Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Mazda MX-5, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train11
- Unknown or other7
- Air bags5
- Electrical system4
- Structure4
- Engine2
- Wheels2
- Exterior lighting2
- Steering2
- Suspension1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 7 2016 MX-5 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 4 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2016 Mazda MX-5 failed the safety check 0.62% of the time — 69% less often than the average 2016 passenger car (1.97%). Median odometer at inspection: 25,952 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2016
13,491 new Mazda MX-5 cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2016; the largest markets were Germany (4,654), the United Kingdom (4,212), Belgium (1,047).
- Average mass
- 1,084 kg
- Average power
- 110 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Petrol 100%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Engines
The most common engines in 2016 Mazda MX-5 cars on Dutch roads are the 1.5 petrol (96 kW, 129 hp) and 2.0 petrol (118 kW, 158 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 petrol | 96 kW 129 hp | 326 |
| 2.0 petrol | 118 kW 158 hp | 243 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
575 first registered in 2016 are on Dutch roads; 68% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €34,634.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde260
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld74
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht67
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt62
- Schijf-, trommelrem loopt niet vrij48
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm35
- Band beschadigd33
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage23
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
3,835 cars built in 2016 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 177 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 4,117 of these cars first registered in 2016 took their annual MOT test. 88% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2016 the figure was 79%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 4.7% | 4.3% |
| Tyres | 2.5% | 6.2% |
| Visibility | 2.5% | 3.5% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 2.0% | 6.1% |
| Suspension | 0.9% | 4.9% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.6% | 1.7% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
16 of these cars first registered in 2016 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 70,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
99 2016 cars are on the New Zealand register; 7% arrived as used imports, 92% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 1 variant; not yet fully rated. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 Mazda MX-5 C RWD | — | 0.0 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- No
- Lane departure warning
- No
- Best overall rating
- —
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 7.8 L/100 km (about 30 mpg US), CO₂ 183 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| MX-5 · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 8.9 | 6.5 | 7.8 |
| MX-5 (SIL) · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 8.8 | 6.9 | 7.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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."
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mazda told its dealers about the 2016 Mazda MX-5: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11011141 | Some customers may report concerns with interior upholstery surface stains particularly on high contact areas (e.g.: seats, steering wheel, door panels, shifter...etc.). This may be caused by skin oils or chemicals such as hand lotions. |
| 11009644 | Some vehicles exhibit brake related concerns such as brake noise, brake judder or brake dragging. If you encounter a customer complaint for any one of these symptoms, refer to the following information to understand why symptoms may occur, and to better assist the customer in resolving their specific brake concern. |
| 11008577 | Some customers may complain about scratches on the instrument cluster lens. |
| 11007029 | For improvement of electrical diagnosis, the SKYACTIV Wiring Terminal Test Kits has been delivered all the dealers. The terminal test kit enables you: To check pin fit drag of all PCM terminals used in SKYACTIV vehicles and compare suspect terminal drag with a known good terminal. To measure the voltage/resistance avoiding any terminal damage. |
| 11007022 | Some vehicles may experience exterior trim heat damage such (melted, separating, etc.) when parked near a glass building or Low-E windows. This may be caused by the sun's reflection. |
| 11007019 | 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 concern. Below are a few examples of unusual electrical concerns caused by aftermarket devices. |
| 11007018 | Interior parts made of resin have antistatic coating to prevent dust from sticking on the surfaces, and depending on the conditions of use, the antistatic components may crystallize slightly, giving an appearance of white stains on the surface. To remove the stains, wipe the stained surface with a towel soaked with water mixed with a small portion of a neutral detergent. If the white stains reappear again, simply wipe them again in the same way. |
| 11007013 | Auxiliary key blank cutting procedure. There are currently 2 methods for cutting a new auxiliary key blank. A. Auxiliary Key Trace Cut Method B. Auxiliary Key Code Cut Method |
| 11007010 | Some customer's might state that they notice fluid or oil leaking/dripping on the ground when the vehicle is parked. For this concern, inspect the vehicle for any trace of a fluid or oil leak and use the following examples as a guide to determine if it is severe enough to require a repair, or just to clean the area and monitor it at the next service. |
| 11007009 | Some vehicles exhibit brake related concerns such as brake noise, brake judder or brake dragging. If you encounter a customer complaint for any one of these symptoms, refer to the following information to understand why symptoms may occur, and to better assist the customer in resolving their specific brake concern. |
| 11006998 | Use the symptom troubleshooting tables below to diagnose MAZDA CONNECT concerns. |
| 11006987 | In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealers responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mi |
| 11005671 | Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers. |
| 11005546 | 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. |
| 11003398 | Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers. |
| 11003397 | Some automotive cleaning products contain strong acid or alkali. When these types of cleaners are used to clean the wheels on Mazda vehicles, the chemicals contents penetrate the clear coating of the wheel surface and damage the paint under the clear coating. The damaged area has the appearance of dark stains or discoloration. |
| 11003396 | Some vehicles exhibit brake related concerns such as brake noise, brake judder or brake dragging. If you encounter a customer complaint for any one of these symptoms, refer to the following information to understand why symptoms may occur, and to better assist the customer in resolving their specific brake concern. |
| 11003223 | Some vehicles may exhibit the inner cloth (A) falling down at the rear end causing a poor appearance and obstructing the view of the back window. This is caused by: CASE A: The J-hook binding holding the inner cloth coming loose because the convertible top is opened/closed a lot or from high ambient temperatures. CASE B: After the previous improvement carried out at the supplier since January 19, 2016, some J-hooks have still been found coming loose to bind and hold the inner cloth during the assembly process. To correct the problem: CASE A: Two top-protector clips have been additionally insta |
| 11000772 | Some customers may complain that the ambient temperature on the instrument cluster is displayed more than 50 F (10 C) lower than the actual temperature, resulting in insufficient performance of the air conditioning. This is caused by inappropriate soldering in the ambient temperature sensor. To eliminate this concern, the soldering process has been enhanced at the supplier. |
| 10254191 | Some automotive cleaning products contain strong acid or alkali. When these types of cleaners are used to clean the wheels on Mazda vehicles, the chemicals contents penetrate the clear coating of the wheel surface and damage the paint under the clear coating. The damaged area has the appearance of dark stains or discoloration. |
| 10254188 | Some customers may complain that the ambient temperature on the instrument cluster is displayed more than 50 F (10 C) lower than the actual temperature, resulting in insufficient performance of the air conditioning. This is caused by inappropriate soldering in the ambient temperature sensor. To eliminate this concern, the soldering process has been enhanced at the supplier. |
| 10254187 | Some customers may complain about infotainment center display. Peeling, spider cracks and white dots. |
| 10252508 | Some vehicles exhibit brake related concerns such as brake noise, brake judder or brake dragging. If you encounter a customer complaint for any one of these symptoms, refer to the following information to understand why symptoms may occur, and to better assist the customer in resolving their specific brake concern. |
| 10252507 | Due to limitations, certain vehicles from 2016 to current models might display an inaccurate transmission part number in the Global Electronic Parts Catalog (GEPC). To provide support in such cases, a temporary lookup guide has been developed for assistance. |
| 10252375 | Some vehicles may exhibit crack(s) on the left and/or right side retractable hardtop quarter garnish (1). The molding material on the retractable hardtop quarter garnish may accelerate the deterioration of the quarter garnish, resulting in the cracks. To eliminate this concern, the molding material on the retractable hardtop quarter garnish has been improved. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)