MAZDA MX-5 MIATA · model year

1995 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA

36 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1995MAZDAMX-5 MIATA carries 36 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 11 crashes, 2 fires, 13 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 1995 MX-5 MIATA is air bags:frontal with 13 filings, followed by air bags (6) and tires (5). 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 1995 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.

36
Complaints
11
Crashes
2
Fires
13
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

36 filings

Crashes Reported

11 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 BAGS:FRONTAL13
AIR BAGS6
TIRES5
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR2
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK1
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM1
STEERING:COLUMN1

Recent Complaints

20151112TIRES

DOUGLAS TIRE I GOT TO REPLACE THE ONE THAT HAD A BOLT MOLDED IN THE SIDEWALL. THIS ONE HAD A LARGE FLAT SPOT ON HALF OF THE CONTACT PATCH. IT WAS EASY TO SEE WITH BY EYE AND WOULD NOT EVEN SIT CORRECTLY. I NEVER MOUNTED IT CAUSE IT WAS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. TIRE LABEL WAS PLACED DIRECTLY OVER THE DEFECTIVE AREA LEADING ME TO BELIEVE SOMEONE WAS COVERING THEIR DANGEROUS MESS. POORLY PUT TOGETHER AND POOR QUALITY CONTROL. I TOOK IT BACK.

20151104TIRES

I BOUGHT FOUR DOUGLAS PERFORMANCE GT-H 185/60-14 DOT PJF8 1YLR FROM WAL-MART. THESE TIRES ARE MADE BY GOODYEAR IN USA. WHEN THEY PUT THEM ON THE RIM A BOLT WAS FOUND MOLDED IN THE SIDEWALL AFTER IT WAS NOTICE NOT TO HOLD AIR. IT'S A GOOD THING IT DID NOT HOLD AIR CAUSE I'D HATE TO FIND THAT AT INTERSTATE SPEED. THE TIRE ALSO HAD CHALK MARKS SMEARED OFF THE SIDE. SO SOMEONE AT THE FACTORY PROBABLY NOTICED IT WAS BAD AND ANOTHER INSPECTOR OK'ED IT TO BE SOLD. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THEY DROPPED A BOLT IN THE MOLD.

20140512FireSTEERING:COLUMN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED 2ND DEGREE BURNS AS A RESULT AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Mileage: 90,000

20111004AIR BAGS

AT APPROX 4:30 PM 10/02/2011 WHILE TRAVELING SOUTH ON HUNZIKER ST. NEAR WALL ST. TIGARD, OR 30-35 MPH. I HAD TO CENTER A PIECE OF DEBRIS IN THE ROAD AND IT STRUCK AND PUNCTURED THE ENGINE OILPAN. THIS CONTACT DEPLOYED BOTH AIRBAGS WHICH INTERN BUSTED THE WINDSHIELD / KNOCKED OUT MY RADIO, VENT LOUVERS AND REARVIEW MIRROR. RESEARCH VIA THE INTERNET FOUND THIS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH 95 MIATAS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS RECALLED ISSUE TO CONFIRM IF MAZDA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BAGS/GLASS/ CONTROL MODULE, SENSORS AND SWITCHES. UNDERSTANDABLY THE OIL PAN IS MY PROBLEM AND THANK GOODNESS I WAS NOT INJURED BY THE BAGS OR FLYING GLASS AND WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

20091215AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MAZDA MIATA. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED SUDDENLY AFTER DRIVING OVER A ROCK. CONSEQUENTLY THE DEPLOYMENT CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW TO FRACTURE. SOME FRAGMENTS OF GLASS CAUSED MINOR INJURIES TO HIS HAND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 141,800. UPDATED 1/11/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE DEFECT. HOWEVER, MAZDA INFORMED THE CONSUMER THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE. UPDATED 01/14/10

Mileage: 141,800

20041208AIR BAGS

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND SUDDENLY THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. DRIVER SUSTAINED A THUMB INJURY.*AK

20040317STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

OUR 1995 MAZDA MIATA HAS A RAPID RHYTHMIC PULSING IN THE POWER STEERING HYDRAULICS WHEN PARALLEL PARKING, OR OTHER SIMILAR TIGHT LOW SPEED TURN. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED MAZDA TECH SERVICE AND DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION UNIT WITH HYDRAULIC PUMP WAS FAULTY. THEY REPLACED THE ORIGINAL UNIT. THE NEW UNIT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, SO THEY REPLACED IT. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS, YET MAZDA HAS STATED THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE A SAFETY HAZARD, THOUGH IT IS NOT PERFORMING CORRECTLY. I WAS TOLD THAT A FEW OTHER VEHICLES AT THIS DEALERSHIP WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP AND MAZDA HAVE GIVEN UP. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM IS DESIGNED FOR THE FREQUENT EPICODES OF PULSING. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *NM

