RoadVitals

1995 Mazda MX-5 Miata

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.
30
Latest Nov 12, 2015
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.
11
10 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 30 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 Mazda MX-5 Miata, most frequently naming the airbags, tires & wheels and body & structure 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags1653.3%
  • Tires & wheels413.3%
  • Body & structure310.0%
  • Steering26.7%
  • Electrical26.7%
  • Visibility13.3%
  • Engine13.3%
  • Exterior lighting13.3%

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

View all 30
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 12, 2015

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.

NHTSA ID
10790065
Incident
Nov 10, 2015
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 4, 2015

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.

NHTSA ID
10788442
Incident
Nov 4, 2015
Steering
Filed May 12, 2014
Fire reported2 injuries reported

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.

NHTSA ID
10587846
Incident
May 10, 2014
Mileage
90,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 4, 2011

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

NHTSA ID
10428741
Incident
Oct 2, 2011
Mileage
140,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 15, 2009
1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
10295824
Incident
Dec 13, 2009
Mileage
141,800 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 8, 2004
1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
10103385
Incident
Dec 1, 2004
Steering
Filed Mar 17, 2004

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

NHTSA ID
10062436
Incident
Aug 7, 2001
Mileage
29,587 mi
Body & structureExterior lighting
Filed Apr 19, 2002

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

NHTSA ID
8008125
Incident
Feb 1, 2002

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

MT-002-22

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Radio Unlocking Codes.

0900716

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

Speedometer replacement procedure

00198

STEERING

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

Mazda MX-5 Miata by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2005400—
2004800—
2003140044.5
2002200037.9
2001220046.1
2000290038.3
1999740039.2
1998100—
1997110033.7
1996290032.6
1995Viewing300049.0
1994180039.9
1993800—
1992220037.9
1991210037.0
1990280040.5

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.