1995 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Routine

Owners filed 30 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags › frontal. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags › Frontal11
603
Air Bags5
104
Tires4
100
Visibility › Windshield1
000
Unknown or Other1
101
Structure › Body › Roof and Pillars1
000
Structure › Body › Door1
000
Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System1
000
Steering › Column1
012
Exterior Lighting › Back Up Lights1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Tires
Filed Nov 12, 2015MS

DOUGLAS TIRE I GOT TO REPLACE THE ONE THAT HAD A BOLT MOLDED IN THE SIDEWALL. THIS ONE HAD A LARGE FLAT SPOT ON HALF OF THE CONTACT PATCH. IT WAS EASY TO SEE WITH BY EYE AND WOULD NOT EVEN SIT CORRECTLY. I NEVER MOUNTED IT CAUSE IT WAS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. TIRE LABEL WAS PLACED DIRECTLY OVER THE DEFECTIVE AREA LEADING ME TO BELIEVE SOMEONE WAS COVERING THEIR DANGEROUS MESS. POORLY PUT TOGETHER AND POOR QUALITY CONTROL. I TOOK IT BACK.

Tires
Filed Nov 4, 2015MS

I BOUGHT FOUR DOUGLAS PERFORMANCE GT-H 185/60-14 DOT PJF8 1YLR FROM WAL-MART. THESE TIRES ARE MADE BY GOODYEAR IN USA. WHEN THEY PUT THEM ON THE RIM A BOLT WAS FOUND MOLDED IN THE SIDEWALL AFTER IT WAS NOTICE NOT TO HOLD AIR. IT'S A GOOD THING IT DID NOT HOLD AIR CAUSE I'D HATE TO FIND THAT AT INTERSTATE SPEED. THE TIRE ALSO HAD CHALK MARKS SMEARED OFF THE SIDE. SO SOMEONE AT THE FACTORY PROBABLY NOTICED IT WAS BAD AND ANOTHER INSPECTOR OK'ED IT TO BE SOLD. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THEY DROPPED A BOLT IN THE MOLD.

Steering › ColumnFire2 injured
Filed May 12, 201490,000 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED 2ND DEGREE BURNS AS A RESULT AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 4, 2011140,000 milesOR

AT APPROX 4:30 PM 10/02/2011 WHILE TRAVELING SOUTH ON HUNZIKER ST. NEAR WALL ST. TIGARD, OR 30-35 MPH. I HAD TO CENTER A PIECE OF DEBRIS IN THE ROAD AND IT STRUCK AND PUNCTURED THE ENGINE OILPAN. THIS CONTACT DEPLOYED BOTH AIRBAGS WHICH INTERN BUSTED THE WINDSHIELD / KNOCKED OUT MY RADIO, VENT LOUVERS AND REARVIEW MIRROR. RESEARCH VIA THE INTERNET FOUND THIS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH 95 MIATAS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS RECALLED ISSUE TO CONFIRM IF MAZDA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BAGS/GLASS/ CONTROL MODULE, SENSORS AND SWITCHES. UNDERSTANDABLY THE OIL PAN IS MY PROBLEM AND THANK GOODNESS I WAS NOT INJURED BY THE BAGS OR FLYING GLASS AND WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

Air Bags1 injured
Filed Dec 15, 2009141,800 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MAZDA MIATA. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED SUDDENLY AFTER DRIVING OVER A ROCK. CONSEQUENTLY THE DEPLOYMENT CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW TO FRACTURE. SOME FRAGMENTS OF GLASS CAUSED MINOR INJURIES TO HIS HAND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 141,800. UPDATED 1/11/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE DEFECT. HOWEVER, MAZDA INFORMED THE CONSUMER THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE. UPDATED 01/14/10

Air Bags1 injured
Filed Dec 8, 2004WV

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND SUDDENLY THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. DRIVER SUSTAINED A THUMB INJURY.*AK

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed Mar 17, 200429,587 milesOR

OUR 1995 MAZDA MIATA HAS A RAPID RHYTHMIC PULSING IN THE POWER STEERING HYDRAULICS WHEN PARALLEL PARKING, OR OTHER SIMILAR TIGHT LOW SPEED TURN. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED MAZDA TECH SERVICE AND DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION UNIT WITH HYDRAULIC PUMP WAS FAULTY. THEY REPLACED THE ORIGINAL UNIT. THE NEW UNIT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, SO THEY REPLACED IT. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS, YET MAZDA HAS STATED THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE A SAFETY HAZARD, THOUGH IT IS NOT PERFORMING CORRECTLY. I WAS TOLD THAT A FEW OTHER VEHICLES AT THIS DEALERSHIP WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP AND MAZDA HAVE GIVEN UP. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM IS DESIGNED FOR THE FREQUENT EPICODES OF PULSING. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *NM

