2001 Mazda Millenia
The Verdict
The 2001 Mazda Millenia has 30 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (11 complaints) and engine (8 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 93/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Mazda Millenia, consider the 2000 model year which has 36% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2000 has 36% fewer complaints
View the 2000 Mazda Millenia dashboard →
Klunk Score: Smooth Ride
This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY ON A CITY STREET. STARTED THE VEHICLE, FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE.VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT NORMAL RPM. WHEN THE FOOT WAS REMOVED FROM THE BRAKE PETAL, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AT FULL THROTTLE. MY FOOT NEVER TOUCHED THE GAS PEDAL. IT TRAVELED ABOUT 10 FEET STRIKING A VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BY PUSHING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND CAME TO A STOP. THE ENGINE SPEED RETURNED TO NORMAL RPM. I STARTED TO LIFT MY FOOT OFF THE BREAK PEDAL AND THE CAR RESUMED FULL THROTTLE FORWARD. IT PUSHED THE FIRST VEHICLE I HIT INTO THE CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF IT AND PUSHED IT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE BEFORE I COULD GET IT STOPPED. THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL RPM. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT FILED. AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC CHECKED THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CRASH AND FOUND THE THROTTLE LINKAGE WAS FREE, WAS NOT ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE HIGH RPM, AND COULD NOT READ ANY ERROR CODES ON THE COMPUTER. THIS WAS WITHIN 20 MINUTES OF THE CRASH WHILE THE POLICE WERE PRESENT. BOTH VEHICLES I HIT WERE TOTALED. NO SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATHS IN THE ACCIDENT.
MY MECHANIC, MOJARRO AUTO REPAIR, ORDERED FROM AUTOZONE THIS PART....WHEN IT ARRIVED, REALIZED IT DIDN'T AT ALL RESEMBLE THE PART THAT HIS DIAGNOSTIC TOOL STATED WAS THE PROBLEM. JESSE, FOUND 1 AT A WRECKING YARD. IN 3 DAYS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AGAIN. I PHONED DETROIT, MICHIGAN....GAVE THEM THE VIN & PART'S #, THE GENTLEMAN STATED, " THAT PART IS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED" THIS CAR STILL DRIVES...W/NO HESITATION, CITY OR HWY. CAN I GET A 1 TIME PASS FROM DMV TIL IT'S NEXT RENEWAL?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA MILLENIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000.
I WAS DRIVING ON BYPASS AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL OFF LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO GO. IT WAS TRYING TO STALL AND AN 18 WHEELER WAS BEHIND ME. THE DRIVER OF THE 18 WHEELER ALMOST HIT ME AND HE HONKED HIS HORN AT ME. I GUESS HE THOUGHT I WAS PLAYING SOME SORT OF GAME WITH HIM. *TR
PURCHASED A 2001 MAZDA MILLENIA IN DECEMBER 2003 - ONGOING ENGINE FLOW/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ISSUES; PROBLEM WITHIN 12-MONTHS - LIGHT STAYS ON...ASKED AND WAS NEVER PROVIDED SOLUTION TO ISSUE; REPAIRS DO NOT FIX ISSUE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS LIT; NO CAR REPAIR SHOP OR MAZDA DEALER HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM; I LOVE THE CAR BUT THIS IS A KNOWN MAZDA ENGINE ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BY MAZDA; AS A CUSTOMER I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND MORE TIME/MONEY IN USELESS REPAIRS. *TR
MY CAR WAS PURCHASED AT A DEALERSHIP FOUR YEARS AGO WITH AFTERMARKET TINTS ALREADY INSTALLED. THE CAR WAS GIVEN TO ME WITH A VALID INSPECTION STICKER WHICH WAS RENEWED ANNUALLY BY THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL THIS YEAR WHEN THEY TOLD ME THAT IT DIDN'T PASS BECAUSE OF THE TINT BEING TO DARK. AM I OR SHOULD I BE HELD FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FACT THAT THIS CAR DID NOT PASS. IF IT DIDN'T PASS THIS YEAR THAN OBVIOUSLY IT SHOULDN'T HAVE PASSED FROM THE TIME THEY HELD THE CAR AND SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN PASSED ON TO THE CUSTOMER. I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF I HAVE GROUNDS FOR A COMPLAINT HAND HOW TO INITIATE SUCH A PROCESS. *TR
