Complaints
87
Crashes
15
Fires
0
Injuries
20
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#111 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
#27 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition
Avg mileage:32,106 mi
#36 complaints
Manual Transmission
Avg mileage:52,000 mi
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 7 | — | — | 32,106 mi | |
| Manual Transmission | 6 | 2 | — | 52,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 4 | 4 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tires:Sidewall | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve) | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Fog Lights | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Driveline | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front | 1 | — | — | — |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
32,106
Manual Transmission
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
52,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
4
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Sidewall
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve)
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Fog Lights
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Driveline
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Mazda MX-5 Miata Years
1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata has 87 NHTSA complaints, 15 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc with 11 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata?
Top reported problems: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc (11 complaints); Electrical System:Ignition (7 complaints, avg 32,106 mi); Manual Transmission (6 complaints, avg 52,000 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 41,288 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata?
NHTSA complaints for the 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata include 15 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 20 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Mazda MX-5 Miata reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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