Exterior Lighting › Back Up Lights
Filed Apr 19, 2002GA

CONSUMER STATES THE HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT IS INOPERATIVE BECAUSE THE OPENING AND THE CLOSING OF THE TRUNK IS FATIGUE (WEARING OUT AND BREAKING NEAR THE TRUNK HINGE)THROUGH THE WIRING HARNESS. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. NLM *YH

TiresCrash
Filed May 16, 2001MA

NOT SURE IF TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. TIRE BLEW ON PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT RESULTING IN CAR GOING INTO SPIN AND EVENTUALLY ROLLING. HAVE ALL TIRES AND RIMS. ALSO HAVE PICTURE OF VEHICLE AFTER ACCIDENT. CURRENTLY IN PROCESS OF REPAIRING. *AK (DOT NUMBER: H46KCCA444 TIRESIZE: P195 50R15)

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Nov 15, 2000CA

RECALL 00V004000/AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT: VEHICLE HIT A CURVE WHILE TURNING ON A WET ROAD AT 10-15 MPH, AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO FRONT WINDSHIELD. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Aug 29, 2000CA

RECALL 00V004000/AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH, AND RUNNING OVER A POTHOLE. DRIVER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES ON RIGHT ARM. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Jul 11, 2000CA

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT JUNE 30, 2000. I HIT A RED-LIGHT RUNNER IN A T-BONE FASHION. MY FRONT HIT HIS PASSENGER DOOR. HE WAS DRIVING A 1993 CHEVROLET S10 TRUCK. HE WAS ACCELERATING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AT ABOUT 50 MPH AND I WAS BRAKING AFTER BEING HIT. *AK

Air Bags
Filed May 7, 1999LA

AIRBAGS BEGAN SMOKING WHILE DRIVING. THERE HAVE BEEN PREVIOUS REPORTS ON THIS PRODUCT FAILURE, INCLUDING UNEXPECTED DEPLOYMENT BY AUTOMOTIVE NEWS. THE AIRBAGS HAD TO BE REMOVED.

Electrical System › Horn
Filed Apr 7, 1999CA

THE COMPONET THAT FAILED WAS MIATA TWIN AIR HORN SUPPLED BY "THE CRAZY RED ITALIAN AUTOMOTIVE ACCCESSORIES" (3810 53RD ST, SACRAMENTO, CA 95820). WHEN I CONTACTED "THE CRAZY RED ITALIAN AUTOMOTIVE ACCCESSORIES" I WAS INFORMED THAT I WAS EXPECTED TO PAY $29 BEFORE THE WOULD EVEN DISCUSS THE FAILURE WITH ME. *AK

Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed Mar 3, 1999CA

FALSE DEPOLYMENT OF AIR BAG WHILE DRIVING, UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE PRESENT BUT NO IMPACT WAS INVOLVED.

Unknown or OtherCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 30, 1998CA

BOLT IN CONVERTIBLE ROOF HINGE ASSEMBLY IMPALED DRIVERS SKULL. DRIVER WAS BELTED AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. 2 INCH BOLT PIERCED SKULL REQUIRING CRAINIATOMY, 25MPH FRONTAL COLLISION, 1999 MODEL HAS SAME ASSEMBLY WITHOUT THE BOLT. BOLT RESIDES APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES FROM DRIVERS LEFT EAR (5'10

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Jul 23, 1998MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. FIRE STARTED UNDER HOOD AND AUTO WAS DESTROYED. VEHICLE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO INVESTIGATE THE POINT OF FAILURE.

Air Bags › Frontal1 injured
Filed Apr 20, 1998FL

WHILE MOVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, PULLING OVER THE CURB, THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF, INJURING THE DRIVER . THE VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP BEING REPAIRED. OWNER WILL NOTIFY THE MANUFACTUIRER. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 5, 1998MD

NOISY ENGINE VALVE TRAIN. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 16, 1997CA

VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG CAUSED BACK/NECK INJURIES.

20 of 30 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20054000Routine
20048000Routine
200314030Routine
200220010Routine
200122000Routine
200029020Routine
199974000Routine
19981000Routine
199711010Routine
199629000Routine
1995 — this page30020Routine
199418000Routine
19938000Routine
199222000Routine
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.