1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata problems
Owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata. Air bags is the most reported problem area, at 53% of complaints. After that come engine (9%) and fuel system (6%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 32 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 53% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 2 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 78,000 miles 13 complaints with mileage
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%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 2 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 2 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 2 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 0 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 5 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 13 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 78,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 78,000 miles (11 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a crash. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 86% 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 1996 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 6 model years of the Mazda MX-5 Miata with enough data (14 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.
The VIN is for my 1996 mazda miata. My complaint is the m291 going west bound to 350 highway in raytown that veers to the west. The exit, seems to dangerous with concrete blocks seperating lanes. My second inquiry is a possible car wreck that my daughter, [xxx] may have been involved in. She drove a green and black mustang ford convertible. We live apart and as she is a young adult like most, as a mother, I don't get enough info, sometimes.
Consumer noticed the accelerator pedal cut a slit into the carpet,causing the pedal to stick, leaving the throttle in a wide open position, which can cause the vehicle to take off.
The airbag computer failed, as indicated by the "airbag" light remaining on constantly. Repair cost over $1200. Thought you might track the failure history of airbags.
The air bag light comes on at start and stays on. The problem has been diagnosed as the back-up battery in the air bag module is shorted out.