2004 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 2004 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
- Engine337.5%
- Fuel system225.0%
- Body & structure112.5%
- Other / unspecified112.5%
- Seat belts112.5%
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CAR HAS A INTERMITTENT PROBLEM RUNNING, IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS ALMOST RUN OVER BY A 18 WHEELER. I HAVE MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER AND NO RECALL EXISTS THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD ON THIS MODEL AS NOTED BY MEMBERS OF MIAT ACAR CLUBS. BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM EXTENSIVE TESTING HAS BEEN DONE BY OUR CAR FORUM. REPLACING THE MAP SENSOR CURES THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 90 DAYS BUT AT 100 DOLLARS A POP IT IS A LITTLE EXPENSIVE. CARS THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM HAVE BEEN MODIFIED TO RUN WITHOUT A MAP SENSOR AND THIS HAS CURED THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY THE CURE IS 2000 BUCKS. I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR 2 YEARS NOW AND WOULD LIKE SOME HELP FIXING IT. *TR
CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I CAME TO A STOP AT A TOLL BOOTH. WHEN I WENT TO PULL AWAY THE CAR WOULD HARDLY ACCELERATE. ANY AMOUNT OF THROTTLE WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO BOG OUT. SEEMS VERY LIKELY A CRASH COULD OCCUR IF THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED AT THE WRONG TIME. THIS IS SPECIFICALLY A PROBLEM WITH THE MAZDASPEED MODEL OF THE MX-5. *TR
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
DRIVING MY 2004 MAZDASPEED MIATA ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLS. THE PROBLEM WAS THE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW AND IT HAS 4,400 MILES ON IT. I HAD THREE FUEL PUMP FAILURES SINCE 2004. I COMPLAINED TO THE MAZDA DEALER AS TO WHY THIS IS HAPPENING BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A CLUE. *TR
I BOUGHT THE 04 MAZDASPEED MIATA NEW IN 2/05 AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT STARTING SINCE IT WAS NEW. MY LAST SERIES OF STARTING PROBLEMS WAS IN 2/07. MAZDA REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP IN 8/06 TO HOPEFULLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED IN 9/06. I STILL HAVE THE ISSUE WITH THE CAR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE FORWARD FRAME RAILS ARE SEVERELY RUSTED, COMPROMISING THE FUNCTION OF THE BUMPERS GREATLY INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A FRONT COLLISION. CORROSION IS NOT READILY APPARENT, SUGGESTING THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE THAT THEIR VEHICLE'S SAFETY HAS BEEN COMPROMISED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON 4/24/2004 WHILE DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON MIDDLEBELT ROAD IN LIVONIA, MI I HEARD A LOUD "POP" AND SHORTLY AFTER EXPIRIENCED A FLAT TIRE. THE TIRE HAD PICKED UP A BOLT AND THE FLAT WAS CAUSED BY THE BOLT PENATRATING THE WHEEL.*AK BOTH THE WHEEL AND THE TIRE WERE REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS SENT TO THE MANAFACTURE AND I HAVE POSSESSION OF THE WHEEL. THE AUTOMOBILE WAS LESS THAN ONE WEEK OLD.
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
NORMAL DRIVING. SEAT BELT LOCKS. SEAT BELT WILL NOT UNLOCK.*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 .