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U.S. public vehicle records

2001 Mazda MX-5 MIATA: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

22 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

51,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 22 complaints (13.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation418.2%
Fuel system concerns418.2%
Braking behavior313.6%
Transmission and shifting29.1%
Steering behavior29.1%

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.

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
3
Engine
2
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
2
Latches/Locks/Linkages
2
Power Train:Manual Transmission
2
Air Bags
1
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump3
Engine2
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery2
Latches/Locks/Linkages2
Power Train:Manual Transmission2
Air Bags1
Engine And Engine Cooling1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine1

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 3; Engine: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery: 2; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 2; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2; Air Bags: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
3
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
3
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0003
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9993
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 10 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.

2001
2
2002
3
2003
1
2004
1
2005
4
2006
2
2008
4
2011
1
2012
1
2017
1
2018
1
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20012
20023
20031
20041
20054
20062
20084
20111
20121
20171
20181
20261

2001: 2; 2002: 3; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2008: 4; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 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 10012517 · 2003-03-26 (March 26, 2003)

THE VEHICLES REAR WHEEL JUMPED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012517 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10078727 · 2004-06-24 (June 24, 2004)

2001 MAZADA MIADA RIGHT FRONT BRAKE PAD WORE OUT IN 22,000. WIFE DOES NOT DRIVE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL AND MAZDA MIATA REPLACEMENT BRAKE PADS PARTS ARE ON A NATION WIDE BACK ORDER ACCORDING TO LOCAL DEALER. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 22,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078727 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10112546 · 2005-03-05 (March 5, 2005)

THE SOFT TOP (CONVERTIBLE TOP) LATCH CAN SNAP OPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND CAN TEAR OFF THE TOP. FOR THE AFFECTED VEHICLE THE DRIVER CAN BE SIGNIFICANTLY DISTRACTED AND CAN BE HIT BY THE FLAPPING TOP. OTHER VEHICLES BEHIND THE IMPACTED CAR CAN BE HIT BY FLYING DEBRIS AS THE TOP TEARS OFF. MAZDA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ISSUED A TECHINCAL SAFETY BULLETIN, BUT THEY NEVER MADE OWNERS AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL LATCH FAILURE. THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE THE LATCHES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY. MANY OF IMPACTED VEHICLES HAVE LATCH FAILURES A…

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112546 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10121020 · 2005-05-16 (May 16, 2005)

CAR STALLS CONSISTENTLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP IN NEUTRAL CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. ENGINE SPEED DROPS BELOW 500 RPM AND ALMOST ALWAYS CAUSES A STALL.

Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121020 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10134843 · 2005-08-30 (August 30, 2005)

MAZDA MIATA LS 2001 ON HUMID DAYS THE CAR WILL START AND THE ENGINE WILL IMMEDIATELY CUT OFF. AFTER CHECK UP FROM DEALER THE FUEL PUMP WAS FOUND TO BE FAILING. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE MIATAS WHICH MAKES ME FEEL THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP DESIGN\ENGINEERING. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134843 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10135661 · 2005-09-07 (September 7, 2005)

EMAIL FM CARLOS PIAD (FL) REQUEST NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THE SOFT TOP LATCH FAILURES ON THE 2001 MAZDA MX-5/MIATA.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE LATCH CAN POSSIBLE BECOME LOOSE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WIND CAN TEAR THE TOP OFF. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE MANUFACTURER UNDER-DESIGNED THE CONVERTIBLE TOP LATCH MECHANISM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10135661 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10155558 · 2006-04-17 (April 17, 2006)

THE LATCHES THAT HOLD THE CONVERTIBLE TOP LOCKED IN POSITION CAN BE DEFECTIVE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, CAUSING THE LATCH NOT TO LOCK PROPERLY, AND ALLOWING THE TOP TO BECOME UNLATCHED AND FLY UP WHILE DRIVING. THE PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WILL ONLY REPLACE IT FREE IF THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 25,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155558 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10161939 · 2006-07-09 (July 9, 2006)

THE TOP LATCH HOLDING THE CONVERTIBLE TOP FAILS PREMATURELY. IN FIVE YEARS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED FOUR FAILURES. WHEN THE LATHES FAIL, THE CONVERTIBLE TOP CAN OPEN SUDDENLY. THE SUDDEN OPENING COULD CAUSE A DISTRACTION. THE SUDDEN OPENING ALSO EXPOSES THE DRIVER TO RAIN OR SNOW THAT MAY ALSO INTERFERE WITH SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDEN OPENING COULD CAUSE FAILURE TO THE REAR WINDOW. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161939 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.