2002 Ford Thunderbird vs 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2002 Ford Thunderbird | 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 93 | 20 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 63 | 20 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 4 | 2 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 17 | 22–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 37,000 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Thunderbird | Mazda MX-5 Miata |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 24 | 2 |
| Electrical System | 21 | 3 |
| Air Bags | 13 | 1 |
| Engine | 12 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 15 | 0 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 10 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 6 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 6 | 0 |
2002 Ford Thunderbird
2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Compare all Ford Thunderbird vs Mazda MX-5 Miata years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.