1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata

When I filled the gas tank the next day there was the smell of gas inside the vehicle which persisted as I drove. I took it to my Fiat dealership which maintains the vehicle and they have been unable to identify the source of the gas smell. They have been working with Madza for six weeks and no solution can be established. There was a recall on the 1999 models for a similar problem, however my VIN number was not part of the recall.

I AM WRITING THIS TO BRING UP AN ISSUE REGARDING OF A FLAWED DESIGN OUT OF THE FACTORY FROM MAZDA. IF YOU SIMPLY SEARCH "MAZDA MIATA FRONT FRAME RAIL RUST" YOU WILL SEE THAT IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND/OR EVEN FATAL PROBLEM, THAT PROBABLY MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS YEAR (1998-2005) ARE UNAWARE OF. MANY HAVE HAD THE SITUATION CHECKED OUT AND IT SEEMS THE WAY THE SHEETS OF METAL WERE PUT TO TOGETHER HOLDS MOISTURE AND SUCH AND ROTS THE CHASSIS FROM INSIDE OUT. THIS IS COMING FROM PEOPLE NOT ONLY WHO LIVES IN AN AREA THAT SNOWS, BUT EVEN DRY CLIMATES, AND EVEN FROM OWNERS THAT GARAGE KEEP AND USE THEIR CAR PURELY AS A SUMMER CAR, WHICH NEVER SEES A WINTER IN ITS LIFE. I'VE HAD MY CAR AT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP TO GET A RECALL DONE REGARDING THE FUEL PUMP, AND THEY NEVER EVEN MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM TO ME, WHEN THEY TOLD ME THEY THOROUGHLY DO AN INSPECTION AROUND AND UNDER THE CAR. I EVEN GOT A STAT SHEET FROM THEM, AS TO WHAT THEY CHECKED. I HAD TO FIND THIS OUT WITH MY MECHANIC, WHEN HE WENT TO DO AN OIL CHANGE, WE DECIDED TO INSPECT THE CAR. NOW FOR THESE CARS (MIATAS AT ANY YEAR) ROCKER PANEL RUST IS A COMMON ISSUE, HOWEVER THIS PARTICULAR FRAME RAIL ISSUE IS NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING, BECAUSE IT WEAKENS THE STRUCTURE OF THE UNIBODY AND IT CAN POTENTIALLY BE FATAL WITH A FRONT END COLLISION CAUSING THE RAILS TO CRUMBLE. SOME OWNERS DO EVEN SEE ANY SIGNS OF WEAR, BUT WHEN THEY HOLD A SCREW DRIVER OR ANY TOOL TO POKE AT THAT SPECIFIC AREA, IT GOES RIGHT THROUGH THE METAL, TO O

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD RATTLING NOISE NEAR THE ENGINE WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR MORE THAN A YEAR WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

11/7/2010; ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK IN CARPET AT LOW RPM IN 2ND GEAR. I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH, AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. I FOUND THE LOWER EDGE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK IN THE CARPET. I GLUED A METAL PLATE TO THE CARPET TO PREVENT THE PEDAL FROM STICKING AGAIN. 3/6/2011; ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK IN CARPET AT HIGH RPM IN FIRST GEAR. THE METAL PLATE I GLUED TO THE CARPET HAD COME LOOSE. I HAD THE WHEELS TURNED AND THE BRAKES FULLY ENGAGED. THE FRONT WHEELS WERE LOCKED AS THEY SKIDDED ACROSS A PARKING LOT. I HIT A CURB AND A SET OF CONCRETE STAIRS. THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING ON IMPACT. THE SHOCK OF THE IMPACT, FLEX OF THE CHASSIS, OR POSSIBLY MY FOOT THROWN FORWARD BY THE IMPACT POPPED THE PEDAL OUT OF THE CARPET. AN AMBULANCE WAS CALLED, THERE IS AN ACCIDENT REPORT WITH PHOTOS, AND EYE WITNESS TESTIMONY. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED FACIAL ABRASIONS FROM THE AIRBAG, HAD NECK AND BACK PAIN, LOST VISION IN THE LEFT EYE TOTALLY FOR THREE DAYS, VISION RETURNED ALTHOUGH THE PRESCRIPTION HAS CHANGED. DRIVER HAD AIRBAG SCRAPES, AND BURNS, AND NECK PAIN. IF ONE OF THESE CARS IS IN AN ACCIDENT THAT KILLS THE DRIVER, AND THE PEDAL POPPED OUT OF THE CARPET ON IMPACT LIKE MINE DID, THEN NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW THE TRUE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. A GOOGLE SEARCH WILL TURN UP A DOZEN STUCK THROTTLE REPORTS FOR THIS CAR, MOSTLY FROM MIATA.NET. THE REPORTS ARE SPREAD OUT OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND CONTINUE TO BE POSTED. THEY DISCUSS THE BEST WAYS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY THOSE REPORT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE CHANGING THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT FRAME RAIL ACROSS THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES WERE CORRODED WITH RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT SWAY BAR WAS ALSO CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CORROSION ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRAME RAILS UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE THAT EXTENDED ONTO THE WHEELS ON EACH SIDE WERE COMPLETELY COVERED WITH RUST. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP WHO ADDED PIECES OF METAL TO HELP RE-ENFORCE THE RAILS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAFETY DEFECT CAUSED CORROSION RAPIDLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 166,000. UPDATED 05/25/11 *BF

