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
137,215 miles · May 21, 2015
Air BagsExterior Lighting
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY ALL OF THE TIME. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT AIRBAG FAILURE BUT NO RECALL INFO EXISTS. ALSO MY POP-UP HEADLIGHTS ARE RANDOMLY RETRACTING DOWN WHENEVER THEY FEEL LIKE IT. NO AMOUNT OF TWISTING ON AND OFF AT THE STEERING COLUMN SWITCH WILL MAKE THEM COME BACK UP AND I HAVE TO RESORT TO THE MANUAL…
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AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY ALL OF THE TIME. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT AIRBAG FAILURE BUT NO RECALL INFO EXISTS. ALSO MY POP-UP HEADLIGHTS ARE RANDOMLY RETRACTING DOWN WHENEVER THEY FEEL LIKE IT. NO AMOUNT OF TWISTING ON AND OFF AT THE STEERING COLUMN SWITCH WILL MAKE THEM COME BACK UP AND I HAVE TO RESORT TO THE MANUAL POPUP BUTTON LOCATED UNDER THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH SEVERAL TIMES WHEN DRIVING AFTER DARK!
NHTSA ODI #10717672
56,000 miles · Aug 27, 2009
Air Bags
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MAZDA MIATA. HE STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V004000, AIR BAGS IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MAZDA MIATA. HE STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V004000, AIR BAGS IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,000.
NHTSA ODI #10281943
123,000 miles · Jul 23, 2007
Air Bags
THE AIRBAG COMPUTER FAILED, AS INDICATED BY THE "AIRBAG" LIGHT REMAINING ON CONSTANTLY. REPAIR COST OVER $1200. THOUGHT YOU MIGHT TRACK THE FAILURE HISTORY OF AIRBAGS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10197181
123 miles · Feb 5, 2007
Power Train
THIS INCIDENT CONCERNS A SAFETY VIOLATION CAUSED BY A NATIONALLY FRANCHISED TRANSMISSION SHOP IN CAMP HILL PA. I CANNOT ADEQUATELY DESCRIBE THIS SCENARIO IN 2000 CHARACTERS, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION FACILITY DAMAGED MY CAR SO THAT IT WAS UNSAFE, AND RETURNED IT TO ME IN THAT CONDITION WITHOUT TELLING ME. …
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THIS INCIDENT CONCERNS A SAFETY VIOLATION CAUSED BY A NATIONALLY FRANCHISED TRANSMISSION SHOP IN CAMP HILL PA. I CANNOT ADEQUATELY DESCRIBE THIS SCENARIO IN 2000 CHARACTERS, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION FACILITY DAMAGED MY CAR SO THAT IT WAS UNSAFE, AND RETURNED IT TO ME IN THAT CONDITION WITHOUT TELLING ME. THEY DAMAGED THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE TO THE POINT THAT IT COULD HAVE BOTH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND THE RESULTS OF THAT ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE AS A RESULT OF THAT CONDITION. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10181731
Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2005
Air Bags
FOIA REQUEST ALL DOCUMENTS TO FROM MAZDA AND OR NHTSA RELATING TO RECALL CAMPAIGN NO 00V004000 RE MAZDA AIRBAG SYSTEMS AND INFO RE INADVERTENT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IN 1996 MAZDA MIATA.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR *NM
NHTSA ODI #10124703
Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2003
Tires
I AM NOT SURE THAT THIS A COMPLAINT, RATHER THAN AN INFORMATION REGARDING A PROBLEM THAT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED WITH GOODYEAR TIRES. REAR TIRES ARE FINE; HOWEVER, TWO FRONT TIRES ARE SPLIT AT THE SEAM ON THE SIDEWALL. I HAVE DIGITAL PHOTOS THAT I WILL PROVIDE. I AM REPLACING THE TIRES THIS WEEKEND. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10041511
Mileage unknown · May 8, 2002
Air Bags
PERMISSION TO SWITCH OFF THE AIR BAG
NHTSA ODI #9006290
Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2000
Air Bags
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON AT ALL TIMES. CONSUMER STATED THAT HE NEEDED A NEW AIRBAG MODULAR.*AK
NHTSA ODI #866061
Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline
THERE IS STRONG FUEL SMELL INSIDE OF VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNINGS. DEALER HAS REPLACED FUEL TANK AND LINES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #857257
Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2000
Wheels
REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE LUGS: NUTS: BOLTS SHEARED OFF, CAUSING WHEEL TO FALL OFF WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. AFTER THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED, MAZDA PAID FOR THE TOW AND REPAIR. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #857066
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.
1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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