The Weekly Driver
Reliability
Mazda

Millenia (2002)

2002 · Compact Sedan · 1 engine
Reliability score 8.9/10
18 NHTSA Complaints
0 Recalls
0 Fire Reports
2 Crash Reports
View all 2 generations of the Mazda Millenia → Inspection checklist

Reliability Score

8.9 / 10

Reliability score

Fewer owner complaints than similar compact sedans

The class average is 7.0. Based on complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the engine, transmission or drivetrain.

Owners filed 6 powertrain complaints. A typical compact sedan fleet of this size and age would have drawn about 19.

Scores this high have held: three years on they had moved 0.2 points in the typical case.

Breakdown
Complaints overall6 complaints against about 19 for similar vehicles
8.9
Last three years
n/aNot enough data
Engine, transmission or drive unit failed or replaced
n/aNot enough data
Oil consumption, fuel in the oil or overheating
n/aNot enough data

Each line scores one view of the same complaints the same way, so the lines overlap. The mark on each bar is the class average. A line needs 20 expected complaints to show a number.

Similar vehicles are others in the same class, compared at the same age and in the same years. The score counts complaints owners filed with NHTSA, per vehicle built, which is different from the share of vehicles that fail. How the score is worked out

On the record

No serious powertrain recall covering 5% or more of this generation and no escalated investigation in NHTSA's files. Warranty extensions and settlements have not been researched.

Complaints by Engine Code

KLD

2.5L 6-cyl / 153 hp
12 complaints 12.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
4
cooling
3
suspension
3
safety systems
2
other
1

Same engine used in

MAZDA 626 (2000-2002)
Show 1 additional engine variant with limited data
These engines appear in fewer than 10 owner complaints. A low count can mean a clean record, and it can also be a VIN-decode anomaly in NHTSA's data.

Mazda Millenia Unidentified Engine

6 complaints 6.0 per year
View details

Complaint Breakdown

body
2
engine
1
cooling
1
safety systems
1
transmission
1

Owner Complaints by System

Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Mazda Millenia, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.

Engine: 5 owner complaints

All Generations

2001200120022002

Alternatives in Compact Sedan

Toyota
Corolla
2014-2018
9.7/10
2 engines / 1,030 complaints
Acura
Integra
2000
9.5/10
3 engines / 16 complaints
Chevrolet
Astro
2002
9.5/10
3 engines / 66 complaints
Lexus
IS
2014-2025
9.5/10
5 engines / 177 complaints
Mercury
Villager
2000-2002
9.5/10
4 engines / 109 complaints
Mitsubishi
Eclipse
2006-2012
9.5/10
1 engine / 285 complaints

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2002-2002 Mazda Millenia complaints?

Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002-2002 Mazda Millenia. The systems they name most often are the engine, the cooling system and the suspension.

Is the 2002-2002 Mazda Millenia a good used car?

That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002-2002 Mazda Millenia. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002-2002 Mazda Millenia have?

NHTSA has 18 owner complaints on file for the 2002-2002 Mazda Millenia as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.

What recalls affect the 2002-2002 Mazda Millenia?

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002-2002 Mazda Millenia.

What should I check before buying a used Mazda Millenia?

Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the engine, the cooling system and the suspension, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.

Does the Millenia have NHTSA crash test ratings?

NHTSA has not published crash test ratings for the 2002 Mazda Millenia. Not all vehicles are tested each year. For the latest NHTSA safety information, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 18 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: low. Last updated: 2026-10-12.

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