1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata problems

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

When I filled the gas tank the next day there was the smell of gas inside the vehicle which persisted as I drove. I took it to my Fiat dealership which maintains the vehicle and they have been unable to identify the source of the gas smell. They have been working with Madza for six weeks and no solution can be established. There was a recall on the 1999 models for a similar problem, however my VIN number was not part of the recall.

NHTSA complaint #11495033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

I AM WRITING THIS TO BRING UP AN ISSUE REGARDING OF A FLAWED DESIGN OUT OF THE FACTORY FROM MAZDA. IF YOU SIMPLY SEARCH "MAZDA MIATA FRONT FRAME RAIL RUST" YOU WILL SEE THAT IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND/OR EVEN FATAL PROBLEM, THAT PROBABLY MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS YEAR (1998-2005) ARE UNAWARE OF. MANY HAVE HAD THE SITUATION CHECKED OUT AND IT SEEMS THE WAY THE SHEETS OF METAL WERE PUT TO TOGETHER HOLDS MOISTURE AND SUCH AND ROTS THE CHASSIS FROM INSIDE OUT. THIS IS COMING FROM PEOPLE NOT ONLY WHO LIVES IN AN AREA THAT SNOWS, BUT EVEN DRY CLIMATES, AND EVEN FROM OWNERS THAT GARAGE KEEP AND USE THEIR CAR PURELY AS A SUMMER CAR, WHICH NEVER SEES A WINTER IN ITS LIFE. I'VE HAD MY CAR AT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP TO GET A RECALL DONE REGARDING THE FUEL PUMP, AND THEY NEVER EVEN MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM TO ME, WHEN THEY TOLD ME THEY THOROUGHLY DO AN INSPECTION AROUND AND UNDER THE CAR. I EVEN GOT A STAT SHEET FROM THEM, AS TO WHAT THEY CHECKED. I HAD TO FIND THIS OUT WITH MY MECHANIC, WHEN HE WENT TO DO AN OIL CHANGE, WE DECIDED TO INSPECT THE CAR. NOW FOR THESE CARS (MIATAS AT ANY YEAR) ROCKER PANEL RUST IS A COMMON ISSUE, HOWEVER THIS PARTICULAR FRAME RAIL ISSUE IS NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING, BECAUSE IT WEAKENS THE STRUCTURE OF THE UNIBODY AND IT CAN POTENTIALLY BE FATAL WITH A FRONT END COLLISION CAUSING THE RAILS TO CRUMBLE. SOME OWNERS DO EVEN SEE ANY SIGNS OF WEAR, BUT WHEN THEY HOLD A SCREW DRIVER OR ANY TOOL TO POKE AT THAT SPECIFIC AREA, IT GOES RIGHT THROUGH THE METAL, TO ONLY FIND OUT ITS ROTTED FROM WITHIN. THIS SHOULD BE BROUGHT UP TO MORE OWNERS OF THIS SPECIFIC MODEL OF THE CAR SO THEY KNOW TO CHECK THIS AREA, BECAUSE GOD FORBID THEY GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AND THE STRUCTURE CRUMBLES ALMOST INSTANTANEOUSLY, WHEN IT OBVIOUSLY SHOULDN'T. MAZDA CLEARLY DIDN'T DO ANY QUALITY CONTROL AND FAILED TO INSPECT SUCH DESIGN FLAWS OUT OF FACTORY.

NHTSA complaint #10669931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD RATTLING NOISE NEAR THE ENGINE WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR MORE THAN A YEAR WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA complaint #10597657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE CHANGING THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT FRAME RAIL ACROSS THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES WERE CORRODED WITH RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT SWAY BAR WAS ALSO CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CORROSION ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA complaint #10467914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE CHANGING THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT FRAME RAIL ACROSS THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES WERE CORRODED WITH RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT SWAY BAR WAS ALSO CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CORROSION ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA complaint #10467914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRAME RAILS UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE THAT EXTENDED ONTO THE WHEELS ON EACH SIDE WERE COMPLETELY COVERED WITH RUST. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP WHO ADDED PIECES OF METAL TO HELP RE-ENFORCE THE RAILS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAFETY DEFECT CAUSED CORROSION RAPIDLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 166,000. UPDATED 05/25/11

NHTSA complaint #10398207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THE FUEL PUMP ON MY 1999 MAZDA MIATA STOPPED WORKING. I CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP AND SAW THAT THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTING PLUG WAS A HOT CONNECTION. THIS BAD CONNECTION, WHICH IS INSIDE THE FUEL TANK, WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FUEL PUMP NOT WORKING. THE FUEL PUMP IS GOOD THE PLUG-IN CONNECTION IS BAD WITH SIGNS OF THE CONNECTION HEATING UP. I CAN SEND PICTURES IF NEEDED. THIS BAD PLUG-IN CONNECTION COULD CAUSE THE FUEL TANK TO EXPLODE. I HAVE THE BAD FUEL PUMP/TANK LEVEL ASSEMBLY WHICH ALL INSTALLS INSIDE THE FUEL TANK.

NHTSA complaint #10286554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF IGNITION "COIL PACK" LEADING TO COSTLY REPLACEMENT OF CAT. CONVERTER, O2 SENSOR, AND COIL PACKS. MFR NEVER COVERED THIS UNDER ANY SORT OF EXTENDED WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM IS NOT UNCOMMON, AND EVIDENTLY BAD PARTS ARE STILL IN THE SYSTEM. MULTIPLE FAILURE DATES.

