2002 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
24
Owner Complaints
0
Recalls
1
Service Bulletin
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2002 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA
The 2002 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA has received a total of 24 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 1 technical service bulletin have been issued by Mazda Motor Corp. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (3 complaints), Exterior Lightingfog Lights (2 complaints), and Latcheslockslinkages (2 complaints).
Recalls for the 2002 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA
There are no recalls on file with NHTSA for the 2002 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA. No Active Recalls
Owner Complaints for the 2002 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA
24 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lightingfog Lights | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Latcheslockslinkages | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainclutch Assembly | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainmanual Transmission | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebodyroof And Pillars | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bagsfrontal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingengine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipmentelectricalradiotape Deckcd Etc | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspensionfrontwheel Bearing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA MIATA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND COULD NOT BE IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IMMOBILIZER MODULE ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATED AND DISABLED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,700.
THIS CAR HAS A SAFETY IMMOBILIZER THAT PREVENTS CAR FROM RUNNING IF THE CORRECT TRANSPONDER KEY IS NOT USED. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 28,000 MILES, OF WHICH I HAVE DRIVEN THE LAST 10,000 MILES. THIS WEEK THE IMMOBILIZER CONTROL ELECTRONICS FAILED, RENDERING THE CAR TO STOP RUNNING AND WILL NOT RESTART. RESEARCHING ON THE WEB IT APPEARS THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH MANY 2001 AND SOME 2002 MODELS. FIRSTLY THIS FAILURE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. SECONDLY THE REPAIR REQUIRES REPLACING THIS IMMOBILIZER MODULE AS WELL AS THE MAIN ECU AND GETTING NEW TRANSPONDER KEYS, WHICH IS VERY COSTLY.
ONE OF TWO LATCHES FOR THE CONVERTIBLE SOFT TOP CAME UNFASTENED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING ONE SIDE OF THE TOP TO LIFT UPWARDS WITH GREAT VIOLENCE AND A VERY LOUD NOISE. NO ACCIDENT THIS TIME BUT IT WILL HAPPEN- E.G. SWERVING OUT OF LANE AND INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, PEDESTRIAN, TREE, ETC. DUE TO 1) THE VIOLENCE AND NOISE AND/OR 2) THE DRIVER *ATTEMPTING* (ITS IMPOSSIBLE!) TO RE-LATCH AND RE-LOCK THE TOP. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS A VERY POOR DESIGN OF THE LATCH/LOCK AND THE LOCKS LEVER BEING MADE OF POT METAL. BOTH FACTORS COMBINE IN A SYNERGISTIC MANNER WHICH CAUSE VERY RAPID LOCK WEAR AND ABRUPT FAILURE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL DUE TO RISK AND THE NUMBER OF NHTSA COMPLAINTS ON THIS DESIGN DEFECT- INCLUDING ONE WHERE BOTH LATCHES FAILED AND THE TOP BLEW OFF! DEFECTIVE PART NUMBERS ARE NA01R1310_ AND NA01R1320_.
ONE OF TWO LATCHES FOR THE CONVERTIBLE SOFT TOP CAME UNFASTENED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING ONE SIDE OF THE TOP TO LIFT UPWARDS WITH GREAT VIOLENCE AND A VERY LOUD NOISE. NO ACCIDENT THIS TIME BUT IT WILL HAPPEN- E.G. SWERVING OUT OF LANE AND INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, PEDESTRIAN, TREE, ETC. DUE TO 1) THE VIOLENCE AND NOISE AND/OR 2) THE DRIVER *ATTEMPTING* (ITS IMPOSSIBLE!) TO RE-LATCH AND RE-LOCK THE TOP. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS A VERY POOR DESIGN OF THE LATCH/LOCK AND THE LOCKS LEVER BEING MADE OF POT METAL. BOTH FACTORS COMBINE IN A SYNERGISTIC MANNER WHICH CAUSE VERY RAPID LOCK WEAR AND ABRUPT FAILURE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL DUE TO RISK AND THE NUMBER OF NHTSA COMPLAINTS ON THIS DESIGN DEFECT- INCLUDING ONE WHERE BOTH LATCHES FAILED AND THE TOP BLEW OFF! DEFECTIVE PART NUMBERS ARE NA01R1310_ AND NA01R1320_.
MAZDA MIATA CONVERTIBLE TOP BLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE CHECKED REPORTS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A REGULAR PROBLEM. MAZDA HAS EVEN ISSUED A BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *JB
Safety Rating for the 2002 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2002 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2002 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA
Mazda Motor Corp. has issued 1 technical service bulletin (TSBs) for the 2002 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
SA-080-24 — ENGINE
Some vehicles may crank but not start due to a PCM/Immobilizer malfunction. If this happens, check the status of Recall 3505H. NOTE: Effective July 2020 recall 3505H can no longer be completed due to no parts available. The recall is also not populated in eMDCS. Advise customers inqiring about repairs...
NHTSA Investigations for the 2002 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the MAZDA MX-5 MIATA
- 1997 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA — 12 complaints
- 1998 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA — 1 complaint
- 1999 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA — 87 complaints
- 2000 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA — 34 complaints
- 2001 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA — 23 complaints
- 2002 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA (current)
- 2003 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA — 18 complaints
- 2004 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA — 8 complaints
- 2005 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA — 9 complaints
Other MAZDA Models
- MAZDA MAZDA3 — 3,974 total complaints
- MAZDA 626 — 3,877 total complaints
- MAZDA CX-5 — 3,005 total complaints
- MAZDA MAZDA6 — 2,906 total complaints
- MAZDA TRIBUTE — 2,830 total complaints
- MAZDA CX-9 — 1,786 total complaints
- MAZDA CX-7 — 1,539 total complaints
- MAZDA PROTEGE — 1,377 total complaints