Mazda›Miata›1994›Overview/mazda/miata/1994/base/

1994 Mazda Miata

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1994 Miata.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1994 Mazda Miata arrives as a compact roadster equipped with an automatic four‑speed transmission and delivers an EPA‑rated 20 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and a combined 22 mpg. Across its production span from 1990 to 2001, owners logged a modest total of 20 complaints, with air‑bag issues emerging as the most frequent concern, yet the model recorded zero recalls. Within this decade‑long window the 1992 model saw the peak of four complaints, while the 2001 iteration dipped to just one, placing the 1994 year squarely in the middle of a generally reliable period for the early‑generation Miata.

Model year1997 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990

Quick specs

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

EPA fuel economy20/26/22 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	2293 lb
Track (front / rear)	55.5 / 56.3 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	52/48

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	20 / 26 / 22 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.

This engine GL-5 in the differential.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil	GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	2.1 Pints
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 5,000 mi.

Every 5,000 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exterior Lighting (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 7,500 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Weatherstrip Seal (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Body Fasteners (torque) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Timing Belt (inspect)
At 90,000 mi	Timing Belt (inspect)

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 1994 Mazda Miata stands out in the NA generation’s federal record as a notably quiet year: it recorded zero complaints in its debut year, a single recall, and no investigations, while TSBs dropped sharply to just 9—the lowest of any year shown. This follows a period of moderate activity in 1992–1993 (4 complaints, 2 recalls each) and precedes a slight uptick in recalls and investigations in 1995. Across the generation, complaint volumes remain low overall, but the 1994 model year’s top complaint area is air bags (8 reports), with minor mentions of visibility and electrical issues, though the data does not specify root causes. With only one recall and a crash complaint count of just one, the 1994 Miata appears to be a particularly reliable choice, provided a prospective buyer verifies the air bag system’s condition.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

1 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 20 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags8

Visibility2

Electrical System2

Fuel/Propulsion System1

Electrical System,Air Bags1

Air Bags,Seat Belts1

Fuel System, Gasoline1

Tires1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 9 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
MT-002-22	2022-02-24	Electrical System	Radio Unlocking Codes.
0900716	2016-02-17	Electrical System	Speedometer replacement procedure
00198	1998-04-15	Steering	CONDITIONS WITH STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY OFF CENTER. *YC
97102302097	1997-10-23	Structure	PRE-PAINTING PREPARATIONS FOR FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS. *YC
008/97	1997-05-19	Equipment	USE OF A/C TRACER DYE. *TW

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 1994 Miata have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Miata get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 26 highway / 22 combined mpg.