1996 Mazda MX-5 MiataProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 29 owner complaints about the 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata, most often about the air bags. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 12, 2023. Updated daily.
Where the 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata has problems
29 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 17 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 1 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 0 |
| Power train | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 1 |
| 4 other systems | 4 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata recalls and how many were fixed
No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.
1996 vs. every other MX-5 Miata year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the MX-5 Miata median. How we score
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
What MX-5 Miata owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 1996 Mazda MX-5. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the failure was due to the Takata air bag module. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
The contact owns a 1996 MAZDA Miata. The contact stated that the air bag warning lights was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed but not yet repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
TAKATA RECALL. AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON CONTINUOUSLY AFTER TURNING ENGINE ON, NEVER GOES OFF. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED ON ANY RECALLS. I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE LATE 1995 MODELS, BUT NOT THE EARLY 1996 ONES. I WAS…
Own a 1996 MX-5 Miata?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.