2002 Mazda Mx-5 Miata: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 23 complaints
23
Total Complaints
35,000mi
Median Mileage
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Top Issue
2
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

28,000 25th Percentile
35,000 Median Mileage
59,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS
2
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
2
STRUCTURE
2
TIRES
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
1

Severity Assessment

2
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WHILE IN MOTION, THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE BECOMES HOT. CONSUMER MEASURED THE HOT AIR TEMPERATURE TO BE OVER 130 DEGREES. THIS OCCURS EVEN WHEN DRIVING ON A COOL NIGHT AND/OR WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND/OR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS TOO ..."
"UPON MORNING STARTS WHILE TURNING ON THE IGNITION THE CAR DOES NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THERE IS A SOUND METAL ROARING AND FEELS AS THOUGH THE EMERGENCY BREAK IS ON BUT IT IS NOT. CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN 4 TIMES TO AUTHORIZED REPAIR AT KONA MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED AND THEY DENY ANY PROBLEMS. THEY SU..."
"THE VEHICLE STALLED, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB SCC"

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