1990-2025 model years · 20,400+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
All years · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
Interest applies to the selected vehicle and configuration; it is not a reservation. Voting stores a first-party identifier for up to 180 days to prevent repeat votes. No account or email is needed. Clearing cookies or using another device may count separately. Privacy
Visual coming soon
Your interest helps us choose what to build next.
Visual Known Issues · Coming soon
$4.99/month plus taxes at launch · No payment today
Choose a year to request this visual. Trim and engine are optional; omitted trim is Not specified.
According to Au7o's analysis of 20,400+ owner reports, the 1990-2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata has 22 documented known issues, with 7 rated critical. The most serious are Short Nose Crank Keyway Failure (NA 1.6L) ($50-$400 repair), Crankshaft Position Sensor Failure (NB) ($50-$250 repair), Clutch Slave Cylinder Piston Seal Leak - Sudden Loss of Clutch Release ($60-$400 repair), Denso Low-Pressure Fuel Pump Impeller Cracking Causing Stall - NHTSA Recall 21V875 ($0-$0 repair), Timing Belt and Water Pump Failure (NA 1.6L/1.8L) ($200-$600 repair), Rocker panel and front frame-rail rust (rear of rockers / behind front wheels) ($500-$4,000 repair) and Short-nose crankshaft / keyway failure on 1990-early 1991 1.6 ("the Miata crank problem") ($150-$3,500 repair). The most commonly reported issue is Short Nose Crank Keyway Failure (NA 1.6L) with 6,000 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $40 to $4,000. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
Don't see your problem? Describe your symptoms to get a diagnosis, or get a full repair guide.
According to Au7o's analysis of 20,400+ owner reports, the 1990-2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata has 22 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Short Nose Crank Keyway Failure (NA 1.6L), Crankshaft Position Sensor Failure (NB), Clutch Slave Cylinder Piston Seal Leak - Sudden Loss of Clutch Release. Of these, 7 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 1990-2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata has 22 known issues documented across 20,400+ owner reports. 7 issues are rated critical: Short Nose Crank Keyway Failure (NA 1.6L) and Crankshaft Position Sensor Failure (NB) and Clutch Slave Cylinder Piston Seal Leak - Sudden Loss of Clutch Release and Denso Low-Pressure Fuel Pump Impeller Cracking Causing Stall - NHTSA Recall 21V875 and Timing Belt and Water Pump Failure (NA 1.6L/1.8L) and Rocker panel and front frame-rail rust (rear of rockers / behind front wheels) and Short-nose crankshaft / keyway failure on 1990-early 1991 1.6 ("the Miata crank problem"). Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Mazda MX-5 Miata issues range from $0 to $4,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Short Nose Crank Keyway Failure (NA 1.6L), typically costs $50-$400 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
Reliability varies across model years of the Mazda MX-5 Miata. Based on documented issues, problems are most commonly reported in earlier model years. Au7o recommends checking the specific known issues for your target year before purchasing, and having a pre-purchase inspection performed by a qualified mechanic. Our known issues database covers the 1990-2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata with 22 documented issues documented across 20,400+ owner reports.
Early NA Miatas (1990-1993) with the 1.6L B6ZE engine have a shorter crankshaft snout that is prone to keyway wallowing. The crankshaft pulley bolt loosens over time, causing the Woodruff key to shear and the pulley to spin freely on the crankshaft. This leads to loss of timing b… Repairs typically run $50-$400. Severity: high.
The NB Miata (1999-2005) crankshaft position sensor (CPS) is a known failure point. The sensor deteriorates from engine heat, causing intermittent stalling, no-start conditions, and random misfires. Failure is often heat-related - the car runs fine when cold but stalls or dies af… Repairs typically run $50-$250. Severity: high.
The externally mounted clutch slave cylinder on NA/NB/NC Miatas fails at the piston seal. Fluid weeps past the seal and collects behind the rubber boot, then the cylinder stops holding pressure and the pedal drops to the floor with no gear engagement - frequently without warning. Repairs typically run $60-$400. Severity: high.
2018-2019 MX-5 models are among 121,038 Mazdas recalled in November 2021 (NHTSA 21V875, Mazda campaign 5321K) for a defective Denso in-tank low-pressure fuel pump. Impellers manufactured with lower-than-specified density and exposed to production drying solvent for too long devel… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
Both the 1.6L B6 and 1.8L BP engines in the NA Miata are interference engines that require timing belt replacement every 60,000 miles. A broken timing belt causes pistons to strike valves, resulting in bent valves and potentially damaged pistons — often totaling the engine. The w… Repairs typically run $200-$600. Severity: high.