Mileage: 29,587

20020419EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS

CONSUMER STATES THE HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT IS INOPERATIVE BECAUSE THE OPENING AND THE CLOSING OF THE TRUNK IS FATIGUE (WEARING OUT AND BREAKING NEAR THE TRUNK HINGE)THROUGH THE WIRING HARNESS. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. NLM *YH

20020419ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK

CONSUMER STATES THE HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT IS INOPERATIVE BECAUSE THE OPENING AND THE CLOSING OF THE TRUNK IS FATIGUE (WEARING OUT AND BREAKING NEAR THE TRUNK HINGE)THROUGH THE WIRING HARNESS. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. NLM *YH

20010518CrashTIRES

NOT SURE IF TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. TIRE BLEW ON PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT RESULTING IN CAR GOING INTO SPIN AND EVENTUALLY ROLLING. HAVE ALL TIRES AND RIMS. ALSO HAVE PICTURE OF VEHICLE AFTER ACCIDENT. CURRENTLY IN PROCESS OF REPAIRING. *AK (DOT NUMBER: H46KCCA444 TIRESIZE: P195 50R15)

20001115AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

RECALL 00V004000/AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT: VEHICLE HIT A CURVE WHILE TURNING ON A WET ROAD AT 10-15 MPH, AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO FRONT WINDSHIELD. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

20000829AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

RECALL 00V004000/AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH, AND RUNNING OVER A POTHOLE. DRIVER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES ON RIGHT ARM. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

20000725CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT JUNE 30, 2000. I HIT A RED-LIGHT RUNNER IN A T-BONE FASHION. MY FRONT HIT HIS PASSENGER DOOR. HE WAS DRIVING A 1993 CHEVROLET S10 TRUCK. HE WAS ACCELERATING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AT ABOUT 50 MPH AND I WAS BRAKING AFTER BEING HIT. *AK

19990507AIR BAGS

AIRBAGS BEGAN SMOKING WHILE DRIVING. THERE HAVE BEEN PREVIOUS REPORTS ON THIS PRODUCT FAILURE, INCLUDING UNEXPECTED DEPLOYMENT BY AUTOMOTIVE NEWS. THE AIRBAGS HAD TO BE REMOVED.

19990407ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

THE COMPONET THAT FAILED WAS MIATA TWIN AIR HORN SUPPLED BY "THE CRAZY RED ITALIAN AUTOMOTIVE ACCCESSORIES" (3810 53RD ST, SACRAMENTO, CA 95820). WHEN I CONTACTED "THE CRAZY RED ITALIAN AUTOMOTIVE ACCCESSORIES" I WAS INFORMED THAT I WAS EXPECTED TO PAY $29 BEFORE THE WOULD EVEN DISCUSS THE FAILURE WITH ME. *AK

19990315CrashAIR BAGS

FALSE DEPOLYMENT OF AIR BAG WHILE DRIVING, UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE PRESENT BUT NO IMPACT WAS INVOLVED.

19990315CrashAIR BAGS

VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG CAUSED FRICTION/CHEMICAL BURNS TO PASSENGER FACE, SMASHED PASSENGER WINDSHIELD, BLEW OUT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, DRIVER SUSTAINED BURNS ON THE THUMBS.

19981030CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER

BOLT IN CONVERTIBLE ROOF HINGE ASSEMBLY IMPALED DRIVERS SKULL. DRIVER WAS BELTED AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. 2 INCH BOLT PIERCED SKULL REQUIRING CRAINIATOMY, 25MPH FRONTAL COLLISION, 1999 MODEL HAS SAME ASSEMBLY WITHOUT THE BOLT. BOLT RESIDES APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES FROM DRIVERS LEFT EAR (5'10

19980723FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. FIRE STARTED UNDER HOOD AND AUTO WAS DESTROYED. VEHICLE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO INVESTIGATE THE POINT OF FAILURE.

19980420AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE MOVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, PULLING OVER THE CURB, THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF, INJURING THE DRIVER . THE VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP BEING REPAIRED. OWNER WILL NOTIFY THE MANUFACTUIRER. *AK

Compare 1995MAZDAMX-5 MIATA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1995 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA have?
The 1995 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA has 36 NHTSA complaints, 11 crashes, 2 fires, 13 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1995 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA?
The most-complained component for the 1995 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and TIRES.
Is the 1995 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.