1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata problems
Owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA about the 1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata. Air bags is the most reported problem area, at 19% of complaints. After that come seat belts (19%) and transmission (16%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 32 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 19% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 4 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 5 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What the data shows
Safety-related details: 4 complaints mention a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 5 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 93% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1990 ranks 6th most-complained-about out of 6 model years of the Mazda MX-5 Miata with enough data (3 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While driving with seat belt oon consumer rear ended a vehicle that had stopped for another vehicle.consumer was traveling about 20 MPH, and airbags did not deploy.
Owner speaks portuguese. Vehicle would not shift into reverse shifted in neutral and surged. Stems from backup light cable that goes into transmission. Tt
Mfg recommended 60,000 mi timing belt was changed at 59,000 mi... All routine maintenance performed per mfg specs. Failure of crankshaft is known mfg defect in 1990 and early 1991 models. Later models have modified crankshaft with no known failures. Repair estimate from local mazda dealership is $3,700.00 for a new engine.
Dt*: the contact stated while shifting from 5th gear or reverse to neutral, the transmission would go into reverse. An independent repair shop determined the swing arm was bad on the vehicle and should be repaired.