IllustrationTHE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH AT THE TIME OF IMPACT THE STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF THE MAIN COLUMN, AHEAD OF THE AIR BAG AND HIT THE DRIVER, IT SEEMS THIS MAY HAVE OCCURED WHEN THE AIR BAG WENT OFF, THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT SEEM TO INFLATE FULLY. NLM
1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 20.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all MX-5 Miata years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
30–25K
1025–50K
650–75K
375–100K
1100–150K
2150K+
25 reports with mileage · 49 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports0 fire reports9 injury reports
Steering complaints
3 reportsMY MIATA WAS HIT IN THE FRONT LEFT SIDE BY A GMC PICKUP WHICH WAS TRAVELING AT LEAST 35 MPH. I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, SO MY SPEED WAS MINIMAL. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE COLUMN. THE CAR WAS DETERMINED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. I HAVE NOT HEARD OF A STEERING WHEEL BREAKING AWAY …
Read full complaint
MY MIATA WAS HIT IN THE FRONT LEFT SIDE BY A GMC PICKUP WHICH WAS TRAVELING AT LEAST 35 MPH. I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, SO MY SPEED WAS MINIMAL. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE COLUMN. THE CAR WAS DETERMINED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. I HAVE NOT HEARD OF A STEERING WHEEL BREAKING AWAY FROM THE COLUMN WITH THE DEPLOYMENT OF AN AIRBAG. IS THIS A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE?
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 5 MPH MINOR COLLISION, VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM THE REAR, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT HIS HEAD ON THE STEEL BARS WHICH ARE A PART OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP, RESULTING IN A CONCUSSION AND CHANGE IN EYE SIGHT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.