Problems · NHTSA complaints
1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata problems
Owners filed 11 complaints about the 1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata with NHTSA between Sep 1997 and Aug 2003. The most-cited component is electrical system (2).
Complaints
11
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system2
- Air bags2
- Steering1
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Equipment1
- Exterior lighting1
- Structure1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Other / unknown1
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
2
4
2
0
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 2 |
| 1999 | 4 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 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
Electrical system
2 reports
“I HAVE A 1997 MAZDA MIATA WITH 113,000 MILES. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT CAR UP UNTIL THIS RECENT PROBLEM. IT STARTED OUT THAT THE "METER" FUSE WAS FAILING INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE 15 AMP FUSE WAS REPLACED IT WOULD WORK FINE FOR APROXIMATELY 2-3 MINUTES (MAYBE LESS) AT WHICH POINT I NOTICED THE "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHT IS NOW ON AND THEN THE FUSE WILL FAIL AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL NOW. NOW WHEN THE FUSE IS REPLACED AS SOON AS THE IGNITION CYLINDER IS CYCLED THE FUSE FAILS INSTANTLY. I AM AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN, AND CHECKED A WIRING SCHEMATIC AS TO WHAT THIS "BLACK-YELLOW" WIRE ON THE "METER" FUSE SUPPLIES. BY THE WAY, AT THIS TIME I HAVE NO TURN SIGNALS, TACHOMETER, GAUGES OR WARNING LIGHTS. THIS PROBLEM IT DRIVING ME INSANE!!! I WENT THROUGH THE MANUAL AND DISCONNECTED EACH COMPONENT INDIVIDUALLY TO TEST THE CIRCUIT AT WHICH EACH TIME THE FUSE STILL FAILED. THE LIST OF COMPONENTS I TRIED ARE THE OXYGEN SENSORS, THE ECM, THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH, AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (CRUISE CONTROL IS ALSO ON THIS CIRCUIT, BUT THE VEHICLE IS NOT SO EQUIPED) ALL TO NO AVAIL!!!! AM I MISSING SOMETHING? IS THERE A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS ITSELF, IF SO, ANY…”
Air bags
2 reports1 crash1 fire
“VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 35-40MPH, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES. *AK”
Steering
1 report
“WE TOOK THE CAR IN TO SUNNYVALE MAZDA TODAY BECAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOOSE AND THEY SAID THE SAFETY CLAMPS ARE BROKEN AND THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (PLUS THE SAFETY CLAMPS) AND THAT WE MUST HAVE RUN OVER A "BUMP" TO CAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER MAZDA MIATA'S HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO THE STEERING COLUMN AT APPROXIMATELY 18,000 MILES.*AK”
Engine and engine cooling
1 report
“AT ALL TIMESTHERE IS A STRONG GASOLING ODOR IN VEHICLE AND IN TRUNK WHICH CAUSES OCCUPANTS TO GET SICK. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK”
Equipment
1 report
“DRIVER'S FLOORMAT IS CONSTANTLY WORKING WAY ONTO GAS PEDDLE CAUSING ACCELLORATOR TO STAY ON FLOOR, HOOK WOULD SOLVE PROBLEM, SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS”
Exterior lighting
1 report
“PARKING AND DIRECTIONAL LIGHT FAILED. MJS”
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.