MazdaMPV1996Overview/mazda/mpv/1996/base/

1996 Mazda MPV

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

Body VANTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1996 Mazda MPV is a body-on-frame minivan offered with a 4-speed automatic transmission, returning EPA fuel economy of 15 city, 20 highway, and 17 combined mpg. With 22 total owner complaints on record, the model year sits well below the 2000 peak of 155 complaints in the 1990–2006 span, though it is not the lowest (1999 logged only 2). The single recall and a top complaint area of Engine & Engine Cooling indicate that while the 1996 MPV is not among the most problematic years, researchers should focus on powertrain durability when evaluating this model’s reliability history.

Model year200620052004200320022001200019981996

Quick specs

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

Lug nut torque66-86 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/20/17 mpgEPA · 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

Spark plug000018BP01 alt 000018BP03
Front wiper bladesLA0167330D9U alt KA8167330A
Serpentine beltJE7215908 alt JE5718381A9U
ThermostatKL0115171A9U

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length183.5 in
Overall width72 in
Overall height68.1 in
Wheelbase110.6 in
Curb weight2599 lb
Track (front / rear)60.2 / 60.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)56/44

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 20 / 17 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

10.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 10.00 sec — 1989 LX
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1989LX 3.0L V610.00 sec17.30 sec150 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine GL-5 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 66-86 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear OilGL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.2 Pints

Engine torques

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

Chassis torques

Driveshaft Flange to Transmission43.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts66-86 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
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
Spark Plug Gap0.052-0.055 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.98-2.20 lbs
Oil TypeND 8 oil
Oil Capacity6.76-8.66 oz

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief11-15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Injector Primary Resistance12-16 ohms

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket61-69 ft-lbs / 29-36 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle73 ft-lbs / 43 ft-lbs
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.102 in / 0.709 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.102 in / 0.709 in
Rotor Minimum Machining1.055 in / 0.661 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.024 in / 0.63 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 at 45,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 45,000 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 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Exterior Lighting (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Weatherstrip Seal (inspect)
At 15,000 miUniversal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 15,000 miAir Conditioning System (inspect) · Brake Power Booster Unit (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Fasteners (torque) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miTiming Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miIgnition Timing (inspect) · PCV Valve (inspect) · Timing Belt (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 80,000 miEmission Control System (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.

Federal complaints for the 1996 Mazda MPV fell to 22, down from 42 in 1994 and 24 in 1995, and remained lower than the 25 recorded in 1997 and the 24 in 1998. Across this generation, complaints peaked at 78 in 1991–1992 before trending downward, placing 1996 near the bottom of a sustained decline that preceded a spike to 155 complaints in 2000. The 1996 model carried just one recall and zero investigations, continuing a mid-generation pattern of reduced federal scrutiny that began in 1994, while technical service bulletins rose only modestly to 34 from 28 the prior year. Reported issues centered on Engine & Engine Cooling with three complaints, plus two each for Tires, Power Train, and Suspension, alongside two crash complaints and zero fire complaints, though the data does not specify root causes. Given its position at the low point of a multi-year downward trend in complaints and enforcement actions, the 1996 MPV stands out as one of the more stable years of its run and is a comparatively sound used purchase.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
34
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
22
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 22 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling3
Tires2
Power Train2
Suspension2
Air Bags2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
Equipment2
Visibility2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

15V674000Electrical System:Ignition:SwitchReported 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… Remedy: 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 34 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
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…
09-035-17-30802017-08-07Electrical SystemIn 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 MPV. 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 MPV have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the MPV get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 20 highway / 17 combined mpg.