25 of the
391 complaints filed about the Mazda MX-5 Miata
are about the fuel system —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1999.
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.
Car was in storage for 3.5 years and upon starting the engine fuel sprayed from the fuel rail/fuel injector interface (I would estimate 0.2 liters per minute). 10 mb file size limit, LOL. I zoomed my photo to about 5% of the original area to show a 1/2” picture of the fuel spray. Also, FWIW, this is a race car with original/OEM engine.
NHTSA complaint #11469266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE TRUNK SMELLS LIKE GASOLINE. THE CABIN SMELLS LIKE GASOLINE. WHILE RESEARCHING ONLINE, THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT A GAS SMELL ON THESE CARS.
NHTSA complaint #11045602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2001 MAZDA MIATA MX5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STRONG GAS ODOR IN CABIN OF CAR AFTER FILLING FUEL CAPACITY FULL *TGW THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE BASE OF THE FUEL NECK THAT ATTACHED TO THE FUEL TANK WAS RUSTED WHICH ALLOWED RAW FUEL TO DUMP IN THE TRUNK COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER STATED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THE FUEL NECK AND FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 1300.00.
NHTSA complaint #10433384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2001 MAZDA MIATA MX5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STRONG GAS ODOR IN CABIN OF CAR AFTER FILLING FUEL CAPACITY FULL *TGW THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE BASE OF THE FUEL NECK THAT ATTACHED TO THE FUEL TANK WAS RUSTED WHICH ALLOWED RAW FUEL TO DUMP IN THE TRUNK COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER STATED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THE FUEL NECK AND FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 1300.00.
NHTSA complaint #10433384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE COASTING TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC AS IF OUT OF GAS, BUT TANK HAD OVER 1/4 IN IT. ENGINE WOULD COUGH AND SPUTTER THEN RESTART AND RUN FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS. AFTER CAR SIT ABOUT 15 MINUTES, AND WITH THE ADDITION OF ANOTHER 1 1/2 GALLON OF FUEL, CAR RESTARTED WITH NO PROBLEM. IT TOOK 7 1/2 MORE GALLONS TO FILL TANK, THEREFORE I HAD 3 GALLONS WHEN CAR STOPPED. DEALER SUGGESTED POSSIBLE WATER IN GAS. ADVISED TO TRY GAS DRY. PRIVATE MECHANIC SUGGESTED A POSSIBLE WEAK FUEL PUMP. I UNDERSTAND OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10241347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING MY 2004 MAZDASPEED MIATA ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLS. THE PROBLEM WAS THE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW AND IT HAS 4,400 MILES ON IT. I HAD THREE FUEL PUMP FAILURES SINCE 2004. I COMPLAINED TO THE MAZDA DEALER AS TO WHY THIS IS HAPPENING BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A CLUE.
NHTSA complaint #10236665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
ENGINE STALLS WHEN CAR COMING TO A STOP. ENGINE WILL RESTART BRIEFLY, THEN STALL AGAIN. RUNS ONLY AFTER ALLOWED TO REST FOR 10-15 MINUTES. CAR HAS STALLED 5 TIMES IN LAST MONTH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND MUST BE PUSHED OFF THE ROAD - VERY DANGEROUS. DEALER SUSPECTS FUEL PUMP. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE MIATA. CAR HAS ONLY 53,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN SERVICED RELIGIOUSLY.
NHTSA complaint #10224195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BOUGHT THE 04 MAZDASPEED MIATA NEW IN 2/05 AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT STARTING SINCE IT WAS NEW. MY LAST SERIES OF STARTING PROBLEMS WAS IN 2/07. MAZDA REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP IN 8/06 TO HOPEFULLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED IN 9/06. I STILL HAVE THE ISSUE WITH THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10191720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MAZDA MIATA LS 2001 ON HUMID DAYS THE CAR WILL START AND THE ENGINE WILL IMMEDIATELY CUT OFF. AFTER CHECK UP FROM DEALER THE FUEL PUMP WAS FOUND TO BE FAILING. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE MIATAS WHICH MAKES ME FEEL THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP DESIGN\ENGINEERING.
NHTSA complaint #10134843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR STALLS CONSISTENTLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP IN NEUTRAL CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. ENGINE SPEED DROPS BELOW 500 RPM AND ALMOST ALWAYS CAUSES A STALL.
