Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 20 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata, most frequently naming the body & structure, electrical and transmission categories. 20 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 1 |
| Dec 2002 | 1 | 2 |
| Mar 2003 | 1 | 3 |
| Jan 2004 | 1 | 4 |
| Jun 2004 | 2 | 6 |
| Oct 2004 | 1 | 7 |
| Jan 2005 | 1 | 8 |
| Dec 2005 | 1 | 9 |
| Feb 2006 | 1 | 10 |
| Aug 2007 | 1 | 11 |
| Feb 2008 | 1 | 12 |
| Aug 2008 | 1 | 13 |
| Jul 2009 | 1 | 14 |
| Dec 2010 | 1 | 15 |
| Aug 2013 | 1 | 16 |
| Sep 2013 | 1 | 17 |
| Aug 2015 | 1 | 18 |
| Dec 2017 | 1 | 19 |
| Sep 2018 | 1 | 20 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
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.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA MIATA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND COULD NOT BE IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IMMOBILIZER MODULE ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATED AND DISABLED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,700.
THIS CAR HAS A SAFETY IMMOBILIZER THAT PREVENTS CAR FROM RUNNING IF THE CORRECT TRANSPONDER KEY IS NOT USED. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 28,000 MILES, OF WHICH I HAVE DRIVEN THE LAST 10,000 MILES. THIS WEEK THE IMMOBILIZER CONTROL ELECTRONICS FAILED, RENDERING THE CAR TO STOP RUNNING AND WILL NOT RESTART. RESEARCHING ON THE WEB IT APPEARS THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH MANY 2001 AND SOME 2002 MODELS. FIRSTLY THIS FAILURE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. SECONDLY THE REPAIR REQUIRES REPLACING THIS IMMOBILIZER MODULE AS WELL AS THE MAIN ECU AND GETTING NEW TRANSPONDER KEYS, WHICH IS VERY COSTLY.
ONE OF TWO LATCHES FOR THE CONVERTIBLE SOFT TOP CAME UNFASTENED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING ONE SIDE OF THE TOP TO LIFT UPWARDS WITH GREAT VIOLENCE AND A VERY LOUD NOISE. NO ACCIDENT THIS TIME BUT IT WILL HAPPEN- E.G. SWERVING OUT OF LANE AND INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, PEDESTRIAN, TREE, ETC. DUE TO 1) THE VIOLENCE AND NOISE AND/OR 2) THE DRIVER *ATTEMPTING* (ITS IMPOSSIBLE!) TO RE-LATCH AND RE-LOCK THE TOP. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS A VERY POOR DESIGN OF THE LATCH/LOCK AND THE LOCKS LEVER BEING MADE OF POT METAL. BOTH FACTORS COMBINE IN A SYNERGISTIC MANNER WHICH CAUSE VERY RAPID LOCK WEAR AND ABRUPT FAILURE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL DUE TO RISK AND THE NUMBER OF NHTSA COMPLAINTS ON THIS DESIGN DEFECT- INCLUDING ONE WHERE BOTH LATCHES FAILED AND THE TOP BLEW OFF! DEFECTIVE PART NUMBERS ARE NA01R1310_ AND NA01R1320_.
MAZDA MIATA CONVERTIBLE TOP BLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE CHECKED REPORTS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A REGULAR PROBLEM. MAZDA HAS EVEN ISSUED A BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, PUSHING THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE INTO THE NEXT LANE. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INTERNAL BLEEDING AND BRUISING TO THE HEAD, FACE, LEGS, AND ARMS. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WOULD SPORADICALLY FAIL TO RESTRAIN HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP LATCH DOES NOT LATCH PROPERLY AND CAUSED THE CONVERTIBLE TOP TO DETACH WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WAS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF AND THAT WARRANTS A RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WAS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 01/11/2011*LJ
THE SOFT TOP LOCK ASSEMBLY LATCH PART #NAO1-R1-310M IS DEFECTIVE. IT COMES UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING. THIS LATCH WAS REPLACED TWICE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. THE CAR NOW HAS APPROX 22,500 AND IS READY FOR A THIRD RT SOFT TOP LATCH REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THESE LATCHES SHOULD BE RECALLED. ACCORDING TO MAZDA'S SERVICE BULLETIN NO: 09-009/03THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE WITH ALL VEHICLES WITH VIN # LOWER THAN JMI NB** **304036. MY VIN # IS JMINB353520 234528, CLEARLY FITS THIS REQUIREMENT.
