Total Complaints
8 filings
MAZDA MX-5 MIATA · model year
1993 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA
8 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1993MAZDAMX-5 MIATA carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, 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 1993 MX-5 MIATA is air bags:frontal with 2 filings, followed by seat belts (2) and structure:frame and members (1). 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 1993 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.
8
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20120319SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD UNLATCH INDEPENDENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE BUCKLE OR THE RETRACTOR SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 245,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS. 252,000.
Mileage: 245,000
20091114SEAT BELTS
FALSE SEATBELT ENGAGEMENT. SEATBELT 'CLICKS', THEN 1, 2, 5 MINUTES LATER, BELT SPONTANEOUSLY DISENGAGES.I HAVE OWNED MULTIPLE MIATAS; I HAD TO REPLACE BELTS IN MY 1992 MIATA FOR THE SAME REASON. *TR
Mileage: 207,000
20070302AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT FOR THE 1993 MAZDA MIATA FLASHED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY REPLACED THE MAIN CRASH SENSOR. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUED TO FLASH. THE DEALERSHIP THEN RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE AIRBAG WIRING HARNESS. THIS HAS YET TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT SINCE THE CRASH SENSORS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY,THE AIRBAGS COULD DEPLOY AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAD 78100 MILES. *AK THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BAD CRASH SENSOR AND FIXED BUT THE WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO FLASH. THE DEALER IMPROPERLY DIAGNOSED THE CAR AND AWARDED THE CONSUMER A CHECK $531.78. UPDATE *4/12TR
Mileage: 78,100
20030515AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. *NLM *TS
20000620AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHED CONTINUOUSLY. DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY AT ANY TIME, AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS DEFECT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT AND OR INJURIES. VEHICLE HAS NOT YET ENCOUNTERED ANY ACCIDENTS. *AK
19990527CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, AND HER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
19970220SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN APPLYING THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES IN WET WEATHER, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK
19950901CrashSTRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL, ROLLED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, NO ROLL BAR, OCCUPANTS PARALYZED. *AK
Compare 1993MAZDAMX-5 MIATA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
RQ26002Recall QueryOpen
Momentary increase in steering effort after recall remedy
PE19006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Inadvertent Curtain Air Bag Deployment
PE18006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Front Subframe Corrosion
PE15022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Lower ball joint separation
PE14005Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Brake Booster Failure
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1993 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA have?▼
The 1993 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA has 8 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1993 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS and STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS.
Is the 1993 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.