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MAZDA · vehicle model

MAZDA MX-5 MIATA

390 NHTSA complaints and 0 safety recalls across model years 1990–2005.

Complaints
390
Recalls
0
Model years
16

The MAZDAMX-5 MIATA appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 390 consumer safety complaints and 0 recall campaigns across 16 model years (1990–2005). That averages roughly 24 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 21 investigation files tied to this model, with 1 currently open. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
20059
20048
200318
200224
200123
200034
199987
19981
199712
199632
199536
199420
19938
199225
199121
199032

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

Filings moved from 31 in 2017-2021 to 6 in 2022-2026, a fall of 80.6%. That is the 16th percentile of change across the 772 nameplates with enough filings in both windows to compare, where 0 is the steepest fall and 100 the steepest rise.

Filing volume, not a reliability verdict: counts also move with how many vehicles are on the road, how old they are, and whether a recall drew attention. Computed from this portal's NHTSA filing-year records over the same two windows the trend rankings use.

16
’95
17
’96
9
’97
19
’98
25
’99
35
’00
43
’01
24
’02
19
’03
24
’04
21
’05
10
’06
7
’07
16
’08
10
’09
2
’10
10
’11
4
’12
5
’13
11
’14
24
’15
2
’16
10
’17
6
’18
3
’19
5
’20
7
’21
3
’22
2
’23
1
’24

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare MAZDAMX-5 MIATA to Similar Vehicles

MAZDAMX-5 MIATA vs TOYOTAT100 → MAZDAMX-5 MIATA vs FORDFORD → MAZDAMX-5 MIATA vs TOYOTATERCEL → MAZDAMX-5 MIATA vs KIANIRO →

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

RQ26002Recall QueryOpen2026-01-26

Momentary increase in steering effort after recall remedy

PE19006Preliminary EvaluationClosed2019-05-02

Inadvertent Curtain Air Bag Deployment

PE18006Preliminary EvaluationClosed2018-05-21

Front Subframe Corrosion

PE15022Preliminary EvaluationClosed2015-06-09

Lower ball joint separation

PE14005Preliminary EvaluationClosed2014-02-10

Brake Booster Failure

PE13015Preliminary EvaluationClosed2013-05-09

Door Latch Failures Due to Loose Screws

DP12005Defect PetitionClosed2012-07-17

Cruise Control Cable

PE11026Preliminary EvaluationClosed2011-08-09

Brake master cylinder leak

EA10002Engineering AnalysisClosed2010-01-14

Engine Compartment Fire

PE09045Preliminary EvaluationClosed2009-09-23

CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET FAILURE

View all 21 investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the MAZDA MX-5 MIATA?▼
The MAZDA MX-5 MIATA has received 390 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 1990 to 2005, with 0 recalls. That averages about 24 complaints per model year.
What years of MAZDA MX-5 MIATA are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the MAZDA MX-5 MIATA from 1990 to 2005 (16 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the MAZDA MX-5 MIATA have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many MAZDA MX-5 MIATA model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common MAZDA MX-5 MIATA complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the MAZDA MX-5 MIATA are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my MAZDA MX-5 MIATA has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. MAZDA MX-5 MIATA totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.