2002 MAZDA MIATA HAVE DEFECTIVE TOP LATCHES. CONSUMER WANTS MAZDA TO REPAIR VEHICLE AT THEIR EXPENSE. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE CONVERTIBLE LATCH, UN-LATCHED ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING. *JB
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY/WIPER
This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. 09-042/04 12/10/04 DESCRIPTION Some vehicles may exhibit inoperative electric rear window defroster grid lines, integral antenna concerns causing radio reception issues or terminal tabs pulled from the rear window glass. Follow the diagnostic and repair procedures included in this service information to inspect and service rear defroster grid lines, integral antenna concerns or broken terminal tabs.
ENGINE; POWER TRAIN; SERVICE BRAKES
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are noted in Red. SA-011/24 02/12/24, 06/06/24, 07/29/24 DESCRIPTION Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers. SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE Refer to the applicable Workshop Manual or Owner's Manual for vehicle -specific manufacturer scheduled maintenance. Workshop Manual - Refer to section 00-00 SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. Owner's Manual - Refer to section 8 Maintenance and Care. b. Note: Please refer to the information below outlining the services not included in Mazda's Factory Scheduled Maintenance: IMPORTANT: Recommending fluid flushes when not necessary can lead to customer confusion and dissatisfaction. Fluid flushing for preventive maintenance purposes is strongly discouraged, unless otherwise specified in a published procedure (Owner’s Manual, Workshop Manual, Technical Service Bulletin, etc.).
A musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system is operating. It is most noticeable when the A/C is first turned ON. This odor is the result of mold growth in the A/C evaporator/cooling unit which is caused by condensation, dust, and pollen within the cooling unit. This condition is usually worse during high humidity conditions. “Mazda Air Cooling Coil Coating” is available to encapsulate the mold to reduce odors. If the product is properly applied, it can effectively reduce the musty/mildew odor for up to three years. NOTE: See parts information for Mazda Air Cooling Coil Coating and Kit part numbers.
A musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system is operating. It is most noticeable when the A/C is first turned ON. This odor is the result of mold growth in the A/C evaporator/cooling unit which is caused by condensation, dust, and pollen within the cooling unit. This condition is usually worse during high humidity conditions. “Mazda Air Cooling Coil Coating” is available to encapsulate the mold to reduce odors. If the product is properly applied, it can effectively reduce the musty/mildew odor for up to three years.
ENGINE
Some vehicles may crank but not start due to a PCM/Immobilizer malfunction. If this happens, check the status of Recall 3505H. NOTE: Effective July 2020 recall 3505H can no longer be completed due to no parts available. The recall is also not populated in eMDCS. Advise customers inqiring about repairs that the recall cannot be completed due to time since launch of the campaign. If you have any questions about the campaign, fill out the Dealer Recall Help form on OneMazda. While the campaign can no longer be completed, for reference the repair associated with this Service Alert can be found below.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer’s responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the “Speedometer Replacement Label”. Labels can only be ordered through Mazda eStore. In an effort to achieve a higher level of Customer Experience and retain the value of Mazda’s vehicles, MNAO Warranty Operations is allowing all Mazda dealers to utilize a third party, SPECMO Enterprises, Inc., for Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) odometer setting service. With the use of SPECMO’s services, it is possible that the odometer will be set between 10 to 31 miles over the odometer mileage at the time of replacement for both warranty and customer pay repairs. Please make sure that the customer is aware that there may be a slight variance to the odometer, in which case the customer may have to accept the slightly higher mileage. Since odometer setting service is not part of the warranty repair, it is not warrantable nor required, but optional. However, Mazda Warranty policy provides after- warranty assistance (AWA) or DSA that can be utilized to cover this service expense.
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.
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.