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Mazda MX-5 MiataModel year report

2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata Problems

Complaints
20filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
32,000miles, 13 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 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata. The part named most often is body and structure, with 5 complaints (25% of the total), followed by electrical system (3) and transmission and drivetrain (3). 13 of the complaints include a mileage, and 69% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 32,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 21 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 8 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

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: Suspension (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Body and structure: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10544320, filed 2013-09, 145,000 miles

Electrical system: “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. Researching on the web it appears this was a problem with many 2001 and some 2002 models. Firstly this failure is a safety issue. Secondly the repair requires replacing this immobilizer module as well as the main ecu and getting new transponder keys, which is very costly.”

NHTSA complaint #11052011, filed 2017-12, 28,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “Transmission/clutch - clutch springs or plates stick after shifting into gear. Clutch has been replaced by dealer after only aprox. 30k. Miles and problem has appeared again. Dealer claims the springs on clutch stick. Problem shifting into gear esp. When car is first started, also clutch wears at rapid rate.”

NHTSA complaint #10106491, filed 2005-01, 30,000 miles

Engine cooling: “While in motion, the interior of the vehicle becomes hot. Consumer measured the hot air temperature to be over 130 degrees. This occurs even when driving on a cool night and/or when the air conditioner is on. The problem appears to be with the exhaust system and/or the catalytic converter is too close to the center console without sufficient venting or insulation.”

NHTSA complaint #567477, filed 2002-09

Mileage when problems were reported

69% of the 13 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 28,000 and 59,000 miles.

8%0–1015%10–2546%25–508%50–750%75–10015%100–1508%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (13 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 32,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

’02’044’06’08’10’15’18
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 2002 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 2002 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. 21 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 21 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 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata have?

NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata is reported most often?

Body and structure is named most often, in 5 complaints (25% of the total), followed by electrical system with 3.

Has the 2002 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 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata get?

The EPA rates the 2002 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 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata reported?

Among the 13 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 32,000 miles and the middle half falls between 28,000 and 59,000 miles; 69% 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.