Problems · NHTSA complaints
1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata problems
Owners filed 29 complaints about the 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata with NHTSA between Mar 1996 and Sep 2023. The most-cited component is air bags (17).
Complaints
29
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags17
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Steering1
- Suspension1
- Exterior lighting1
- Power train1
- Tires1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Wheels1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Electrical system1
- Structure1
- Latches/locks/linkages1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
4
3
1
3
0
1
1
0
1
0
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
3
1
2
1
0
2
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 4 |
| 1998 | 3 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
17 reports
“The contact owns a 1996 Mazda MX-5. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the failure was due to the Takata air bag module. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.”
Engine and engine cooling
3 reports
“ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON AT APPROX. 19,000 MILES AND SIMULTANEOUSLY ENGINE BEGAN KNOCKING STRONGLY AND LOST POWER DURING 2ND AND 3RD GEAR, DURING FULL ACCELERTION.”
Steering
1 report1 crash
“THE VIN IS FOR MY 1996 MAZDA MIATA. MY COMPLAINT IS THE M291 GOING WEST BOUND TO 350 HIGHWAY IN RAYTOWN THAT VEERS TO THE WEST. THE EXIT, SEEMS TO DANGEROUS WITH CONCRETE BLOCKS SEPERATING LANES. MY SECOND INQUIRY IS A POSSIBLE CAR WRECK THAT MY DAUGHTER, [XXX] MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN. SHE DROVE A GREEN AND BLACK MUSTANG FORD CONVERTIBLE. WE LIVE APART AND AS SHE IS A YOUNG ADULT LIKE MOST, AS A MOTHER, I DON'T GET ENOUGH INFO, SOMETIMES. 2006 FOUND ME WITNESSING HER CAR OR ONE THAT LOOKED LIKE IT OVERTURNED ON 350 HIGHWAY GOING WESTBOUND ON THE CLOVERLEAF TO M291/470 HIGHWAY. AN AMBULANCE WAS THERE AND THE PASSENGER, HER FRIEND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I HAVE SEEN HER SINCE THEN, SO OBVIOUSLY SHE SEEMS ALRIGHT AND SAFE, HOWEVER, I WOULD SURE BE APPRECIATIVE IF SOMEONE COULD FOLLOW UP ON THAT IF ANYTHING SEEMS ASKEW. HER ADDRESS AT THE TIME WAS [XXX] WHERE SHE LIVED WITH HER OWN FATHER, [XXX]. HER DATE OF BIRTH IS 1/29/89. I AM [XXX]- OF [XXX]. MY DRIVER'S LICENSE # IS [XXX]. THANK YOU. *TR”
Suspension
1 report1 crash
Exterior lighting
1 report
“AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY ALL OF THE TIME. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT AIRBAG FAILURE BUT NO RECALL INFO EXISTS. ALSO MY POP-UP HEADLIGHTS ARE RANDOMLY RETRACTING DOWN WHENEVER THEY FEEL LIKE IT. NO AMOUNT OF TWISTING ON AND OFF AT THE STEERING COLUMN SWITCH WILL MAKE THEM COME BACK UP AND I HAVE TO RESORT TO THE MANUAL POPUP BUTTON LOCATED UNDER THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH SEVERAL TIMES WHEN DRIVING AFTER DARK!”
Power train
1 report
“THIS INCIDENT CONCERNS A SAFETY VIOLATION CAUSED BY A NATIONALLY FRANCHISED TRANSMISSION SHOP IN CAMP HILL PA. I CANNOT ADEQUATELY DESCRIBE THIS SCENARIO IN 2000 CHARACTERS, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION FACILITY DAMAGED MY CAR SO THAT IT WAS UNSAFE, AND RETURNED IT TO ME IN THAT CONDITION WITHOUT TELLING ME. THEY DAMAGED THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE TO THE POINT THAT IT COULD HAVE BOTH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND THE RESULTS OF THAT ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE AS A RESULT OF THAT CONDITION. *NM”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.