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2003 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Limited mileage data: 10 of 14 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.

  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. 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.

1 crash reports3 fire reports1 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

2 reports
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68,000 miles · Feb 11, 2009
Exterior LightingFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FOG LIGHT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED BOTH THE FOG LIGHT AND THE BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. SHE CALLED THE DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT ANY ISSUES WITH THE FOG LIGHTS AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ON RECORD. SHE STATED THAT THE VEH…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FOG LIGHT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED BOTH THE FOG LIGHT AND THE BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. SHE CALLED THE DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT ANY ISSUES WITH THE FOG LIGHTS AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ON RECORD. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V206000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS). THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE CONTACT HAS PHOTOS AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,850 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.

NHTSA ODI #10258321

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2003
Exterior Lighting

2003 MAZDA MIATA HEADLINES GIVE POOR, INADEQUATE, UNSETTLING ILLUMNATION WHEN DRIVING ON HILLY ROADS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10030364

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.