2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other MX-5 Miata years
- About as many complaints as other years 6th of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata. That ranks 6th out of 11 MX-5 Miata model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (5 complaints, 25%), typically at around 43,500 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 20owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 5 | 25% | 43,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 15% | 41,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 15% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 10% | 18,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 10% | 22,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 5% | 4,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 5% | 38,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 5% | 117,320 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 5% | 59,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2002 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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mazda miata. While driving various speeds, the vehicle suddenly shut off and could not be immediately restarted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the immobilizer module erroneously activated and disabled the vehicle. The vehicle was not…
This car has a safety immobilizer that prevents car from running if the correct transponder key is not used. This car has only 28,000 miles, of which i have driven the last 10,000 miles. This week the immobilizer control electronics failed, rendering the car to stop running and will not restart…
One of two latches for the convertible soft top came unfastened while driving causing one side of the top to lift upwards with great violence and a very loud noise. No accident this time but it will happen- e.g. Swerving out of lane and into another vehicle, pedestrian, tree, etc. Due to 1) the…
Mazda miata convertible top blew off while driving 65 mph on the freeway causing loss of control and almost causing an accident. I have checked reports and this seems to be a regular problem. Mazda has even issued a bulletin on this problem. This should be a recall. *jb
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mazda miata. The contact stated that another vehicle crashed into the rear of the vehicle, pushing the contact's vehicle into the next lane. The driver's seat belt failed to restrain and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact suffered internal bleeding and bruising…
Other Mazda MX-5 Miata years
← 2001 MX-5 Miata · 2003 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 | 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 MX-5 Miata | 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
Embed this 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata?
Owners most often report structure, electrical system, power train problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 5 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2002 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 2002 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.