IllustrationREAR DIFFERENTIAL SEAL FAILED CAUSING OIL TO LEAK FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. *ET
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
What owners actually said
74 reportsVEHICLE WAS IN TOW BEHIND MY RV, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING BOTH REAR WHEELS TO LOCK UP.VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN TOW FOR 278 MILES AT THE TIME OF FAILURE.WHEN I WAS PURCHASING THE VEHICL, I MADE ALL CONCERNED AWARE THAT I WAS INTENDING TO TOW THE VEHICLE BEHIND MY MOTOR HOME. NOTHING WAS SAIS OF ANY SPECIAL CONDITIONS REGA…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE WAS IN TOW BEHIND MY RV, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING BOTH REAR WHEELS TO LOCK UP.VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN TOW FOR 278 MILES AT THE TIME OF FAILURE.WHEN I WAS PURCHASING THE VEHICL, I MADE ALL CONCERNED AWARE THAT I WAS INTENDING TO TOW THE VEHICLE BEHIND MY MOTOR HOME. NOTHING WAS SAIS OF ANY SPECIAL CONDITIONS REGARDING THE TOWING. MAZDA REFUSES TO EVEN INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE, STATING THAT THEY FEEL IT WAS CAUSED BY THE TOWING. A TECNICAL REPRESENTATIVE ADMITTED HOWEVER, THAT THE SAME FAILRE COULD HAVE ACCURED IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN COASTING, WITH THE ENGINE OFF. SINCE I WAS IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE OF THE INTERSTATE. I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE UNIT TO A SAFE STOP. IF I HAD BEEN IN ANOTHER LANE, OR IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING LANES, THE RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTORUS.
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
AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE OWNER REPORTED BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE FROM UNDERNEATH CAR AND SAW FLUID DRIPPING AS WELL;
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.