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U.S. public vehicle records

2016 Mazda MX-5 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

34 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

21,829 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 34 complaints (32.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting823.5%
Braking behavior25.9%
Steering behavior25.9%
Engine operation12.9%
Electrical and battery issues12.9%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train
11
Unknown Or Other
7
Air Bags
5
Electrical System
4
Structure:Body
4
Engine
2
Exterior Lighting
2
Steering
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train11
Unknown Or Other7
Air Bags5
Electrical System4
Structure:Body4
Engine2
Exterior Lighting2
Steering2

Power Train: 11; Unknown Or Other: 7; Air Bags: 5; Electrical System: 4; Structure:Body: 4; Engine: 2; Exterior Lighting: 2; Steering: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
12
25,000 to 49,999
5
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00012
25,000 to 49,9995
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 12 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2016
5
2017
4
2018
2
2019
5
2020
5
2021
3
2022
2
2023
2
2024
4
2025
1
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20165
20174
20182
20195
20205
20213
20222
20232
20244
20251
20261

2016: 5; 2017: 4; 2018: 2; 2019: 5; 2020: 5; 2021: 3; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2024: 4; 2025: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10884455 · 2016-07-13 (July 13, 2016)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10884455 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10925207 · 2016-11-09 (November 9, 2016)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10925207 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10937172 · 2016-12-22 (December 22, 2016)

THE CAR WAS STATIONARY, IN NEUTRAL WITH THE PARKING BRAKE IN PLACE WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THEN THE NEXT DAY, THE TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING AN UNUSUAL WHINING NOISE IN THIRD GEAR WHILE DRIVING ON THE CITY AND IN THE HIGHWAY (DURING TRAFFIC) AT AROUND 30-35 MPH. THIS LED ME TO SUSPECT THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS HAVING ISSUES AND BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER A FEW DAYS LATER. EVEN THOUGH THE LOUD BANG COULDN'T BE REPLICATED, THE WHINING NOISE WAS STILL THERE AND SURELY ENOUGH THE TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING FUNNY. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,360 miles reported. Look up ODI 10937172 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11206038 · 2019-05-07 (May 7, 2019)

VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY JUMPS OUT OF 4TH GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AT HIGHWAYS SPEED. THIS WILL TYPICALLY HAPPEN ON A MODERATELY STEEP DOWNWARD GRADE (E.G. CALIFORNIA HIGHYWAY 17 BETWEEN SUGARLOAF ROAD AND GLENWOOD CUTOFF HEADING TOWARDS SAN JOSE, OR THE CURVE KNOWN AS THE "VALLEY SURPRISE" JUST PAST SUMMIT ROAD AND HIGHWAY 17 INTERSECTION) AS THE VEHICLE SLOWS AND ENGINE BRAKING KICKS IN. STEPS TO REPRODUCE: PLACE VEHICLE IN 4TH GEAR. DRIVE AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES PER HOUR. ON DOWNHILL GRADE BACK OFF ACCELERATOR AS ENGINE BRAKING BEGINS THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11206038 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11516406 · 2023-04-10 (April 10, 2023)

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11516406 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11734925 · 2026-04-30 (April 30, 2026)

2016 Mazda MX5 club: In warmer weather(70 degree F or higher) and after driving for 5+ miles, the steering becomes less sensitive and gets “stuck/sticky” and requires more force to turn. When applied more force the car over corrects and you swerve cause the amount of force you needed to apply. Seems like something in the steering rack expands with heat which then creates friction which you have to overcome to continue driving. Seems like it’s becoming more of a issues the more people drive

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11734925 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11595214 · 2024-06-19 (June 19, 2024)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11595214 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11443205 · 2021-12-09 (December 9, 2021)

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,…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11443205 at NHTSA ↗