Total Complaints
4 filings
MAZDA !MX-5 · model year
2009 MAZDA !MX-5
4 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2009MAZDA!MX-5 carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 4 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 2009 !MX-5 is air bags with 2 filings, followed by electrical system (1) and latches/locks/linkages (1). 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 2009 !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.
4
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20200529CrashAIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 MAZDA MX-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH A DEER HIT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE BEFORE CRASHING TO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED DURING THE INCIDENT AND THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BELTS WERE ENGAGED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED SORENESS AND SCRATCHES HOWEVER NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Mileage: 90,000
20200511CrashAIR BAGS
ON APRIL 2,2020 ME AND A PASSENGER WERE IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE WE FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN IN THE MX 5 AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR THE DRIVER SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE AND WE WERE HURT VERY BAD AND SHOULD NOT HAVE MADE IT ALFA INSURANCE IS HOLDING THE CAR FOR AN INVESTIGATION. THIS HAPPENED ON HWY. *TR
Mileage: 90,000
20140804ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA MX-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE DOORS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Mileage: 50,000
20140804LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA MX-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE DOORS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Mileage: 50,000
Compare 2009MAZDA!MX-5 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
RQ26002Recall QueryOpen
Momentary increase in steering effort after recall remedy
PE19006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Inadvertent Curtain Air Bag Deployment
PE18006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Front Subframe Corrosion
PE15022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Lower ball joint separation
PE14005Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Brake Booster Failure
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2009 MAZDA !MX-5 have?▼
The 2009 MAZDA !MX-5 has 4 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 MAZDA !MX-5?▼
The most-complained component for the 2009 MAZDA !MX-5 is AIR BAGS with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES.
Is the 2009 MAZDA !MX-5 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
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.