1990 Mazda MPV Review
Price Estimate: $2,467 - $3,920
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
What’s new
A dual-range five-speed manual transmission is new.
For sale near Ashburn, VA
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$186/mo for MPV LX
MPV LX
vs
$142/mo
Avg. Compact Minivan
Reliability
The 1990 Mazda MPV has 3 recalls. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.
Recalls
3 recalls foundChecking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.
If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).
- Recall Number:
- 95V103005
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 360433
- Defect Description:
- THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
- Defect Consequence:
- THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Corrective Action:
- OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
- Recall Number:
- 92V027000
- Manufactured from:
- 1989-06-01 to 1991-06-01
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 95074
- Defect Description:
- THE REAR BRAKE LININGS CAN CHANGE OVER TIME. AS THE BRAKES WEAR, THE COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION CAN INCREASE, PRODUCING INCONSISTENT REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE AND PREMATURE ACTIVATION OF THE ABS SYSTEM.
- Defect Consequence:
- INCONSISTENT BRAKING AND PREMATURE ACTIVATION OF THE ABSSYSTEM CAN CAUSE SUDDEN STOPS OR INCREASED BRAKING DISTANCES, AND RESULT ININCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
- Corrective Action:
- REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES WITH ASSEMBLIES WHOSE FRICTION CHARACTERISTICS DO NOT CHANGE. THIS WILL REDUCE THE RISK OF PREMATURE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATION.
- Recall Number:
- 15V674000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- 8715J
- Manufactured from:
- 1988-04-05 to 1998-11-25
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 1368500
- Defect Description:
- 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.
- Defect Consequence:
- If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
- Corrective Action:
- 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.
Mazda MPV Reviews
Owner Reviews
5(46%)
4(54%)
3(0%)
2(0%)
1(0%)
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
SOLID!
4.75 out of 5 starsHud, 11/09/2004
1990 Mazda MPV 3dr Minivan 4WD
Reliable to a fault,(I like to tinker), the light bulbs don't even burn out! This 4X4 is as solid as new and has turned out to be a good fiend. Now for the "but"...the MPG SUCKS!!! and I live in So. Cal so it hurts.
A good car for its price range
4.5 out of 5 starsglorric, 11/17/2005
1990 Mazda MPV LX 3dr Minivan
For its age and size, the Mazda MPV is a great little car. Depending upon how well maintained it is, the vehicle can get up to 18mpg while holding 7 passengers. A reliable car, however it is terrible to work on. At least on the V6 model, even changing the spark plugs requires several extensions on your ratchets. All things considered, it holds up better than an Aerostar, and looks … nicer too. It's good in a crash for the people inside, but even a small collision will total this vehicle. Strengths: holds 7 passengers comfortably, safe, compact, easy to drive. Weaknesses: sluggish acceleration, difficult to work on, handles poorly in snow (for RWD models).
Quality car
4.63 out of 5 starswkb, 09/30/2009
1990 Mazda MPV 3dr Minivan
When we bought this care from a private party, it hadn't been well cared for. It wasn't garaged and it had some body rust on the roof. Within a year it required a 'mini- overhaul' at about $4,000. But, we loved how it drove and the power was good for the size of the car. Since that first repair, we've only had one other incident: the guides and pulleys for the engine belt assembly … failed and shredded the belt on a trip. Fortunately, Mazda engines shut down when that happens (some don't and the engine is destroyed). We had the roof replaced, the exterior completely repaired and we repainted it the original 'sand mica'. The engine runs strong. We're keeping it!
MPV that could
3.88 out of 5 starsMPVed, 09/28/2002
1990 Mazda MPV 3dr Minivan 4WD
I bought my 4wd MPV because it was 4wd
with dual AC. I've had it for a long
time, and the Starter has been a
problem, replaced 5 times.
Transmission at 99K, A/C,Radiator, CV
joints. Otherwise, I love it. It goes
anywhere, rides good, drives good,
cruises at 90 with 148K miles!
Watch the Transmission, A/C
(especially the drier), and CV joints.
1990 MPV Highlights
LX
| Engine Type | Gas |
|---|---|
| Combined MPG | 19 MPG |
| Cost to Drive | $186/month |
| Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 11.8 cu.ft. |
| Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Safety
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original0
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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