NHTSA vehicle safety data

2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 21 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata owner complaints

Owners have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata, describing incidents dated August 1, 2001 to February 20, 2026.

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System 5 complaints
Engine 3 complaints
Latches/Locks/Linkages 2 complaints
Power Train 2 complaints
Structure 2 complaints
Suspension 2 complaints

Of the 21 complaints on file, 3 report a crash; across all 21 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11721051 · Filed February 27, 2026
The contact owns a 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata. The contact received notification of TSB: 3505H (Non-Methane Organic Gas (NMOG) levels exceeding standards. The contact recently purchased the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the remedy was not yet available. The…
ODI #11067265 · Filed February 6, 2018
AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY SUFFICIENT TO PROTECT DRIVER FROM HITTING HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL RESULTING IN SEVERE FACIAL LACERATION. SOLO VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON NB HWY 680 APPROACHING BENICIA BRIDGE. CHP DISPATCH LOG #357.
ODI #10459780 · Filed May 27, 2012
DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR APPROX. 20 MINUTES WHEN CAR ENGINE STARTED TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND STALL OUT. NARROWLY MADE IT TO ROAD SHOULDER, WITH 2 VEHICLES MAKING EMERGENCY MOVES TO AVOID COLLISION WITH ME. AFTERWARDS MY VEHICLE WOULD ONLY START AFTER WAITING PERIODS OF 10-15 MINUTES, AND THEN…

Read all 21 complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

21 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #11721051

Incident: February 20, 2026 · Filed: February 27, 2026

The contact owns a 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata. The contact received notification of TSB: 3505H (Non-Methane Organic Gas (NMOG) levels exceeding standards. The contact recently purchased the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the remedy was not yet available. The contact was informed that parts were no longer being manufactured to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that a search would be done to find a dealer that had recall repairs. The contact had not received a callback from the manufacturer. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Air Bags

ODI #11067265

Crash 1 injury

Incident: January 30, 2018 · Filed: February 6, 2018

AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY SUFFICIENT TO PROTECT DRIVER FROM HITTING HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL RESULTING IN SEVERE FACIAL LACERATION. SOLO VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON NB HWY 680 APPROACHING BENICIA BRIDGE. CHP DISPATCH LOG #357.

Engine

ODI #10459780

Incident: May 23, 2012 · Filed: May 27, 2012

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR APPROX. 20 MINUTES WHEN CAR ENGINE STARTED TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND STALL OUT. NARROWLY MADE IT TO ROAD SHOULDER, WITH 2 VEHICLES MAKING EMERGENCY MOVES TO AVOID COLLISION WITH ME. AFTERWARDS MY VEHICLE WOULD ONLY START AFTER WAITING PERIODS OF 10-15 MINUTES, AND THEN ONLY RUN FOR 5-10 MINUTES BEFORE SAME ENGINE ISSUE WOULD OCCUR. AFTER NUMEROUS STARTS AND STALLS, AND 4 HOURS LATER ARRIVED AT CAR REPAIR SHOP. AFTER CHECKING VEHICLE OVER, AND LOOKING UP "CHECK ENGINE CODE" THEY REPLACED A "ENGINE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR" I HAVE SINCE READ NUMEROUS BLOG POSTS ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS PART IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH MY MAKE AND MODEL. AND FELT COMPELLED TO WRITE THIS TO VOICE MY SAFETY CONCERNS. I FEEL STRONGLY THAT SOMEONE COULD SUFFER A FATAL CRASH ALL TOO EASILY WITH THIS PART FAILING AND THE VIOLENT AND SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10433384

Incident: November 1, 2011 · Filed: November 1, 2011

2001 MAZDA MIATA MX5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STRONG GAS ODOR IN CABIN OF CAR AFTER FILLING FUEL CAPACITY FULL *TGW THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE BASE OF THE FUEL NECK THAT ATTACHED TO THE FUEL TANK WAS RUSTED WHICH ALLOWED RAW FUEL TO DUMP IN THE TRUNK COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER STATED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THE FUEL NECK AND FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 1300.00. *JB

