Illustration1999 MAZDA MIATA HAD PROBLEM WITH IGNITION COILS. THE SENSORS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AS WELL. CONSUMER IS REFERENCING COMPLAINT 10093484.*MR *NM
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all MX-5 Miata years →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
30–25K
1025–50K
650–75K
375–100K
1100–150K
2150K+
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
What owners actually said
74 reportsWHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT READ IN THE THE MIATA'S FORUM. MY 19'99 MIATA IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION COIL, AND THE SENSORS WILL SAY ABOUT A PROBLEM IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I RECENTLY GOT MY CAR, AND IS ONLY 35K, BUT THE LIMITED WARRANTY FROM THE DEALER JUST EXPIRED A WHILE AGO. FROM THE LARGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE DESCRIBIN…
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THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT READ IN THE THE MIATA'S FORUM. MY 19'99 MIATA IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION COIL, AND THE SENSORS WILL SAY ABOUT A PROBLEM IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I RECENTLY GOT MY CAR, AND IS ONLY 35K, BUT THE LIMITED WARRANTY FROM THE DEALER JUST EXPIRED A WHILE AGO. FROM THE LARGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM ALONG THE INTERNET (YOU CAN READ IT HERE: HTTP://WWW.MIATAFORUM.COM/CGI-BIN/ULTIMATEBB.CGI?UBB=GET_TOPIC&F=27&T=000103), I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MAZDA IS NOT DOING A RECALL ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE FOG LIGHTS FAILED. DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE INFORMED. *AK
THE COIL PACK HAS FAILED ON MY 1999 MAZDA MIATA WITH LESS THAN 42000 MILES. MY INFORMATION IS THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON 1999 MAZDA PROTEGES FOR THE COIL PACK FAILURE AND THAT THE MIATA PART IS IDENTICAL EXCEPT FOR THE MOUNTING BRACKET.
THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR. *AK *SC *JB
1999-2000 MIATAS HAVE AN ESTABLISHED INTERMITTENT IGNITION COIL FAILURE PROBLEM PER SEVERAL OWNERS FORUMS. THE IGNITION COIL FAILS WHICH CAUSES A MISFIRE CONDITION, THIS RESULTS IN UNBURNED FUEL REACHING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHERE IT BURNS AND OVERHEATS THE CONVERTER. THIS OVERHEATING CAN DESTROY THE CONVERTER AND POTENTIALL…
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1999-2000 MIATAS HAVE AN ESTABLISHED INTERMITTENT IGNITION COIL FAILURE PROBLEM PER SEVERAL OWNERS FORUMS. THE IGNITION COIL FAILS WHICH CAUSES A MISFIRE CONDITION, THIS RESULTS IN UNBURNED FUEL REACHING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHERE IT BURNS AND OVERHEATS THE CONVERTER. THIS OVERHEATING CAN DESTROY THE CONVERTER AND POTENTIALLY DESTROY THE OXYGEN SENSORS. THIS EXACT SCENARIO HAPPENED TO ME ON THE INDICATED DATE. MY VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 37K MILES ON IT BUT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOW I MUST REPLACE THE COIL AND CONVERTER. I BELIEVE THIS SITUATION WARRANTS A RECALL. *LA
ON 11/10/03, MY 1999 MIATA STALLED WHEN CLUTCH IS PUSHED AT IDLE. I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 101 AT THAT TIME AND WOULD CREATE A DANGER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE SURROUNDING CARS. AFTER A CAR MECHANIC INSPECTED MY CAR, HE FOUND THAT THE CRANKSHAFT END PLAY WAS APPROXIMATELY .5" WIDE. THE MECHANIC SUSPECTED THAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT HAVE…
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ON 11/10/03, MY 1999 MIATA STALLED WHEN CLUTCH IS PUSHED AT IDLE. I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 101 AT THAT TIME AND WOULD CREATE A DANGER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE SURROUNDING CARS. AFTER A CAR MECHANIC INSPECTED MY CAR, HE FOUND THAT THE CRANKSHAFT END PLAY WAS APPROXIMATELY .5" WIDE. THE MECHANIC SUSPECTED THAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE THRUST BEARING. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 70,000 MILES. MAZDA INSTALLED IMPROPER THRUST BEARING ON MANY 1999 MIATAS, CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL WHEN CLUTCH IS PUSHED AT IDLE. SO FAR, MAZDA HAS ONLY ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CLAIMING THE PROBLEM WOULD ONLY MAKE NOISE BUT IGNORES THE POTENTIAL STALLING PROBLEM. *LA
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE BATTERY, REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT.*MR BATTERY DIED AT 5800 MILES.
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 PROBL…
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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. *AK
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.