2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata problems
Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata. Brakes is the most reported problem area, at 21% of complaints. After that come engine (15%) and electrical system (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 34 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 21% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 2 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 2 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 40,000 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 | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 4 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 5 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 2 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 0 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 0 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 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 40,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire; 2 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2000 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 6 model years of the Mazda MX-5 Miata with enough data (17 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, consumer was hit in rear by another driver. Vehicle hit a meduim strip at 30 MPH. Driver was injured. Two minutes later, driver's side and passenger's side airbags deployed.
Vehicle was involved in a head on collision. Driver's side airbag didn't deploy, but passenger's side air bag deployed. Driver sustained broken ribs.
Dt: consumer purchased a used 2000 mazada miata, the front left fog light caught on fire, no previous problems with fog light. When the fog light caught on fire it caused damage to the bumper trim, marker light, and the wiring harness, consumer had to use a fire extinguish to put out the fire.
After driving around in heated conditions (roughly 80 degrees or more) for about 10+ miles, sometimes less, the car will not start. It will crank and attempt to start but fails to do so. In order to get it to start I have to pop the hood open and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Once it starts it is very rough and the check engine light will come on. If I stop driving it for the day, the next morning, the light will be off and it will drive fine, until I drive during the day, or over a long distance.
Area of the front frame support rails (core support is official name) rusts from the inside out. The construction method is a sandwiched material with some sort of tarpaper in the middle which traps moisture which, in turn, hastens frame rusting. This is a common problem especially in the 1999 - 2005 years and usually not easily identified until the frame is completely rusted through. A google search of the issue returns numerous complaints.