When accelerator was fully depressed to clear potential flooded condition on starting, it got caught in the floor carpet and would not return to idle. Engine immediately redlined and I turned off the ignition. Potentially disastrous if occurred during high passing situation.
The worst 1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags10
- Electrical2
- Engine2
- Body1
- Fuel system1
- Seat belts1
- Tires1
- Visibility1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Technical service bulletins for the 1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata 8
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Speedometer replacement procedure
- Conditions with steering wheel slightly off center
- Pre-painting preparations for front and rear bumpers
- Use of a/c tracer dye
- Parts replacement after airbag deployment
- Maintenance free battery - diagnostic and charging procedure
- Wiper motor inoperative - circuit breaker activation
- Unknown
1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4‑cyl | RWD | 21-22 | 26-28 | 23-24 |
What 1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Sidewall of my one day old VeeRubber Vitron R41 split about 15 inches along the side wall of the tire about 2 to 3 inches down from the road riding part of he tire. It was a clear day and there were no warnings when the one day old tire just split along the sidewall. The tire was mounted and filled with air at a retail tire store. 185/60 R14
Air-bag warning light blinks while engine is running. Took in for repair and said part is no longer available. What is my recourse?
Air bag light flashing for no reason
For no apparent reason the air bag light blinks. The air bag has never been deployed. The code from the light indicates a faulty actuator. The car has 65000 miles and is in excellent condition. Always garage kept since original purchase.
The vehicle's airbag warning is on. The warning light flashes a number of times, then pauses for a few seconds, and then begins again. The problem is probably due to the failure of the control module and this part is no longer available from the manufacturer or from remanufacturers. The airbag is a safety item and thus must be operable. The manufacturer, mazda, must make this repair or make the part available.
In 2015 the SRS light started flashing and I took the car in to john wine mazda for repairs. On 10/28/2015 they replaced the clock spring module for $634.45 which did not fix the problem. On 11/2/2015 they replaced the diagnostic module of $485.00 which did not fix the problem. They stated parts were no longer available to fix the problem and on 11/13/2015 the said the battery and backup battery module needed to be replace but the module had been discontinued. I researched availability and only used modules were available and john hine mazda said they could not install used parts.finally on 3/16/2016 they had a factory representative check out the air bag and he said it needed to be replaced but was no longer available as it had been discontinued. At this time they said I needed to provide a new air bag-which I obviously can't- and the disconnected air bag mode and taped the wiring so it was no longer connected. I now am expected to drive my car without the protection of an air bag which I consider a safety violation.
The airbag warning light came on and shows the module has failed. Modules are not available from the manufacturer. This is a common safety problem with mazda miatas.
Tl* the contact owns a 1991 mazda miata. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the air bag warning light and the air bag code illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the air bag module failed. The dealer informed the contact that the air bag module was no longer being produced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage and current mileage was 39,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 1991 mazda miata. The contact stated that the battery was housed in the trunk of the vehicle. Mazda recently developed a newer battery model called a flooded cell battery. He noticed that the battery was leaking around the caps and he was concerned with liquid acid being produced by the battery. The manufacturer offered to replace the battery if it was covered under warranty. The dealer stated that the battery would have to fail an electrical test in order for them to make the replacement. The electrical test was not performed and no repairs have been made to date. The current and failure mileages were less than 24,000. Updated 12/08/09. *lj the consumer stated he replaced his battery in august 2007. His concern was that mazda was selling flooded batteries as an oem replacement for the agm battery that came standard in his vehicle. The consumer discovered acid leaking around the cell caps. Updated 12/10/09
Compare the 1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Other model years
1990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005
Questions about the 1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Is the 1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata reliable?
Owners have filed 21 complaints about the 1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata, 1.5 times a typical MX-5 Miata model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata?
Airbags, with 10 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles. Next is electrical (2).
How many recalls does the 1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata have?
No recalls on record.
What year does the Mazda MX-5 Miata have bad airbags?
The Mazda MX-5 Miata model years with the most airbags complaints are 1996 (17 complaints), 1995 (16 complaints) and 1991 (10 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata get?
Official estimates for the 1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata range from 23 to 24 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.6L 4-cyl, RWD) gets 21-22 city and 26-28 highway.
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