Warning sign/exclamation point in red circle next to table names and Query tab?
sudo updatedb
locate create-tables.sql
Located at /usr/share/doc/phpmyadmin/examples/create_tables.sql.gz for me.
cd ~
cp /usr/share/doc/phpmyadmin/examples/create_tables.sql.gz .
gunzip create_tables.sql.gz
Run the resulting create_tables.sql (just through phpmyadmin is fine).
Check phpmyadmin access
Check the phpmyadmin config file: /etc/phpmyadmin/config-db.php (on ubuntu) for the database password. Make sure the phpmyadmin user in mysql has the right password, and all rights on the phpmyadmin database.
Log out and back in to phpmyadmin, and the problem should be fixed