2001 MAZDA MILLENIA - ONGOING EGR FLOW/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ISSUES; BOUGHT CAR NEW FROM DEALER AND HAD PROBLEM WITHIN 12-MONTHS - ASKED AND WAS NEVER PROVIDED SOLUTION TO ISSUE; DISSATISFIED FROM DAY 1 OF OWNING CAR; REPAIRS DO NOT FIX ISSUE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS LIT; NO CAR REPAIR SHOP OR MAZDA DEALER HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM; THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND TIME SPENT - THIS IS A KNOWN MAZDA ENGINE ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BY MAZDA; AS A CUSTOMER I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND MORE TIME/MONEY. *TR
TIRE BLOW-OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEED FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. THE ENTIRE OUTER SIDEWALL WAS PERFORATED AROUND THE OUTER SIDEWALL, INNER SIDE WALL WAS INTACT. AIR PRESSURE WAS CHECKED CORRECTED TWO DAYS PREVIOUS AS TIRE WAS 5#'S LOW. GOODYEAR ASSURANCE, 215/55/16. SIDEWALL WAS SEPARATED FROM LINING /BELTS. ALSO HAVE ONE OTHER TIRE THAT WAS REPLACED WHERE GOODYEAR CLAIMED THE BELT SHIFTED CAUSING A CAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT CONDITION. *TR
PURCHASED VEHICLE BRAND NEW FROM DEALER (CROSSROADS MAZDA IN CARY, NC) AND FROM DAY 1 HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY REPLACED IN MAY 2004 (RIGHT AFTER IT WENT OUT OF WARRANTY); CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING FOR NO REASON AND AS OF 12/08, CANNOT GET CAR INSPECTED DUE TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT; REQUESTING A REPAIR WAIVER SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN MAZDA ISSUE AND THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO RESOLVE/ASSIST THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR
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. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA MILLENIA. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH OR GREATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT NOTICED TINY DOTS ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT OBSTRUCTED HER VIEW. AS OF SEPTEMBER 27, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
2001 MAZDA MILLENIA WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS AND WOULD STOP ABRUPTLY. *KB ***NAR*** THE TECHNICIAN AT THE TRANSMISSION SHOP INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IMPLODED. *NM
2001 MAZDA MILLENIA WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR AND WOULD STOP ABRUPTLY. UPON INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION IMPLODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *KB ***NAR*** *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHROME ON THE WHEELS FLAKES OFF, CAUSING THE TIRE BEAD TO BREAK. THIS RESULTS IN LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP GROUND THE METAL ON THE INNER WHEEL IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE TIRE TO HOLD THE CORRECT PRESSURE.
DT: CONTACT STATED THE TIRES THAT CAME ON THE CAR WERE DEFECTIVE. THE BACK TIRES WERE BALD AND THE FRONT TIRES WERE WEARING THIN. THE CAR HAS 14,000 MILES ON IT. THE CONSUMER ORDERED 4 BRAND NEW TIRES . SHE HAD NOT TALKED TO THE DEALER. *AK THERE WAS A PROBLEM KEEPING THE TIRES BALANCED AND THERE WAS ALWAYS A VIBRATION.*JB
NINE MONTHS AFTER THE POWER STEERING WHEEL TILT MOTOR FAILED, I AGAIN EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE, LEAVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN THE EXTREME-UP ("BUS-DRIVER") POSITION. NO WARNING; I JUST PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE WHEEL DID NOT COME DOWN (IT AUTOMATICALLY SWINGS UP OUT OF THE WAY WHEN YOU TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION). THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE, ALTHOUGH THE STEERING WHEEL TECHNICALLY STILL WORKS, IN ORDER TO DRIVE ONE HAS TO ELEVATE THE SEAT IN THE VERTICAL PLANE TO MAXIMUM AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LIKE THAT OF A BUS. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT, WERE ONE TO BE INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN SUCH A POSITION, THE AIRBAG WOULD BE AIMED AT ONE'S CHIN, PROBABLY RESULTING IN A BROKEN NECK, AND THE "BOTTOM" OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS POINTED DIRECTLY AT THE MIDDLE OF ONE'S CHEST, BELOW THE STERNUM, PROBABLY RESULTING IN MASSIVE INTERNAL INJURIES OR, EASILY, IN DEATH. THE PREVIOUS FAILURE (NOV 12, 2004) WAS DEEMED TO BE A FAILED MOTOR; THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF $363.33. THIS FAILURE IS NOW DEEMED TO BE A FAILURE OF THE STEERING COLUMN ITSELF - THIS WILL COST ME ~$1600!!!!*AK
