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
Mileage unknown · May 8, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES FAIL IN THE RAIN! WHEN IT IS RAINING THE BRAKE SURFACES GET COVERED IN WATER AND THE PADS ARE TO SMALL TO SUFFICIENTLY SQUEEZE THE WATER OFF AND OUT TO ALLOW IMMEDIATE BRAKING. THIS HAS RESULTED IN SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE OFFERED FIX IS DIFFERENT BRAKE SHIELDS, BUT THE CORRECT F…
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BRAKES FAIL IN THE RAIN! WHEN IT IS RAINING THE BRAKE SURFACES GET COVERED IN WATER AND THE PADS ARE TO SMALL TO SUFFICIENTLY SQUEEZE THE WATER OFF AND OUT TO ALLOW IMMEDIATE BRAKING. THIS HAS RESULTED IN SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE OFFERED FIX IS DIFFERENT BRAKE SHIELDS, BUT THE CORRECT FIX IS WHAT MAZDA IS PUTTING ON THE CURRENT MIATAS...BIGGER BRAKES AND PADS! IF YOU LOOK ON THE MIATA SITES IN THE FORUMS YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ISOLATED AND IS ACTUALLY QUITE PREVELANT. THANK YOU FOR CHECKING INTO A VERY DANGEROUS DESIGN DEFFECT! MR. JARDINE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #745074
Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2001
Tires
1 BULGED SIDEWALL AREA + 1 SOFT AREA OF OPPOSITE SIDE WALL + 1 PUNCTURE OF TREAD;WARRENTEE DENIED BY SEARS EMPLOYEE {AUTHORIZED?} TO REPRESENT MICHELIN DISCUSSION ON INTERNET HTTP://WWW.MIATAFORUM.COM/UBB/FORUM3/HTML/002362.HTML. *AK (TIRESIZE: 195/50 R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 195/50 R15 )
NHTSA ODI #743687
Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE CAR WHEN WET, MUST PUMP TO DRY IN ORDER TO SLOW THE CAR, THIS IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #742979
Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
NOT REALLY A BRAKE PART PROBLEM, BUT IN THE RAIN WATER BUILDS UP ON THE ROTORS AND IT TAKES 2 OR 3 SECONDS FROM INITIAL BRAKE APPLICATION TO GET ANY REAL BRAKING. SUPPOSEDLY MAZDA HAS PARTS TO FIX THIS, BUT HASN'T NOTIFIED ANY OWNERS.
NHTSA ODI #742892
Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN IN HEAVY RAIN, THE BRAKES TAKE MORE THAN A SECOND TO START WORKING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #742891
Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN, STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL PRODUCED NO BRAKING ACTION FOR 1-2 SECONDS. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. DEALER WAS INFORMED AND ATTEMPTED TO REPRODUCE ON A DRY DAY. I KNEW THEY WOULD NOT BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT WANTED TO GO ON RECORD WITH THEM AS HAVING REPORTED THE P…
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ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN, STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL PRODUCED NO BRAKING ACTION FOR 1-2 SECONDS. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. DEALER WAS INFORMED AND ATTEMPTED TO REPRODUCE ON A DRY DAY. I KNEW THEY WOULD NOT BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT WANTED TO GO ON RECORD WITH THEM AS HAVING REPORTED THE PROBLEM. OTHER LATE MODEL MIATA OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #742608
Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHEN IT IS COLD VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS DUPLICATED PROBLEM AND COULD NOT CORRECT IT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #880357
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline
GAS PUMP SHUTS OFF BEFORE THE TANK IS FILLED! THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME. THE PUMP SHUTS OFF AFTER 1 TO 3 GALLONS AND THEN I CAN GET ANOTHER 5 TO 8 GALLONS IN THE TANK BY SQUEEZING THE NOZZLE DOZENS OF TIMES! I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL GAS GRADES, STATIONS, FLOW RATES AND NOZZLE STYLES, BUT NOTHING FIXES THIS PROBLEM!*AK
NHTSA ODI #739907
Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2000
Power Train
CONSUMER HEARD A SHARP DISTINCT METALLIC SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. NLM
NHTSA ODI #557363
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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