2002 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA Structurebody Problems

1 NHTSA complaint on file

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Structurebody Issues in the 2002 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA

1 structurebody complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA. Of these, 0 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, and 0 resulted in injury.

1
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

All Structurebody Complaints

#10759352 |
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_.
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