THE TILT-STEERING MOTOR FAILED, LEAVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN THE EXTREME-UP ("BUS-DRIVER") POSITION. NO WARNING; I JUST PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE WHEEL DID NOT COME DOWN (IT AUTOMATICALLY SWINGS OUT OF THE WAY WHEN YOU TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION). THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE, ALTHOUGH THE STEERING WHEEL TECHNICALLY STILL WORKS, IN ORDER TO DRIVE ONE HAS TO ELEVATE THE SEAT IN THE VERTICAL PLANE TO MAXIMUM AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LIKE THAT OF A BUS. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT, WERE ONE TO BE INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN SUCH A POSITION, THE AIRBAG WOULD BE AIMED AT ONE'S CHIN, PROBABLY RESULTING IN A BROKEN NECK, AND THE "BOTTOM" OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS POINTED DIRECTLY AT THE MIDDLE OF ONE'S CHEST, BELOW THE STERNUM, PROBABLY RESULTING IN MASSIVE INTERNAL INJURIES OR, EASILY, IN DEATH.*AK
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL OR WARRANTY.*AK
FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE INSIDE OF THE 17" LOW PROFILE WHEELS OF MY 2001 MAZDA MILLENIA S HAVE CORRODED AND ALL FOUR TIRES LOSE MOST OF THEIR AIR. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MAZDA ABOUT THIS, AND HAVE TAKEN IT IN ON TWO OCCASIONS, WAITED FOR HOURS AND TOLD THEY NEEDED IT AT A LATER TIME TO REMOVE THE WHEELS AND TIRES AND TAKE PICTURES OF THEM TO FORWARD TO MAZDA. I TOOK TWO HALF DAYS OFF WORK AND WAITED EACH TIME. WE PUT AIR IN THE TIRES EVERY TWO DAYS. THE WHEELS HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND THE CORROSION POLISHED OFF SIX TIMES NOW - 2X IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS. THE TIRE SHOPS SAY THIS IS COMMON FOR THESE WHEELS. THE CAR ONLY HAS 43,000 MILES ON IT AND IS MAZDA'S FLAGSHIP FROM 2001. I AM SURE THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS FOR A NUMBER OF MILLENIAS ON THE ROAD AND OTHER MANUFACTURERS AS WELL. THE LOW TIRES ARE SURE TO HAVE CAUSED SOME ACCIDENTS.*AK
PARKED THE CAR IN THE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT AND WHEN RETURNING TO THE CAR TO LEAVE, STARTED THE CAR, BACKED OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT AND THEN PROCEEDED TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND LEAVE. WHEN I DID, THE CAR KEPT GOING IN REVERSE. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, PARK, 2ND AND OVERDRIVE ALL WHICH THE CAR KEPT GOING IN REVERSE. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS NOT CLOSE ENOUGH NOR WERE THERE PEOPLE SURROUNDING THE CAR IMMEDIATELY THAT I COULD HAVE HIT BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. I LET THE CAR ROLL BACK IN TO A SPOT AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. WHEN I DID THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL. I LEFT THE CAR THERE UNTIL I GOT THE CAR TOWED THE NEXT MORNING. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID IT WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE CAR DID NOT ROLL AWAY OR SOMEONE STOLE IT BECAUSE WHILE IT WAS IN PARK, THE CAR COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN PUSHED AS HE DEMONSTRATED TO ME AND THE MECHANIC. THIS IS A 2001 CAR AND I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT. I HATE TO THINK ABOUT THE POSSIBLITY THAT I COULD HAVE STARTED TO DRIVE FORWARD ONLY TO HAVE THE CAR GO IN REVERSE AND HIT A PERSON OR CHILD. THIS FAULTY DEFECTY SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMEONE OR SOMETHING DOES GET HURT. SINCE THEN, THE MECHANICE HAS FIXED IT AND WAS A FAULTY SHIFT CABLE THAT HE REPLACED AND FOR ME VERY COSTLY BUT NOT AS COSTLY AS THE INJURY TO SOMEONE IF THIS CAR WOULD HAVE BACKED IN TO THEM.*AK
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