2016 Mazda MX-5: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 34 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 3 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
34
Complaints
3
Recalls
3
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
2
Injuries
82.4
Severity index
Severity index 82.4 - Medium. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 11 | 32.4% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 7 | 20.6% |
| AIR BAGS | 5 | 14.7% |
| STRUCTURE | 4 | 11.8% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 4 | 11.8% |
| STEERING | 2 | 5.9% |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 2 | 5.9% |
| WHEELS | 2 | 5.9% |
The single most-reported system is POWER TRAIN, cited in 11 of 34 complaints (32.4%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 1 |
Complaint volume is broadly steady year over year.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19V072000 | 01/02/2019 | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) | Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016-2019 MX-5 (Miata) vehicles with automatic transmissions. Due to incorrect programming of the Transmission Control Module (TCM), certain conditions may cause the vehicle to unexpectedly downshift and abruptly decel |
| 19V496000 | 27/06/2019 | STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS | Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016 Miata MX-5 vehicles. The skid plate and metal bracket may detach from underneath the vehicle. |
| 24V695000 | 18/09/2024 | AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE | Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016-2023 MX-5 Miata vehicles. A software error in the air bag control module may cause the front air bags to deploy with excessive force during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.