Makes›Mazda›MPV›2006

2006 Mazda MPV

Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2006 models.

Class
Minivan - 2WD
Body styles
4dr Wagon FWD Gx/Gs/GT
Engines
3.0L 6-cyl
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
MPG (best)
18 combined · 16 city / 23 hwy
Length
189.4 in
Curb weight
3,728 lb
NHTSA rating
Not rated
Recalls
2 campaigns

Pros & cons

What's good

  • Few owner complaints4 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 34 for similar models.

Watch out for

  • "Do not drive" recallCheck that the recall repair was done before buying or driving.

Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 3 similar 2006 models — not a review. How we calculate this →

Overview

The 2006 Mazda MPV is a minivan offered with a 3.0L 6-cyl engine and front-wheel drive.

It measures about 189 inches long and 72 inches wide on a 112-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,728 lb.

EPA rates its most efficient version at 18 MPG combined (16 city / 23 highway), 3% worse than the 2006 minivan average of 18.6 MPG, for an estimated $3,700 a year in fuel.

It has 2 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the air bags.

What changed for 2006

No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2005 MPV — a carry-over year in the data.

Compared with 2005; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2005 MPV →

Dimensions & weight

BodyLengthWidthHeightWheelbaseTrack F / RCurb weightWeight F/R
4dr Wagon FWD Gx/Gs/GT189.4 in72 in68.9 in111.8 in61 / 61 in3,728 lb58/42

Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.

Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →

Engines, MPG & running costs

VersionEngineTransmissionDriveCity / Hwy / Combvs. classFuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
MPV3.0L 6-cylAutomatic 5-spdFront-Wheel Drive16 / 23 / 18-3%$3,700494
Spend $6,500Fuel over 5 years vs. average new car
18.6 MPG2006 Minivan - 2WD average

EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2006 EPA class average. How we calculate this →

Safety ratings & technology

NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2006 Mazda MPV under the current (2011+) test program.

Similar 2006 minivans

ModelBest MPG / rangeNHTSA overallRecalls
2006 Mazda MPV (this car)18 MPGNot rated2
2006 Chrysler Town and Country19 MPGNot rated1
2006 Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan20 MPGNot rated1
2006 Mercury Monterey17 MPGNot rated1

Recalls (2)

Safety advisory: 2 recalls for this model year carry a "Do Not Drive" or "Park Outside" warning. Check your VIN now.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module · Jun 15, 2018 Do not drive

NHTSA campaign 18V402000 · 308,591 vehicles

Problem
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 and 2004 MPV vehicles nationwide. Mazda is also recalling 2005-2006 MPV vehicles in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2004-2011 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-354 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018. Mailing to the affected RX-8 owners began July 6, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: With the addition of the RX-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 16V354.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module · Jun 15, 2018 Do not drive

NHTSA campaign 18V404000 · 4,184 vehicles

Problem
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Mazda MPV vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2005-2009 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 17V-011 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018 for MPV vehicles. The recall began July 9, 2019 for RX-8 vehicles. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: With the addition of the RX-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 17V-011.
Check your VIN for open recalls at NHTSA ↗

Not every 2006 Mazda MPV is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.

Owner-reported problems

4Complaints to NHTSA since 2015
0Involved a crash
0Involved a fire
0Injuries reported
200,000 miTypical mileage at failure
Air Bags2
Engine2
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)1
Complaints received per month (last 24 months with reports)
17/03: 117/06: 118/04: 118/07: 117/0317/0618/0418/07max 1

Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.

Used 2006 Mazda MPV buyer's checklist

  1. Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 2 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
  2. Safety-critical recall. At least one recall carries a "Do Not Drive" or "Park Outside" warning. Do not buy until the VIN shows it was repaired.
  3. Air Bags — 2 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
  4. Engine — 2 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
  5. Electronic Stability Control (Esc) — 1 owner reports. Ask the seller and mechanic specifically about this system.
  6. Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 200,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
  7. Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.

Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2006 Mazda MPV. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.

Other MPV years

Compare all years →
YearMPG (best)LengthOverallRecallsComplaints
2005 MPV19189.4 inNot rated315

Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Mazda. How we calculate this →