2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata

No photo available — body style shown for reference.

The Verdict

Worst problem area

Fuel System

Fuel System leads by volume: 5 of 22 complaints (23%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.

Complaints filed fell from 29 in 2000 to 22 in 2001.

Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology

Advertisement

Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 5 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.
Category19992000200120022003vs. 2001 Two Seaters
Annual fuel cost ($)2,600–2,8502,600–2,8503,350–3,5003,350–3,5003,350–3,500
Combined MPG22–2422–2422–2322–2322–23
City / Highway MPG20–22 / 26–2720–22 / 25–2720 / 25–2620 / 25–2620 / 25–26
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)370–404370–404386–404386–404386–404
Complaints filed7429222014Not compared
Recalls issued00000Not compared
Crash-involved complaints102321Not compared
Fire-involved complaints02013Not compared
Injuries reported122121Not compared
Deaths reported00000Not compared
Configurations compared33333

Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.

Common questions

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

No NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026.

What is the most common complaint about the 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata?

Fuel System: 5 of 22 NHTSA complaints (23%) mention it.

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

EPA rates it 22–23 MPG combined across 3 configurations.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata?

EPA estimates $3,350–$3,500 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

EPA-Rated Configurations (3)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
ConfigurationTransmissionCylindersDisplacementDrivetrainFuel TypeVehicle ClassCityHighwayCombinedAnnual Fuel CostCO₂
Configuration 1Automatic 4-spd41.8LRear-Wheel DrivePremiumTwo Seaters20 mpg25 mpg (low)22 mpg (low)$3,500 (high)404 g/mi (high)
Configuration 2Manual 5-spd41.8LRear-Wheel DrivePremiumTwo Seaters20 mpg26 mpg (high)23 mpg (high)$3,350 (low)386 g/mi (low)
Configuration 3Manual 6-spd41.8LRear-Wheel DrivePremiumTwo Seaters20 mpg26 mpg (high)22 mpg (low)$3,500 (high)404 g/mi (high)

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
CategoryComplaintsCrash-InvolvedFire-InvolvedInjuriesDeaths
Engine40000
Transmission & Drivetrain20000
Fuel System50000
Electrical00000
Brakes21000
Steering00000
Suspension, Wheels & Tires31000
Airbags & Restraints11010
Driver Assistance & Speed Control00000
Body, Seats & Latches40000
Visibility & Lighting10000
Other10000

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

Recalls

No recalls have been issued for this model-year.