2003 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

THE PLASTIC BATTERY TRAY IN THE MAZDA MX5 IS QUITE FRAGILE AND OFTEN BREAKS UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE SEVERAL OF THESE TRAYS IN MY 2003 MX5. NOW, WITH YET ANOTHER BROKEN TRAY, I AM TOLD THAT THESE TRAYS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. RECENTLY THIS CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH MY BATTERY MOVED ENOUGH TO MAKE A CONTACT BETWEEN THE POSITIVE BATTERY POLE AND THE METAL PART THAT HOLDS DOWN THE BATTERY. THIS CONTACT CAUSED A SHORT CIRCUIT AND FIRE IN THE TRUNK THAT COULD HAVE DESTROYED THE CAR WHILE ALSO CAUSING A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT (BECAUSE THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHEN THE BATTERY IS SHORTED). THE INCIDENT WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET. MAZDA CORPORATION SHOULD MAKE THESE TRAYS AVAILABLE AGAIN BECAUSE MANY NB (2ND GENERATION) OWNERS COULD FIND THEMSELVES IN THIS SAME SITUATION. EVENTUALLY, FATALITIES COULD BE EXPECTED. I HAVE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CONVINCE MAZDA TO MAKE THESE TRAYS AVAILABLE, BUT THEY REFUSE TO DO SO, WITHOUT PROVIDING JUSTIFICATION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA MIATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, IT BECAME DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. WHILE TURNING LEFT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO AN ELECTRICAL POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A PRIVATE TOW LOT. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA MIATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, IT BECAME DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. WHILE TURNING LEFT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO AN ELECTRICAL POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A PRIVATE TOW LOT. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA MIATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHAKE AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS POSITIONED AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND FRACTURED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM ALSO WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

TREAD SEPARATION ON ALL 4 TIRES. CLEAR MANUFACTURER DEFECT.