1999 MADZA MX-5 MIATA, UNIT 1 WAS TRAVELING EASTBOUND ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE IN THE MIDDLE LANE. UNIT 1 LOST CONTROL ON THE WET ROADWAYS DUE TO WORN TIRES. UNIT 1 WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK THE MEDIAN BARRIER. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0244-90) *JB UPDATED 05/11/11* BF

BLINDNESS CAUSED BY AIRBAG. CRASH CAUSED BY THROTTLE STICKING OPEN. FULL BRAKING IMMEDIATE AS SHOWN BY SKID MARKS AND WHILE BRAKES SLOWED VEHICLE UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR OR TURN BEFORE IMPACT. VIDEO AND WITNESSES CONFIRM CAUSE MUST BE OPEN THROTTLE. BOTH BRAKING AND TURNING FAILED TO STOP OR TURN THE CAR. THROTTLE OPEN OR ACCELERATOR JAMMED FULL ON. *TR

BLINDNESS CAUSED BY AIRBAG. CRASH CAUSED BY THROTTLE STUCKING OPENG. FULL BRAKING WITH SKID MARKS SLOWED VEHICLE BUT DID NOT STOP THE CAR BEFORE IMPACT. *TR

THE FUEL PUMP ON MY 1999 MAZDA MIATA STOPPED WORKING. I CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP AND SAW THAT THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTING PLUG WAS A HOT CONNECTION. THIS BAD CONNECTION, WHICH IS INSIDE THE FUEL TANK, WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FUEL PUMP NOT WORKING. THE FUEL PUMP IS GOOD THE PLUG-IN CONNECTION IS BAD WITH SIGNS OF THE CONNECTION HEATING UP. I CAN SEND PICTURES IF NEEDED. THIS BAD PLUG-IN CONNECTION COULD CAUSE THE FUEL TANK TO EXPLODE. I HAVE THE BAD FUEL PUMP/TANK LEVEL ASSEMBLY WHICH ALL INSTALLS INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. *TR

INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF IGNITION "COIL PACK" LEADING TO COSTLY REPLACEMENT OF CAT. CONVERTER, O2 SENSOR, AND COIL PACKS. MFR NEVER COVERED THIS UNDER ANY SORT OF EXTENDED WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM IS NOT UNCOMMON, AND EVIDENTLY BAD PARTS ARE STILL IN THE SYSTEM. MULTIPLE FAILURE DATES. *TR

WHILE ON THE OFF RAMP FROM THE FREE WAY IN MY 1999 MAZDA MIATA II DISCOVERED THAT THE COVER ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN HAD COME UNBOLTED AND HAD FALLEN BETWEEN MY FEET AND THE BRAKE PEDDLE. THERE WAS NO TIME TO DOWN SHIFT, I ATTEMPTED TO TURN BUT WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND I WAS INJURED. THERE WAS NO OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE OR PEOPLE INJURED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA MIATA. ON THREE OCCASIONS, WHEN THE CONTACT FILLED UP THE GAS TANK, THE GAS OVERFLOWED. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V032000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP). THE COST FOR THE REPAIR WILL BE $175. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

CRUISE CONTROL WHEN SET, RAPIDLY ACCELERATES AND WHEN SWITCHED TO "COAST" CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. ONLY BEING ABLE TO CANCEL BY BRAKING OR COMPLETED SWITCHING OFF. SOMETIMES IT SEEMS TO SET AT FIRST AND THEN CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. STARTED INTERMITTENTLY, DEVELOPING INTO A CONSTANT ISSUE. *TR

I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR THE DAY BEFORE ON FEB 21 2008 AND ON FEB 22 2008 I WAS DRIVING AND DOING 60 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STALLS WOULDN'T LET ME SHIFT OR GEAR DOWN, AND AS TRYING TO DO SO THE BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN I LET GO OF THE CLUTCH. THEN COASTING INTO THE CLOSEST DRIVEWAY. NOW IT WONT START AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE I JUST GOT IT FROM A USED CAR LOT THE DAY BEFORE. AND ALSO MAKES ME WONDER, DID THEY KNOW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN OR SOMETHING SIMILAR WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. WHAT CAN I LEGALLY DO ABOUT THIS? *TR

I HAVE HAD 4 FLAT TIRES WHILE DRIVING IN THE PAST YEAR WITH RADIAL GT, ULTRA HP 4, SIZE 185/60R14 ON A 1999 MAZDA MIATA. ONE IN OCTOBER 2006, ANOTHER IN MAY 2007 AND 2 MORE TODAY (7/5/07). ALL FLAT TIRES WERE FROM SMALL HOLES BETWEEN THE TREAD AND SIDEWALL. THE FIRST 2 WERE THE RIGHT REAR. TODAY, BOTH THE LEFT REAR, AND 15 MINUTES LATER, THE RIGHT REAR WENT FLAT. IF THIS HAPPENED ONCE, OR EVEN TWICE, I'D THINK IT WAS A COINCIDENCE. BUT IN 25 YEARS OF DRIVING, I'VE NEVER HAD A TIRE GO COMPLETELY FLAT WHILE DRIVING. 4 TIRES IN ONE YEAR SEEMS KIND OF ODD. THESE TIRES HAVE LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON THEM AND PROBABLY HAD AT LEAST HALF THE TREAD LEFT. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE OR CLOSE CALLS BECAUSE OF THESE, BUT I HAD TO CHANGE TIRES ON BUSY FREEWAYS FOR 2 OF THESE FLAT TIRES. THANK YOU. *TR

1999 10TH ANNIVERSARY MAZDA MIATA CURRENTLY WITH 33,900 MILES ON IT. ABOUT 600 MILES AGO CAR SUDDENLY STARTED AND RAN ROUGH WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. HAD CODE CHECKED AND REVEALED P0300 (RANDOM MISFIRE I.E.IGNITION COIL PACK FAILURE). CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OUT AFTER READING CODE. SYMPTOM REAPPEARED RECENTLY WITH SAME CODE P0300. REPLACED SPARK PLUG WIRES WITH NGK OEM WIRES ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND SYMPTOM REAPPEARED THIS AFTERNOON. I UNDERSTOOD THIS IS NOT COVERED BY THE EMISSION CONTROL WARRANTY BUT THE SUBSEQUENT CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE IS COVERED UNDER THE 8/80.000 EMISSION WARRANTY. IF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF IGNITION COIL THEN WHY IS THE IGNITION COIL NOT COVERED UNDER THE EMISSION WARRANTY. THIS IS ANOTHER BUREAUCRATIC SNAFU. THE CAUSE OF THE EMISSION FAILURE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EMISSION CONTROL WARRANTY. SO MAYBE I SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND HAVE MAZDA (FORD) REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THEN REPLACE THE IGNITION COIL PACK THEN BECAUSE IT WILL COST ME THE SAME BUT OVER $1000 FOR MAZDA (FORD). *NM

AVOIDED A DEER HIT A TREE APPROX. 20-25 MPH . SEVERE FRONTAL DAMAGE AND AIR BAG DIDN'T ACTIVATE.. WHY AS THIS WOULD HAVE SAVE MY BACK HEAD AND LIPS... *NM

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. MY VEHICLE HAS 40K MILES AND HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF. AFTER INVESTIGATION, MANY 99-00 MIATA'S HAVE IGNITION COIL FAILURES WHICH CAUSES UNBURNT FUEL TO CONTAMINATE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND ASSOCIATED O2 SENSORS. THIS SITUATION WAS RESOLVED AND IS NOT A PROBLEM ON POST 2000 MIATA'S, AND THEREFORE SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL BY THE MANUFACTURER, SINCE IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. *NM

BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE FOR 2-3 SECONDS WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. THIS WOULD BE A MODERATELY WET ROAD, NOT DEEP WATER, OR PUDDLES. STOPPING DISTANCE IS SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED. *NM

1999 MAZDA MIATA HAD PROBLEM WITH IGNITION COILS. THE SENSORS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AS WELL. CONSUMER IS REFERENCING COMPLAINT 10093484.*MR *NM

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT READ IN THE THE MIATA'S FORUM. MY 19'99 MIATA IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION COIL, AND THE SENSORS WILL SAY ABOUT A PROBLEM IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I RECENTLY GOT MY CAR, AND IS ONLY 35K, BUT THE LIMITED WARRANTY FROM THE DEALER JUST EXPIRED A WHILE AGO. FROM THE LARGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM ALONG THE INTERNET (YOU CAN READ IT HERE: HTTP://WWW.MIATAFORUM.COM/CGI-BIN/ULTIMATEBB.CGI?UBB=GET_TOPIC&F=27&T=000103), I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MAZDA IS NOT DOING A RECALL ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE FOG LIGHTS FAILED. DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE INFORMED. *AK

THE COIL PACK HAS FAILED ON MY 1999 MAZDA MIATA WITH LESS THAN 42000 MILES. MY INFORMATION IS THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON 1999 MAZDA PROTEGES FOR THE COIL PACK FAILURE AND THAT THE MIATA PART IS IDENTICAL EXCEPT FOR THE MOUNTING BRACKET.

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR. *AK *SC *JB

1999-2000 MIATAS HAVE AN ESTABLISHED INTERMITTENT IGNITION COIL FAILURE PROBLEM PER SEVERAL OWNERS FORUMS. THE IGNITION COIL FAILS WHICH CAUSES A MISFIRE CONDITION, THIS RESULTS IN UNBURNED FUEL REACHING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHERE IT BURNS AND OVERHEATS THE CONVERTER. THIS OVERHEATING CAN DESTROY THE CONVERTER AND POTENTIALLY DESTROY THE OXYGEN SENSORS. THIS EXACT SCENARIO HAPPENED TO ME ON THE INDICATED DATE. MY VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 37K MILES ON IT BUT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOW I MUST REPLACE THE COIL AND CONVERTER. I BELIEVE THIS SITUATION WARRANTS A RECALL. *LA

ON 11/10/03, MY 1999 MIATA STALLED WHEN CLUTCH IS PUSHED AT IDLE. I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 101 AT THAT TIME AND WOULD CREATE A DANGER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE SURROUNDING CARS. AFTER A CAR MECHANIC INSPECTED MY CAR, HE FOUND THAT THE CRANKSHAFT END PLAY WAS APPROXIMATELY .5" WIDE. THE MECHANIC SUSPECTED THAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE THRUST BEARING. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 70,000 MILES. MAZDA INSTALLED IMPROPER THRUST BEARING ON MANY 1999 MIATAS, CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL WHEN CLUTCH IS PUSHED AT IDLE. SO FAR, MAZDA HAS ONLY ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CLAIMING THE PROBLEM WOULD ONLY MAKE NOISE BUT IGNORES THE POTENTIAL STALLING PROBLEM. *LA

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE BATTERY, REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT.*MR BATTERY DIED AT 5800 MILES.

RECALL 00-V-032-000: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE NON-RETURN VALVE INSTALLED AT THE LOWER END OF THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE CAN STICK DUE TO INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE VALVE CASE AND THE VALVE SHUTTER COMBINED WITH THE MATERIAL PROPERTIES OF THE FUEL HOSE BETWEEN THE FILLER PIPE AND THE FUEL TANK. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL UNIT DOES NOT HOLD SET SPEED. SET SPEED RISES 5-7MPH WITHOUT ANY INTERVENTION BY DRIVER.

