2016 Mazda Mx-5: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 41 complaints
41
Total Complaints
21,829mi
Median Mileage
POWER TRAIN
Top Issue
3
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

3,070 25th Percentile
21,829 Median Mileage
39,750 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

POWER TRAIN
11
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
7
AIR BAGS
5
STRUCTURE:BODY
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
4
WHEELS
2
ENGINE
2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1
VISIBILITY/WIPER
1

Severity Assessment

3
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WHILE ACCELERATING MY TRANSMISSION GEARS HAVE DISINTEGRATED TWICE LEAVING CAR WITH NO WAY TO USE POWER. ONCE WAS A SIDE STREET, OTHER TIME I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN IN AN INTERSECTION."
"WE BROUGHT THE MX-5 INTO THE DEALER FOR THE 5K OIL CHANGE AND CHECKUP WITH A COMPLAINT THAT THE INNER LINER COMES UNSNAPPED AND PARTIALLY BLOCKS VISIBILITY OF THE REAR WINDOW WHEN YOU PUT THE TOP DOWN AND LATER PUT IT UP. MAZDA SERVICE DID NOT MAKE NOTE OF THIS IN THE SERVICE AND DIDN'T FIX IT. I AS..."
"WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING AND I LOST ACCELERATION IN A BUSY ROAD. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN A BUSY INTERSECTION."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28