2008 Mazda MX-5: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
40,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 7 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 2 | 28.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 14.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 |
| Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer:Lpg Systems:Water Heater | 1 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
Electrical System: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 1; Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer:Lpg Systems:Water Heater: 1; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 1; Steering: 1; Structure:Body: 1; Tires: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
2009: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2019: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10264796 · 2009-04-09 (April 9, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ACCIDENTALLY PLACED THE GEAR INTO REVERSE AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO A TRAFFIC SIGN. SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS A KEYLESS REMOTE ENTRY, SHE WAS NOT WARNED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN ITS PROPER PARKED POSITION PRIOR TO EXITING. SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, BUT WAS NOT PROVIDED WITH ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,300.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10264796 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10599077 · 2014-06-18 (June 18, 2014)
SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE TIRES OR WHEELS. RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP, SAID IT THROUGH A WEIGHT. STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM OF FEELING WOBBLY ESPECIALLY BETWEEN START AND 35 MPH. HAVE TOLD SERVICE MANAGER SEVERAL TIMES, I THINK TIRES OR WHEELS NEED REPLACING...UPDATED 07/01/14 *BF STATUS UPDATE 09/09/14
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10599077 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10627691 · 2014-08-23 (August 23, 2014)
UNFORTUNATELY I HIRED A CAR FROM ATWEST RENT A CAR IL LAX FOR A 3 WEEKS! THE CONVERTIBLE CAR MAZDA MIATA THAT THE COMPANY RENT ME WAS, THAT I SAW FIRST, COVERED IN SCRATCHES, NOT WASHED, INSIDE AND OUTSIDE! BUT THIS IS NOT THE EXTREMELY SERIOUS MATTER!! I CALLED MANY TIMES TO REPORT YOU THAT THIS CAR IS A DANGER!!! AFTER A FEW DAYS OF DRIVING, THE BALANCE OF THE CAR WAS MASSIVELY UPSET BY HAVING USED TYRES!!!! EACH MILES I DRIVE, PUTS MYSELF AND OTHERS IN DANGER: IT IS IN PRECISELY THOSE AREAS THAT I NEED TO ACT. THERE IS ALSO N…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10627691 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10794629 · 2015-11-18 (November 18, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING MECHANISM DRAINED THE BATTERY OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 1/19/16 LN UPDATED 02/05/16*LJ *CN
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10794629 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11170390 · 2019-01-16 (January 16, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA MX-5. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS DETECTED UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE GEAR REMAINED IN NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUSHED INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WYATT JOHNSON MAZDA (2425 WILMA RUDOLPH BLVD SUITE C, CLARKSVILLE, TN 37040, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WELD ON THE CLUTCH PEDAL FRACTURED AND THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER …
Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11170390 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11219807 · 2019-06-13 (June 13, 2019)
WATER ACCUMULATION IN FOOTWELL/PLUGGED SOFT TOP DRAINS. MAZDA HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OF HOW THEIR COMPANY CAN FIX IT BUT MUST BE PAID BY OWNER. I SPOKE TO ALISHA AT MAZDA AND IT IS NOT RECALLED OR A SERVICE PROGRAM. ON THE INTERNET MANY ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO MAZDA AND SHOULD BE COVERED SINCE THEIR FIX FOR THIS IS ADDING A DRAIN VALVE ASSEMBLY, SEVERAL DRAIN COVERS AND VALVES AND FILTERS.
Owner-reported narrative. 131,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11219807 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11269756 · 2019-10-20 (October 20, 2019)
WHEN IT RAINS WATER WILL POOL IN PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. MAZDA DEALS SUGGESTS ADDING DRAINS AND FILTERS THAT ARE NOT PART OF ORIGINAL VEHICLE DESIGN. (THIS ISSUE IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW AND NO OTHER REASON), THIS HAPPENS REGARDLESS IF CAR IS MOVING OR STATIONARY. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON-GOING ISSUE SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 11/2012. . DOOR SEALS AND WINDOW SEALS ARE NOT DAMAGED.
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11269756 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.