1992 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Routine

Owners filed 22 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags3
201
Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear2
000
Tires › Sidewall2
100
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly2
000
Electrical System › Ignition2
000
Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module2
000
Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs1
000
Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices › Exterior1
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags
Filed Sep 23, 201968,000 milesMA

WHEN CAR IS STARTED AFTER NOT USED FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THE AIR BAG LIGHT DISPLAYS CONTINUOUSLY DURING START PERIOD BUT THEN CHANGES TO BLINKING. CONTINUES BLINKING UNTIL CAR IS STOPPED AND IGNITION TURNED OFF. WHEN CAR IS IMMEDIATELY STARTED AGAIN, LIGHT TURNS OFF AFTER INITIAL START PERIOD, AS EXPECTED, BLINKING DOES NOT RE-OCCUR UNTIL CAR HASN'T BEEN RUN FOR SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE BEING STARTED AGAIN. CAR IS NOT USED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

Air BagsCrash
Filed Aug 27, 201897,000 milesCA

TAKATA RECALL MY 1992 MAZDA MIATA'S AIRBAG LIGHT IS FLASHING ON THE DASH, AND THERE IS A SOFT BEEP HEARD,WHICH IS INTERMITTENT. THE FLASHING STARTS AS SOON AS THE CAR IS STARTED, AND IT CONTINUES WHILE IN MOTION. THERE IS A PAUSE BETWEEN A SERIES OF AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHES. THE BEEP IS SOFT AND STARTED WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. I THOUGHT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING; HOWEVER, NOW THE BEEPING IS HEARD ALONG WITH THE AIRBAG FLASHING LIGHT. THE CAR IS IN GREAT CONDITION AND LOOKS LIKE A NEW CAR. IT IS KEPT GARAGED. IT WAS IN A SLIGHT ACCIDENT WHEN TWO CARS IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES. I TRIED TO TURN AROUND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND THAT CAR TURNED AROUND THE CAR IN FRONT OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME. I HIT THE CAR WITH MY RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT. THE AIR BAG DID NOT EMPLOY.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed May 21, 2015105,000 milesCA

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN A PEDESTRIAN DARTED OUT INTO A CROSSWALK. THE FIRST CAR SLAMMED ON THE BREAKS. THE CAR BEHIND IT SLAMMED ON THEIR BREAKS, AND I WAS THE CAR BEHIND THE SECOND CAR. I TRIED TO AVOID THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, BUT MY CAR DID NOT STOP IN TIME. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON A SIDE STREET. I HAD MY SEATBELT FASTENED. MY NOSE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND STARTED TO BLEED PROFUSELY. I WENT TO EMERGENCY, AND THEY ADVISED ME TO SEE MY DOCTOR FOR A CHECKUP. THE DOCTOR ORDERED AN X-RAY OF MY NOSE. I HAVE A TINY FRACTURE AND CONTUSION, WHICH LED TO TWO VERY BLACK EYES AND SWELLING. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND TO MY FACE. THE AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATE.

Seat Belts › Front
Filed Sep 14, 2006180,000 milesCT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT UNLATCHED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT NOTIFIED, BUT THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THEM SOON. UPDATED 10/4/2006 - REPLACEMENT BELT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *NM

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Aug 4, 200565,000 milesNY

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHING [6 FLASHES] SINCE EARLY 2003. FOUR REQUESTS AT DEALER REPAIR SHOPS HAVE FAILED TO ADDRESS/REPAIR. 1992 MAZDA MX-5 [MIATA]. *JB

Tires › SidewallCrash
Filed Jul 2, 2003IL

CONSUMER STATES WHILE HE WAS DRIVING ALONG ABOUT 45-50 MPH DUNLAP TIRE S/P SPORT A2 SIZE 185 60 14 COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE INSIDE OF THE SIDEWALL ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TIRE. THIS CAUSED HIM TO LOSE CONTROL, AND RUN INTO A SMALL DITCH. HE STATED THAT THESE TIRES WERE JUST PURCHASED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, AND HAVE ONLY ABOUT 7500 MILES ON THEM. THIS WAS A DEFECT, BUT THE PLACE WHERE HE PURCHASED THE TIRES CHARGED HIM TO REPLACE THIS TIRE.*AK

