1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Owner Complaints

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.

NHTSA ID

11495033

Incident

Sep 10, 2022

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 ONLY FIND OUT ITS ROTTED FROM WITHIN. THIS SHOULD BE BROUGHT UP TO MORE OWNERS OF THIS SPECIFIC MODEL OF THE CAR SO THEY KNOW TO CHECK THIS AREA, BECAUSE GOD FORBID THEY GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AND THE STRUCTURE CRUMBLES ALMOST INSTANTANEOUSLY, WHEN IT OBVIOUSLY SHOULDN'T. MAZDA CLEARLY DIDN'T DO ANY QUALITY CONTROL AND FAILED TO INSPECT SUCH DESIGN FLAWS OUT OF FACTORY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10669931

Incident

Jan 2, 2015

Mileage

159,915 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10597657

Incident

May 6, 2013

Mileage

25,000 mi

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 REPORTS ARE NOT ON THIS SITE WHERE THEY WOULD BENEFIT THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. IT WAS PUT ON A TRAILER, AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THE INCIDENT. WOULD THERE BE A WAY TO HAVE A QUALIFIED ACCIDENT INVESTIGATOR DOCUMENT WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS CAR? I MADE THE CAR AVAILABLE TO MAZDA BUT THEY HAD NO INTEREST. THE CAR IS AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO INSPECT. I CAN DELIVER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10496680

Incident

Nov 7, 2010

Mileage

52,819 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10467914

Incident

Jun 27, 2012

Mileage

117,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10398207

Incident

Jan 12, 2011

Mileage

165,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10398960

Incident

Mar 30, 2011

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

NHTSA ID

10389908

Incident

Mar 6, 2011

Mileage

52,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10389907

Incident

Mar 6, 2011

Mileage

52,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10286554

Incident

Sep 28, 2009

Mileage

20,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10241741

Incident

May 12, 2008

Mileage

76,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10240813

Incident

Aug 27, 2008

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.

NHTSA ID

10224745

Incident

Feb 29, 2008

Mileage

62,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10222233

Incident

Mar 23, 2008

Mileage

80,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10218949

Incident

Feb 22, 2008

Mileage

93,726 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10195445

Incident

Jul 5, 2007

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

NHTSA ID

10169711

Incident

Oct 1, 2006

Mileage

33,300 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10161679

Incident

Jul 4, 2004

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

NHTSA ID

10160044

Incident

Jun 15, 2006

Mileage

40,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10132173

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

40,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10117243

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

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

NHTSA ID

10099973

Incident

Oct 28, 2004

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

NHTSA ID

10093484

Incident

Jul 17, 2004

Mileage

30,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10089357

Incident

Aug 20, 2004

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.

NHTSA ID

10086548

Incident

Aug 8, 2004

Mileage

41,730 mi