2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Routine

Owners filed 22 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the fuel system, gasoline › delivery › fuel pump. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump3
000
Power Train › Manual Transmission2
000
Latches/Locks/Linkages2
000
Engine2
000
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly1
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Tires1
100
Suspension › Rear1
000
Suspension1
000
Structure › Body1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 27, 2026CA

The contact owns a 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata. The contact received notification of TSB: 3505H (Non-Methane Organic Gas (NMOG) levels exceeding standards. The contact recently purchased the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the remedy was not yet available. The contact was informed that parts were no longer being manufactured to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that a search would be done to find a dealer that had recall repairs. The contact had not received a callback from the manufacturer. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 6, 2018180,000 milesCA

AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY SUFFICIENT TO PROTECT DRIVER FROM HITTING HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL RESULTING IN SEVERE FACIAL LACERATION. SOLO VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON NB HWY 680 APPROACHING BENICIA BRIDGE. CHP DISPATCH LOG #357.

Engine
Filed Aug 5, 2017AL

THE PO012 ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON . I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS 2001-2002 MAZDA MIATA MX-5 . I THINK MAZDA REPLACED THE ECU TOO ELIMINATE THE CODE. PLEASE HELP. THANKS DALE

Engine
Filed May 27, 201279,682 milesFL

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR APPROX. 20 MINUTES WHEN CAR ENGINE STARTED TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND STALL OUT. NARROWLY MADE IT TO ROAD SHOULDER, WITH 2 VEHICLES MAKING EMERGENCY MOVES TO AVOID COLLISION WITH ME. AFTERWARDS MY VEHICLE WOULD ONLY START AFTER WAITING PERIODS OF 10-15 MINUTES, AND THEN ONLY RUN FOR 5-10 MINUTES BEFORE SAME ENGINE ISSUE WOULD OCCUR. AFTER NUMEROUS STARTS AND STALLS, AND 4 HOURS LATER ARRIVED AT CAR REPAIR SHOP. AFTER CHECKING VEHICLE OVER, AND LOOKING UP "CHECK ENGINE CODE" THEY REPLACED A "ENGINE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR" I HAVE SINCE READ NUMEROUS BLOG POSTS ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS PART IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH MY MAKE AND MODEL. AND FELT COMPELLED TO WRITE THIS TO VOICE MY SAFETY CONCERNS. I FEEL STRONGLY THAT SOMEONE COULD SUFFER A FATAL CRASH ALL TOO EASILY WITH THIS PART FAILING AND THE VIOLENT AND SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Nov 1, 2011VA

2001 MAZDA MIATA MX5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STRONG GAS ODOR IN CABIN OF CAR AFTER FILLING FUEL CAPACITY FULL *TGW THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE BASE OF THE FUEL NECK THAT ATTACHED TO THE FUEL TANK WAS RUSTED WHICH ALLOWED RAW FUEL TO DUMP IN THE TRUNK COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER STATED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THE FUEL NECK AND FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 1300.00. *JB

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Dec 10, 200821,000 milesIL

PURCHASED A 2001 MAZDA MIATA NEW, TRANSMISSION WAS HARD SHIFTING FROM DAY 1 TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS NUMEROUS TIMES, FINALLY RESULTED IN TRANS. LOCKING IN NEUTRAL AND CAR WOULD NOT MOVE RESULTING IN A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING THIS PERIOD AND MAZDA WOULD NOT REPAIR CAR BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AT THIS TIME. CAR WAS FIXING BY INDEPENDENT TRANS. SHOP AND PAID FOR BY ME. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Sep 8, 200883,200 milesIN

ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE COASTING TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC AS IF OUT OF GAS, BUT TANK HAD OVER 1/4 IN IT. ENGINE WOULD COUGH AND SPUTTER THEN RESTART AND RUN FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS. AFTER CAR SIT ABOUT 15 MINUTES, AND WITH THE ADDITION OF ANOTHER 1 1/2 GALLON OF FUEL, CAR RESTARTED WITH NO PROBLEM. IT TOOK 7 1/2 MORE GALLONS TO FILL TANK, THEREFORE I HAD 3 GALLONS WHEN CAR STOPPED. DEALER SUGGESTED POSSIBLE WATER IN GAS. ADVISED TO TRY GAS DRY. PRIVATE MECHANIC SUGGESTED A POSSIBLE WEAK FUEL PUMP. I UNDERSTAND OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed May 13, 2008GA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA MIATA. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND STALLS. THE VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURS WHILE IN FIRST GEAR AND WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD. ONCE THE VEHICLE WARMS UP, THE FAILURE DOES NOT OCCUR AS OFTEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE BEGAN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEW AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 60,400. UPDATED 06/03/08. *LJ UPDATED 05/30/08

