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Mazda MX-5 MiataModel year report

2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata Problems

Complaints
22filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
51,000miles, 12 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
22 mpgcombined, 1.8L 4-cyl RWD · 20 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 22 consumer complaints for the 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata. The part named most often is fuel system, with 5 complaints (23% of the total), followed by brakes (2) and engine (2). 12 of the complaints include a mileage, and 50% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 51,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 17 technical service bulletins for this model year.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Tires (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Fuel system: “Mazda miata ls 2001 on humid days the car will start and the engine will immediately cut off. After check up from dealer the fuel pump was found to be failing. The mechanic told me that this is a big problem with the miatas which makes me feel that there is a problem with the fuel pump design\engineering.”

NHTSA complaint #10134843, filed 2005-08, 34,000 miles

Brakes: “2001 mazada miada right front brake pad wore out in 22,000. Wife does not drive with foot on brake pedal and Mazda miata replacement brake pads parts are on a nation wide back order according to local dealer.”

NHTSA complaint #10078727, filed 2004-06, 22,500 miles

Engine: “Driving at highway speeds for approx. 20 minutes when car engine started to violently shake and stall out. Narrowly made it to road shoulder, with 2 vehicles making emergency moves to avoid collision with me. Afterwards my vehicle would only start after waiting periods of 10-15 minutes, and then only run for 5-10 minutes before same engine issue would occur. After numerous starts and stalls, and 4 hours later arrived at car repair shop. …”

NHTSA complaint #10459780, filed 2012-05, 79,682 miles

Engine cooling: “Car stalls consistently when coming to a stop in neutral causing loss of power steering and power brakes. Engine speed drops below 500 RPM and almost always causes a stall.”

NHTSA complaint #10121020, filed 2005-05, 92,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

50% of the 12 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 25,500 and 79,682 miles.

0%0–1025%10–2525%25–5017%50–7525%75–1000%100–1508%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (12 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 51,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

20022004420064201120172026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
MX-5 Miata RWD1.8L 4-cyl5-speed manual202623$3,550
MX-5 Miata RWD1.8L 4-cyl4-speed automatic202522$3,750
MX-5 Miata RWD1.8L 4-cyl6-speed manual202622$3,750

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 17 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 17 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mazda MX-5 Miata

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
200486,1000—22—Not enough data
20031447,7580—22—Not enough data
20022032,0000—22—Stable
20012251,0000—22—Stable
20002940,0000—23Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19997441,7300—23Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199711—0—22—Not enough data
19962971,0000—23Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199530115,0000—23Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19941872,5000—22—Falling
19938207,0000—24—Not enough data
19922282,5000—24—Stable
19912164,7500—24—Falling
199028100,0000—24Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Mazda MX-5 Miata model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata have?

NHTSA recorded 22 consumer complaints for the 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata is reported most often?

Fuel system is named most often, in 5 complaints (23% of the total), followed by brakes with 2.

Has the 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata get?

The EPA rates the 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata (MX-5 Miata, 1.8L 4-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 20 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,750 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata reported?

Among the 12 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 51,000 miles and the middle half falls between 25,500 and 79,682 miles; 50% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.