AI Damage1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata: common problems
Owners of the 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata filed 18 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 18
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 56% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 3 Visibility 11% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel/propulsion system 6% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
- 6 Seat belts 6% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- 8 Tires 6% of all complaints
- Air bags: 10 complaints (56% of all).
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (11% of all).
- Visibility: 2 complaints (11% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (6% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (6% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.8 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 18 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Car was in storage for 3.5 years and upon starting the engine fuel sprayed from the fuel rail/fuel injector interface (I would estimate 0.2 liters per minute). 10 mb file size limit, LOL. I zoomed my photo to about 5% of the original area to show a 1/2â picture of the fuel spray.
The airbag warning light will flash in a code of 5-1 or 5-2, meaning "system down fuse open" (51) or "damaged backup battery" (52). This is a common occurrence on the airbag deployment modules, after researching forms I found that most people will try and fix it themselves.
Known for going bad after about 10-15 years due to internal airbag control module battery going dead, or control module going bad, these are blue in color and found under dash area usually on central fire wall.
In march 2015 I starting receiving a series of flashes on the airbag light in my 1994 miata, which indicated a problem. I took my car into bob king mazda in winston-salem, nc to have it diagnosed. I was told that my clockspring assembly was defective. They ordered the part and replaced it.
Vehicle would not start. Consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, who found that a connector wire in the fuel tank melted. Dealer replaced the fuel pump assembly connector inside of the fuel tank.
Problems with driver being hit by objects and insects while driving with the window down. The objects were being deflected by the mirror housing.
Just before applying the brakes and removing pressure from the accelerator pedal, the vehicle accelerated and the brakes were not able to stop it and caused a crash.
Abs, when starting the vehicle the abs brakes continue to stay on (yellow) restart, continue to restart to make light go off.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 8,622 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 24% most complained about).
On average one model year of the MX-5 Miata has 21 complaints (16 years in the data). This year has 18, below average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
- MX-5 Miata 199028 sources
- MX-5 Miata 199121 sources
- MX-5 Miata 199222 sources
- MX-5 Miata 19938 sources
- MX-5 Miata 199530 sources
- MX-5 Miata 199629 sources
- MX-5 Miata 199711 sources
- MX-5 Miata 199974 sources
- MX-5 Miata 200029 sources
- MX-5 Miata 200122 sources
- MX-5 Miata 200220 sources
- MX-5 Miata 200314 sources
- MX-5 Miata 20048 sources
- MX-5 Miata 20054 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, electrical system, visibility. Total complaints: 18. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbag warning light (33%), warning lights, check engine (11%), fuel system, fuel smell (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1994 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 1994 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 1994 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.