1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata problems & reliability
74 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
9 complaints report injuries (12 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic → | 16 | 22% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling → | 11 | 15% |
| Electrical System → | 10 | 14% |
| Power Train → | 10 | 14% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 8% |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 7% |
| Structure | 5 | 7% |
| Air Bags | 4 | 5% |
| Tires | 4 | 5% |
| Steering | 3 | 4% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 16 reported components →Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Among the 25 complaints that included a usable odometer reading, the median reported incident mileage was 41,730 miles (middle 50% between 30,000 and 69,500 miles).
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“When I filled the gas tank the next day there was the smell of gas inside the vehicle which persisted as I drove. I took it to my Fiat dealership which maintains the vehicle and they have been unable to identify the source of the gas smell. They have been working with Madza for six weeks and no solution can be…”
Fuel/propulsion System · filed Nov 27, 2022
“I am writing this to bring up an issue regarding of a flawed design out of the factory from mazda. If you simply search "mazda miata front frame rail rust" you will see that it is a serious problem and/or even fatal problem, that probably many other owners of this year (1998-2005) are unaware of. Many have had the…”
Structure · filed Jan 4, 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 mazda miata. The contact heard a loud rattling noise near the engine when the clutch pedal was depressed. The failure occurred for more than a year when the vehicle became hot. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified. The vin was…”
Power Train · filed Jun 11, 2014
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
10 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
Speedometer replacement procedure
09-016-23 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 28, 2023
This service bulletin provides information regarding the proper use of the driverâ  s floor mat to avoid any potential interference with the foot pedals. The following are possible causes of floor mat interference…
09-025-21-3824 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 17, 2021
This service bulletin provides testing and charging procedures in order to promote proper battery maintenance, to deliver new vehicles with fully charged batteries, and to reduce unnecessary battery replacement cost…
01-006-21-3779 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 8, 2021
The Mazda DCA-8000PM is required for all warranty battery testing. If the Mazda DCA-8000PM is not used, incorrect battery testing may result in unnecessary battery replacement. Use the following test procedures in this…
01-005-21-3778 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 8, 2021
In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer
09-002-21-3770 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 21, 2021
In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the…
09-003-20-3671 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 9, 2020
Paint damage Mazda pocket paint guide
0901216 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 26, 2016
Speedometer replacement procedure
0900716 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 17, 2016
Subject regarding gauge / speedometer replacement guidelines. *tt
0900602 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 8, 2002
Conditions with steering wheel slightly off center. *yc
00198 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 15, 1998
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Among complaints with usable mileage, the median reported incident mileage was 41,730 miles. This does not predict when a particular vehicle will develop a problem.