MazdaMillenia1996Overview/mazda/millenia/1996/base/

1996 Mazda Millenia

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 Millenia.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1996 Mazda Millenia is classified as a passenger car, and within the model's 1991–2003 complaint history it occupies a relatively quiet spot with 18 owner complaints and zero recalls. That total sits well below the 1995 peak of 99 complaints and above the 1991 low of one, making 1996 a below-average year for reported problems without being the cleanest entry in the run. Power-train issues account for the top complaint area, so researchers should focus there first when evaluating this model year's real-world reliability.

Model year20022001200019991998199719961995

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque65-94 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

Tail / brake / turnFUSEOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Fuel filterT00142113A
Spark plug000018F285 alt 000018KJ13
Battery0000806535WB
Front wiper bladesTA0267330A9U alt GT0L67330A
Serpentine beltKJ0218381B9U
ThermostatKL0115171A9U

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length189.8 in
Overall width69.7 in
Overall height54.3 in
Wheelbase108.3 in
Curb weight3232 lb
Track (front / rear)60.2 / 60.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Millenia of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.6–8.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.60 sec — 1995 S Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1995S Sedan 2.3L Supercharger V67.60 sec15.80 sec210 hpFWD
1995S Sedan 2.3L Supercharger V68.00 sec16.00 sec210 hpFWD
2000Millennium Edition Sedan 2.3L Supercharger V68.50 sec16.60 sec210 hpFWD
2001S Sedan 2.3L Supercharger V68.40 sec16.30 sec210 hpFWD
2002S Sedan 2.3L Supercharger V67.70 sec15.90 sec210 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Torque lug nuts to 65-94 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Power Steering FluidDEXRON VI OR MERCON V

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts116-122 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts116-123 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-94 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)MT: 720, AT: 770 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)25 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque11-17 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.66 lbs
Oil TypeGU10
Oil Capacity5.92 oz

Service checks

Pressure Test18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)35-45 (140)
RPM30-45 (140) @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance12-16 ohms
Engine Compression132-189 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket12-17 ft-lbs / 88 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle44 ft-lbs / 65-87 ft-lbs
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.102 in / 0.374 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.102 in / 0.374 in
Rotor Minimum Machining1.055 in / 0.326 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.024 in / 0.295 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Exterior Lighting (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Weatherstrip Seal (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBody Fasteners (torque) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Frame Fasteners (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 30,000 miAir Conditioning System (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · PCV Hose (inspect) · PCV Valve (inspect) · Timing Belt (replace)
At 90,000 miTiming Belt (inspect)
At 105,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1996 Mazda Millenia recorded 18 complaints, zero recalls and investigations, and 50 TSBs, which is far below the 99 complaints seen in 1995 and comparable to the 18 complaints in 1997. Complaint numbers spiked in 1995, fell to a low in 1996‑1997, then rose again through 1998‑2001 before dropping to a single complaint in 2003. TSB counts show a general upward trend from 6 in 1991 to a peak of 110 in 2001, with 1996’s 50 TSBs sitting below the later‑generation high but above the early‑year baseline. The top complaint areas for 1996 were Power Train and Engine & Engine Cooling (each 4), Air Bags and Electrical System (each 3), while the data does not specify root causes for these issues. With two crash‑related and one fire‑related complaints logged for 1996 and no recalls issued, the relatively low complaint volume suggests this model year may be a reasonable used‑car choice, though buyers should consider the substantial TSB history.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
50
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
18
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 1 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 18 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train4
Engine & Engine Cooling4
Air Bags3
Electrical System3
Wheels1
Suspension,Power Train,Unknown Or Other1
Exterior Lighting1
Seats1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 50 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
MT-002-222022-02-24Electrical SystemRadio Unlocking Codes.
09-003-20-36712020-01-09EquipmentIn accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…
09-009-19-35662019-01-14Electrical SystemIn accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…
09-034-18-3430a2018-10-10Vehicle Speed ControlIn accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…
09-034-18-34302018-08-31Vehicle Speed ControlIn accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Millenia. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 1996 Millenia have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.