Mazda MX-5 complaints by model year
155 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2022 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2017 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2016 | 34 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 2017–2026. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power train | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Mazda MX-5 recalls (6)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one MX-5 model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25V336000 | May 22, 2025 | Traction Control Indicator Light May Not Illuminate/FMVSS 126 | 2024, 2025 | 84.2% |
| 24V695000 | Sep 18, 2024 | Air Bags May Deploy with Excessive Force/FMVSS 208 | 2016–2023 | 66.7% |
| 21V875000 | Nov 12, 2021 | Fuel Pump May Fail | 2018, 2019 | 86.5% |
| 19V496000 | Jun 27, 2019 | Skid Plate and Bracket May Detach | 2016 | 78% |
| 19V072000 | Feb 1, 2019 | Transmission Software May Cause Abrupt Downshift | 2016–2019 | 90.1% |
| 06V103000 | Apr 5, 2006 | DRIVER-SIDE FRONT AIR BAG MODULE | 2006 | — |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Mazda MX-5 FAQ
How many recalls has the Mazda MX-5 had?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns that cover at least one Mazda MX-5 model year from 2006 to 2026. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Mazda MX-5 year has the most complaints?
Among the last 15 model years with settled counts, the 2016 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (34) and the 2011 the fewest (1). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Mazda MX-5 problems?
Across the 2017–2026 model years, owners most often name the power train, electrical system, air bags in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Mazda MX-5 get?
EPA rates the 2026 Mazda MX-5 at 29 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.