NHTSA complaint #10121020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EVERY SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR ON 5/7/03, I HAVE BEEN HAVING HARD STARTS--MORE THAN 24 TIMES. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE CAR WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD, ANOTHER DEALER TOLD ME ALL 4 RIMS WERE BENT. I ALSO HAD A RACING ISSUE OCCUR 3 TIMES ON SAT. 3/12. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THE TWO INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS. RECENTLY, THEY FIXED THE HARD START BY REPLACING THE BATTERY BUT THEY CHARGED ME FOR IT. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE CHARGED ME IF THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE HARD STARTS SINCE DAY ONE. I TOLD THEM THIS BUT THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T FIND THE BATTERY TO BE A PROBLEM THEN. THEY ALSO TOLD ME ALL 4 RIMS WERE BENT. WHEN THE FIRST DEALER MENTIONED THIS I THOUGHT THEY WERE MISTAKEN AS MY CAR WAS BRAND NEW AT THE TIME. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER, DO MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING, AND HAVE NOT HIT ANY BIG POTHOLES OR GONE OFF ROAD WITH THE VEHICLE. I ASKED IMMEDIATELY AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR WHY IT WAS SO BOUNCY AND THEY SAID THAT IS THE WAY SPORTS CARS ARE. BASED ON MY LETTER, SAM AT MAZDA USA (1-800-222-5500 X1157) CALLED ME. E SAID THAT MAZDA CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE CAR UNLESS THE PROBLEMS RECUR. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE RIMS BEING BENT ARE DUE TO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE; SAYING I MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING. I'M TIRED OF FIGHTING SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY RESULTS. THE ONLY WAY THESE RIMS COULD HAVE BEEN BENT IS IF THEY SOLD THE CAR TO ME LIKE THAT OR NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS CAUSED THEM TO BEND--MEANING THE RIMS ARE DEFECTIVE. THE CAR HAS BEEN VERY BOUNCY AND VERY RARELY SORT OF LOOSEY GOOSEY WHEN IT COMES TO STEERING CONTROL SINCE THE BEGINNING SO THE CAR MUST HAVE HAD BENT RIMS FROM THE FACTORY. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10116762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO FOUND THAT A CONNECTOR WIRE IN THE FUEL TANK MELTED. DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY CONNECTOR INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK.
NHTSA complaint #10080155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RECALL 00-V-032-000: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE NON-RETURN VALVE INSTALLED AT THE LOWER END OF THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE CAN STICK DUE TO INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE VALVE CASE AND THE VALVE SHUTTER COMBINED WITH THE MATERIAL PROPERTIES OF THE FUEL HOSE BETWEEN THE FILLER PIPE AND THE FUEL TANK. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10034358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
FUEL TANK SHUTS OFF AFTER ONLY 3 TO 4 GALLONS. THEN I HAVE TO SQUEEZE AND PUMP A GALLON AT A TIME UNTIL FULL! I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL GAS STATIONS, SEVERAL PUMPS AND PUMP TYPES, I HAVE VARIED THE FLOW RATIO AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IS VERY HELPFUL AND THE MOST CURTIOUS, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL PRESENT AFTER THEY HAVE REPLACED THE CHARCOAL CANNISTER, CHECKED THE LINES AND REPLACED THE GAS TANK (SINCE THE BACK FLOW TRAP IS INSIDE THE TANK. THEY WILL BE TRYING AGAIN TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ON MAY 10TH. THEY HAVE A TECHNICIAN THAT IS HERE FROM JAPAN THAT WILL BE CHECKING IT OUT ALL DAY. THIS APPOINTMENT MAKES 4 SCHEDULED VISITS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I LOVE THIS VEHICLE,BUT THE FUEL FILLER PROBLEM IS UNACCEPTABLE. I KNOW THERE WAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 MIATA. ON THE MIATA FORUMS ON THE WEB OTHER 2000 MIATA OWNERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM TOO. THANK YOU, MR. [XXX]*AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #745076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
GAS PUMP SHUTS OFF BEFORE THE TANK IS FILLED! THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME. THE PUMP SHUTS OFF AFTER 1 TO 3 GALLONS AND THEN I CAN GET ANOTHER 5 TO 8 GALLONS IN THE TANK BY SQUEEZING THE NOZZLE DOZENS OF TIMES! I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL GAS GRADES, STATIONS, FLOW RATES AND NOZZLE STYLES, BUT NOTHING FIXES THIS PROBLEM!
NHTSA complaint #739907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.