Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
22
Latest Sep 23, 2019
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported
Overview
Our database contains 22 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1992 Mazda MX-5 Miata, most frequently naming the seat belts, airbags and visibility categories. 9 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
Monthly complaints peaked at 2 in Feb 2000. Most recent month: 1.View as table
Monthly owner complaints for the 1992 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Month
Complaints filed
Cumulative
May 1995
1
1
Jun 1995
1
2
Jul 1995
1
3
Aug 1995
1
4
Sep 1995
1
5
Sep 1996
1
6
Nov 1996
1
7
Jan 1998
1
8
Jun 1998
1
9
Oct 1999
1
10
Feb 2000
2
12
Aug 2000
1
13
Jan 2001
1
14
Oct 2002
1
15
Jul 2003
2
17
Aug 2005
1
18
Sep 2006
1
19
May 2015
1
20
Aug 2018
1
21
Sep 2019
1
22
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Seat belts520.8%
Airbags520.8%
Visibility312.5%
Electrical312.5%
Tires & wheels28.3%
Exterior lighting14.2%
Other / unspecified14.2%
Body & structure14.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
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.
NHTSA ID
11257361
Incident
Apr 2, 2019
Mileage
68,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 27, 2018
Crash reported
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.
NHTSA ID
11122874
Incident
Mar 8, 2016
Mileage
97,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureExterior lighting
Filed May 21, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported
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.
NHTSA ID
10717588
Incident
May 11, 2015
Mileage
105,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Sep 14, 2006
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
NHTSA ID
10168221
Incident
Sep 14, 2006
Mileage
180,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 4, 2005
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
NHTSA ID
10131638
Incident
Aug 4, 2005
Mileage
65,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 2, 2003
Crash reported
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
NHTSA ID
10026524
Incident
Jul 2, 2003
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 2, 2003
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.
NHTSA ID
10025323
Incident
Jun 28, 2003
Filed Oct 3, 2002
MR
NHTSA ID
768073
Incident
Oct 3, 2002
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
CONDITIONS WITH STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY OFF CENTER. *YC
97102302097
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
PRE-PAINTING PREPARATIONS FOR FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS. *YC
008/97
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
USE OF A/C TRACER DYE. *TW
007/97T
AIR BAGS
PARTS REPLACEMENT AFTER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TW
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.