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1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 20.5.

About this comparison →
74Owner complaints

Model-year median: 20.5

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
29
199611
19971
199874
199929
200022
200120
2002
Compare all MX-5 Miata years →

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

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
16Engine And Engine Cooling
11Electrical System
10Power Train
10Vehicle Speed Control
6
All reported categories
Fuel System, Gasoline
5Structure
5Air Bags
4Tires
4Steering
3Suspension
2Exterior Lighting
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Seat Belts
1Visibility
1Wheels
1

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

25 reports with mileage · 49 unknown

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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports0 fire reports9 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

4 reports
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52,000 miles · Mar 12, 2011
Air BagsPower TrainCrashInjury

BLINDNESS CAUSED BY AIRBAG. CRASH CAUSED BY THROTTLE STICKING OPEN. FULL BRAKING IMMEDIATE AS SHOWN BY SKID MARKS AND WHILE BRAKES SLOWED VEHICLE UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR OR TURN BEFORE IMPACT. VIDEO AND WITNESSES CONFIRM CAUSE MUST BE OPEN THROTTLE. BOTH BRAKING AND TURNING FAILED TO STOP OR TURN THE CAR. THROTTLE OPEN OR ACCELER…

Read full complaint

BLINDNESS CAUSED BY AIRBAG. CRASH CAUSED BY THROTTLE STICKING OPEN. FULL BRAKING IMMEDIATE AS SHOWN BY SKID MARKS AND WHILE BRAKES SLOWED VEHICLE UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR OR TURN BEFORE IMPACT. VIDEO AND WITNESSES CONFIRM CAUSE MUST BE OPEN THROTTLE. BOTH BRAKING AND TURNING FAILED TO STOP OR TURN THE CAR. THROTTLE OPEN OR ACCELERATOR JAMMED FULL ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10389908

52,000 miles · Mar 12, 2011
Air BagsPower TrainCrashInjury

BLINDNESS CAUSED BY AIRBAG. CRASH CAUSED BY THROTTLE STUCKING OPENG. FULL BRAKING WITH SKID MARKS SLOWED VEHICLE BUT DID NOT STOP THE CAR BEFORE IMPACT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10389907

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury

AVOIDED A DEER HIT A TREE APPROX. 20-25 MPH . SEVERE FRONTAL DAMAGE AND AIR BAG DIDN'T ACTIVATE.. WHY AS THIS WOULD HAVE SAVE MY BACK HEAD AND LIPS... *NM

NHTSA ODI #10161679

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2001
Air BagsSteeringCrashInjury

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH AT THE TIME OF IMPACT THE STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF THE MAIN COLUMN, AHEAD OF THE AIR BAG AND HIT THE DRIVER, IT SEEMS THIS MAY HAVE OCCURED WHEN THE AIR BAG WENT OFF, THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT SEEM TO INFLATE FULLY. NLM

NHTSA ODI #560068

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.