Mazda Mx-5 Miata Reliability

391 NHTSA complaints (1990–2005). Complaint rate: 329.1 per 1,000 vehicles.

Severity Score
965.5
Complaints
391
Crash Rate
13.3%
Fire Rate
3.1%
Injuries
54
Fatalities

Which Years to Buy & Avoid

Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.

Bottom line: Avoid the 1999 Mazda Mx-5 Miata. The 2004–2005 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: AIR BAGS.

Avoid These Years

1999
~87/yr complaints · 15 crashes
1995
~36/yr complaints · 11 crashes

Average

1990–1992
~26/yr complaints
1994
~20/yr complaints
1996
~32/yr complaints
2000–2003
~25/yr complaints

Better Years

2004–2005
~9/yr complaints
1997
~12/yr complaints
1993
~8/yr complaints
Looking at a specific Mazda Mx-5 Miata?

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Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA complaint count per model year

Mazda Mx-5 Miata — Complaints by Model YearPeak: 1999 (87)
0255075100199019911992199319941995199619971999200020012002200320042005

Common Mazda Mx-5 Miata Problems

Most reported component complaints to NHTSA

ComponentComplaintsCrash %
AIR BAGS5225.0%
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2454.2%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC150.0%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE140.0%
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION1414.3%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM120.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION110.0%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER119.1%
TIRES1136.4%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE90.0%

Year-by-Year Breakdown

NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.

See also: Mazda Mx-5 Miataaccident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.

Buying a Mazda Mx-5 Miata?

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Mazda Mx-5 Miata Years to Avoid (1990–2005) — Reliability, Problems & Best Years to Buy | VinItel