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1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
11Owner complaints

Model-year median: 20.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
18
199430
199529
199611
19971
199874
199929
2000
Compare all MX-5 Miata years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
2Electrical System
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1
All reported categories
Fuel System, Gasoline
1Steering
1Structure
1Unknown Or Other
1

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: 0 of 11 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 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. 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 reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Steering complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2002
Steering

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…

Read full complaint

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.*AK

NHTSA ODI #762945

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.