FaultScore

FaultScore report

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata problems

Owners have filed 21 complaints about the 1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata with NHTSA between 1995 and 2024. The largest single group is the airbags.

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

21

Complaints

2

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

2

Injuries reported

64,750 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

25%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

How 1991 compares with every other Mazda MX-5 Miata

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Airbags 10 47.6%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 65,000 mi

Electrical System 2 9.5%

Median failure at 24,000 miles

Engine & Cooling 2 9.5%
Other & Unspecified 1 4.8%
Equipment & Accessories 1 4.8%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Seat Belts 1 4.8%
Tires 1 4.8%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 1 4.8%
Fuel & Propulsion 1 4.8%
Body & Structure 1 4.8%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

10,000 – 24,999 miles 2 25.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 1 12.5%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 2 25.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 1 12.5%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 1 12.5%
150,000+ miles 1 12.5%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Jan 1995 peak 2 Mar 2024

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Houston, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #723641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jefferson CI, MO Crash 1 injured

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

DURING AN ACCIDENT DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE HEAD TRAUMA DUE TO SPEAKER INSTALLED IN HEAD REST. TT

NHTSA complaint #958210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Prescott, AZ

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

When accelerator was fully depressed to clear potential flooded condition on starting, it got caught in the floor carpet and would not return to idle. Engine immediately redlined and I turned off the ignition. Potentially disastrous if occurred during high passing situation.

NHTSA complaint #11579091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Copiague, NY

TIRES:SIDEWALL

Sidewall of my one day old VeeRubber Vitron R41 split about 15 inches along the side wall of the tire about 2 to 3 inches down from the road riding part of he tire. It was a clear day and there were no warnings when the one day old tire just split along the sidewall. The tire was mounted and filled with air at a retail tire store. 185/60 R14

NHTSA complaint #11435011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 19,000 miles Slippery Rock, PA

AIR BAGS

AIR-BAG WARNING LIGHT BLINKS WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING. TOOK IN FOR REPAIR AND SAID PART IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. WHAT IS MY RECOURSE?

NHTSA complaint #11298375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Mansfield, TX

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHING FOR NO REASON

NHTSA complaint #11140362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 64,500 miles Mansfield, TX

AIR BAGS

FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE AIR BAG LIGHT BLINKS. THE AIR BAG HAS NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. THE CODE FROM THE LIGHT INDICATES A FAULTY ACTUATOR. THE CAR HAS 65000 MILES AND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. ALWAYS GARAGE KEPT SINCE ORIGINAL PURCHASE.

NHTSA complaint #11063813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 123,000 miles Ventura, CA

AIR BAGS

THE VEHICLE'S AIRBAG WARNING IS ON. THE WARNING LIGHT FLASHES A NUMBER OF TIMES, THEN PAUSES FOR A FEW SECONDS, AND THEN BEGINS AGAIN. THE PROBLEM IS PROBABLY DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE CONTROL MODULE AND THIS PART IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER OR FROM REMANUFACTURERS. THE AIRBAG IS A SAFETY ITEM AND THUS MUST BE OPERABLE. THE MANUFACTURER, MAZDA, MUST MAKE THIS REPAIR OR MAKE THE PART AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10984406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 88,225 miles SAN Diego, CA

AIR BAGS

IN 2015 THE SRS LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND I TOOK THE CAR IN TO JOHN WINE MAZDA FOR REPAIRS. ON 10/28/2015 THEY REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING MODULE FOR $634.45 WHICH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ON 11/2/2015 THEY REPLACED THE DIAGNOSTIC MODULE OF $485.00 WHICH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY STATED PARTS WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND ON 11/13/2015 THE SAID THE BATTERY AND BACKUP BATTERY MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACE BUT THE MODULE HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED. I RESEARCHED AVAILABILITY AND ONLY USED MODULES WERE AVAILABLE AND JOHN HINE MAZDA SAID THEY COULD NOT INSTALL USED PARTS.FINALLY ON 3/16/2016 THEY HAD A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE CHECK OUT THE AIR BAG AND HE SAID IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AS IT HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED. AT THIS TIME THEY SAID I NEEDED TO PROVIDE A NEW AIR BAG-WHICH I OBVIOUSLY CAN'T- AND THE DISCONNECTED AIR BAG MODE AND TAPED THE WIRING SO IT WAS NO LONGER CONNECTED. I NOW AM EXPECTED TO DRIVE MY CAR WITHOUT THE PROTECTION OF AN AIR BAG WHICH I CONSIDER A SAFETY VIOLATION.

