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Engine & cooling

Mazda MX-5 Miata Engine problems by year

30 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Mazda MX-5 Miata's engine & cooling. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Engine complaints by model year

YearEngine complaintsCrashesInjuriesRecalls
20014000
20004000
199911000
19971000
19963000
19951000
19912000
19904000

Latest MX-5 Miata engine complaints

2001 Mazda MX-5 MiataEngine & cooling

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.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 11721051
2001 Mazda MX-5 MiataEngine & cooling

The po012 engine light keeps coming on . I understand there was a recall on this 2001-2002 mazda miata mx-5 . I think mazda replaced the ecu too eliminate the code. Please help. Thanks dale

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11012974
2000 Mazda MX-5 MiataElectrical systemEngine & cooling

Engine began running badly and check engine light came on. Took to mazda dealer shop and was told a spark plug wire was defective and burned up. In actuality, the ignition coil had failed and caused the problems. The dealer replaced spark plugs, ignition wires, and coil. Two months later the check engine light came on again and the catalytic converter was clogged and had to be replaced. The mechanic said it was due to the poor running during the time when the ignition coil had been misfiring. So the defective coil...

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caused a great deal of damage, and mazda has taken no responsibility for these defective parts or the damage they have caused. If you read complaints for 1999 models, you'll see many failures of the ignition coil, some causing damage to other parts costing a great deal of money. Apparently, similar coils were used on 2000's with similar failures. But no recall and no investigation.

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 10764038
2001 Mazda MX-5 MiataEngine & cooling

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...

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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

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10459780
1999 Mazda MX-5 MiataEngine & cooling

I had bought the car the day before on feb 21 2008 and on feb 22 2008 I was driving and doing 60 and all of a sudden the car stalls wouldn't let me shift or gear down, and as trying to do so the brakes lock up when I let go of the clutch. Then coasting into the closest driveway. Now it wont start and I don't know what to do because I just got it from a used car lot the day before. And also makes me wonder, did they know this was going to happen or something similar was going to happen. What can I legally do about this? *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10218949
2000 Mazda MX-5 MiataEngine & cooling

Rattling sound from engine bay with a change in tone and/or pitch when the clutch was engaged/disengaged. Result: catastrophic failure of the number 4 cylinder causing the connecting rod (among other internal engine parts) to be driven directly through the oil pan. Recommend procedure to correct the failure: complete engine replacement at a cost of $4,600 *cn

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10216233
1999 Mazda MX-5 MiataEngine & cooling

Check engine light came on indicating catalytic converter failure. My vehicle has 40k miles and has been well taken care of. After investigation, many 99-00 miata's have ignition coil failures which causes unburnt fuel to contaminate the catalytic converter and associated o2 sensors. This situation was resolved and is not a problem on post 2000 miata's, and therefore should be covered by a recall by the manufacturer, since it is a known problem. *Nm

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10160044
2001 Mazda MX-5 MiataEngine & coolingFuel system

Car stalls consistently when coming to a stop in neutral causing loss of power steering and power brakes. Engine speed drops below 500 rpm and almost always causes a stall.

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Fuel system, gasolineNHTSA 10121020
1999 Mazda MX-5 MiataEngine & coolingElectrical system

1999 Mazda miata had problem with ignition coils. The sensors indicated that there was a problem with the catalytic converter as well. Consumer is referencing complaint 10093484.*Mr *nm

Filed Engine and engine cooling · Electrical systemNHTSA 10117243
1999 Mazda MX-5 MiataEngine & cooling

While driving 55 mph vehicle stalled. Consumer took vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that engine needed to be replaced. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10099973
1999 Mazda MX-5 MiataEngine & coolingElectrical system

1999-2000 Miatas have an established intermittent ignition coil failure problem per several owners forums. The ignition coil fails which causes a misfire condition, this results in unburned fuel reaching the catalytic converter where it burns and overheats the converter. This overheating can destroy the converter and potentially destroy the oxygen sensors. This exact scenario happened to me on the indicated date. My vehicle has less than 37k miles on it but is out of warranty and now I must replace the coil and converter. I believe this situation warrants a recall. *La

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical systemNHTSA 10054906
1999 Mazda MX-5 MiataEngine & cooling

Nusance failures setting ecu light, caused by combustion residue collecting in intake manifold. Residue is coming thru the egt system. This is turning out to be a frequent failure of 99-2000+ models. Disassembly and cleaning of the intake manifold is the only currently known remedy. The process is expensive in terms of labor, and seems to occur most frequently after the mfrs warrenty expires. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10025471
2000 Mazda MX-5 MiataEngine & cooling

Car continues to have "check engine light". Dealer indicated 3 weeks ago that there was a failure in cylinder #3, but they will not get on with the repair. Dealer has changed several electrical parts, catalytic converter, and last week said they would replace the engine. Now they are backing off on that and playing "testing games".*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Unknown or otherNHTSA 766912
1999 Mazda MX-5 MiataEngine & cooling

Mazda usa is aware of thrust bearing #4 being improperly machined , which cause the crankshaft to become loose inside the engine block, resulting in engine failure. Mazda usa decided not to inform any of the affected owners, myself included, about this defect mentioned in internal service bulletin # 3102 dated 1-10-99. They have replaced many engines under, and out of, warranty, but since they did not notify any owners, many 1999 miata engines are failing without any warning. This can happen at any speed. ...

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Mazda's service bulletin includes a range of vin numbers affected by this problem, my number is in that range, and it needs a new engine because the crankshaft has 4 thousands of an inch of play, mazda dealer advises I need a new engine. Mazda usa refuses to cover this work and refuses to disclose how many 1999 miatas and proteges, they share the same engine, have had their engines replaced, but miata.Net has posted a page with the vin numbers of some of the cars that needed their engines replaced. Mazda claims my car is out of warranty, it is, but had they notified me about this potential problem when the car was under warranty, I would have had the car checked at the dealership, so far they have not notified any 1999 miata owner about this potentially unsafe product. Please take a look at the history of this vehicle and have mazda usa contact the owners of these cars so they can check if they are affected by this design flaw.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 766757
1999 Mazda MX-5 MiataEngine & cooling

Engine lost all oil while I was driving the car. The mazada dealership determined that premature wear of thrust bearing had caused the initial problem which resulted in oil pressure problems and resulting engine failure.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 741611

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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