Total Complaints
36 filings
MAZDA !MX-5 · model year
36 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2006MAZDA!MX-5 carries 36 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2006 !MX-5 is seat belts with 4 filings, followed by structure (3) and unknown or other (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 21 investigation files overlapping the 2006 !MX-5, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
36 filings
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS | 4 |
| STRUCTURE | 3 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| TIRES | 2 |
| AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
Started out as intermittent Air Bag/Seat Belt Pretensioner system warning light about 3 months ago. Over the last 2 weeks, the warning stayed on per the manual and required replacement. I had this service performed on 3/6/2024 at a cost of $811.43 by Sumter Tire and Auto using Preordered Mazda parts invoiced on 3/1/2024.
air bag warning light for passenger will not go off
air bag warning light for passenger will not go off
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.
Mileage: 68,125
PASSENGER AIRBAG SEAT SENSOR NOT DETECTING PERSONS IN SEAT. AIRBAGS REMAIN TURNED OFF. PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATED, CODE 48 FLASHES ON DASH. COMMON PROBLEM. DOESN'T MATTER IF CAR IS MOVING OR NOT.
Mileage: 177,000
PASSENGER AIRBAG SEAT SENSOR NOT DETECTING PERSONS IN SEAT. AIRBAGS REMAIN TURNED OFF. PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATED, CODE 48 FLASHES ON DASH. COMMON PROBLEM. DOESN'T MATTER IF CAR IS MOVING OR NOT.
Mileage: 177,000
PASSENGER AIRBAG SEAT SENSOR NOT DETECTING PERSONS IN SEAT. AIRBAGS REMAIN TURNED OFF. PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATED, CODE 48 FLASHES ON DASH. COMMON PROBLEM. DOESN'T MATTER IF CAR IS MOVING OR NOT.
Mileage: 177,000
THE MX-5 HAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ROOF DRAIN ON THE CANDACE CONVERTIBLE TOP. IT FLOODS YOUR CAR YOUR FLOORBOARDS AND YOUR TRUCK IS FILLED WITH WATER. IT IS VERY COSTLY TO HAVE THIS REPLACED AND CARPETS DRAINED OF WATER AND THEN CLEANED. I LOVE MY CAR BUT IF I HAD KNOWN OF THIS DEFECT I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED IT.
SAME PROBLEM AS MANY OF THE OTHER PEOPLE ON THIS WEBSITE. THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM FOR THE CANVAS CONVERTIBLE IS PROBLEMATIC. HAVING WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE AS WELL AS IN THE TRUNK. COULD THIS CAUSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM? NOT SURE. IT CAN CERTAINLY CAUSE BLACK MOLD , AND I HAVE RESPIRATORY DIFFICULTIES AS IT IS! IN MY CASE, THE INSIDE OF CAR WAS MUSTY FOR MANY MONTHS (6+). I PARK MY CAR UNDER COVER, SO IT DIDN'T GET ENOUGH WATER IN TO NOTICE THE WATER OTHER THAN BY THE SMELL.BUT EACH TIME I LOOKED FOR THE SOURCE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY MOISTURE...BUT THAT MUSTY SMELL PERSISTED, AND I DIDN'T EVEN THINK OF IT MORE, OTHER THAN TO GET AIRFRESHENERS, AND RIDE WITH TOP DOWN WHEN I COULD. LOOKING BACK, THIS WAS PROBABLY THE CAUSE CONSTANTLY AGGRAVATING MY BREATHING PROBLEMS. ONE DAY I VISITED MY BROTHER IN FLORIDA, I WAS UNABLE TO PARK UNDER COVER, SO I PARKED OUTSIDE ON DRIVEWAY. I CAME OUT THE NEXT DAY, THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE CAR HAD ABOUT 4-6 INCHES OF WATER IN IT (I WAS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE SO THE
Mileage: 100,200