NUSANCE FAILURES SETTING ECU LIGHT, CAUSED BY COMBUSTION RESIDUE COLLECTING IN INTAKE MANIFOLD. RESIDUE IS COMING THRU THE EGT SYSTEM. THIS IS TURNING OUT TO BE A FREQUENT FAILURE OF 99-2000+ MODELS. DISASSEMBLY AND CLEANING OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS THE ONLY CURRENTLY KNOWN REMEDY. THE PROCESS IS EXPENSIVE IN TERMS OF LABOR, AND SEEMS TO OCCUR MOST FREQUENTLY AFTER THE MFRS WARRENTY EXPIRES. *AK

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THE COIL PACK FAILED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE COIL PACK WOULD CUT OFF, LEAVING THE ENGINE WITH ONLY 2 OPERATING CYLINDERS. THIS WOULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, BUT USUALLY WHEN TRYING TO GAIN SPEED, NECESSITATING PULLING OFF THE ROAD SO AS TO NOT GET HIT FROM BEHIND. *NLM

HERE IS A LIKE TO MANY PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR MAZDA MIATA 99+. AROUND MILES THE CAR STARTS TO HAVE IGNITION PROBLEMS CAUSED BY A FAULTY COIL. *JB

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE, MY REAR NITTO 450 TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION FAILURE WHICH CAUSED MY 1999 MAZDA MIATA TO LOSE CONTROL, SPINNING OUT FROM THE LEFT LANE ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC DURING RUSH HOUR, FINALLY HITTING THE EMBANKMENT ON THE FAR RIGHT SIDE. THE NITTO TIRE WAS EXAMINED AND DETERMINED TO HAVE FAILED BASED ON TREAD SEPARATION. THE TRAUMATIC INDICIDENT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT HARM TO THE MYSELF.

WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE TRUCK WHICH THREE AREAS HAS RUBBER GROMMETS THAT ALLOW WATER TO EXIT. HE DOES NOT KNOW WHY THE WATER IS ENTERING THE TRUNK AREA. THE WATER WAS UP TO THE BATTERY TERMINAL WITH EACH COMPARTMENT CONTAINING WATER. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED BEFORE BUT THE LEAKING HAS REOCCURED. MR *JG

MAZDA USA IS AWARE OF THRUST BEARING #4 BEING IMPROPERLY MACHINED , WHICH CAUSE THE CRANKSHAFT TO BECOME LOOSE INSIDE THE ENGINE BLOCK, RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE. MAZDA USA DECIDED NOT TO INFORM ANY OF THE AFFECTED OWNERS, MYSELF INCLUDED, ABOUT THIS DEFECT MENTIONED IN INTERNAL SERVICE BULLETIN # 3102 DATED 1-10-99. THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY ENGINES UNDER, AND OUT OF, WARRANTY, BUT SINCE THEY DID NOT NOTIFY ANY OWNERS, MANY 1999 MIATA ENGINES ARE FAILING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED. MAZDA'S SERVICE BULLETIN INCLUDES A RANGE OF VIN NUMBERS AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM, MY NUMBER IS IN THAT RANGE, AND IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE THE CRANKSHAFT HAS 4 THOUSANDS OF AN INCH OF PLAY, MAZDA DEALER ADVISES I NEED A NEW ENGINE. MAZDA USA REFUSES TO COVER THIS WORK AND REFUSES TO DISCLOSE HOW MANY 1999 MIATAS AND PROTEGES, THEY SHARE THE SAME ENGINE, HAVE HAD THEIR ENGINES REPLACED, BUT MIATA.NET HAS POSTED A PAGE WITH THE VIN NUMBERS OF SOME OF THE CARS THAT NEEDED THEIR ENGINES REPLACED. MAZDA CLAIMS MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, IT IS, BUT HAD THEY NOTIFIED ME ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, I WOULD HAVE HAD THE CAR CHECKED AT THE DEALERSHIP, SO FAR THEY HAVE NOT NOTIFIED ANY 1999 MIATA OWNER ABOUT THIS POTENTIALLY UNSAFE PRODUCT. PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE MAZDA USA CONTACT THE OWNERS OF THESE CARS SO THEY CAN CHECK IF THEY ARE AFFECTED BY THIS DESIGN FLAW.*AK

