2016 Mazda Mx-5 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (10) · Air Bags (5) · Structure:body (4)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mazda Mx-5 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
22 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module:software 2024-09-18 · campaign 24V695000 · 77,670 vehicles
Defect: 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 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: An air bag that deploys with excessive force can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the Sophisticated Air Bag Sensor (SAS) control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 7, 2024. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 6924I.
Structure:frame And Members:underbody Shields 2019-06-27 · campaign 19V496000 · 2,476 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: Parts that separate from the vehicle may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the skid plate, free of charge. The recall began August 2, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3619F.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) 2019-02-01 · campaign 19V072000 · 14,370 vehicles
Defect: 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 decelerate.
Risk: If the vehicle abruptly downshifts, the driver may lose control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the TCM with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3019A.
Service bulletins (522)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System 2026-09-11 · SA-041-26a · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
description if you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, dtc(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal mgss diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been installed. aftermarket devices may be the cause of the electrical con
Engine 2026-06-19 · SA-041-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this sa supersedes the previously issued sa(s) listed below. the changes are noted in red. sa-061/25 12/17/25 description if you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, dtc(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal mgss diagnosis by ask
Unknown Or Other 2026-06-18 · 09-020-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
description some vehicles may exhibit scratches (1) on the rear of the seat back bar garnish (2) from contact with the convertible top (3). due to assembly variations, the clearance between the seat back bar garnish and the convertible top is too small on some vehicles. repair procedure 6. install t
Power Train 2026-05-01 · 01-008-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. the changes are noted in red. 01-008/23 06/05/23 some vehicles may exhibit rattling noises from the engine compartment and oil leakage from the drive belt auto tensioner. this may be caused by insufficient sealing at the driv
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-30 · SA-031-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
description some vehicles may require the replacement of a damaged vin plate or vehicle certification label. to obtain a replacement vin plate (bulkhead-mounted and visible through the lower-left area of the windshield), contact dag (dealer assistance group) using vin plate request form available on
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-21 · SA-029-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service alert supersedes the previously issued sa listed below: the changes are noted in red. sa-011/24 02/12/24, 06/06/24, 07/29/24 description mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. mazda recommends dealers follow the sch
Showing the 6 most recent of 522 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-04-30 · Steering“2016 mazda mx5 club: in warmer weather(70 degree f or higher) and after driving for 5+ miles, the steering becomes less sensitive and gets “stuck/sticky” and requires more force to turn. when applied more force the car over corrects and you swerve cause the amount of force you needed to apply. seems like something in the steering rack expands with…”
2025-04-09 · Air Bags · 60,000 mi · 💥 crash“the contact owns a 2016 mazda mx-5. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 24v695000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the dealer was made aware of the issue. the manufacturer was…”
2024-11-12 · Air Bags“contacted rohrich mazda 2690 w liberty ave, pittsburgh pa 412.344.3600 regarding the airbag recall today. they have no knowledge of this recall and therefore i am unable to have it corrected. is my car safe to drive? when will i be able to get it fixed? thanks, bill…”
2024-09-24 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2016 mazda mx-5. the contact received notification of the nhtsa campaign number: (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the local dealer was contacted. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of t…”
2024-06-19 · Power Train“6 speed manual transmission failure at 59,000 miles started not shifting into 3rd, then shortly after, the transmission locked up in a intersection. which stalled the vehicle out. was able to move the vehicle by hand, out of heavy traffic. since this effects all nd1, nd2 and nd3 manual transmissions. i dropped and changed it for a used one. whi…”
2024-01-05 · Power Train“on december 7, 2023 at approximately 10:30pm, i was traveling west bound on [xxx] . suddenly, there was a loud thumping noise from under the passenger seat. after about 10 seconds, it escalated to an extremely loud banging and the smell of oil. not a single warning light appeared on my dashboard. i immediately attempted to pull off the road. t…”
2023-07-18 · Unknown Or Other“i recently bought a used 2016 mazda miata convertible, and when the convertible top is up, the inner liner droops down and obscures about 1/4 to 1/3 of the rear window. i looked online for this problem and found that there are lots of 2016 mazda convertible owners with the same problem. there are some fixes posted online about the problem, but …”
2023-04-10 · Steering“steering: at 55+ mph i feel a slight bind when i make a steering change. it then releases only after i've put in too much steering correction. this occurs when in a steady direction, or whether i'm in a steady, high speed turn. it feels like a snapping rubber band. you can read about other miata drivers who have the same issue at: miata.net in the…”
2022-08-11 · Structure:body“the top windshield trim piece popped off while on the highway. the windshield has never been replaced and this trim piece has never been removed. all but one of the clips failed.…”
2022-05-16 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“i was in an accident on may 1st 2022. i was traveling south when another car hit me. the airbags didn't deploy at all none of them did you can see from the pics and video i have attached and hear the audio from my dash cam saying the airbag deployment was detected but no airbags came out. (dash cam video won't upload but i can email or text it if n…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.