NHTSA complaint #10957333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 165,000 miles Kingman, AZ

AIR BAGS

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND SHOWS THE MODULE HAS FAILED. MODULES ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THIS IS A COMMON SAFETY PROBLEM WITH MAZDA MIATAS.

NHTSA complaint #10955121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 39,000 miles Aquinnah, MA

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE AIR BAG CODE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE FAILED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS NO LONGER BEING PRODUCED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

NHTSA complaint #10610650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 24,000 miles Yarmouth, ME

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS HOUSED IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. MAZDA RECENTLY DEVELOPED A NEWER BATTERY MODEL CALLED A FLOODED CELL BATTERY. HE NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY WAS LEAKING AROUND THE CAPS AND HE WAS CONCERNED WITH LIQUID ACID BEING PRODUCED BY THE BATTERY. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO REPLACE THE BATTERY IF IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BATTERY WOULD HAVE TO FAIL AN ELECTRICAL TEST IN ORDER FOR THEM TO MAKE THE REPLACEMENT. THE ELECTRICAL TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO DATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 24,000. UPDATED 12/08/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE REPLACED HIS BATTERY IN AUGUST 2007. HIS CONCERN WAS THAT MAZDA WAS SELLING FLOODED BATTERIES AS AN OEM REPLACEMENT FOR THE AGM BATTERY THAT CAME STANDARD IN HIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED ACID LEAKING AROUND THE CELL CAPS. UPDATED 12/10/09

NHTSA complaint #10263609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fairfield, CA

AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY

I WANT TO GET RID OF MY AIR BAG AND NO ONE WILL HELP ME. I AM ONLY 4 FEET 8 INCHES TALL AND I KNOW THAT IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT IT IS GOING TO HURT ME TERRIBLY. I AM BY MYSELF AND I DO NOT HAVE THE $500 IT TAKES TO GET THE ON/OFF SWITCH. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. I WANT TO STATE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA THAT THE WAY THEY ARE DOING THIS IS NOT RIGHT. I SHOULD BE ABLE TO JUST HAVE A SHOP DISCONNECT IT FOR ME, BUT OF COURSE NO ONE WILL DO IT...NOT EVEN WITH AUTHORIATION. SO NOW, WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? NOTHING, BUT WAIT TO BE DECAPITATED. THEY WARN NOT TO PUT YOUR CHILD IN THE FRONT SEAT, YET HERE I AM THE SIZE OF ONE AND NO ONE WILL HELP ME.

NHTSA complaint #742203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nashvilee, TN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CRANKSHAFT/PULLEY PINS HAVE SHEARED OFF. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAIL.

NHTSA complaint #867485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #723641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Douglas, AZ

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #722941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Moriarty, NM

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

WHILE DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER CONDITIONS, GASOLINE BOILED, CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP.

NHTSA complaint #841279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Birmingham, AL

STRUCTURE:BODY

FACTORY PAINT JOB FAILURE.PAINT CHIPPING ON VARIOUS PLACES.

NHTSA complaint #539646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

THE ZIPPER ON THE REAR PLASTIC WINDOW DOES NOT WORK AND WINDOW CRACKED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GOT COLD

NHTSA complaint #701588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Great Mill, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TIMING BELT PULLEY CAME LOOSE AND RUINED THE ENGINE. IN LATER DESIGNS, THE MANUFACTURER BEEFEF UP THE CRANKSHAFT AND ADDED A LARGER BOLT TO HOLD THE PULLEY.

NHTSA complaint #531339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Danville, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY FAILED THREE TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #525006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alexnaderia, LA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

AIR BAG LIGHT: AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES CONSTANTLY, WILL NOT GO OFF UNTIL TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF. DEALE R SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA complaint #814958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jefferson CI, MO Crash 1 injured

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

DURING AN ACCIDENT DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE HEAD TRAUMA DUE TO SPEAKER INSTALLED IN HEAD REST. TT

NHTSA complaint #958210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.