Model year guide

1997 Mazda mpv

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1997 Mazda mpv is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 1 on record.

1997 Mazda mpv — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1997 Mazda mpv at a glance

Safety recalls1
Owner complaints25
Combined17 mpg

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1997 Mazda mpv recalls 1

Electrical System:ignition:switch NHTSA Campaign #15V674000 · 19/10/2015

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.

Fix: 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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1997 Mazda mpv common problems

Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA. These are the most-reported areas in a sample of the most recent — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Latches/locks/linkages
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.
Gasoline
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

1997 Mazda mpv MPG & running costs

Combined17 mpg
City15 mpg
Highway20 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,950
EPA size classSpecial Purpose Vehicles
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$7,750 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1997 Mazda mpv costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$19,750
Fuel only$19,750
Per mile$0.26

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

1997 Mazda mpv trims & engines on record

Trims
base
Engines
3.0L 6-cyl 137 hp

1997 Mazda mpv vehicles on record

1997 Mazda mpv 1997 Mazda mpv baseJM3LV5222V0825742

Other Mazda mpv model years

2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

1997 Mazda mpv — frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 Mazda mpv have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1997 Mazda mpv. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 1997 Mazda mpv?

Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA; in a sample of the most recent, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, engine and engine cooling, power train.

What gas mileage does the 1997 Mazda mpv get?

The 1997 Mazda mpv has a U.S. EPA estimate of 17 mpg combined (15 city / 20 highway).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.