Mazda MX-5 NA buying guide

1989 to 1997. An NA suits a driver who wants a light, simple sports car and is prepared to keep on top of rust.

Big jobs

Rear sills and rear wheel arches. Rust in the rear sills and where the sills meet the rear wings is the most reported NA problem. It starts on the inside and works out, so bubbling paint usually means more rot underneath.
Front chassis rails, wishbones and crossmember. Owners and specialists report corrosion and poor repairs around the front chassis rails, jacking points and suspension mounts, and corroded front wishbones.
Short nose crankshaft (early 1.6). On early 1.6 engines the bottom pulley can work loose and chew the end of the crank and its keyway, which upsets the timing and can wreck the engine.

Viscous limited slip differential (some Eunos). The viscous LSD fitted to some Japanese Eunos Roadsters has often worn out and now behaves like an open diff.

Hood drain tubes and damp floors. Blocked hood drains are a common cause of rear sill rot and wet carpets.
Cam angle sensor and cam cover oil leaks. Oil leaks from the cam angle sensor seal at the back of the cam cover are common. On the 1.8 a leak there can rot the heater hose.
Clutch slave cylinder and gear lever boots. The clutch slave cylinder often fails, and the rubber boots under the gear lever split with age. The lower boot seals the oil for the gear linkage.
Rear brake calipers. Rear calipers seize, especially on cars left standing with the handbrake on.

Is it an early 1.6 with the short nose crank, a later 1.6, or a 1.8?
When were the cambelt and water pump last done, and is there an invoice?
Have the hood drains been cleared, and has the carpet ever been wet?
Has any rust repair or welding been done on the sills or arches, and are there photos?
Is it a Japanese Eunos Roadster, and does it have the LSD?

Researched 2026-11-01. General guidance from owner and specialist sources. Check the specific car with an independent inspection.