2017 Mazda MX-5: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
8,150 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility/Wiper is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 11 complaints (36.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 18.2% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 18.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 9.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Visibility/Wiper | 4 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Tires:Sidewall | 1 |
Visibility/Wiper: 4; Steering: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Power Train: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Tires:Sidewall: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 2; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Visibility/Wiper leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10959824 · 2017-03-09 (March 9, 2017)
THE HEADLINER ON MY CONVERTIBLE TOP COMES UNFASTENED RIGHT ABOVE THE REAR WINDOW. IT SAGS DOWN BLOCKING THE VEIW BY AN INCH AND A HALF. THIS HAS BEEN FIXED 3 TIMES AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. THIS WINDOW IS SMALL TO BEGIN WITH. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND THE TOP WAS BEING TAKEN DOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10959824 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10984603 · 2017-05-10 (May 10, 2017)
WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, SUDDENLY LOST ALL STEERING WITH CAR GOING STRAIGHT ACROSS LANE. "POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION" WARNING LIGHT APPEARED, THEN STEERING RETURNED. "DSC MALFUNCTION" WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ON AND "TPMS MALFUNCTION" WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ON. IF THERE WAS A CAR IN OPPOSITE LANE, WOULD HAVE RAN INTO. ONCE CAR WAS RESTARTED, ALL WARNINGS DISAPPEARED. BRINGING INTO DEALER 5/11.
Owner-reported narrative. 915 miles reported. Look up ODI 10984603 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11155218 · 2018-11-30 (November 30, 2018)
FRONT BREMBO BRAKES LOCKED AFTER CAR IS PARKED OVERNIGHT. IT UNLOCKED AFTER I FORCE THE CAR FORWARD. IT RELEASES WITH A LOUD SNAP. THIS OCCURS 2 OR 3 TIMES A MONTH. CAR DRIVES FINE. DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION. DEALER REQUESTS OVERNIGHT ASSESSMENT UNFORTUNATELY THIS OCCURS WITHOUT PREDICTABILITY.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11155218 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11155804 · 2018-12-03 (December 3, 2018)
WHEN USING ANDROID AUTO WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THE TOUCHSCREEN IS DISABLED WHICH MEANS I NEED MY EYES ON THE SCREEN TO WATCH THE SELECTION MOVE BY TURNING THE SELECTION WHEEL RATHER THAN JUST TOUCHING THE SCREEN. I THINK THIS IS MUCH MORE OF A DISTRACTION. OTHER CAR MODELS ALLOW TOUCHSCREEN USE.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11155804 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11186624 · 2019-03-13 (March 13, 2019)
AT 8300 MILES THIS CAR HAS DOZENS OF ROCK CHIPS IN THE WINDSHIELD, MOST OF WHICH WERE PICKED UP FROM DRIVING ON RELATIVELY CLEAN INTERSTATES AND SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEGUN TO SPIDERWEB. I BELIEVE THAT THE GLASS ON THIS VEHICLE IS ABNORMALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO PICKING UP CHIPS FROM ROCKS WHICH WILL IN TIME CREATE STRESS RISERS AND CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD TO FAIL PREMATURELY. I TALKED TO A MAZDA REP AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE NOR WAS THE WINDSHIELD COVERED BY THE FACTORY WARRANTY. THEY DIRECTED ME TO TAKE MY COMPLAINT TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 8,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11186624 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11221551 · 2019-06-20 (June 20, 2019)
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A LOT. THE CRACK APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND RAPIDLY PROPOGATED HORIZONTALLY ALONG THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD TO ROUGHLY THE CENTER OF THE GLASS. THE CAR HAD 12000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11221551 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11625369 · 2024-11-14 (November 14, 2024)
Airbag recall mail received from Mazda, when trying to book online mazdausa.com service depart denies vehicle has a recall and refused to schedule appointment
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11625369 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11667552 · 2025-06-17 (June 17, 2025)
Vehicles rear windshield spontaneously shattered. Vehicle was idle and upon starting the vehicle a cracking sound was heard in the cabin and the rear view mirror was unusable as the rear windshield was entirely shattered into <1 inch pieces. Small pieces of loose glass had fallen from both upper corners of the windshield. The windshield is still attached to the vehicle and rear visibility is severely limited. No third-party inspections have been executed. There was no previous damage to the windshield and the car was idling when the failure oc…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11667552 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
19V072000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V695000 · Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module:Software
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