# 2003 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
> NHTSA complaint `1293419` · 2016-06-28 · Mazda Motor Corp.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** MAZDA
- **Model:** MX-5 MIATA
- **Year:** 2003
- **Manufacturer:** Mazda Motor Corp.
- **Component:** UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- **Miles at failure:** 42,516
- **Speed:** 30 mph
## Narrative
THE PLASTIC BATTERY TRAY IN THE MAZDA MX5 IS QUITE FRAGILE AND OFTEN BREAKS UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE SEVERAL OF THESE TRAYS IN MY 2003 MX5. NOW, WITH YET ANOTHER BROKEN TRAY, I AM TOLD THAT THESE TRAYS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. RECENTLY THIS CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH MY BATTERY MOVED ENOUGH TO MAKE A CONTACT BETWEEN THE POSITIVE BATTERY POLE AND THE METAL PART THAT HOLDS DOWN THE BATTERY. THIS CONTACT CAUSED A SHORT CIRCUIT AND FIRE IN THE TRUNK THAT COULD HAVE DESTROYED THE CAR WHILE ALSO CAUSING A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT (BECAUSE THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHEN THE BATTERY IS SHORTED). THE INCIDENT WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET.   MAZDA CORPORATION SHOULD MAKE THESE TRAYS AVAILABLE AGAIN BECAUSE MANY NB (2ND GENERATION) OWNERS COULD FIND THEMSELVES IN THIS SAME SITUATION. EVENTUALLY, FATALITIES COULD BE EXPECTED.  I HAVE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CONVINCE MAZDA TO MAKE THESE TRAYS AVAILABLE, BUT THEY REFUSE TO DO SO, WITHOUT PROVIDING JUSTIFICATION.
---
*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*