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Apr 11, 200853,000 milesFL

ENGINE STALLS WHEN CAR COMING TO A STOP. ENGINE WILL RESTART BRIEFLY, THEN STALL AGAIN. RUNS ONLY AFTER ALLOWED TO REST FOR 10-15 MINUTES. CAR HAS STALLED 5 TIMES IN LAST MONTH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND MUST BE PUSHED OFF THE ROAD - VERY DANGEROUS. DEALER SUSPECTS FUEL PUMP. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE MIATA. CAR HAS ONLY 53,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN SERVICED RELIGIOUSLY. *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Jul 9, 200649,000 milesTX

THE TOP LATCH HOLDING THE CONVERTIBLE TOP FAILS PREMATURELY. IN FIVE YEARS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED FOUR FAILURES. WHEN THE LATHES FAIL, THE CONVERTIBLE TOP CAN OPEN SUDDENLY. THE SUDDEN OPENING COULD CAUSE A DISTRACTION. THE SUDDEN OPENING ALSO EXPOSES THE DRIVER TO RAIN OR SNOW THAT MAY ALSO INTERFERE WITH SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDEN OPENING COULD CAUSE FAILURE TO THE REAR WINDOW. *JB

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Apr 17, 200625,500 milesNY

THE LATCHES THAT HOLD THE CONVERTIBLE TOP LOCKED IN POSITION CAN BE DEFECTIVE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, CAUSING THE LATCH NOT TO LOCK PROPERLY, AND ALLOWING THE TOP TO BECOME UNLATCHED AND FLY UP WHILE DRIVING. THE PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WILL ONLY REPLACE IT FREE IF THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

Structure
Filed Sep 7, 2005FL

EMAIL FM CARLOS PIAD (FL) REQUEST NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THE SOFT TOP LATCH FAILURES ON THE 2001 MAZDA MX-5/MIATA.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE LATCH CAN POSSIBLE BECOME LOOSE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WIND CAN TEAR THE TOP OFF. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE MANUFACTURER UNDER-DESIGNED THE CONVERTIBLE TOP LATCH MECHANISM. *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Aug 30, 200534,000 milesIL

MAZDA MIATA LS 2001 ON HUMID DAYS THE CAR WILL START AND THE ENGINE WILL IMMEDIATELY CUT OFF. AFTER CHECK UP FROM DEALER THE FUEL PUMP WAS FOUND TO BE FAILING. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE MIATAS WHICH MAKES ME FEEL THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP DESIGN\ENGINEERING. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 16, 200592,000 milesCA

CAR STALLS CONSISTENTLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP IN NEUTRAL CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. ENGINE SPEED DROPS BELOW 500 RPM AND ALMOST ALWAYS CAUSES A STALL.

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed Mar 5, 200518,000 milesFL

THE SOFT TOP (CONVERTIBLE TOP) LATCH CAN SNAP OPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND CAN TEAR OFF THE TOP. FOR THE AFFECTED VEHICLE THE DRIVER CAN BE SIGNIFICANTLY DISTRACTED AND CAN BE HIT BY THE FLAPPING TOP. OTHER VEHICLES BEHIND THE IMPACTED CAR CAN BE HIT BY FLYING DEBRIS AS THE TOP TEARS OFF. MAZDA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ISSUED A TECHINCAL SAFETY BULLETIN, BUT THEY NEVER MADE OWNERS AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL LATCH FAILURE. THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE THE LATCHES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY. MANY OF IMPACTED VEHICLES HAVE LATCH FAILURES AFTER THE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED AND THE REPAIR CAN RUN UP TO $500.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads
Filed Jun 24, 200422,500 milesVA

2001 MAZADA MIADA RIGHT FRONT BRAKE PAD WORE OUT IN 22,000. WIFE DOES NOT DRIVE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL AND MAZDA MIATA REPLACEMENT BRAKE PADS PARTS ARE ON A NATION WIDE BACK ORDER ACCORDING TO LOCAL DEALER. *AK

Suspension › Rear
Filed Mar 26, 200356,000 milesFL

THE VEHICLES REAR WHEEL JUMPED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM

Structure › Body
Filed Aug 20, 2002GA

THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR GET VERY HOT WHEN THE TOP IS UP AND THE WINDOWS ARE DOWN. IT IS HOT TO THE POINT OF CAUSING YOU TO MOVE YOUR RIGHT LEG AWAY FROM THE TUNNEL. THIS CAUSES YOU TO NOT BE DRIVING BUT, TRYING TO NOT GETE BURNED. *AK

TiresCrash
Filed Jul 15, 2002NH

POOR WEAR AND BLOW OUT CAUSING ACCIDENT WHERE CAR FLIPPED AND CONSEQUENTLY WAS TOTALLED. ONLY GOOD DRIVING SAVED THE PASSENGERS, PLUS THE CAR'S INTEGRITY.

Suspension
Filed Mar 14, 2002VA

ON SPEED 50MPH SUDDEN TURNS AND VEHICLE LOSES CONTROL. VEHICLE SYSTEMATICALLY JERKS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. CONTACTED MAZDA. *AK

20 of 22 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20054000Routine
20048000Routine
200314030Routine
200220010Routine
2001 — this page22000Routine
200029020Routine
199974000Routine
19981000Routine
199711010Routine
199629000Routine
199530020Routine
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.