2016 Mazda MX-5: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

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 ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISOR ABOUT IT WHO THEN BROUGHT THE CAR BACK IN AND A TECH "FIXED" IT IN A FEW MINUTES. WHEN I GOT HOME'.SAME THING. ONCE YOU PUT THE TOP DOWN AND THEN LATER PUT IT UP THE INNER LINER UNSNAPS AND HANGS DOWN PARTIALLY BLOCKING YOUR R…

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10919013 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

I HAD A CAR ACCIDENT ON 13 NOV 2016 WHEREBY THE VEHICLE ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES DOWN A STEEP INCLINE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. MY SPINAL CORD WAS FRACTURED AND MY SKULL CRACKED.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10927258 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

FALSE POSITIVE WARNING LIGHT ON TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM. LOW PRESSURE INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON EVEN THOUGH TIRES ARE EQUAL AND NORMAL PRESSURE. THIS FALSE POSITIVE WARNING COMES ON FREQUENTLY AND RENDERS THE TPMS INEFFECTIVE. LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON DURING NORMAL DRIVING ONLY 125 MILES AFTER BEING RESET AFTER LAST OCCASION. BOTH TIMES RESET WAS DONE AT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10966190 at NHTSA ↗

THE PAINT ON THE HOOD OF MY MIATA IS FULL OF CHIPS AND I HAVE ONLY 941 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I HAVE OWNED 6 CARS PRIOR TO THIS ONE, I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE AND THIS MIATA IS MY SECOND CAR USED MOSTLY ON WEEKENDS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10978670 at NHTSA ↗

OWNERS MANUAL (ATTACHED) DOES NOT MENTION THE FOAM FILTERS LOCATED BENEATH THE PLASTIC FILTERS (PHOTO ATTACHED). COMPLAINT IS THAT THE FOAM FILTERS DO NOT DRY, AND BECOME CAKED WITH BLACK MOLD. IN THE ATTACHED PHOTO, THE FOAM FILTERS HAVE BEEN SOAKED WITH BLEACH TO KILL THE MOLD, AND WASHED TO CLEAN OUT THE MOLD "SCALE". IN ADDITION TO THE POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARD TO OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE, CLOGGED WITH MOLD FILTERS CAN PREVENT PROPER OPERATION OF THE DRAINS, RESULTING IN FLOODING OF THE CAR INTERIOR, AND RUST. WATER EXPOSURE CAN BE FROM CAR …

Owner-reported narrative. 7,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11040251 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2019-02-01 (February 1, 2019)

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.

Consequence: If the vehicle abruptly downshifts, the driver may lose control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the TCM with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3019A.

Reported: 2019-06-27 (June 27, 2019)

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.

Consequence: Parts that separate from the vehicle may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the skid plate, free of charge. The recall began August 2, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3619F.

Reported: 2024-09-18 (September 18, 2024)

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."

Consequence: An air bag that deploys with excessive force can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the Sophisticated Air Bag Sensor (SAS) control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 7, 2024. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 6924I.