1990 Mazda Mx-5 Miata: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 32 complaints
32
Total Complaints
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
Top Issue
4
Crash Reports

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
4
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3
AIR BAGS
3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2
SEATS
2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
2
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
1

Severity Assessment

4
Crashes
3
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD IN ONE CAR ACCIDENT, VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. TT"
"OWNER SPEAKS PORTUGUESE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE SHIFTED IN NEUTRAL AND SURGED. STEMS FROM BACKUP LIGHT CABLE THAT GOES INTO TRANSMISSION. TT"
"THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS BROKEN. TT"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28