000 mi US $150	PCV tubing leaked, causing lean-burn fault code. Part not available due to holidays, but car was drivable in interim Parts received and installed to repair PCV tubing.
80000 mi US $230	Rough running and stalling caused by faulty coolant temp sensor, causing CEL light to come on. Could not drive car except very short distance with cold engine.
81000 mi US $600	Abrupt shifting, particulary 1 to 2 at low road speed, diagnosed as due to failed ring sensor in transmission. Sensor replaced.
88000 mi US $500	For 3rd time, an ignition coil failed, causing short in wet weather; misfiring on 1 cylinder. Extensive labor to access rear cylinder bank. Replcd coil & rmng 3 originals. Also replcd plugs to avoid repeat of labor later (addl $ not included)
90000 mi US $300	Coolant leaking. Replaced water pump. Rear heater not working; plugged line or valve possible, but will be evaluated at a later time.
100000 mi US $600	Cooling system hose leaking; replaced
107000 mi US $800	Piping to rear heater corroded and leaking coolant. Replaced with new parts - past extended warranty that Mazda has reportedly added for this problem.
136000 mi US $1400	Heater core leaking with odor of hot coolant inside vehicle. Very lengthy labor to access, thus high cost.
138000 mi US $1600	Oil leak had been noted on a prior maintenance visit - burning oil smell now apparent. Timing chain cover gasket leaked oil onto exhaust manifold. Extensive labor expense. Timing chains, tensioners, guides found to be very clean.
138200 mi	Replaced one catalytic converter.
139000 mi	Exhaust system extremely rusty and near end of life. Replaced one catalytic converter earlier in year; three more in system remained with unknown reliability.

117800 mi C $60	The fan control module was going crazy. A twenty minute job lasted for hours. Had to take the battery and tray out to get access. Module replaced with new version. Now working normally.
119660 mi C $600	Ignition coils, which cost CAN$90 each. Mechanic suggested replace the back three with new ones. Then take one of the three old good ones to replace the defective one in the front and save the two good ones in case the ones in the front misfired again.
124000 mi	Check engine light came on. Garage pulled and cleared the code. Oxygen sensor malfunction.($200)Garage will replace sensor if it is on again. No charge.
130200 mi C $1000	Eventually one of the front 3 coils gone. Back 3 coils replaced earlier. Replaced the 3 coils with new ones($100@). 2 codes for 1 chk eng. replaced the PCV hose, $110. Mechanic said the hose is new design and should not crack.
136400 mi	P0421 Bank1 cat efficiency below threshold. Reset by disconnecting battery. Have to change cat.
14260 mi C $224	check engine light on again. "fixed" by disconnecting battery. Plan to replace catalytic converter before next emission test. Part of the flex pipe on the exhaust had a hole in it.
148800 mi	Check engine light on again. Cleared by disconnecting negative terminal. I think it is the same catalytic converter problem.

31000 mi C $100	Replaced Idle Air control valve at 50040. Stalling after hard acceleration when releasing the gas. Found the solution here: http://mazdaforum.com/m_49352/tm.htm
58280 mi C $120	PCV hose failed. In 2004 Mazda issued a recall which our van had applied. Hose failed again. Replaced and it's all good not. Part number AJ51-13-89YB.

78000 mi US $50	Replaced Coil #6. Check engine light would come on during rainy weather. Did repair myself after research on mpvclub.com.
96000 mi US $225	Replace the back 3 ignition coils. One was bad but replace all since had it apart. Known issue for this model for the earlier coil version to get moisture inside.
119000 mi US $60	P0126 - ECT not reporting correct temp. Poor gas mileage plus minor coolant leak around the o-ring. Known issue with this car.

147000 mi

US $250

Car was dragging no exhaust power also check engine flashing off and on. New coil pack putting in van.

109000 mi US $140	replaced engine oil pan gasket and fixed leak, replaced leaking ECT sensor, replaced worn front sway bar links
114000 mi US $20	Replacement of PCV boot at engine manifold.
145000 mi US $80	Replaced fan control module
149000 mi US $1400	timing cover oil leak
150000 mi US $300	Repaired oxygen sensor
183000 mi US $28	replaced induction hose due to crack
198000 mi US $400	Replaced radiator due to leak
200000 mi US $200	replaced air bypass valve due to erratic idle
216000 mi US $75	Replaced bad ignition coil
219000 mi US $90	Replaced rear engine mount
222000 mi US $180	Replaced rear bank ignition coils

76260 mi C $1487	Noticed leak in oil pan – relaced oil pan gasket and crank seal. Engine runs rough on idle – replaced EGR valve, by-pass valve, gasket, A.c. sket, A.C. Hose, P.C.V SE, P.C.V. valve. Repair Vacuum hose near left strut tower. Replace leak detection pump.
79360 mi C $702	1 -Engine idles rough after warming up. Sometimes it is so rough that it is better to turn the car off and drive it later. Ignition Coils replaced and now the engine idles very well. 2 -Intermittent problem starting...replaced battery

57000 mi

US $200

The PCV hose assembly was replaced.

67000 mi US $350	Coil #5 broke down. To replace it it required all the upper part of the engine to be removed in order to gain access. Therefore although the part itself was about 70$ the cost of labor caused the price to be 350$.
68000 mi US $450	vacuum hose
85300 mi US $110	Another ignition coil had to be replaced due to a misfire. DIY to avoid paying labor, $75 for the part. Also replaced air control module, $35 for the part.
87000 mi US $70	Leak in the vacuum hose.

85000 mi

US $225

Broken PCV hose. Had originally been replaced under recall. Refused to replace again.

67000 mi	Engine oil pan gasket leaking. Didn't repair because will have to replace entire oil pan.
70100 mi US $400	Engine quit running. Replaced ignition module and cleaned fuel injector.
79000 mi US $400	replace oxygen sensor
82600 mi	new front brakes, plugs, and coils along with bodywork due to a collision.
91000 mi US $250	oxygen sensor replaced
81200 mi US $110	Check engine light: code re cat converter. Dealer was able to get light off after some magic. Needs to be smog tested. Expensive repairs if it fails.
112000 mi US $760	water pump and belt cooling fan module replaced replaced air intake breather hose

67000 mi US $300	Replaced pre-cat O2 sensor on right bank (cowl side) of V6 engine. Done by independent mechanic.
77000 mi US $80	Replaced pre-cat O2 sensor on left bank (radiator side) of V6 engine. Cost includes special socket to remove O2 sensor. Replaced pre-cat O2 sensor on left bank (radiator side) of V6 engine. Cost includes special socket to remove O2 sensor. Added Lubegard Red to address modest shift flare problem (The duplicate entries for these repairs listed in Jun 2009 are erroneous.)
78000 mi US $75	Replaced collapsed, split PCV hose (causing the CEL) and incidentally all six plugs (which requires removing the intake manifold!).
89000 mi	I replaced the oil pan due to a very slow gasket leak.
97200 mi US $5	OBD-II Code P0306: misfire in cyl 6 during a severe rain storm. Misfiring stopped after storm. I erased code and pulled plug wires and coils for cyls 4,5,6 and sprayed the coil, plug, and spring with wire dryer.
95000 mi	Minor vacuum leak in IMRC; sealed with RTV
135000 mi US $30	MIL came on with P0174 code (vacuum leak). Found crack in air intake hose between MAF sensor and throttle body. Replaced the hose
120000 mi US $60	Replaced the PCV hose yet again.