Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 11 of 29 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
29 reports
38,360 miles · Nov 23, 2004
Electrical System
1.ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN POORLY VEHICLE LOST SPEED. 2. HAD TO EXIT FREEWAY AND USE SIDE STREETS TO RETURN HOME 3. TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, SERVICE REPORT INDICATED THAT THE COIL/IGNITER WAS DEFECTIVE WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE COIL/IGNITER FAILURE IS A PROBLEM ON THE 1999, 200…
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1.ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN POORLY VEHICLE LOST SPEED. 2. HAD TO EXIT FREEWAY AND USE SIDE STREETS TO RETURN HOME 3. TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, SERVICE REPORT INDICATED THAT THE COIL/IGNITER WAS DEFECTIVE WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE COIL/IGNITER FAILURE IS A PROBLEM ON THE 1999, 2000 MODELS.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10100398
26,000 miles · Mar 16, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY, BUT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED BROKEN RIBS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10063257
Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other
CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT". DEALER INDICATED 3 WEEKS AGO THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE IN CYLINDER #3, BUT THEY WILL NOT GET ON WITH THE REPAIR. DEALER HAS CHANGED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PARTS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND LAST WEEK SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE. NOW THEY ARE BACKING OFF ON THAT AND PLAYING "TESTING GAME…
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CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT". DEALER INDICATED 3 WEEKS AGO THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE IN CYLINDER #3, BUT THEY WILL NOT GET ON WITH THE REPAIR. DEALER HAS CHANGED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PARTS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND LAST WEEK SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE. NOW THEY ARE BACKING OFF ON THAT AND PLAYING "TESTING GAMES".*AK
NHTSA ODI #766912
Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER WAS HIT IN REAR BY ANOTHER DRIVER. VEHICLE HIT A MEDUIM STRIP AT 30 MPH. DRIVER WAS INJURED. TWO MINUTES LATER, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK *JB
NHTSA ODI #8002469
Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
CAR'S BRAKES FAIL TO REACT IN WET DRIVING CONDITIONS. USUALLY TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS OF PUMPING BRAKES DURING WET CONDITIONS TO GET BRAKES TO RESPOND. *AK
NHTSA ODI #757048
Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2001
Power Train
HARD SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST, 2ND, AND 3RD GEAR. GEAR WILL SOMETIMES GRIND WHEN SHIFTING OR ENGINE SPEED MUST MUCH BEFORE ENGAGING. VERY STIFF SHIFTER AT NEUTRAL AND CAUSE GEAR HUNTING FROM 5TH TO 4TH. WHEN TRANSMISSION IS WARMED UP, A RATTLING SOUND CAN BE HEARD AT NEUTRAL BUT DISAPPEAR ONCE THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #753339
Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2001
Structure
BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE CONVERTIBLE TOP LATCHES, WHICH SECURE THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WHEN IT IS CLOSED, FAILED TO LOCK AS DESIGNED WHEN THE LATCHES ARE IN THE CLOSED POSITION. THIS POTENTIALLY LEADS TO THE CONVERTIBLE TOP LATCHES INADVERTENTLY OPENING AT ANY SPEED, RESULTING IN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP OPENING INADVERTENTLY A…
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BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE CONVERTIBLE TOP LATCHES, WHICH SECURE THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WHEN IT IS CLOSED, FAILED TO LOCK AS DESIGNED WHEN THE LATCHES ARE IN THE CLOSED POSITION. THIS POTENTIALLY LEADS TO THE CONVERTIBLE TOP LATCHES INADVERTENTLY OPENING AT ANY SPEED, RESULTING IN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP OPENING INADVERTENTLY AT ANY SPEED.
NHTSA ODI #752707
Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2001
Power Train
TRANSMISSION CAN NOT BE SHIFTED SAFELY DURING NORMAL OPERATION. GRINDS, KICKS-OUT AND BLOCK SHIFTING INTO GEAR.*AK
NHTSA ODI #751218
Mileage unknown · May 15, 2001
Equipment
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ROCK HIT CONDENSOR, AIR CONDITIONER COOLANT AND OIL CAME LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #888307
Mileage unknown · May 8, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL TANK SHUTS OFF AFTER ONLY 3 TO 4 GALLONS. THEN I HAVE TO SQUEEZE AND PUMP A GALLON AT A TIME UNTIL FULL! I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL GAS STATIONS, SEVERAL PUMPS AND PUMP TYPES, I HAVE VARIED THE FLOW RATIO AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IS VERY HELPFUL AND THE MOST CURTIOUS, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL PRESENT AFTER T…
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FUEL TANK SHUTS OFF AFTER ONLY 3 TO 4 GALLONS. THEN I HAVE TO SQUEEZE AND PUMP A GALLON AT A TIME UNTIL FULL! I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL GAS STATIONS, SEVERAL PUMPS AND PUMP TYPES, I HAVE VARIED THE FLOW RATIO AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IS VERY HELPFUL AND THE MOST CURTIOUS, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL PRESENT AFTER THEY HAVE REPLACED THE CHARCOAL CANNISTER, CHECKED THE LINES AND REPLACED THE GAS TANK (SINCE THE BACK FLOW TRAP IS INSIDE THE TANK. THEY WILL BE TRYING AGAIN TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ON MAY 10TH. THEY HAVE A TECHNICIAN THAT IS HERE FROM JAPAN THAT WILL BE CHECKING IT OUT ALL DAY. THIS APPOINTMENT MAKES 4 SCHEDULED VISITS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I LOVE THIS VEHICLE,BUT THE FUEL FILLER PROBLEM IS UNACCEPTABLE. I KNOW THERE WAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 MIATA. ON THE MIATA FORUMS ON THE WEB OTHER 2000 MIATA OWNERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM TOO. THANK YOU, MR. [XXX]*AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA ODI #745076
Official recalls
0
No 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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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