MAZDA !MX-5 · model year

2016 MAZDA !MX-5

41 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2016MAZDA!MX-5 carries 41 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, 2 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 2016 !MX-5 is power train with 11 filings, followed by unknown or other (7) and air bags (5). 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 2016 !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.

41
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

41 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN11
UNKNOWN OR OTHER7
AIR BAGS5
STRUCTURE:BODY4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
WHEELS2
ENGINE2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
SUSPENSION1
STEERING1

Recent Complaints

20250409CrashAIR BAGS

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 made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH, the bumper of a parked 2001 Lexus LS400 was crashed into and the vehicle came to a stop. There was damage to the contact's license plate holder and the other vehicle bumper. There were no warning lights illuminated. The driver’s and passenger’s side air bags deployed in the minor collision. No police report was filed. The contact did not sustain any injuries. No one else was injured. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer did not want to repair the recall per the contact. The failure mileage was approxima

Mileage: 60,000

20241112AIR 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

20240924AIR 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 the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

20240619POWER 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. While I rebuild the original. As I am also outside of warranty.

20240105POWER 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. This area is in the middle of a mesa with no streetlights and a speed of a 65mph road. I immediately put on my hazard lights and was stranded. The dangerousness of this situation was insurmountable. I was in a 2 seated convertible, partially on the road with no streetlights as cars and trucks flew by me at speeds above 65mph. Had I been hit from behind; I would have been killed instantaneously. I contacted AAA for emergency towing. The tow truck was deployed. In the meantime, I sat there helplessly. A passerby stopped to try to help but was unable to get the car to roll to a safe area off the road. Time passed. About an hour later, I

20230718UNKNOWN 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 many of the folks doing the fixes report that the problem reoccurs after the fix. Is there a NTSB bulleting about this problem? The rear window in a 2016 Mazda convertible is small enough to start with, let alone having a goodly portion of it obscured by the drooping headliner.

20230410STEERING

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 forum. The link: https://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=714849&highlight=steering+stick

20220811STRUCTURE: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.

20220516CrashAIR BAGS

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 needed) the car is currently at the Ken garff Honda body shop in Riverdale Utah.

20211209ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Since 2019 there have been several instances with my vehicle where someone has been able to knock the power offline thereby disabling it. It happened in five locations - a storage location in Olive BranchN MS, a former address in Memphis, TN (4330 Angarath Dr), a restaurant (Sonic) in Greenville, MS and twice in Greenville, MS both at a local park (Hardee Park). I never received any recall notices during this time regarding my vehicle ref a problem with the internal lighting for the odometer / gas meter, for the alarm system, for the battery, chasis - the frame shakes - I even reported feeling something when I first bought it back in Nov of 2015, and the door locks on the driver side stated losing the notification of being locked so I have to walk back to check and have found out that some additional delay is happening causing it not to lock properly so I open and close it to get it to lock. I have received any notifications for issues with locks, power, or the suspension (chasis).

20211209EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Since 2019 there have been several instances with my vehicle where someone has been able to knock the power offline thereby disabling it. It happened in five locations - a storage location in Olive BranchN MS, a former address in Memphis, TN (4330 Angarath Dr), a restaurant (Sonic) in Greenville, MS and twice in Greenville, MS both at a local park (Hardee Park). I never received any recall notices during this time regarding my vehicle ref a problem with the internal lighting for the odometer / gas meter, for the alarm system, for the battery, chasis - the frame shakes - I even reported feeling something when I first bought it back in Nov of 2015, and the door locks on the driver side stated losing the notification of being locked so I have to walk back to check and have found out that some additional delay is happening causing it not to lock properly so I open and close it to get it to lock. I have received any notifications for issues with locks, power, or the suspension (chasis).

20211209SUSPENSION

Since 2019 there have been several instances with my vehicle where someone has been able to knock the power offline thereby disabling it. It happened in five locations - a storage location in Olive BranchN MS, a former address in Memphis, TN (4330 Angarath Dr), a restaurant (Sonic) in Greenville, MS and twice in Greenville, MS both at a local park (Hardee Park). I never received any recall notices during this time regarding my vehicle ref a problem with the internal lighting for the odometer / gas meter, for the alarm system, for the battery, chasis - the frame shakes - I even reported feeling something when I first bought it back in Nov of 2015, and the door locks on the driver side stated losing the notification of being locked so I have to walk back to check and have found out that some additional delay is happening causing it not to lock properly so I open and close it to get it to lock. I have received any notifications for issues with locks, power, or the suspension (chasis).

20210511STRUCTURE:BODY

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND I HEARD A LOUD CRACKING NOISE. I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION TO CHECK AND SAW THAT THE UPPER MOLDING PART OF THE CAR HAD BROKEN OFF.

