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1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 20.5.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 12 of 29 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

29 reports
78,000 miles · Sep 12, 2023
Air Bags

The contact owns a 1996 Mazda MX-5. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the failure was due to the Takata air bag module. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of th…

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The contact owns a 1996 Mazda MX-5. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the failure was due to the Takata air bag module. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

NHTSA ODI #11544091

100,000 miles · Jul 15, 2021
Air Bags

The contact owns a 1996 MAZDA Miata. The contact stated that the air bag warning lights was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed but not yet repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #11425019

6,969 miles · Sep 14, 2020
Air Bags

WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED, AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON

NHTSA ODI #11354979

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2020
SteeringSuspensionCrash

THE VIN IS FOR MY 1996 MAZDA MIATA. MY COMPLAINT IS THE M291 GOING WEST BOUND TO 350 HIGHWAY IN RAYTOWN THAT VEERS TO THE WEST. THE EXIT, SEEMS TO DANGEROUS WITH CONCRETE BLOCKS SEPERATING LANES. MY SECOND INQUIRY IS A POSSIBLE CAR WRECK THAT MY DAUGHTER, [XXX] MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN. SHE DROVE A GREEN AND BLACK MUSTANG …

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THE VIN IS FOR MY 1996 MAZDA MIATA. MY COMPLAINT IS THE M291 GOING WEST BOUND TO 350 HIGHWAY IN RAYTOWN THAT VEERS TO THE WEST. THE EXIT, SEEMS TO DANGEROUS WITH CONCRETE BLOCKS SEPERATING LANES. MY SECOND INQUIRY IS A POSSIBLE CAR WRECK THAT MY DAUGHTER, [XXX] MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN. SHE DROVE A GREEN AND BLACK MUSTANG FORD CONVERTIBLE. WE LIVE APART AND AS SHE IS A YOUNG ADULT LIKE MOST, AS A MOTHER, I DON'T GET ENOUGH INFO, SOMETIMES. 2006 FOUND ME WITNESSING HER CAR OR ONE THAT LOOKED LIKE IT OVERTURNED ON 350 HIGHWAY GOING WESTBOUND ON THE CLOVERLEAF TO M291/470 HIGHWAY. AN AMBULANCE WAS THERE AND THE PASSENGER, HER FRIEND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I HAVE SEEN HER SINCE THEN, SO OBVIOUSLY SHE SEEMS ALRIGHT AND SAFE, HOWEVER, I WOULD SURE BE APPRECIATIVE IF SOMEONE COULD FOLLOW UP ON THAT IF ANYTHING SEEMS ASKEW. HER ADDRESS AT THE TIME WAS [XXX] WHERE SHE LIVED WITH HER OWN FATHER, [XXX]. HER DATE OF BIRTH IS 1/29/89. I AM [XXX]- OF [XXX]. MY DRIVER'S LICENSE # IS [XXX]. THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11320169

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2018
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL. AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON CONTINUOUSLY AFTER TURNING ENGINE ON, NEVER GOES OFF. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED ON ANY RECALLS. I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE LATE 1995 MODELS, BUT NOT THE EARLY 1996 ONES. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT IT WOULD COS…

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TAKATA RECALL. AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON CONTINUOUSLY AFTER TURNING ENGINE ON, NEVER GOES OFF. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED ON ANY RECALLS. I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE LATE 1995 MODELS, BUT NOT THE EARLY 1996 ONES. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT IT WOULD COST ME $900 TO $1000 TO FIX. AT THAT TIME, IT HAD TO REMAIN UNFIXED, AND THE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON CONTINUOUSLY SINCE. I AM STILL APPREHENSIVE WHEN I TURN THE KEY AND DRIVE IT.

NHTSA ODI #11076684

64,000 miles · May 23, 2017
Air Bags

AIR BAG COMES ON AND STAYS ON AFTER STARTING VEHICLE. DIAGNOSTIC CODE INDICATES SRS MODULE IS AT FAULT OR COULD BE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION PER DEALER. DEALER INDICATED SRS MODULE IS NOT AVAILABLE EVEN IF IT IS DETERMINED AS THE FAILURE AFTER REMOVING DASH TO ACCESS MODULE. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 64, 000 MILES. VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS SAFE…

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AIR BAG COMES ON AND STAYS ON AFTER STARTING VEHICLE. DIAGNOSTIC CODE INDICATES SRS MODULE IS AT FAULT OR COULD BE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION PER DEALER. DEALER INDICATED SRS MODULE IS NOT AVAILABLE EVEN IF IT IS DETERMINED AS THE FAILURE AFTER REMOVING DASH TO ACCESS MODULE. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 64, 000 MILES. VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS SAFETY INSPECTION IN SOME STATES WHICH MAKES A MINT CAR WORTHLESS AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #10991128

53,000 miles · Mar 17, 2017
Air Bags

WHEN I START MY CAR, ALL THE INDICATOR LIGHTS COME ON BRIEFLY AND THEN GO OUT - BRAKES, ABS, SEAT BELT, OIL, ETC. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ALSO COMES ON, AS IT SHOULD. BUT THEN IT STAYS ON AND DOES NOT GO OUT. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A FAULTY AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BUT THEY THEN…

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WHEN I START MY CAR, ALL THE INDICATOR LIGHTS COME ON BRIEFLY AND THEN GO OUT - BRAKES, ABS, SEAT BELT, OIL, ETC. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ALSO COMES ON, AS IT SHOULD. BUT THEN IT STAYS ON AND DOES NOT GO OUT. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A FAULTY AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BUT THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT MAZDA NO LONGER MAKES THIS PART AND THAT IT IS NOT AVAILABLE. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY UNLESS THE MODULE IS REPLACED AND THAT IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION IN VIRGINIA.

NHTSA ODI #10966597

39,500 miles · Jun 29, 2016
Air Bags

THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AT START AND STAYS ON. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS THE BACK-UP BATTERY IN THE AIR BAG MODULE IS SHORTED OUT.

NHTSA ODI #10881605

125,000 miles · Oct 30, 2015
Air Bags

SITTING IN DRIVER SIDE OR CAR WHILE VEHICLE WAS IDLING WHILE IN DRIVEWAY. AIRBAG DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI #10787356

125,000 miles · Oct 30, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ODI #10787307

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.