SAME PROBLEM AS MANY OF THE OTHER PEOPLE ON THIS WEBSITE. THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM FOR THE CANVAS CONVERTIBLE IS PROBLEMATIC. HAVING WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE AS WELL AS IN THE TRUNK. COULD THIS CAUSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM? NOT SURE. IT CAN CERTAINLY CAUSE BLACK MOLD , AND I HAVE RESPIRATORY DIFFICULTIES AS IT IS! IN MY CASE, THE INSIDE OF CAR WAS MUSTY FOR MANY MONTHS (6+). I PARK MY CAR UNDER COVER, SO IT DIDN'T GET ENOUGH WATER IN TO NOTICE THE WATER OTHER THAN BY THE SMELL.BUT EACH TIME I LOOKED FOR THE SOURCE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY MOISTURE...BUT THAT MUSTY SMELL PERSISTED, AND I DIDN'T EVEN THINK OF IT MORE, OTHER THAN TO GET AIRFRESHENERS, AND RIDE WITH TOP DOWN WHEN I COULD. LOOKING BACK, THIS WAS PROBABLY THE CAUSE CONSTANTLY AGGRAVATING MY BREATHING PROBLEMS. ONE DAY I VISITED MY BROTHER IN FLORIDA, I WAS UNABLE TO PARK UNDER COVER, SO I PARKED OUTSIDE ON DRIVEWAY. I CAME OUT THE NEXT DAY, THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE CAR HAD ABOUT 4-6 INCHES OF WATER IN IT (I WAS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE SO THE
Mileage: 100,200
I HAVE A 2006 MX5 MIATA AND THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL AND CAP WILL NOT STAY TIGHT ALSO GETTING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I CONTACTED MAZDA AND THEY SAID THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE FILLER NECK AND CAP WILL COME OFF. FUEL SLOSHES OUT AND I REPLACED CAP WITH AN UPDATED ONE. STILL COMES LOOSE LEADING THE FILLER NECK ISSUE. THEY WILL NOT REPAIR AS ITS NOT A RECALL. MY CONCERN IS THAT IT IS A FIRE HAZARD AND THEY WILL NOT REPAIR A DEFECT THAT IS KNOWN TO HAPPEN. *TR
Mileage: 9,550
2ND REQUEST, NO RESPONSE RECEIVED FROM 1ST REQUEST I BOUGHT MY 2006 MAZDA MIATA FROM CARMAX (SANFORD, FL) IN 2011. MY CAR BEGAN FLOODING EVERY TIME IT RAINED. I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 50 FLOODS TO DATE. THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR HAS EXTENSIVE MOLD DAMAGE AND MILDEW. THE FLOORS ARE RUSTED. THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE SEATS IN PLACE ARE SEVERELY RUSTED. ONE SEAT NO LONGER CAN BE MOVED ON ITS' TRACK. THE DRIVER'S SEAT SLIDES OUT OF PLACE WHILE DRIVING. THE SEATBELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NO LONGER RETRACTS. ROACHES ARE LIVING IN THE CAR. I CONTACTED CARMAX BUT THEY WERE UNWILLING TO TAKE THE CAR BACK. THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOWROOM AND NOT ON THE LOT. I'M GUESSING THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM. THE 2006 AND 2007 MIATAS HAVE FAULTY/DEFECTIVE DRAINS. MAZDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT NEVER DID A RECALL. THEY ALSO EXPECT $1000.00 FROM ME TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I CONTINUE TO HAVE FLOODING EVERY TIME IT RAINS, SO IT'S THREE YEARS OF FLOODING AT THIS POINT IN TIME. THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED "SALVAG
Mileage: 32,000