Mileage: 78,000

20210106ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SPIDER CRACKING ON CENTER DISPLAY MAZDA SERVICE BULLETIN R018/18. SINCE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY WILL NOT REPAIR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A NOTED MFG DEFECT. SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS SCREEN WILL BECOME ON READABLE AND SAFETY IS A 5 YR WARRANTY ADV NO. MAZDA SHOULD OF NOTIFIED OWNERS OF THIS ISSUE DID NOT.

Mileage: 9,000

20201024UNKNOWN OR OTHER

AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING. AC COMPRESSOR HOSE CRACKED. SHOP SAID THIS IS HAPPENING SO MUCH, TO THIS YEAR/ MODEL, THAT THEY KEEP THE PART IN STOCK.

Mileage: 63,000

20201024ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHEN DRIVING, MOST OF THE TIME THE BLIND SPOT SENSOR DOES NOT TURN ON (SOUND AND LIGHT). IT CAN GO DAYS WITHOUT TURNING ON AT ALL THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WORKS 1 OR 2 TIMES.

Mileage: 50,000

20201021VISIBILITY/WIPER

SUN VISORS ON FIRST GENERATION ND MX-5 SUBJECT TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, LEADING TO DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. I WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR FAILED ON MY CAR. THE VISOR WOULD NO LONGER STAY IN POSITION. IT JUST HUNG AT THE BOTTOMMOST POSITION. AS A TALL DRIVER I FIRST SCRUNCHED DOWN IN THE SEAT IN ORDER TO SEE PROPERLY OUT THE WINDSHIELD. EVENTUALLY I HELD THE SAGGING VISOR UP WITH MY LEFT HAND AND STEERED/SHIFTED WITH MY RIGHT HAND. NOT IDEAL AND DEFINITELY NOT PERFECTLY SAFE. ONLINE FORUMS INDICATE THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH FIRST GENERATION NDS.THOUGH THE SUN VISORS IN MY 2016 ND HAVE BEEN USED SPARINGLY, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE VISORS HAVE FAILED IN THE SAME PLACE: AT THE HINGE NEAR THE DOME LIGHT. THE REPLACEMENT PART IS NEARLY $300, NOT INCLUDING INSTALLATION. THE PART WAS QUICKLY REDESIGNED BY MAZDA BUT OWNERS OF EARLY VINS ARE OUT OF LUCK.

Mileage: 27,500

20200416POWER TRAIN

6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE STATIONARY AND DOESN'T WANT TO GO INTO 1ST GEAR AND YOU SOMETIMES MUST SHOVE IT IN, INTERMITTENT ISSUE. ALSO A TON OF GEAR WHINE UNDER MODERATE THROTTLE IN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. FAILURE MILEAGE IS 41,118 MILES. FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION IN GEAR AT SPEED COULD RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSS OF FORWARD PROPULSION. MAZDA HAS RELEASED A TSB ON THIS REF IS R083/16B AND 05-007/16 YET ARE BASICALLY TELLING ME IT'S UP TO THE NHTSA TO RECALL IT OR THERE'S NOTHING THEY WILL DO UNTIL IT COMPLETELY GRENADES AND POTENTIALLY CAUSES AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS NOT A SMALL ISSUE AFFECTING A SMALL BATCH OF CARS, THIS IS A FAIRLY WIDESPREAD ISSUE AFFECTING A LARGE SPAN IN PRODUCTION. FROM INTERNAL SOURCES I'VE LEARNED MAZDA IS ON THE FOURTH SEPARATE REVISION OF THE 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN THE 4TH GENERATION MX-5 AND EVEN SOME 3RD REVISION TRANSMISSIONS HAVE SHOWN WEAKNESS. IN SHORT, THE 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS NOT DESIGNED FOR THE 2.0L ENGINE

Mileage: 40,000

20200302WHEELS

THESE TIRES ARE THE ORIGINAL TIRES THAT CAME ON MY CAR WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2016. WHEN I WAS ROTATING THESE TIRES FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 6138 MILES I NOTICED THAT THESE TIRES WERE SPLITTING OPEN IN THE GROOVES THAT RUN AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR FOR FEAR OF A BLOWOUT IN ONE OR MORE TIRES. THESE BRIGESTONE POTENZA S001 TIRES SHOULD BE WATCHED CLOSELY IF THEY ARE SPLITTING OPEN WITH ONLY 6138 MILES AND 3 1/2 YEARS OF USE. I FEEL THAT THESE ARE VERY UNSAFE TIRES.

Mileage: 6,138

20191216CrashPOWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA MX-5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ACROSS AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING ACROSS THE INTERSECTION COLIDED WITH THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. POLICE REPORT NUMBER: 2019643494 WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

Mileage: 49,000

Compare 2016MAZDA!MX-5 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2016 MAZDA !MX-5 have?
The 2016 MAZDA !MX-5 has 41 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 MAZDA !MX-5?
The most-complained component for the 2016 MAZDA !MX-5 is POWER TRAIN with 11 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and AIR BAGS.
Is the 2016 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.