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2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 20.5.

About this comparison →
22Owner 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
1
199874
199929
200022
200120
200214
20038
2004
Compare all MX-5 Miata years →

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

What owners reported most

Fuel System, Gasoline
5Engine
2Engine And Engine Cooling
2Latches/locks/linkages
2Power Train
2
All reported categories
Structure
2Suspension
2Air Bags
1Parking Brake
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Tires
1Unknown Or Other
1Visibility
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: 12 of 22 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.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. 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 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

5 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

2001 MAZDA MIATA MX5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STRONG GAS ODOR IN CABIN OF CAR AFTER FILLING FUEL CAPACITY FULL *TGW THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE BASE OF THE FUEL NECK THAT ATTACHED TO THE FUEL TANK WAS RUSTED WHICH ALLOWED RAW FUEL TO DUMP IN THE TRUNK COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER STATED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM…

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2001 MAZDA MIATA MX5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STRONG GAS ODOR IN CABIN OF CAR AFTER FILLING FUEL CAPACITY FULL *TGW THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE BASE OF THE FUEL NECK THAT ATTACHED TO THE FUEL TANK WAS RUSTED WHICH ALLOWED RAW FUEL TO DUMP IN THE TRUNK COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER STATED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THE FUEL NECK AND FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 1300.00. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10433384

83,200 miles · Sep 8, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE COASTING TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC AS IF OUT OF GAS, BUT TANK HAD OVER 1/4 IN IT. ENGINE WOULD COUGH AND SPUTTER THEN RESTART AND RUN FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS. AFTER CAR SIT ABOUT 15 MINUTES, AND WITH THE ADDITION OF ANOTHER 1 1/2 GALLON OF FUEL, CAR RESTARTED WITH NO PROBLEM. IT TOOK 7 1/2 MORE GALLONS TO FILL TANK…

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ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE COASTING TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC AS IF OUT OF GAS, BUT TANK HAD OVER 1/4 IN IT. ENGINE WOULD COUGH AND SPUTTER THEN RESTART AND RUN FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS. AFTER CAR SIT ABOUT 15 MINUTES, AND WITH THE ADDITION OF ANOTHER 1 1/2 GALLON OF FUEL, CAR RESTARTED WITH NO PROBLEM. IT TOOK 7 1/2 MORE GALLONS TO FILL TANK, THEREFORE I HAD 3 GALLONS WHEN CAR STOPPED. DEALER SUGGESTED POSSIBLE WATER IN GAS. ADVISED TO TRY GAS DRY. PRIVATE MECHANIC SUGGESTED A POSSIBLE WEAK FUEL PUMP. I UNDERSTAND OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10241347

53,000 miles · Apr 11, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

ENGINE STALLS WHEN CAR COMING TO A STOP. ENGINE WILL RESTART BRIEFLY, THEN STALL AGAIN. RUNS ONLY AFTER ALLOWED TO REST FOR 10-15 MINUTES. CAR HAS STALLED 5 TIMES IN LAST MONTH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND MUST BE PUSHED OFF THE ROAD - VERY DANGEROUS. DEALER SUSPECTS FUEL PUMP. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE MIATA. CA…

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ENGINE STALLS WHEN CAR COMING TO A STOP. ENGINE WILL RESTART BRIEFLY, THEN STALL AGAIN. RUNS ONLY AFTER ALLOWED TO REST FOR 10-15 MINUTES. CAR HAS STALLED 5 TIMES IN LAST MONTH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND MUST BE PUSHED OFF THE ROAD - VERY DANGEROUS. DEALER SUSPECTS FUEL PUMP. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE MIATA. CAR HAS ONLY 53,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN SERVICED RELIGIOUSLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10224195

34,000 miles · Aug 30, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

MAZDA MIATA LS 2001 ON HUMID DAYS THE CAR WILL START AND THE ENGINE WILL IMMEDIATELY CUT OFF. AFTER CHECK UP FROM DEALER THE FUEL PUMP WAS FOUND TO BE FAILING. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE MIATAS WHICH MAKES ME FEEL THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP DESIGN\ENGINEERING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10134843

92,000 miles · May 16, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

CAR STALLS CONSISTENTLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP IN NEUTRAL CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. ENGINE SPEED DROPS BELOW 500 RPM AND ALMOST ALWAYS CAUSES A STALL.

NHTSA ODI #10121020

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.