2003 Mazda MX-5 MIATA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
47,758 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 14 complaints (14.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 21.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 7.1% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Equipment | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 1 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 1 |
Steering: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System: 1; Equipment: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 1; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 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 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 4; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10030364 · 2003-07-29 (July 29, 2003)
2003 MAZDA MIATA HEADLINES GIVE POOR, INADEQUATE, UNSETTLING ILLUMNATION WHEN DRIVING ON HILLY ROADS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030364 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089053 · 2004-09-03 (September 3, 2004)
I HELPING MY HUSBAND REMOVE THE TONEAU COVER FROM OUR 2003 MAZDZA MIATA. I WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE CAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHEN I RELEASED THE SEAT BACK TO RETURN IT TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THE SEAT BACK HAS TO BE RECLINED ALL THE WAY FOR THE TONEAU COAVER TO FIT. THE SEAT BACK CAME FORWARD AND HIT ME IN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FACE , DRIVING MY HEAD INTO THE BRACKET ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT RECEIVES THE CONVERTABLE TOP. THE FORCE WAS SUCH THAT IN ADDITION TO BREAKING MY GLASSES, I SUFFERED HEAD TRAMUA, A TYPE 2 CONTUSION, AND A MILD CONCUSION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 5,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089053 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10101714 · 2004-11-26 (November 26, 2004)
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SHEARED OFF IN HALF WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO IDLE THE VEHICLE WITH THE GEARS ACCELERATING SPEEDS OF THREE TO FIVE MILES, AND THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS CAME ON. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE HOME.*AK PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10101714 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10110592 · 2005-02-15 (February 15, 2005)
ON THANKSGIVING DAY (NOV.25,2004) I LEFT MY HOME TO SPEND THE HOLIDAY WITH MY SON. WHILE I WAS AWAY, MY HOUSE BURNED DOWN.THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT IN THE BLAZE AS NO ONE WAS HOME AT THE TIME, THE FIRE MARSHAL INVESTIGATING THE FIRE THOUGHT IT STARTED IN THE GARAGE BUT COULD NOT PINPOINT A CAUSE. THE ONLY CAR PARKED IN THE GARAGE WAS A FRIENDS 2003 MAZDA MIATA. IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT A MALFUNCTIONING CRUISE CONTROL ON THE MAZDA SIMILAR TO THE FORD RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 05V017000) COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE?
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10110592 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116762 · 2005-04-26 (April 26, 2005)
EVERY SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR ON 5/7/03, I HAVE BEEN HAVING HARD STARTS--MORE THAN 24 TIMES. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE CAR WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD, ANOTHER DEALER TOLD ME ALL 4 RIMS WERE BENT. I ALSO HAD A RACING ISSUE OCCUR 3 TIMES ON SAT. 3/12. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THE TWO INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS. RECENTLY, THEY FIXED THE HARD START BY REPLACING THE BATTERY BUT THEY CHARGED ME FOR IT. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE CHARGED ME IF THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE HARD STARTS SINCE DAY ONE. I TOLD THEM THIS BUT THEY SAID THEY DIDN'…
Owner-reported narrative. 650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116762 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135690 · 2005-09-07 (September 7, 2005)
DT: THIS IS A CONVERTIBLE CAR AND THE BOLTS KEEP FALLING OUT OF THE TOP WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE ARE TWO BOLTS THAT HAVE FALLEN OUT THREE OR FOUR TIMES. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SET TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT BECAUSE THERE IS A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE CAR. THE CONSUMER THINKS THAT THE BOLTS ARE CAUSING THE NOISE. THIS PROBLEM STARTED IN JUNE 2005. *AK *MR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10135690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10142899 · 2005-11-16 (November 16, 2005)
WHEN STARTING OUT COLD FROM AN INTERSECTION MY 2003 MAZDA MIATA LURCHES FORWARD POSSIBLY CAUSING STALLING IN THE INTERSECTION AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED TO MY DEALER WHO SAYS THAT MAZDA WILL ONLY FIX THIS PROBLEM DURING THE FIRST 12 MONTHS./12,000 MILES OF OWNER SHIP. MAZDA HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2001 AS A RESULT OF A RE-DESIGN OF THE CLUTCH AND REFUSES TO FIX MY CAR BECAUSE IT IS BEYOND 12,000 MILES. THIS IS A LATENT DEFECT THAT ONLY MANIFESTS ITSELF I COLD WEATHER BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT SOMEONE MAY BE SE…
Owner-reported narrative. 31 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142899 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10258321 · 2009-02-11 (February 11, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FOG LIGHT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED BOTH THE FOG LIGHT AND THE BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. SHE CALLED THE DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT ANY ISSUES WITH THE FOG LIGHTS AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ON RECORD. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V206000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS). THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THE RECALL R…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10258321 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.