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Jul 2, 200339,370 milesIL

ON JUNE 28, 2003 A FRIEND AND I WERE DRIVING TO LAKE GENEVA ILL. WHEN MY LEFT REAR TIRE INSIDE WALL SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE COMPLETELY. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING ON THE ROAD THE TIRE WHEN IT BLEW OUT MADE ME LOSE CONTROL AND I WENT INTO A SMALL DITCH.*AK I CHANGED TO THE MINI SPARE AND WENT HOME. I CONTACTED DUNLOP ABOUT THE TIRE AND THEY SAID THAT SINCE THE TIRE HAD A PATCH ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE THAT THE SIDE WALL SEPERATED BECAUSE OF THE PATCH, THE PATCH IS LOCATED ON THE TREAD AREA ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. I CONTACTED THE PERSON THAT SOLD ME THE TIRES AND HE SAID THAT MANUFACTURES PUT PATCHS IN TIRES SO THEY WILL HAVE BETTER BALANCE. DUNLOP SAID THAT THEY WILL GIVE ME A NEW TIRE IF I PAY THE STORE $33.00 PLUS MOUNTING AND BALANCING. I TOLD THEM THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THEY SHOULD REPLACE IT AT NO COST TO ME, THEY SAID THATS THE ONLY OFFER THAT THEY WILL GIVE TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT. MY CAR IS ONLY DRIVEN IN THE SUMMER TIME, AND IS PUT AWAY IN THE WINTER ON BLOCKS AND UNDER A COVER. THE MILES ON THIS 92 MIATA ARE ONLY 39,000 MILES, THE MILES ON THE TIRES ARE ABOUT 7,000 MILES. I FEEL THAT I'M ENTITLED TO A REPLACEMENT AT NO CHARGE, BECAUSE THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE.

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 3, 2002NY

MR

Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices › Exterior
Filed Jan 3, 2001FL

THE OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY CAME OFF THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER NOTED THAT A METAL WASHER OR MOUNTING WAS RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE MIRROR TO COME OFF. NLM

Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit
Filed Aug 3, 2000UT

CONSUMERS HEARD A WHINNING SOUND. TOOK OFF AT LIGHT IN 1ST GEAR & IT STARTED MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE, LIKE GRINDING METAL. DEALER DETERMINED DIFFERENTIALS WENT OUT IN THE REAR END. *AK

Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear
Filed Feb 3, 2000MS

BACK WINDOW WASTURNING BROWN. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW. TOO VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID WINDOW HAD DARKENED BECAUSE OF THE SUN. *AK

Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear
Filed Feb 3, 2000MS

REAR WINDOW HAS TURNED BROWN, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW, AND FELT THAT IT WAS VERY UNSAFE TO BE DRIVING UNDER SUCH CONDITION. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER SAID THAT THE DARKNESS WAS COMING FROM THE SUN. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Oct 14, 1999FL

CONSUMER HAS A DIFFICULT TIME FASTENING SEAT BELT., ALSO, AT TIMES SEAT BELTS COME UNDONE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Jun 11, 1998OH

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT GETS VERY TIGHT, MAKING IT VERY IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE ANY TYPE OF MOVEMENT WHEN DRIVING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Jan 23, 1998TN

AIR BAG SENSOR CORRODED.

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Nov 12, 1996NY

DISTRIBUTOR CAP WIRES WORE OUT PREMATURELY.

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Sep 11, 1996VA

WHILE DRIVING,THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BECOME DETACHED FROM THE BELT BUCKLE.*AK

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Sep 14, 1995CA

SPARK PLUG WIRES BLEW OUT AT 30,300 MILES. TT

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Aug 7, 1995MA

FRONT BRAKES SQUEAL. *DH

Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Filed Jul 23, 1995TX

EXCESSIVE FORCE REQUIRED TO REMOVE SHOP INSTALLED LOCKING LUG NUT, CAUSING IT TO BREAK. *DSH

20 of 22 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20054000Routine
20048000Routine
200314030Routine
200220010Routine
200122000Routine
200029020Routine
199974000Routine
19981000Routine
199711010Routine
199629000Routine
199530020Routine
199418000Routine
19938000Routine
1992 — this page22000Routine
199121000Routine
199028010Routine

Compare every MX-5 Miata year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.