NA and NB Miatas are prone to structural rust in two well-known areas: the rear ends of the rocker panels (sills) and the front frame rails behind the front wheels. Road water enters through wheel-arch pinch welds and body seams and collects inside the double-layer sheet metal, r… Repairs typically run $500-$4,000. Severity: high.
The earliest 1.6L B6 cars (all 1990 and 1991 up to VIN JM1NA...209446) use a 'short-nose' crankshaft. The crank pulley/timing sprocket is retained by a single bolt and a Woodruff key in a shallow keyway. Over time, and especially after a timing-belt/front-seal service where the p… Repairs typically run $150-$3,500. Severity: high.
Miata soft tops deteriorate over time from UV exposure, flexing during operation, and age. Vinyl tops develop cracks and tears, cloth tops fade and shrink. The rear plastic window (NA/NB) or glass window (NC/ND) can delaminate from the top material, causing water leaks and reduce… Repairs typically run $300-$1,500. Severity: medium.
All generations of Miata (NA through NC) are prone to rear main seal leaks as the engine ages. Oil seeps from the crankshaft rear seal, dripping onto the clutch housing and eventually contaminating the clutch disc. High mileage engines and infrequent oil changes accelerate seal d… Repairs typically run $400-$1,200. Severity: medium.
The NC soft top channels water from the rain rail into two drains behind the seats that route down through the body and exit under the car. Pollen, leaves and acorns pack the drain screens, and the flexible exit tube frequently pops off its spigot inside the quarter panel. Once b… Repairs typically run $0-$400. Severity: medium.
The NA's retractable headlights are driven by two independent retractor motors, each containing a limit-switch assembly of three spring contacts riding on printed traces plus a set of diodes under a white plastic cover. Grease dries and the contacts and traces wear, so one light… Repairs typically run $40-$400. Severity: medium.
The NC six-speed manual is widely reported to baulk and crunch on the 1-2 upshift when cold, and on many cars the second-gear synchro degrades until the grind persists warm. Contributing factors documented by owners are the factory gear oil's poor cold flow, a clutch release poin… Repairs typically run $80-$2,500. Severity: medium.
NB Miata radiators are prone to failure at the plastic upper tank where it crimps onto the aluminum core. The plastic becomes brittle with age and heat cycling, developing hairline cracks that leak coolant under pressure. This can lead to sudden coolant loss and overheating, espe… Repairs typically run $200-$500. Severity: medium.
Both the 1.6L B6 and 1.8L BP are belt-driven and Mazda specifies timing-belt replacement at 60,000 miles. On 25-35 year-old cars, belts frequently fail on age/dry-rot rather than mileage. The engines are non-interference, so a snapped belt will not bend valves, but it will strand… Repairs typically run $350-$900. Severity: medium.
The 1994-2000 1.8L BP engines use a wasted-spark coil pack with an integrated igniter transistor. The early version (identified by the 4-pin input connector, later revised to 3-pin) is notorious for internal igniter/solder-joint failure, especially if the ignition is left in the… Repairs typically run $90-$350. Severity: medium.
NHTSA recall campaign 00V032000 covered approximately 22,000 1999 MX-5 Miatas built November 1997 to November 1998. Insufficient clearance between the fuel filler pipe's non-return (check) valve case and shutter, combined with fuel-hose material properties, could cause the valve… Repairs typically run $0-$300. Severity: medium.
The NC Miata uses an electric power steering system that can fail due to a faulty steering angle sensor, EPS control module, or motor. When the system fails, the EPS warning light illuminates and power assist is lost, making the steering very heavy at low speeds. While the car re… Repairs typically run $200-$1,200. Severity: medium.
The ND Miata (2016+) rear differential produces a noticeable whine or hum at highway speeds (50-70 mph) under light load. The noise is gear mesh related and varies with speed and throttle position. While not typically indicative of imminent failure, the noise is audible in the ca… Repairs typically run $50-$1,500. Severity: low.
The 1.6L B6 and 1.8L BP engines use hydraulic lash adjusters inside the bucket followers. Varnish and sludge from extended oil changes, or oil that is too thick or too thin, restrict flow into the adjuster so it cannot stay pumped up. The result is a persistent sewing-machine tic… Repairs typically run $60-$900. Severity: low.
The ND Miata's Mazda Connect infotainment system is plagued by USB connectivity drops, Bluetooth pairing failures, and occasional system freezes. USB-connected phones may disconnect repeatedly, and Bluetooth audio can cut out or develop significant delay. The 7-inch screen can fr… Repairs typically run $0-$500. Severity: low.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.