2ND REQUEST, NO RESPONSE RECEIVED FROM 1ST REQUEST I BOUGHT MY 2006 MAZDA MIATA FROM CARMAX (SANFORD, FL) IN 2011. MY CAR BEGAN FLOODING EVERY TIME IT RAINED. I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 50 FLOODS TO DATE. THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR HAS EXTENSIVE MOLD DAMAGE AND MILDEW. THE FLOORS ARE RUSTED. THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE SEATS IN PLACE ARE SEVERELY RUSTED. ONE SEAT NO LONGER CAN BE MOVED ON ITS' TRACK. THE DRIVER'S SEAT SLIDES OUT OF PLACE WHILE DRIVING. THE SEATBELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NO LONGER RETRACTS. ROACHES ARE LIVING IN THE CAR. I CONTACTED CARMAX BUT THEY WERE UNWILLING TO TAKE THE CAR BACK. THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOWROOM AND NOT ON THE LOT. I'M GUESSING THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM. THE 2006 AND 2007 MIATAS HAVE FAULTY/DEFECTIVE DRAINS. MAZDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT NEVER DID A RECALL. THEY ALSO EXPECT $1000.00 FROM ME TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I CONTINUE TO HAVE FLOODING EVERY TIME IT RAINS, SO IT'S THREE YEARS OF FLOODING AT THIS POINT IN TIME. THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED "SALVAG
Mileage: 32,000
THE MX-5 HAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ROOF DRAINS ON THE CANVAS CONVERTIBLE TOP. IT FLOODS CONSTANTLY. I AM REALLY GROWING TIRED OF VACUUMING UP WATER IN THIS CAR. IT EVEN FLOODS THE TRUNK. WET FEET IN STANDING WATER MAKES FOR A SAFETY ISSUE DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL YOU CAN GET TO A WET VAC TO EVACUATE STANDING WATER. *TR
Mileage: 45,500
MY CAR WAS PARKED AT WORK. IT WAS RAINING. WHEN I GOT INTO THE VEHICLE, IT WAS FLOODED ON THE INSIDE UP TO 6 INCHES. THE GAS PEDAL WAS SLIPPERY. IT SMELLED MUSTY, LIKE MILDEW AND MOLD. I CONTACTED THE DEALER BUT GOT NO RETURN PHONE CALLS. I WROTE THEM A LETTER AND RECEIVED A PHONE CALL THEN. THEY TOLD ME TO TRADE THE CAR IN IF I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS. I TOLD THEM THEY SOLD ME A FLOOD CAR AND WANTED TO RETURN IT. THEY REFUSED. THIS WAS CARMAX IN SANFORD, FL. SINCE THAT TIME, THE CAR HAS FLOODED OVER 25 TIMES. I AM NOW LIVING WITH ROACHES BREEDING IN MY CAR. IT SMELLS LIKE MOLD. THE WINDOWS ARE FOGGED FROM THE INSIDE DAILY. THE SEATS HAVE GOTTEN STUCK AND THEN SLIDE OUT OF PLACE WHILE I'M DRIVING. MY INSURANCE COMPANY, GEICO, REFUSED TO HELP ME, STATING THAT THIS DAMAGE PROBABLY OCCURRED BEFORE I OWNED THE CAR. I BELIEVE THE DEALER KNEW OF THESE PROBLEMS, THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOWROOM AND NOT OUT ON THE LOT. *TR
Mileage: 30,000
MY CAR WAS PARKED AT WORK. IT WAS RAINING. WHEN I GOT INTO THE VEHICLE, IT WAS FLOODED ON THE INSIDE UP TO 6 INCHES. THE GAS PEDAL WAS SLIPPERY. IT SMELLED MUSTY, LIKE MILDEW AND MOLD. I CONTACTED THE DEALER BUT GOT NO RETURN PHONE CALLS. I WROTE THEM A LETTER AND RECEIVED A PHONE CALL THEN. THEY TOLD ME TO TRADE THE CAR IN IF I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS. I TOLD THEM THEY SOLD ME A FLOOD CAR AND WANTED TO RETURN IT. THEY REFUSED. THIS WAS CARMAX IN SANFORD, FL. SINCE THAT TIME, THE CAR HAS FLOODED OVER 25 TIMES. I AM NOW LIVING WITH ROACHES BREEDING IN MY CAR. IT SMELLS LIKE MOLD. THE WINDOWS ARE FOGGED FROM THE INSIDE DAILY. THE SEATS HAVE GOTTEN STUCK AND THEN SLIDE OUT OF PLACE WHILE I'M DRIVING. MY INSURANCE COMPANY, GEICO, REFUSED TO HELP ME, STATING THAT THIS DAMAGE PROBABLY OCCURRED BEFORE I OWNED THE CAR. I BELIEVE THE DEALER KNEW OF THESE PROBLEMS, THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOWROOM AND NOT OUT ON THE LOT. *TR
Mileage: 30,000
