Mazda MX-5Years to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 155 owner complaints and 6 safety recalls on record for the Mazda MX-5.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaints Best years—Fewest complaints for their age Owner complaints155Top: Power train Safety recalls62006–2026 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Chanokchon, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Mazda MX-5 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the MX-5 median. Tap a year for its full report.

25 17 7 3 4 1 5 2 6 1 34 11 3 11 3 1 5 7 5 3 1

'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26

Avoid
Caution
Solid
Best
Not rated

2026Too new–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls 2025Too new–/1003 complaints · 1 recall 2024Not rated–/1005 complaints · 1 recall 2023Not rated–/1007 complaints · 1 recall 2022Not rated–/1005 complaints · 1 recall 2021Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall 2020Not rated–/1003 complaints · 1 recall 2019Not rated–/10011 complaints · 3 recalls 2018Not rated–/1003 complaints · 3 recalls 2017Not rated–/10011 complaints · 2 recalls 2016Not rated–/10034 complaints · 3 recalls 2015Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls 2014Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls 2013Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls 2012Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls 2011Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls 2010Not rated–/1004 complaints · 0 recalls 2009Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls 2008Not rated–/1007 complaints · 0 recalls 2007Not rated–/10017 complaints · 0 recalls 2006Not rated–/10025 complaints · 1 recall

Complaints by system

Most common Mazda MX-5 problems

All model years combined: 155 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

32Power train2 crash/fire/injury

22Air bags7 crash/fire/injury

20Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury

20Structure1 crash/fire/injury

10Steering

8Seat belts

7Vehicle speed control

6Exterior lighting

6Tires

5117 other systems4 crash/fire/injury

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.

Complaints by system
System	Complaints	Crash, fire or injury
Power train	32	2
Air bags	22	7
Electrical system	20	3
Structure	20	1
Steering	10	2
Seat belts	8	0
Vehicle speed control	7	1
Exterior lighting	6	0
Tires	6	0
17 other systems	51	4

6 recalls

Mazda MX-5 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

Electronic stability control (ESC): control module25V-336 · 2024–2025 · May 22, 2025 · 12,244 vehicles Air bag/restraint control module: software24V-695 · 2016–2023 · Sep 18, 2024 · 77,670 vehicles Delivery: fuel pump21V-875 · 2018–2019 · Nov 12, 2021 · 121,038 vehicles Frame and members: underbody shields19V-496 · 2016 · Jun 27, 2019 · 2,476 vehicles Automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)19V-072 · 2016–2019 · Feb 1, 2019 · 14,370 vehicles Air bags: frontal06V-103 · 2006 · Apr 5, 2006 · 2,600 vehicles