What breaks most · 2006 to 2026 model years
Mazda MX-5 problems by year
Owners have filed 152 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Mazda MX-5 across model years 2006 to 2026. Three years stand out: 2016 for powertrain and transmission complaints, 2006 for body and structure complaints and 2007 for air bags complaints. The quietest years are 2011, 2015 and 2021.
- Years to check closely: 2016, 2006, 2007
- Fewest complaints: 2011, 2015, 2021
- Complaints on file
- 1522006 to 2026, all trims
- Worst year
- 201634 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 130 fires · 11 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 22kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 17Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 1 | 1 | Body and structure (6) | |
| 17 | 1 | 0 | Air bags (5) | |
| 7 | 1 | 0 | Electrical system (2) | |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | Air bags (2) | |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | Visibility (1) | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | Exterior lighting (1) | |
| 5 | 1 | 0 | Visibility (1) | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | Air bags (1) | |
| 6 | 0 | 0 | Body and structure (2) | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | Brakes (1) | |
| 34 | 3 | 3 | Powertrain and transmission (11) | |
| 11 | 1 | 2 | Wipers and visibility (4) | |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | Speed control and throttle (1) | |
| 8 | 2 | 2 | Electrical system (3) | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | Air bags (2) | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | Powertrain and transmission (1) | |
| 5 | 0 | 1 | Powertrain and transmission (3) | |
| 7 | 1 | 1 | Powertrain and transmission (4) | |
| 5 | 0 | 1 | Powertrain and transmission (2) | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | Exterior lighting (1) | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | Powertrain and transmission (1) |
What fails on the 2016 Mazda MX-5
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 32% |
11 | 1 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Unknown or other | 21% |
7 | 0 | — |
| Air bags | 15% |
5 | 2 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 12% |
4 | 0 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2016 Mazda MX-5 |
| Body and structureDoors, latches and body hardware | 12% |
4 | 0 | Shop all body and structure parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 6% |
2 | 0 | Shop engine parts for the 2016 Mazda MX-5 |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights, tail lights and bulbs | 6% |
2 | 0 | Shop exterior lighting parts for the 2016 Mazda MX-5 |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 6% |
2 | 0 | Shop all steering parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
When accelerating from a traffic light the transmission stopped working and i lost acceleration in a busy road. This is the second time this has happened in a busy intersection.
-
When it rains, water leaks into and pools under seats and in the trunk. Just had the top replaced, so it is not due to an old top. Just recently purchased this car.
-
There is a leak on the passenger side footwear which has caused rust on the from cross frame and the wires for the airbag to get wet and other wires.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Mazda MX-5 years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2016, 2006, 2007 carry the most filings on the Mazda MX-5. The 2016 alone has 34 complaints, led by powertrain and transmission.
What is the most common Mazda MX-5 problem?
On the 2016 model year, the most-reported component is powertrain and transmission with 11 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Mazda MX-5 problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Mazda MX-5 complaints that include mileage is about 22,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.