Mazda MX-5
Owners filed 155 complaints across 21 model years of the Mazda MX-5. The 2016 drew the most (34); the 2026 the fewest (1).
Model years21
Complaints155
Recalls18
Fires0
Deaths0
Every Mazda MX-5 model year compared
Complaints per year| Year | Complaints | Relative volume | Recalls | Fires | Crashes | Most reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | — | — | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2025 | 3 | 1 | — | — | Seat Belts | Routine | |
| 2024 | 5 | 1 | — | — | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2023 | 7 | 1 | — | 1 | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2022 | 5 | 1 | — | — | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2021 | 1 | 1 | — | — | Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Internal › Clutches/Bands | Routine | |
| 2020 | 3 | 1 | — | — | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2019 | 11 | 3 | — | 2 | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2018 | 3 | 3 | — | — | Structure › Body | Routine | |
| 2017 | 11 | 2 | — | 1 | Visibility/Wiper | Routine | |
| 2016 | 34 | 3 | — | 3 | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | — | — | Fuel/Propulsion System | Routine | |
| 2014 | 6 | 0 | — | — | Structure › Body | Routine | |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 | — | — | Air Bags › On-off Switch Assembly | Routine | |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 | — | 1 | Visibility | Routine | |
| 2011 | 1 | 0 | — | — | Exterior Lighting | Routine | |
| 2010 | 4 | 0 | — | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Routine | |
| 2009 | 3 | 0 | — | 2 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2008 | 7 | 0 | — | 1 | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2007 | 17 | 0 | — | 1 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2006 | 25 | 1 | — | 1 | Seat Belts | Routine |
Which Mazda MX-5 years should you avoid?
On raw complaint volume the 2016 is the weakest year on record, with 34 complaints concentrated in the power train. It carries 3 recalls.
Read these numbers with sales volume in mind. A model year that sold in huge numbers naturally accumulates more reports than a rare one, and older cars have had more years to fail. The stronger signal is the severity columns and whether the same component keeps coming up year after year.
Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, September 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.