1999 Mazda MX-5 MIATA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
64 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
41,730 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 64 complaints (17.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 23 | 35.9% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 10.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 7.8% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 4.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 11 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 7 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 2 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 11; Electrical System:Ignition: 7; Air Bags: 4; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 39 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2000: 9; 2001: 15; 2002: 5; 2003: 8; 2004: 6; 2005: 2; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 5; 2009: 1; 2011: 4; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10132173 · 2005-08-09 (August 9, 2005)
BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE FOR 2-3 SECONDS WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. THIS WOULD BE A MODERATELY WET ROAD, NOT DEEP WATER, OR PUDDLES. STOPPING DISTANCE IS SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132173 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10218949 · 2008-02-23 (February 23, 2008)
I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR THE DAY BEFORE ON FEB 21 2008 AND ON FEB 22 2008 I WAS DRIVING AND DOING 60 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STALLS WOULDN'T LET ME SHIFT OR GEAR DOWN, AND AS TRYING TO DO SO THE BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN I LET GO OF THE CLUTCH. THEN COASTING INTO THE CLOSEST DRIVEWAY. NOW IT WONT START AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE I JUST GOT IT FROM A USED CAR LOT THE DAY BEFORE. AND ALSO MAKES ME WONDER, DID THEY KNOW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN OR SOMETHING SIMILAR WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. WHAT CAN I LEGALLY DO ABOUT THIS? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 93,726 miles reported. Look up ODI 10218949 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020169 · 2003-05-20 (May 20, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THE COIL PACK FAILED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020169 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046899 · 2003-11-13 (November 13, 2003)
ON 11/10/03, MY 1999 MIATA STALLED WHEN CLUTCH IS PUSHED AT IDLE. I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 101 AT THAT TIME AND WOULD CREATE A DANGER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE SURROUNDING CARS. AFTER A CAR MECHANIC INSPECTED MY CAR, HE FOUND THAT THE CRANKSHAFT END PLAY WAS APPROXIMATELY .5" WIDE. THE MECHANIC SUSPECTED THAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE THRUST BEARING. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 70,000 MILES. MAZDA INSTALLED IMPROPER THRUST BEARING ON MANY 1999 MIATAS, CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL WHEN CLUTCH IS PUSHED AT IDLE. SO FAR, …
Owner-reported narrative. 69,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046899 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034358 · 2003-08-22 (August 22, 2003)
RECALL 00-V-032-000: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE NON-RETURN VALVE INSTALLED AT THE LOWER END OF THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE CAN STICK DUE TO INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE VALVE CASE AND THE VALVE SHUTTER COMBINED WITH THE MATERIAL PROPERTIES OF THE FUEL HOSE BETWEEN THE FILLER PIPE AND THE FUEL TANK. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034358 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10224745 · 2008-04-16 (April 16, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA MIATA. ON THREE OCCASIONS, WHEN THE CONTACT FILLED UP THE GAS TANK, THE GAS OVERFLOWED. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V032000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP). THE COST FOR THE REPAIR WILL BE $175. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224745 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10240813 · 2008-09-03 (September 3, 2008)
WHILE ON THE OFF RAMP FROM THE FREE WAY IN MY 1999 MAZDA MIATA II DISCOVERED THAT THE COVER ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN HAD COME UNBOLTED AND HAD FALLEN BETWEEN MY FEET AND THE BRAKE PEDDLE. THERE WAS NO TIME TO DOWN SHIFT, I ATTEMPTED TO TURN BUT WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND I WAS INJURED. THERE WAS NO OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE OR PEOPLE INJURED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10240813 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 560068 · 2001-03-05 (March 5, 2001)
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH AT THE TIME OF IMPACT THE STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF THE MAIN COLUMN, AHEAD OF THE AIR BAG AND HIT THE DRIVER, IT SEEMS THIS MAY HAVE OCCURED WHEN THE AIR BAG WENT OFF, THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT SEEM TO INFLATE FULLY. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 560068 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 718873 · 2000-02-17 (February 17, 2000)
LOUD NOISE FROM TRANSMISSION IN 4TH GEAR FROM 3500 - 4000 RPM AT FULL THROTTLE. MAZDA CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL AND AFTER DRIVING 10 SEPERATE 99 MIATA'S THIS NOISE IS NOT NORMAL. THE NOISE IS PRESENT ON ALL 99 MIATA'S BUT THE LOUDNESS VARIES. ON MY MIATA THE NOISE IS 2 -3 TIMES AS LOUD AS ALL OTHER 99 MIATA'S I HAVE DRIVEN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 718873 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 727844 · 2000-08-14 (August 14, 2000)
WHINING NOISE ESPECIALLY IN 3RD GEAR AT 29-32 MPH THAT IS VERY IRRITATING. VERY LOUD WHIRRING NOISE AT 5900 RPM IN ANY GEAR. DEALERS ALTERNATELY SAY THEY CAN'T HEAR THE NOISES OR THAT THEY ARE NORMAL. ONE MECHANIC AT MORRIE'S SAID "I USED TO HAVE A TRUCK THAT SOUNDED LIKE THAT. MAYBE YOURS WILL GO AWAY IF YOU GET MORE MILES ON IT." THE 5900 RPM NOISE DECREASED BY 2/3 AFTER CHANGING TO SYNTHETIC TRANSMISSION AND DIFFERENTIAL FLUID BUT THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM. THE LAST DEALER I TOOK IT TO SAID HE'D CALL BACK IN A WEEK. THAT WAS THREE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 727844 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044852 · 2003-10-27 (October 27, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE BATTERY, REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT.*MR BATTERY DIED AT 5800 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044852 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8020762 · 2002-10-15 (October 15, 2002)
WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE TRUCK WHICH THREE AREAS HAS RUBBER GROMMETS THAT ALLOW WATER TO EXIT. HE DOES NOT KNOW WHY THE WATER IS ENTERING THE TRUNK AREA. THE WATER WAS UP TO THE BATTERY TERMINAL WITH EACH COMPARTMENT CONTAINING WATER. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED BEFORE BUT THE LEAKING HAS REOCCURED. MR *JG
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8020762 at NHTSA ↗