1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags1050.0%
- Visibility210.0%
- Electrical210.0%
- Fuel system210.0%
- Brakes15.0%
- Seat belts15.0%
- Driver assistance15.0%
- Tires & wheels15.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
In 2010, the air bag control module went out on my vehicle. There were no replacement units available, and I was forced to disconnect the system to prevent the dangerous possibility of a malfunction. I also had to build a dummy unit to turn the air bag status light on and off on the dashboard so that the vehicle would pass inspection. Several years later, I was able to buy what might have been the last new-old-stock control module in North America, and I was able to restore the functionality of the airbag system. However, even this module is old, and I do not know how long it will last. Manufacturers should be required to stock replacement parts for critical safety equipment for as long as their vehicles are on the road. Failing that, there should be some sort of exemption from state requirements that such safety equipment pass inspection if it is unserviceable (although this would be an inferior solution).
AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES OFF AND ON NOW WITH CODE 52. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 80,000 ORIGINAL MILES. I AM DRIVING IT BUT NEED TO KNOW IF A RECALL WILL FIX THIS .
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
PROBLEMS WITH DRIVER BEING HIT BY OBJECTS AND INSECTS WHILE DRIVING WITH THE WINDOW DOWN. *MR THE OBJECTS WERE BEING DEFLECTED BY THE MIRROR HOUSING. *SC *JB
WINDSHIELD WIPER WORK PERIODICALLY, DUE TO ELECTRICIAL PROBLEM. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES OFF AND ON NOW WITH CODE 52. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 80,000 ORIGINAL MILES. I AM DRIVING IT BUT NEED TO KNOW IF A RECALL WILL FIX THIS .
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND ENGINE CUT OFF. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
Car was in storage for 3.5 years and upon starting the engine fuel sprayed from the fuel rail/fuel injector interface (I would estimate 0.2 liters per minute). 10 mb file size limit, LOL. I zoomed my photo to about 5% of the original area to show a 1/2” picture of the fuel spray. Also, FWIW, this is a race car with original/OEM engine.
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO FOUND THAT A CONNECTOR WIRE IN THE FUEL TANK MELTED. DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY CONNECTOR INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
ABS, WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE ABS BRAKES CONTINUE TO STAY ON (YELLOW) RESTART, CONTINUE TO RESTART TO MAKE LIGHT GO OFF. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
A/B LIGHTS 5 TIMES THEN ONCE INDICATING FAILURE OF AIR BAG MODULE. I CONTACTED A DEALER AND THEN CONTACTED CORPORATE. THE MODULE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE AIR BAGS ARE INOPERATIVE WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING MODULE. THE SAFETY BELTS MAY ALSO BE AFFECTED. ALL 1994 MIATAS SHOULD BE RECALLED TO REPLACE THE MODULE AND IF NECESSARY THE AIR BAGS AND SAFETY BELTS. THE VIN CONTAINS AN O; IT MAY BE A NUMBER (ZERO) OR A LETTER. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
JUST BEFORE APPLYING THE BRAKES AND REMOVING PRESSURE FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT ABLE TO STOP IT AND CAUSED A CRASH.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR END SPUN OUT WHEN TIRES HIT A WET PATCH ON ROAD. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .