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. But no recall and no investigation.

- Port Charlotte, FL, USA

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. Imo since this condition can and will ruin the pollution system, they ought to issue a recall, and refund any money already spent on the new coil pack for those that have already had it changed.

- Suisun City, CA, USA

1.engine began to run poorly vehicle lost speed. 2. had to exit freeway and use side streets to return home 3. took car to dealer for diagnostics, service report indicated that the coil/igniter was defective which was the cause of the loss of power. Research indicates that the coil/igniter failure is a problem on the 1999, 2000 models.

- Fairview, OR, USA