1995 Mazda MX-5 MIATA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
21 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
115,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 21 complaints (38.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 9.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 9.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.8% |
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:Frontal | 8 |
| Tires | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring: Rear Compartment/Trunk | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Back Up Lights | 1 |
| Steering:Column | 1 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 1 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 8; Tires: 4; Air Bags: 3; Structure:Body:Door: 2; Electrical System:Wiring: Rear Compartment/Trunk: 1; Exterior Lighting:Back Up Lights: 1; Steering:Column: 1; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System: 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 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 17 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 | 4 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
1995: 5; 1996: 4; 2000: 3; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2004: 2; 2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. 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 10062436 · 2004-03-17 (March 17, 2004)
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 EXPERIEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,587 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062436 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10103385 · 2004-12-08 (December 8, 2004)
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND SUDDENLY THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. DRIVER SUSTAINED A THUMB INJURY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10103385 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10295824 · 2009-12-15 (December 15, 2009)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 141,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295824 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10428741 · 2011-10-04 (October 4, 2011)
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 OI…
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10428741 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10587846 · 2014-05-12 (May 12, 2014)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10587846 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10788442 · 2015-11-04 (November 4, 2015)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10788442 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10790065 · 2015-11-12 (November 12, 2015)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10790065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 600349 · 1995-08-12 (August 12, 1995)
RIGHT DOOR HANDLE FAILED. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 600349 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.