1992 Mazda MX-5 MIATA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
82,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 18 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 11.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 2 |
| Tires:Sidewall | 2 |
| Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 |
Air Bags: 3; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 2; Tires:Sidewall: 2; Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear: 2; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 12 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 5 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
1995: 5; 1996: 1; 2000: 3; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2015: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 10025323 · 2003-07-02 (July 2, 2003)
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 S…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,370 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025323 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026524 · 2003-07-02 (July 2, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026524 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131638 · 2005-08-04 (August 4, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131638 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168221 · 2006-09-14 (September 14, 2006)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168221 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10717588 · 2015-05-21 (May 21, 2015)
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 F…
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10717588 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11122874 · 2018-08-27 (August 27, 2018)
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 ACCIDE…
Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11122874 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11257361 · 2019-09-23 (September 23, 2019)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11257361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 484413 · 1995-07-23 (July 23, 1995)
EXCESSIVE FORCE REQUIRED TO REMOVE SHOP INSTALLED LOCKING LUG NUT, CAUSING IT TO BREAK. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484413 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.