1993 Mazda MX-5 Miata: common problems

Owners of the 1993 Mazda MX-5 Miata filed 8 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and seat belts. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 8
involving a crash: 2

What fails most often

1 Air bags 50% of all complaints
2 Seat belts 25% of all complaints
3 Service brakes 13% of all complaints
4 Structure 13% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Air bags: 4 complaints (50% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Seat belts: 2 complaints (25% of all).
Service brakes: 1 complaints (13% of all).
Structure: 1 complaints (13% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

1.6 L · petrol · 4 cyl
automatic, 4-speed
manual, 5-speed

Drive: RWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 8 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

airbag warning light2 · 25%
seat belts2 · 25%
airbags did not deploy1 · 13%
brake failure1 · 13%
rollaway, parking brake1 · 13%
warning lights, check engine1 · 13%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Air bags	4	1
Seat belts	2	0
Service brakes	1	0
Structure	1	1

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

Consumer was in an accident, and her air bag did not deploy.
Air bags · crash · 1999-05-27 · NHTSA complaint #838562
Vehicle went out of control, rolled down an embankment, no roll bar, occupants paralyzed.
Structure · crash · 1995-09-01 · NHTSA complaint #971475
The contact stated that the driver side seat belt would unlatch independently while driving. The contact was unsure if the failure was contributed to the buckle or the retractor system. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.
Seat belts · 2012-03-19 · NHTSA complaint #10452246
False seatbelt engagement. Seatbelt 'clicks', then 1, 2, 5 minutes later, belt spontaneously disengages.I have owned multiple miatas; I had to replace belts in my 1992 miata for the same reason.
Seat belts · 2009-11-14 · NHTSA complaint #10292185
Tl*- the contact stated the airbag warning light for the 1993 mazda miata flashed continuously. The vehicle was taken to the dealership, and they replaced the main crash sensor. The contact stated the airbag warning lights continued to flash. The dealership then recommended replacing the airbag wiring harness.
Air bags · 2007-03-02 · NHTSA complaint #10184043
Airbag light flashed continuously. Dealer advised consumer that airbag could deploy at any time, and was not covered under warranty. This defect could result in an accident and or injuries. Vehicle has not yet encountered any accidents.
Air bags · 2000-06-20 · NHTSA complaint #863878
When applying the hydraulic brakes in wet weather, the pedal went to the floor, and brakes failed to stop the vehicle.
Service brakes · 1997-02-20 · NHTSA complaint #807668

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

19951
19971
19991
20001
20031
20071
20091
20121

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 11,896 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 32% most complained about).

On average one model year of the MX-5 Miata has 21 complaints (16 years in the data). This year has 8, below average.

What to check before buying

Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 1993 Mazda MX-5 Miata?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, seat belts, service brakes. Total complaints: 8. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbag warning light (25%), seat belts (25%), airbags did not deploy (13%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1993 Mazda MX-5 Miata?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 1993 Mazda MX-5 Miata from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 1993 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.