One problem related to steering rack and pinion has been reported for the 1997 Mazda MPV. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
On four occassions my steering when going from a complete stop to changing lanes to the right lane and then correcting back to the left, got stiff and would not turn. Subsequestly this last time I ended up on the shoulder of a busy freeway during rush hour. I took the car in again as I had two times previously, to have them tell me that they were able to duplicate the problem, and find that other 1997 madza Mpv's also reacted the same. It was a "normal steering function". I have two small children and I can not afford to have their safety jeopordized. I have complained to Mazda on two occassions and they claim there is nothing I can do. I know that if I have had this happen four times, someone else has had to have it happen, especially when we were able to make it happen on the other Mpv's that were testdriven.