WHENEVER IT RAINS, WATER SEEMS TO SPLASH ON THE BRAKING SURFACES DUE TO NORMAL DRIVING IN THESE CONDITIONS. THE PROBLEM IS WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 - 2 SECONDS YOU HAVE NO BRAKING ACTION. UNLESS YOU RIDE THE BRAKES TO KEEP THEM WARM AND DRY, YOU BASICALLY HAVE NO BRAKES UNTIL THAT WATER FILM IS EVAPORATED DUE TO FRICTION. THIS IS NOT JUST A ONCE IN A LIFETIME HAPPENING. I FELT THIS PROBLEM EVERYTIME IT RAINS. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PUDDLE, JUST THE SPRAY OFF THE WET ROAD IS ENOUGHT TO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 4MVV TIRESIZE: 195-50R15)

I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE ON 12/17/01, (MACS103648, 12/17/01) MY WARNING LIGHT WAS ON (3RD OR 4TH TIME IN PAST 2-3 MONTHS). WHEN THE CAR FIRST STARTS UP I HAVE TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE GAS, TO KEEP IT FROM STALLING. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I FIRST BOUGHT IT, (MACS60450, 5/18/99) BUT THEY TOLD ME IT WAS JUST THE IDLE MECHANISM AND THEY COULDNT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SINCE IT WENT AWAY, IN SECONDS OF WARMING UP, I DIDNT MENTION IT AGAIN. IT WENT IN FOR SERVICE THIS TIME BECAUSE IT SEEMED TO BE GETTING WORSE. NOW, WITH THE CAR OFF WARRANTY, THE CHARGE IS $748.62 TO REPLACE THE VALVE IDLE AI AND THE THERMO GASKET. THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR TWO DAYS TO FIGURE THIS OUT. *AK

THE BRAKES FAIL FOR THE FIRST FEW SECONDS DRIVING IN THE WET GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. WOULD DELAY A PANIC STOPAPPROXIMATELY 2 SECONDS . *AK

BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING IN MODERATE RAIN. BRAKES WILL WORK AFTER 3 TO 5 SECS. OF CONTANT HARD PRESSURE. DURING THIS EVENT, TIRES DID NOT SKIP, THEY KEPT ROLLING. SEEMED AS IF I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL.*AK

BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE CAR IN RAIN OR WET CONDITIONS ON FIRST TRY. *AK

BRAKES FAIL TO ACTIVATE UNDER WET CONDITIONS (2-3 SECOND LAPSE)

THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM PERFORMS VERY POORLY WHEN DRIVEN UNDER WET CONDITIONS. DURING HEAVY RAIN STORMS THE BRAKING SYSTEM DOES NOT RESPOND TO INPUT FROM THE DRIVER AT ALL FOR ABOUT ONE OR TWO SECONDS UNTIL MOISTURE IS REMOVED FROM THE DISC BRAKES THROUGH HEAVY APPLICATION OF THE BREAK PEDAL. THIS INCREASES STOPPING DISTANCES IN WET WEATHER TO AN UNSAFE AMOUNT.*AK

IN THE RAIN / WET, THE BRAKES TAKE 1 - 2 SECONDS BEFORE THEY BEGIN SLOWING THE CAR. *AK

BRAKES FAILED TO WORK WHEN WET. THERE WAS ABOUT A 3-4 DELAY BEFORE THE BRAKES WOULD START TO WORK. THIS ONLY HAPPENS DURING VERY HEAVY RAIN OR AFTER DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE. THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS PREVIOUS CARS I HAVE HAD WHERE THE BRAKING FORCE WOULD BE LESS WHEN WET. THE BRAKES ON THIS CAR PROVIDE LESS THEN 20% OF BRAKING FOR 3-4 SECONDS AND PRESENTS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY IN THE RAIN, BRAKES FAILED FOR ABOUT 1-2 SECONDS WHEN APPLIED UNTIL DISC HAD DRIED OR HEATED SUFFICIENTLY. WHEN CONTACTED, THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE A TECHNICAL BULLETIN REGARDING SUCH FAILURES. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3 TIMES SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. NO OTHER SYMPTOMS EXIST.*AK

POOR WET BRAKING - DOESN'T SEEM TO BRAKE WELL AT ALL WHEN THE ROADS ARE WET.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH AT THE TIME OF IMPACT THE STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF THE MAIN COLUMN, AHEAD OF THE AIR BAG AND HIT THE DRIVER, IT SEEMS THIS MAY HAVE OCCURED WHEN THE AIR BAG WENT OFF, THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT SEEM TO INFLATE FULLY. NLM