1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other MX-5 Miata years
- More complaints than other years 3rd of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata. That ranks 3rd out of 11 MX-5 Miata model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (17 complaints, 59%), typically at around 78,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 29owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 17 | 59% | 78,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 3% | 137,215 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 3% | 123 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 1996 Mazda MX-5. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the failure was due to the Takata air bag module. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
The contact owns a 1996 MAZDA Miata. The contact stated that the air bag warning lights was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed but not yet repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
When engine is started, air bag light comes on and stays on
The vin is for my 1996 mazda miata. My complaint is the m291 going west bound to 350 highway in raytown that veers to the west. The exit, seems to dangerous with concrete blocks seperating lanes. My second inquiry is a possible car wreck that my daughter, [xxx] may have been involved in. She drove…
Takata recall. Air bag light comes on continuously after turning engine on, never goes off. I bought the car new, and took it back to the dealer. Dealer said that it was not covered on any recalls. I was informed that there was a recall on the late 1995 models, but not the early 1996 ones. I was…
Other Mazda MX-5 Miata years
← 1995 MX-5 Miata · 1997 MX-5 Miata →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 MX-5 Miata | 4 | 0 |
| 2004 MX-5 Miata | 8 | 0 |
| 2003 MX-5 Miata | 14 | 0 |
| 2002 MX-5 Miata | 20 | 0 |
| 2001 MX-5 Miata | 22 | 0 |
| 2000 MX-5 Miata | 29 | 0 |
| 1999 MX-5 Miata | 74 | 0 |
| 1998 MX-5 Miata | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 MX-5 Miata | 11 | 0 |
| 1996 | 29 | 0 |
| 1995 MX-5 Miata | 30 | 0 |
See all Mazda MX-5 Miata problems by year, every Mazda model, or the Mazda VIN decoder.
Similar Mazda models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata?
Owners most often report air bags, engine and engine cooling, electrical system problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 17 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1996 Mazda MX-5 Miata a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other MX-5 Miata model years, the 1996 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.