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2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 20.5.

About this comparison →
20Owner complaints

Model-year median: 20.5

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
74
199929
200022
200120
200214
20038
20044
2005
Compare all MX-5 Miata years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Structure
5Electrical System
3Power Train
3Engine And Engine Cooling
2Exterior Lighting
2
All reported categories
Latches/locks/linkages
2Air Bags
1Equipment
1Seat Belts
1Suspension
1Tires
1Unknown Or Other
1

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: 13 of 20 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.

  • Structure. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. 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 reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

2 reports
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32,000 miles · Aug 16, 2007
Exterior LightingFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA MIATA. AFTER PARKING HIS VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HIS FOG LIGHTS WERE ON FIRE. HE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. HE CALLED MAZDA AND THEY FAXED HIM A COPY OF RECALL NUMBER 03V206000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NEVER RECEIV…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA MIATA. AFTER PARKING HIS VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HIS FOG LIGHTS WERE ON FIRE. HE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. HE CALLED MAZDA AND THEY FAXED HIM A COPY OF RECALL NUMBER 03V206000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NEVER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE AND MAZDA IS NOT OFFERING TO HELP CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT HIS JOB. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 32,000.

NHTSA ODI #10199833

4,000 miles · Jun 9, 2004
EquipmentExterior Lighting

WE HAVE HAD THE RADIO/SPEAKERS AND CD PLAYER REPLACED AT LEAST 4 TIMES IN THE PAST 1 1/2 YEARS SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. EITHER THE UNITS BEING REPLACED ARE DEFECTIVE OR MAZDA IS NOT REPLACING PARTS (DEALERSHIP- TIM MARBURGER MAZDA). IN ADDITION, THE FOG LIGHT RECALL HAS SINCE CAUSED THE FOG LIGHTS TO BURN OUT MONTHL…

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WE HAVE HAD THE RADIO/SPEAKERS AND CD PLAYER REPLACED AT LEAST 4 TIMES IN THE PAST 1 1/2 YEARS SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. EITHER THE UNITS BEING REPLACED ARE DEFECTIVE OR MAZDA IS NOT REPLACING PARTS (DEALERSHIP- TIM MARBURGER MAZDA). IN ADDITION, THE FOG LIGHT RECALL HAS SINCE CAUSED THE FOG LIGHTS TO BURN OUT MONTHLY WITH NO RECOURSE FROM MAZDA. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10075091

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.