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1992 Mazda Miata

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 Miata.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1992 Mazda Miata is a passenger car fitted with a 4-speed automatic transmission, delivering EPA fuel economy of 21 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. Within the model's complaint history spanning 1990 through 2001, this year registers as the highest-complaint year with four owner complaints—most frequently involving the fuel system, gasoline—accompanied by two recalls. Although 1992 sits at the top of that range, the modest absolute count and the steady decline to a single complaint by 2001 indicate that this model year represents an early, comparatively contained period in the Miata's reliability record rather than a persistent or escalating problem area.

Model year1997 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy21/26/23 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	155.5 in
Overall width	66.1 in
Overall height	48 in
Wheelbase	89.4 in
Curb weight	2125 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	53/47

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	21 / 26 / 23 mpg
Drivetrain	Rear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Power Steering Fluid	DEXRON VI OR MERCON V

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Weatherstrip Seal (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Fasteners (torque) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Timing Belt (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1992 Mazda Miata saw an increase to 4 federal complaints compared to zero in 1991, though it perfectly mirrored 1993 with 4 complaints, 2 recalls, 0 investigations, and 21 technical service bulletins. Across the generation, federal data shows an early arc of higher complaints and recalls that stabilizes mid-generation before complaints taper off entirely in later years, even as TSB counts surge. The 1992 model sits right at the start of this stabilization, experiencing a brief complaint spike focused on the Fuel System, Gasoline (2 complaints), Tires (1), and Electrical System (1), though the data does not specify the root causes. Importantly, the 1992 Miata recorded zero crash and fire complaints, indicating these issues did not escalate into severe safety incidents. With its recall count stabilized from the previous year and no severe incident records, the 1992 Miata is a good year to buy, provided you ensure the fuel and electrical systems have been thoroughly inspected.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91’92’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 4 complaints on record, top 3 components.

Fuel System, Gasoline2

Tires1

Electrical System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E026000Exterior LightingReported 23/03/2006

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL… Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

92V159000Unknown Or OtherReported 03/11/1992

A HARDTOP HOIST ACCESSORY KIT WAS SOLD TO CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE THE MIATA WITH A HARDTOP. THE PLASTIC BUCKLES USED TO ADJUST STRAP TENSION CAN BREAK AFTER THE HARDTOP HAS BEEN SUSPENDED BY THE HOIST. Remedy: MAZDA WILL REPLACE ALL HOISTS WITHOUT CHARGE.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 21 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
00-003-19-3583	2019-03-20	Engine And Engine Cooling	In support of the new MRT distribution, Mazda will ship to dealers a new Dual Purpose…
09-009-19-3566	2019-01-14	Electrical System	In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…
09-034-18-3430a	2018-10-10	Vehicle Speed Control	In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…
09-034-18-3430	2018-08-31	Vehicle Speed Control	In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…
09-035-17-3080	2017-08-07	Electrical System	In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Miata. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 1992 Miata have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Miata get?

EPA figures are 21 city / 26 highway / 23 combined mpg.