FaultScore report
Owners have filed 12 complaints about the 1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata with NHTSA between 1997 and 2003. The largest single group is the electrical system. Across this model's run it ranks 7 of 9 worst.
FaultScore 49/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Mazda MX-5 Miata.
How this is worked out12
Complaints
1
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
1 crashes, 1 fires
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.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 35-40MPH, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #854008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
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 SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHERE I SHOULD EXTEND MY SEARCH? THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS NOW AND I AM UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE ABOVE STATED CONCERNS. ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN GIVE ME REGUARDING THIS CONCERN WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!.
NHTSA complaint #10032778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
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.
NHTSA complaint #762945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE THREAD ABOUT TO SEPARATE FROM THE TIRE (TIRESIZE: P185-60R14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P185-60R14 )
NHTSA complaint #733895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
AT ALL TIMESTHERE IS A STRONG GASOLING ODOR IN VEHICLE AND IN TRUNK WHICH CAUSES OCCUPANTS TO GET SICK. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE.
NHTSA complaint #867197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 35-40MPH, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #854008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PARKING AND DIRECTIONAL LIGHT FAILED. MJS
NHTSA complaint #605992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
PARKING AND DIRECTIONAL LIGHT FAILED. MJS
NHTSA complaint #605992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
DRIVER'S FLOORMAT IS CONSTANTLY WORKING WAY ONTO GAS PEDDLE CAUSING ACCELLORATOR TO STAY ON FLOOR, HOOK WOULD SOLVE PROBLEM, SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS
NHTSA complaint #709250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
CELL PHONE USAGE IN VEHICLE, CAUSES BATTERY TO FAIL.
NHTSA complaint #607920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
DURING VEHICLE COLLISION NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG.
NHTSA complaint #542836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
CONVERT ABLE HARD TOP FLEW OFF CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #530977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
THE VEHICLE'S GAS TANK IS EXPANDING, CAUSING STRESS TO THE TANK. DEALER PUT STRESS TABS ON TANK.
NHTSA complaint #815905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.