2002 Mazda MX-5 MIATA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
20 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
32,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 20 complaints (15.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 10.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.0% |
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 | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting:Fog Lights | 2 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 2 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 2 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 2 |
| Structure | 2 |
| Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
Electrical System: 3; Exterior Lighting:Fog Lights: 2; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 2; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 2; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2; Structure: 2; Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 7 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2004: 4; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2013: 2; 2015: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10000355 · 2002-12-24 (December 24, 2002)
UPON MORNING STARTS WHILE TURNING ON THE IGNITION THE CAR DOES NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THERE IS A SOUND METAL ROARING AND FEELS AS THOUGH THE EMERGENCY BREAK IS ON BUT IT IS NOT. CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN 4 TIMES TO AUTHORIZED REPAIR AT KONA MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED AND THEY DENY ANY PROBLEMS. THEY SUGGESTED USING SYNTHETIC OIL AND TO WARM UP THE CAR IN THE MORNINGS WHICH I DO ALREADY. THERE ARE WITNESSES TO THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT KONA MAZDA CANNOT DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM IN THEIR SERVICE PROBLEM. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000355 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010000 · 2003-03-06 (March 6, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010000 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070853 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
THIS IS NOT REALLY A COMPLAINT, BUT CU SAID I SHOULD CONTACT YOU AS WELL. I RAN OVER A NAIL AND PUNCTURED MY TIRE. I TOOK IT TO A TIRE SHOP TO SEE IF IT COULD BE REPAIRED. IT COULDN'T SO I SAID REPLACE IT. THEY DID NOT HAVE A TIRE TO MATCH. ON MY BEHALF THEY CALL SEVERAL OTHER TIRE SHOPS. NO ONE HAD THE TIRE. I THEN CALLED THE SERVICE DEPT. OF THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. WHEN I DESCRIBED THE SITUATION, HE SAID HE HAS BE GETTING NUMERABLE CALLS ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR BOTH MAZDAS AND VOLVOS. HE THINKS THE CAR MANUFACTURERS PUT ON TIRE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10070853 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075091 · 2004-06-09 (June 9, 2004)
WE HAVE HAD THE RADIO/SPEAKERS AND CD PLAYER REPLACED AT LEAST 4 TIMES IN THE PAST 1 1/2 YEARS SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. EITHER THE UNITS BEING REPLACED ARE DEFECTIVE OR MAZDA IS NOT REPLACING PARTS (DEALERSHIP- TIM MARBURGER MAZDA). IN ADDITION, THE FOG LIGHT RECALL HAS SINCE CAUSED THE FOG LIGHTS TO BURN OUT MONTHLY WITH NO RECOURSE FROM MAZDA. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075091 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075850 · 2004-06-04 (June 4, 2004)
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *MR *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10075850 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095827 · 2004-10-15 (October 15, 2004)
CLUTCH SHUDDER, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST TIME EACH DAY. THE WHOLE DRIVETRAIN/EXHAUST WILL SHAKE AS YOU ENGAGE THE CLUTCH. AS THE VEHICLE WARMS UP, THE PROBLEM IS LESS NOTICEABLE. STARTING AROUND 20K MILES. ALSO, "RINGING" NOISE IN 5TH GEAR (6 SPEED TRANSMISSION) UNDER LOAD SINCE NEW. RETAILER WILL NOT FIX, AND WAS TOLD THIS IS JUST A HARMONIC IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT IS DUE TO MACHINING TOLERANCES. INTERIOR OF VEHICLE GETS VERY HOT. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ENOUGH INSULATION AROUND TRANSMISSION/EXHAUST AS FLOOR IS VER…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10095827 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10106491 · 2005-01-17 (January 17, 2005)
TRANSMISSION/CLUTCH - CLUTCH SPRINGS OR PLATES STICK AFTER SHIFTING INTO GEAR. CLUTCH HAS BEEN REPLACED BY DEALER AFTER ONLY APROX. 30K. MILES AND PROBLEM HAS APPEARED AGAIN. DEALER CLAIMS THE SPRINGS ON CLUTCH STICK. PROBLEM SHIFTING INTO GEAR ESP. WHEN CAR IS FIRST STARTED, ALSO CLUTCH WEARS AT RAPID RATE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10106491 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10146208 · 2005-12-28 (December 28, 2005)
LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. THIS IS A PACKED ASSEMBLY -SEALED. THIS FAILED ONE UNDER WARRANTY AND AGAIN RECENTLY. THIS CAUSES HEAVY VIBRATION ESP. ON A MAZDA MIATA WHICH COULD LEAD TO WHEEL BEING TORN OFF WHILE DRIVING. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 117,320 miles reported. Look up ODI 10146208 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.