NHTSA complaint #10241741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA MIATA. ON THREE OCCASIONS, WHEN THE CONTACT FILLED UP THE GAS TANK, THE GAS OVERFLOWED. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V032000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP). THE COST FOR THE REPAIR WILL BE $175. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA complaint #10224745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL WHEN SET, RAPIDLY ACCELERATES AND WHEN SWITCHED TO "COAST" CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. ONLY BEING ABLE TO CANCEL BY BRAKING OR COMPLETED SWITCHING OFF. SOMETIMES IT SEEMS TO SET AT FIRST AND THEN CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. STARTED INTERMITTENTLY, DEVELOPING INTO A CONSTANT ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10222233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR THE DAY BEFORE ON FEB 21 2008 AND ON FEB 22 2008 I WAS DRIVING AND DOING 60 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STALLS WOULDN'T LET ME SHIFT OR GEAR DOWN, AND AS TRYING TO DO SO THE BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN I LET GO OF THE CLUTCH. THEN COASTING INTO THE CLOSEST DRIVEWAY. NOW IT WONT START AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE I JUST GOT IT FROM A USED CAR LOT THE DAY BEFORE. AND ALSO MAKES ME WONDER, DID THEY KNOW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN OR SOMETHING SIMILAR WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. WHAT CAN I LEGALLY DO ABOUT THIS?

NHTSA complaint #10218949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES:SIDEWALL

I HAVE HAD 4 FLAT TIRES WHILE DRIVING IN THE PAST YEAR WITH RADIAL GT, ULTRA HP 4, SIZE 185/60R14 ON A 1999 MAZDA MIATA. ONE IN OCTOBER 2006, ANOTHER IN MAY 2007 AND 2 MORE TODAY (7/5/07). ALL FLAT TIRES WERE FROM SMALL HOLES BETWEEN THE TREAD AND SIDEWALL. THE FIRST 2 WERE THE RIGHT REAR. TODAY, BOTH THE LEFT REAR, AND 15 MINUTES LATER, THE RIGHT REAR WENT FLAT. IF THIS HAPPENED ONCE, OR EVEN TWICE, I'D THINK IT WAS A COINCIDENCE. BUT IN 25 YEARS OF DRIVING, I'VE NEVER HAD A TIRE GO COMPLETELY FLAT WHILE DRIVING. 4 TIRES IN ONE YEAR SEEMS KIND OF ODD. THESE TIRES HAVE LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON THEM AND PROBABLY HAD AT LEAST HALF THE TREAD LEFT. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE OR CLOSE CALLS BECAUSE OF THESE, BUT I HAD TO CHANGE TIRES ON BUSY FREEWAYS FOR 2 OF THESE FLAT TIRES. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10195445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

1999 10TH ANNIVERSARY MAZDA MIATA CURRENTLY WITH 33,900 MILES ON IT. ABOUT 600 MILES AGO CAR SUDDENLY STARTED AND RAN ROUGH WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. HAD CODE CHECKED AND REVEALED P0300 (RANDOM MISFIRE I.E.IGNITION COIL PACK FAILURE). CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OUT AFTER READING CODE. SYMPTOM REAPPEARED RECENTLY WITH SAME CODE P0300. REPLACED SPARK PLUG WIRES WITH NGK OEM WIRES ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND SYMPTOM REAPPEARED THIS AFTERNOON. I UNDERSTOOD THIS IS NOT COVERED BY THE EMISSION CONTROL WARRANTY BUT THE SUBSEQUENT CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE IS COVERED UNDER THE 8/80.000 EMISSION WARRANTY. IF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF IGNITION COIL THEN WHY IS THE IGNITION COIL NOT COVERED UNDER THE EMISSION WARRANTY. THIS IS ANOTHER BUREAUCRATIC SNAFU. THE CAUSE OF THE EMISSION FAILURE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EMISSION CONTROL WARRANTY. SO MAYBE I SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND HAVE MAZDA (FORD) REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THEN REPLACE THE IGNITION COIL PACK THEN BECAUSE IT WILL COST ME THE SAME BUT OVER $1000 FOR MAZDA (FORD).

NHTSA complaint #10169711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. MY VEHICLE HAS 40K MILES AND HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF. AFTER INVESTIGATION, MANY 99-00 MIATA'S HAVE IGNITION COIL FAILURES WHICH CAUSES UNBURNT FUEL TO CONTAMINATE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND ASSOCIATED O2 SENSORS. THIS SITUATION WAS RESOLVED AND IS NOT A PROBLEM ON POST 2000 MIATA'S, AND THEREFORE SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL BY THE MANUFACTURER, SINCE IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10160044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE FOR 2-3 SECONDS WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. THIS WOULD BE A MODERATELY WET ROAD, NOT DEEP WATER, OR PUDDLES. STOPPING DISTANCE IS SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED.

NHTSA complaint #10132173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

1999 MAZDA MIATA HAD PROBLEM WITH IGNITION COILS. THE SENSORS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AS WELL. CONSUMER IS REFERENCING COMPLAINT 10093484.*MR

NHTSA complaint #10117243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.