Most common 2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata problems
Share of the 29 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mazda MX-5 Miata complaints by model year
Best MX-5 Miata years: 2004, 2003, 1997. Years to avoid: 1999, 1995, 2000. Compare all years →
What 2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata owners say
Brakes
Brakes fail in the rain! When it is raining the brake surfaces get covered in water and the pads are to small to sufficiently squeeze the water off and out to allow immediate braking. This has resulted in several close calls and should be addressed as a safety hazard. The offered fix is different brake shields, but the correct fix is what Mazda is putting on the current miatas...bigger brakes and pads! If you look on the Miata sites in the forums you will see that this problem is not isolated and is actually quite prevelant. Thank you for checking into a very dangerous design deffect! Mr. Jardine.
On at least two occasions, while driving in heavy rain, stepping on the brake pedal produced no braking action for 1-2 seconds. At highway speeds this is unacceptable. Dealer was informed and attempted to reproduce on a dry day. I knew they would not be successful, but wanted to go on record with them as having reported the problem. Other late model Miata owners have reported this problem.
Engine & cooling
Engine began running badly and check engine light came on. Took to Mazda dealer shop and was told a spark plug wire was defective and burned up. In actuality, the ignition coil had failed and caused the problems. The dealer replaced spark plugs, ignition wires, and coil. Two months later the check engine light came on again and the catalytic converter was clogged and had to be replaced. The mechanic said it was due to the poor running during the time when the ignition coil had been misfiring. So the defective coil caused a great deal of damage, and Mazda has taken no responsibility for these defective parts or the damage they have caused. If you read complaints for 1999 models, you'll see many failures of the ignition coil, some causing damage to other parts costing a great deal of money. Apparently, similar coils were used on 2000's with similar failures. …
Rattling sound from engine bay with a change in tone and/or pitch when the clutch was engaged/disengaged. Result: catastrophic failure of the number 4 cylinder causing the connecting rod (among other internal engine parts) to be driven directly through the oil pan. Recommend procedure to correct the failure: complete engine replacement at a cost of $4,600
Electrical system
Engine began running badly and check engine light came on. Took to Mazda dealer shop and was told a spark plug wire was defective and burned up. In actuality, the ignition coil had failed and caused the problems. The dealer replaced spark plugs, ignition wires, and coil. Two months later the check engine light came on again and the catalytic converter was clogged and had to be replaced. The mechanic said it was due to the poor running during the time when the ignition coil had been misfiring. So the defective coil caused a great deal of damage, and Mazda has taken no responsibility for these defective parts or the damage they have caused. If you read complaints for 1999 models, you'll see many failures of the ignition coil, some causing damage to other parts costing a great deal of money. Apparently, similar coils were used on 2000's with similar failures. …
1999>2000 Mazda miatas are known to have had a bad batch of coil packs put in them, resulting in the check engine light coming on, (has happened to me three times), not while driving, but upon restarting after a brief stop, like at a store, wherever. Anyway the code says, random miss firing, which results in a very lean unburned mixture of fuel, with many owners having their catalytic converters and/or 02 sensors get burnt out as a result. When this occurs the engine runs very very rough, and could stall. If this happens in the wrong situation, like on the freeway, it could possibly result in an accident or even death. Mazda knows about this and has a technical bulletin out on it, but it is around a $300 part (dealer) and very near that everywhere else (I.e. Autozone $260) and they told me that there is not a recall on this. …
2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 22 / 27 / 24 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 21 / 26 / 23 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 20 / 25 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Sports car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata a good car?
Based on 29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2000 MX-5 Miata rates use caution: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the MX-5 Miata at the same age. It is one of the MX-5 Miata years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata?
The brakes — 6 complaints, 21% of all complaints for this model year, most often about foundation components › disc. Next are the engine & cooling (4) and electrical system (4).
How many recalls does the 2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mazda MX-5 Miata?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004, 2003 and 1997. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 1995 and 2000. See the full Mazda MX-5 Miata years comparison.
At what mileage do 2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 40,000 miles; 73% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.