2006 Mazda MX-5: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
20,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 25 complaints (16.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 12.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 8.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 8.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts | 4 |
| Structure | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification | 2 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission:Floor Shift Assembly | 2 |
Seat Belts: 4; Structure: 3; Structure:Body: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Air Bags: 2; Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification: 2; Electrical System: 2; Power Train:Manual Transmission:Floor Shift Assembly: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 6 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2005: 1; 2006: 8; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 6; 2015: 1; 2018: 2; 2022: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10145469 · 2005-12-16 (December 16, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT VEHICLE OVER STEERING. HE MUST CONSTANTLY MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE VEHICLE DRIVING STRAIGHT AND FROM WONDERING. THE SERVICE DEALER COMPLETED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED NO SOLUTION WAS AVAILABLE. THE ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS ON THE TIRES WAS CHECKED TO RULE OUT ANY TIRE CONCERN WITH THE STEERING. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE VEHICLE IS A 2006 MAZDA MX5 CONVERTIBLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 16 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145469 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10151220 · 2006-02-25 (February 25, 2006)
WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS TO ABOUT 25 DEGREES OR LESS, THE VEHICLE'S POWER WINDOWS BECOME INOPERATIVE. WATER/ICE HAS NEVER BEEN PRESENT ON THE VEHICLE'S EXTERIOR, ALTHOUGH IT IS UNKNOWN IF WATER/ICE IS PRESENT INSIDE THE DOORS THEMSELVES. REMEDY: ATTEMPT TO LOWER AND RAISE THE VEHICLE WINDOWS UNTIL WHATEVER IS HOLDING THE WINDOWS CAPTIVE "BREAKS". THIS CAN REQUIRE UPWARDS OF 300 DOWN/UP ATTEMPTS AND USUALLY TAKES MORE THAN 5 MINUTES. MY MAZDA DEALER, EVEN AFTER SEEING A VIDEO OF THE WINDOW FAILURE, HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO EVEN LOOK BEHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151220 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10151222 · 2006-02-25 (February 25, 2006)
THIS MX-5 HAS THE 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WITH APPROXIMATELY 1,200 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, THE CLUTCH FRICTION POINT (THE LOCATION IN PEDAL TRAVEL WHERE THE CLUTCH BEGINS TO ENGAGE) MOVED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE PEDAL (NEAR THE FLOOR) TO APPROXIMATELY ONE INCH FROM THE TOP (PEDAL NORMAL POSITION -- NOT DEPRESSED). SERVICING DEALER HELD THE VEHICLE OVERNIGHT AND STATED "THEY ALL DO THAT". WHEN I REQUESTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE THEY COMPARED IT TO, I WAS TOLD THEY WERE TOO BUSY. I WALKED OVER TO THE SALES DEPARTMENT AND ASKED A SALESPE…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151222 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10151384 · 2006-02-28 (February 28, 2006)
I HAVE A 2006 MAZDA MX 5 MIATA. IT IS AN EXCELLENT, SOLID AND GREAT HANDLING CAR. THE BRAKES ARE SUPERB. FIT AND FINISH ARE EXCELLENT. THERE IS ONE PROBLEM THAT COULD RESULT IS ACCIDENTS: THE SIX-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, IT IS EASY TO ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGE FIRST GEAR WHEN REVERSE IS REQUIRED OR TO ENGAGE REVERSE WHEN FIRST IS REQUIRED. DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC; AT STOP SIGNS; TRAFFIC LIGHTS; PARALLEL PARKING; EXITING GARAGE/DRIVEWAYS - IT IS TOO EASY TO ENGAGE REVERSE OR FIRST BY MISTAKE. FIRST AND REVERSE GEARS ARE TOO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10151384 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10151395 · 2006-02-28 (February 28, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, SLIGHT DOWNWARD PRESSURE MUST BE APPLIED TO FIRST GEAR. SINCE THE PRESSURE IS SO SLIGHT, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO TELL IF THE VEHICLE IS IN FIRST GEAR OR REVERSE UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151395 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10151746 · 2006-03-03 (March 3, 2006)
THE DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL (DSC) ACTIVATED, DASH LIGHT STAYED ON, WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE PROBABILITY THAT HAD THE PAVEMENT BE SLIPPERY WITH RAIN, SNOW OR ICE THE DSC BRAKING THE WHEELS TO PREVENT A SKID, THAT WASN'T THERE, WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY HAVE CAUSED A SKID, PROBABLY LEADING TO AN ACCIDENT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 4,575 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151746 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160695 · 2006-06-25 (June 25, 2006)
COMPLETE POWER LOSS AT 40 MILES PER HOUR WHILE IN OPERATION. ALL WARNING DASH LIGHTS CAME ON CONCURRENT WITH LOSS OF POWER. NO RESTART. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 5,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160695 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162518 · 2006-07-16 (July 16, 2006)
CAR STARTED RATTLING FROM THE CONSOLE AREA BETWEEN THE SEATS WHERE YOU OPEN YOUR GAS CAP AT. THIS STARTED ABOUT A MONTH INTO HAVING THE VEHICLE. THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS LEAKING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR IT'S 3000 MILE MAINTENANCE. I WAS TOLD THAT "CONVERTIBLE TOPS LEAK AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE RATTLE." THE RATTLE HAS SINCE GOTTEN WORSE AND THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS STILL LEAKING. I WILL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE IN AGAIN FOR THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I DO NOT FEEL THAT I AM MAKING MUCH PROGRESS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162518 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
06V103000 · Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 2006-04-05 (April 5, 2006)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BOLT ATTACHING THE HORN ASSEMBLY TO THE STEERING WHEEL HUB MAY FAIL DURING A DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN EXTREMELY LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURE.
Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE HORN ASSEMBLY MAY SEPARATE AND COULD INJURE THE DRIVER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER-SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 28, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 800-222-5500.
NHTSA campaign record ↗