MY CAR WAS PARKED AT WORK. IT WAS RAINING. WHEN I GOT INTO THE VEHICLE, IT WAS FLOODED ON THE INSIDE UP TO 6 INCHES. THE GAS PEDAL WAS SLIPPERY. IT SMELLED MUSTY, LIKE MILDEW AND MOLD. I CONTACTED THE DEALER BUT GOT NO RETURN PHONE CALLS. I WROTE THEM A LETTER AND RECEIVED A PHONE CALL THEN. THEY TOLD ME TO TRADE THE CAR IN IF I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS. I TOLD THEM THEY SOLD ME A FLOOD CAR AND WANTED TO RETURN IT. THEY REFUSED. THIS WAS CARMAX IN SANFORD, FL. SINCE THAT TIME, THE CAR HAS FLOODED OVER 25 TIMES. I AM NOW LIVING WITH ROACHES BREEDING IN MY CAR. IT SMELLS LIKE MOLD. THE WINDOWS ARE FOGGED FROM THE INSIDE DAILY. THE SEATS HAVE GOTTEN STUCK AND THEN SLIDE OUT OF PLACE WHILE I'M DRIVING. MY INSURANCE COMPANY, GEICO, REFUSED TO HELP ME, STATING THAT THIS DAMAGE PROBABLY OCCURRED BEFORE I OWNED THE CAR. I BELIEVE THE DEALER KNEW OF THESE PROBLEMS, THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOWROOM AND NOT OUT ON THE LOT. *TR
Mileage: 30,000
MY CAR WAS PARKED AT WORK. IT WAS RAINING. WHEN I GOT INTO THE VEHICLE, IT WAS FLOODED ON THE INSIDE UP TO 6 INCHES. THE GAS PEDAL WAS SLIPPERY. IT SMELLED MUSTY, LIKE MILDEW AND MOLD. I CONTACTED THE DEALER BUT GOT NO RETURN PHONE CALLS. I WROTE THEM A LETTER AND RECEIVED A PHONE CALL THEN. THEY TOLD ME TO TRADE THE CAR IN IF I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS. I TOLD THEM THEY SOLD ME A FLOOD CAR AND WANTED TO RETURN IT. THEY REFUSED. THIS WAS CARMAX IN SANFORD, FL. SINCE THAT TIME, THE CAR HAS FLOODED OVER 25 TIMES. I AM NOW LIVING WITH ROACHES BREEDING IN MY CAR. IT SMELLS LIKE MOLD. THE WINDOWS ARE FOGGED FROM THE INSIDE DAILY. THE SEATS HAVE GOTTEN STUCK AND THEN SLIDE OUT OF PLACE WHILE I'M DRIVING. MY INSURANCE COMPANY, GEICO, REFUSED TO HELP ME, STATING THAT THIS DAMAGE PROBABLY OCCURRED BEFORE I OWNED THE CAR. I BELIEVE THE DEALER KNEW OF THESE PROBLEMS, THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOWROOM AND NOT OUT ON THE LOT. *TR
Mileage: 30,000
GOODYEAR EAGLE GT 205 45/R17 88V TIRES ON A MAZDA MX-5 GRAND TOUR, 2006. THE TIRES HAD ABOUT 25000 MILES ON THEM WITH LOTS OF TREAD LEFT WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. ONE TIRE WENT FLAT AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ALL FOUR, INCLUDING THE FLAT, TIRES HAD DEVELOPED SLICES OR CRACKS ALONG THE ENTIRE INTER WALL OF ALL FOUR TIRES. IT APPEARS LIKE THE WALL AND INNER BELT HAVE SEPARATED AND THE RUBBER JUST BECOMES STRESSED AND WEEK AND CRACKS. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MULTIPLE (POSSIBLE ALL FOUR) TIRES FROM GOING FLAT AT THE SAME TIME. I HAVE PICTURES AND AM CONTACTING GOODYEAR THROUGH SAM'S CLUB TIRES. *TR
EXCESSIVE FLOODING IN CABIN ON DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL AS TRUNK. MAZDA HAS SINCE MODIFIED THEIR ROOF DRAIN SYSTEM AS THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT. ONCE THE MODEL IS OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY, THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE PARTS WITH UPDATED PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CONVERTIBLE ROOF ITSELF DOES NOT LEAK. IT IS THE DESIGN OF THE ROOF DRAINAGE SYSTEM. MAZDA NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR FIXING ALL OF THESE CARS. THE NEW PARTS INCLUDE DEBRIS FILTERS AND RIBBED VALVES WHICH REDUCE BAFFLES GETTING STUCK SHUT IN THE DRAIN LINES. *TR
Mileage: 17,000
Momentary increase in steering effort after recall remedy
Inadvertent Curtain Air Bag Deployment
Front Subframe Corrosion
Lower ball joint separation
Brake Booster Failure
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.