MAZDA MX-5 MIATA · model year

1992 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA

25 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1992MAZDAMX-5 MIATA carries 25 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1992 MX-5 MIATA is air bags with 3 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (2) and electrical system:ignition (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 21 investigation files overlapping the 1992 MX-5 MIATA, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

25
Complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

25 filings

Crashes Reported

5 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE2
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR2
TIRES:SIDEWALL2
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER1
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE1
SEAT BELTS1
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT1
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT1

Recent Complaints

20190923AIR BAGS

WHEN CAR IS STARTED AFTER NOT USED FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THE AIR BAG LIGHT DISPLAYS CONTINUOUSLY DURING START PERIOD BUT THEN CHANGES TO BLINKING. CONTINUES BLINKING UNTIL CAR IS STOPPED AND IGNITION TURNED OFF. WHEN CAR IS IMMEDIATELY STARTED AGAIN, LIGHT TURNS OFF AFTER INITIAL START PERIOD, AS EXPECTED, BLINKING DOES NOT RE-OCCUR UNTIL CAR HASN'T BEEN RUN FOR SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE BEING STARTED AGAIN. CAR IS NOT USED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

Mileage: 68,000

20190923ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHEN CAR IS STARTED AFTER NOT USED FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THE AIR BAG LIGHT DISPLAYS CONTINUOUSLY DURING START PERIOD BUT THEN CHANGES TO BLINKING. CONTINUES BLINKING UNTIL CAR IS STOPPED AND IGNITION TURNED OFF. WHEN CAR IS IMMEDIATELY STARTED AGAIN, LIGHT TURNS OFF AFTER INITIAL START PERIOD, AS EXPECTED, BLINKING DOES NOT RE-OCCUR UNTIL CAR HASN'T BEEN RUN FOR SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE BEING STARTED AGAIN. CAR IS NOT USED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

Mileage: 68,000

20180827CrashAIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL MY 1992 MAZDA MIATA'S AIRBAG LIGHT IS FLASHING ON THE DASH, AND THERE IS A SOFT BEEP HEARD,WHICH IS INTERMITTENT. THE FLASHING STARTS AS SOON AS THE CAR IS STARTED, AND IT CONTINUES WHILE IN MOTION. THERE IS A PAUSE BETWEEN A SERIES OF AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHES. THE BEEP IS SOFT AND STARTED WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. I THOUGHT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING; HOWEVER, NOW THE BEEPING IS HEARD ALONG WITH THE AIRBAG FLASHING LIGHT. THE CAR IS IN GREAT CONDITION AND LOOKS LIKE A NEW CAR. IT IS KEPT GARAGED. IT WAS IN A SLIGHT ACCIDENT WHEN TWO CARS IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES. I TRIED TO TURN AROUND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND THAT CAR TURNED AROUND THE CAR IN FRONT OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME. I HIT THE CAR WITH MY RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT. THE AIR BAG DID NOT EMPLOY.

Mileage: 97,000

20150521CrashAIR BAGS

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN A PEDESTRIAN DARTED OUT INTO A CROSSWALK. THE FIRST CAR SLAMMED ON THE BREAKS. THE CAR BEHIND IT SLAMMED ON THEIR BREAKS, AND I WAS THE CAR BEHIND THE SECOND CAR. I TRIED TO AVOID THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, BUT MY CAR DID NOT STOP IN TIME. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON A SIDE STREET. I HAD MY SEATBELT FASTENED. MY NOSE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND STARTED TO BLEED PROFUSELY. I WENT TO EMERGENCY, AND THEY ADVISED ME TO SEE MY DOCTOR FOR A CHECKUP. THE DOCTOR ORDERED AN X-RAY OF MY NOSE. I HAVE A TINY FRACTURE AND CONTUSION, WHICH LED TO TWO VERY BLACK EYES AND SWELLING. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND TO MY FACE. THE AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATE.

Mileage: 105,000

20150521CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN A PEDESTRIAN DARTED OUT INTO A CROSSWALK. THE FIRST CAR SLAMMED ON THE BREAKS. THE CAR BEHIND IT SLAMMED ON THEIR BREAKS, AND I WAS THE CAR BEHIND THE SECOND CAR. I TRIED TO AVOID THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, BUT MY CAR DID NOT STOP IN TIME. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON A SIDE STREET. I HAD MY SEATBELT FASTENED. MY NOSE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND STARTED TO BLEED PROFUSELY. I WENT TO EMERGENCY, AND THEY ADVISED ME TO SEE MY DOCTOR FOR A CHECKUP. THE DOCTOR ORDERED AN X-RAY OF MY NOSE. I HAVE A TINY FRACTURE AND CONTUSION, WHICH LED TO TWO VERY BLACK EYES AND SWELLING. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND TO MY FACE. THE AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATE.

