2003 Mazda Mx-5 Miata recalls & problems

Safety recalls

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

• Unknown or otherFire

  THE PLASTIC BATTERY TRAY IN THE MAZDA MX5 IS QUITE FRAGILE AND OFTEN BREAKS UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE SEVERAL OF THESE TRAYS IN MY 2003 MX5. NOW, WITH YET ANOTHER BROKEN TRAY, I AM TOLD THAT THESE TRAYS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. RECENTLY THIS CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH MY BATTERY MOVED ENOUGH TO MAKE A CONTACT BETWEEN THE POSITIVE BATTERY POLE AND THE METAL PART THAT HOLDS DOWN THE BATTERY. THIS CONTACT CAUSED A SHORT CIRCUIT AND FIRE IN THE TRUNK THAT COULD HAVE DESTROYED THE CAR WHILE ALSO CAUSING A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT (BECAUSE THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHEN THE BATTERY IS SHORTED). THE INCIDENT WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET. MAZDA CORPORATION…

  Apr 24, 2016 · 42,516 miles
• SteeringCrash

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA MIATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, IT BECAME DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. WHILE TURNING LEFT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO AN ELECTRICAL POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A PRIVATE TOW LOT. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

  Aug 8, 2014 · 75,000 miles
• Suspension

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA MIATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHAKE AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS POSITIONED AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND FRACTURED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM ALSO WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

  Apr 16, 2015 · 53,000 miles
• Tires

  TREAD SEPARATION ON ALL 4 TIRES. CLEAR MANUFACTURER DEFECT.

  May 1, 2013 · 35,000 miles
• Structure › Frame and members

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME RAIL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. HE NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHEN HE WAS REPAIRING THE SUSPENSION. THE SWAY BAR WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE BECAUSE OF THE RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,625. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.

  Jul 17, 2010 · 68,000 miles
• Power train › Manual transmission

  THE LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL HAS FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 81,000 MILES. I'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT REPAIR PARTS ARE NOT MANUFACTURED AND THAT A NEW DIFFERENTIAL MUST BE INSTALLED. THERE ARE NONE IN STOCK IN THE UNITED STATES AND THEY ARE ON BACK ORDER INDEFINITELY. THERE IS NO TIME ESTIMATE OF ANY KIND TO GET THIS PART IN THE UNITED STATES. MY ONLY OPTION IS TO FIND AND INSTALL AN USED DIFFERENTIAL. *TR

  Nov 26, 2010 · 81,000 miles
• Exterior lightingFire

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA MIATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FOG LIGHT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED BOTH THE FOG LIGHT AND THE BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. SHE CALLED THE DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT ANY ISSUES WITH THE FOG LIGHTS AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ON RECORD. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V206000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS). THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE CONTACT HAS PHOTOS AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,850 AND…

  Dec 19, 2008 · 68,000 miles
• Power train › Clutch assembly

  WHEN STARTING OUT COLD FROM AN INTERSECTION MY 2003 MAZDA MIATA LURCHES FORWARD POSSIBLY CAUSING STALLING IN THE INTERSECTION AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED TO MY DEALER WHO SAYS THAT MAZDA WILL ONLY FIX THIS PROBLEM DURING THE FIRST 12 MONTHS./12,000 MILES OF OWNER SHIP. MAZDA HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2001 AS A RESULT OF A RE-DESIGN OF THE CLUTCH AND REFUSES TO FIX MY CAR BECAUSE IT IS BEYOND 12,000 MILES. THIS IS A LATENT DEFECT THAT ONLY MANIFESTS ITSELF I COLD WEATHER BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT SOMEONE MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFICIENT CLUTCH SYSTEM. *JB

  Nov 4, 2005 · 31 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.