Power Train

ODI #10251429

Incident: July 11, 2008 · Filed: December 10, 2008

PURCHASED A 2001 MAZDA MIATA NEW, TRANSMISSION WAS HARD SHIFTING FROM DAY 1 TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS NUMEROUS TIMES, FINALLY RESULTED IN TRANS. LOCKING IN NEUTRAL AND CAR WOULD NOT MOVE RESULTING IN A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING THIS PERIOD AND MAZDA WOULD NOT REPAIR CAR BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AT THIS TIME. CAR WAS FIXING BY INDEPENDENT TRANS. SHOP AND PAID FOR BY ME. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10241347

Incident: September 3, 2008 · Filed: September 8, 2008

ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE COASTING TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC AS IF OUT OF GAS, BUT TANK HAD OVER 1/4 IN IT. ENGINE WOULD COUGH AND SPUTTER THEN RESTART AND RUN FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS. AFTER CAR SIT ABOUT 15 MINUTES, AND WITH THE ADDITION OF ANOTHER 1 1/2 GALLON OF FUEL, CAR RESTARTED WITH NO PROBLEM. IT TOOK 7 1/2 MORE GALLONS TO FILL TANK, THEREFORE I HAD 3 GALLONS WHEN CAR STOPPED. DEALER SUGGESTED POSSIBLE WATER IN GAS. ADVISED TO TRY GAS DRY. PRIVATE MECHANIC SUGGESTED A POSSIBLE WEAK FUEL PUMP. I UNDERSTAND OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10227604

Incident: November 16, 2001 · Filed: May 13, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA MIATA. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND STALLS. THE VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURS WHILE IN FIRST GEAR AND WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD. ONCE THE VEHICLE WARMS UP, THE FAILURE DOES NOT OCCUR AS OFTEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE BEGAN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEW AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 60,400. UPDATED 06/03/08. *LJ UPDATED 05/30/08

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10224195

Incident: April 10, 2008 · Filed: April 11, 2008

ENGINE STALLS WHEN CAR COMING TO A STOP. ENGINE WILL RESTART BRIEFLY, THEN STALL AGAIN. RUNS ONLY AFTER ALLOWED TO REST FOR 10-15 MINUTES. CAR HAS STALLED 5 TIMES IN LAST MONTH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND MUST BE PUSHED OFF THE ROAD - VERY DANGEROUS. DEALER SUSPECTS FUEL PUMP. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE MIATA. CAR HAS ONLY 53,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN SERVICED RELIGIOUSLY. *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages

ODI #10161939

Incident: June 10, 2006 · Filed: July 9, 2006

THE TOP LATCH HOLDING THE CONVERTIBLE TOP FAILS PREMATURELY. IN FIVE YEARS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED FOUR FAILURES. WHEN THE LATHES FAIL, THE CONVERTIBLE TOP CAN OPEN SUDDENLY. THE SUDDEN OPENING COULD CAUSE A DISTRACTION. THE SUDDEN OPENING ALSO EXPOSES THE DRIVER TO RAIN OR SNOW THAT MAY ALSO INTERFERE WITH SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDEN OPENING COULD CAUSE FAILURE TO THE REAR WINDOW. *JB

Latches/Locks/Linkages

ODI #10155558

Incident: April 15, 2006 · Filed: April 17, 2006

THE LATCHES THAT HOLD THE CONVERTIBLE TOP LOCKED IN POSITION CAN BE DEFECTIVE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, CAUSING THE LATCH NOT TO LOCK PROPERLY, AND ALLOWING THE TOP TO BECOME UNLATCHED AND FLY UP WHILE DRIVING. THE PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WILL ONLY REPLACE IT FREE IF THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

Check your 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mazda MX-5 Miata at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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