Mileage: 105,000

20150521CrashEXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN A PEDESTRIAN DARTED OUT INTO A CROSSWALK. THE FIRST CAR SLAMMED ON THE BREAKS. THE CAR BEHIND IT SLAMMED ON THEIR BREAKS, AND I WAS THE CAR BEHIND THE SECOND CAR. I TRIED TO AVOID THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, BUT MY CAR DID NOT STOP IN TIME. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON A SIDE STREET. I HAD MY SEATBELT FASTENED. MY NOSE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND STARTED TO BLEED PROFUSELY. I WENT TO EMERGENCY, AND THEY ADVISED ME TO SEE MY DOCTOR FOR A CHECKUP. THE DOCTOR ORDERED AN X-RAY OF MY NOSE. I HAVE A TINY FRACTURE AND CONTUSION, WHICH LED TO TWO VERY BLACK EYES AND SWELLING. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND TO MY FACE. THE AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATE.

Mileage: 105,000

20060914SEAT BELTS:FRONT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT UNLATCHED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT NOTIFIED, BUT THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THEM SOON. UPDATED 10/4/2006 - REPLACEMENT BELT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *NM

Mileage: 180,000

20050804AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHING [6 FLASHES] SINCE EARLY 2003. FOUR REQUESTS AT DEALER REPAIR SHOPS HAVE FAILED TO ADDRESS/REPAIR. 1992 MAZDA MX-5 [MIATA]. *JB

Mileage: 65,000

20030702CrashTIRES:SIDEWALL

CONSUMER STATES WHILE HE WAS DRIVING ALONG ABOUT 45-50 MPH DUNLAP TIRE S/P SPORT A2 SIZE 185 60 14 COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE INSIDE OF THE SIDEWALL ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TIRE. THIS CAUSED HIM TO LOSE CONTROL, AND RUN INTO A SMALL DITCH. HE STATED THAT THESE TIRES WERE JUST PURCHASED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, AND HAVE ONLY ABOUT 7500 MILES ON THEM. THIS WAS A DEFECT, BUT THE PLACE WHERE HE PURCHASED THE TIRES CHARGED HIM TO REPLACE THIS TIRE.*AK

20030702TIRES:SIDEWALL

ON JUNE 28, 2003 A FRIEND AND I WERE DRIVING TO LAKE GENEVA ILL. WHEN MY LEFT REAR TIRE INSIDE WALL SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE COMPLETELY. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING ON THE ROAD THE TIRE WHEN IT BLEW OUT MADE ME LOSE CONTROL AND I WENT INTO A SMALL DITCH.*AK I CHANGED TO THE MINI SPARE AND WENT HOME. I CONTACTED DUNLOP ABOUT THE TIRE AND THEY SAID THAT SINCE THE TIRE HAD A PATCH ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE THAT THE SIDE WALL SEPERATED BECAUSE OF THE PATCH, THE PATCH IS LOCATED ON THE TREAD AREA ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. I CONTACTED THE PERSON THAT SOLD ME THE TIRES AND HE SAID THAT MANUFACTURES PUT PATCHS IN TIRES SO THEY WILL HAVE BETTER BALANCE. DUNLOP SAID THAT THEY WILL GIVE ME A NEW TIRE IF I PAY THE STORE $33.00 PLUS MOUNTING AND BALANCING. I TOLD THEM THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THEY SHOULD REPLACE IT AT NO COST TO ME, THEY SAID THATS THE ONLY OFFER THAT THEY WILL GIVE TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT. MY CAR IS ONLY DRIVEN IN THE SUMMER TIME, AND IS PUT AWAY IN THE WINTER ON BLOCKS

Mileage: 39,370

20021022UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MR

20010206VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

THE OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY CAME OFF THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER NOTED THAT A METAL WASHER OR MOUNTING WAS RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE MIRROR TO COME OFF. NLM

20000803POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

CONSUMERS HEARD A WHINNING SOUND. TOOK OFF AT LIGHT IN 1ST GEAR & IT STARTED MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE, LIKE GRINDING METAL. DEALER DETERMINED DIFFERENTIALS WENT OUT IN THE REAR END. *AK

20000203VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

BACK WINDOW WASTURNING BROWN. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW. TOO VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID WINDOW HAD DARKENED BECAUSE OF THE SUN. *AK

20000203VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

REAR WINDOW HAS TURNED BROWN, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW, AND FELT THAT IT WAS VERY UNSAFE TO BE DRIVING UNDER SUCH CONDITION. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER SAID THAT THE DARKNESS WAS COMING FROM THE SUN. *AK

19991014SEAT BELTS

CONSUMER HAS A DIFFICULT TIME FASTENING SEAT BELT., ALSO, AT TIMES SEAT BELTS COME UNDONE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

19990301AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

AIR BAG SENSOR CORRODED.

19980611SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT GETS VERY TIGHT, MAKING IT VERY IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE ANY TYPE OF MOVEMENT WHEN DRIVING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

19961231ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

DISTRIBUTOR CAP WIRES WORE OUT PREMATURELY.

19960911SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING,THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BECOME DETACHED FROM THE BELT BUCKLE.*AK

Compare 1992MAZDAMX-5 MIATA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1992 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA have?
The 1992 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA has 25 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA?
The most-complained component for the 1992 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA is AIR BAGS with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION.
Is the 1992 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. 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.