2016 Mazda MX-5: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle	2016 / mazda / mx-5
known issues	7 clusters (reviewed 2026-08-30)
complaints	34 on file (2016-07-13 → 2026-04-30)
recalls	3
investigations	0
fars	9 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexed	yes
license	CC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Steering binding at speedSTEERING2 complaints2023-04 → 2026-04mx-5-2016-steering-binding-at-speed

11734925 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
11516406 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

Convertible top liner obscures rear windowUNKNOWN OR OTHER2 complaints2016-10 → 2023-07mx-5-2016-convertible-top-liner-obscures-view

11533115 I recently bought a used 2016 Mazda Miata convertible, and when the convertible top is up, the inner liner droops down and obscures about 1/4 to 1/3 of the rear window. I looked online for this problem and found that there are lots of 2016 Mazda Convertible Owners with the same
10919013 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

Blind spot monitoring system malfunctionELECTRICAL SYSTEM2 complaints2017-10 → 2020-10mx-5-2016-blind-spot-monitor-malfunction

11366245 WHEN DRIVING, MOST OF THE TIME THE BLIND SPOT SENSOR DOES NOT TURN ON (SOUND AND LIGHT). IT CAN GO DAYS WITHOUT TURNING ON AT ALL THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WORKS 1 OR 2 TIMES
11040460 BLIND SPOT MONITORING SYSTEM WOULD DISENGAGE ( COME OFF) WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING WHILE ANOTHER VEHICLE IS WITHIN RANGE ( CLOSE ON YOUR LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE. NO LIGHT INDICATES ON DASH THAT THE SYSTEM IS OFF NOR ANY WARNING OR BEEPS IS HEARD IF YOU ACTIVATE YOU CHANGE LANE SIGNALS

Exterior trim molding detachment at highway speedSTRUCTURE2 complaints2021-05 → 2022-08mx-5-2016-exterior-trim-detachment-highway

11478826 The top windshield trim piece popped off while on the highway. The windshield has never been replaced and this trim piece has never been removed. All but one of the clips failed
11416144 I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND I HEARD A LOUD CRACKING NOISE. I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION TO CHECK AND SAW THAT THE UPPER MOLDING PART OF THE CAR HAD BROKEN OFF

Manual transmission gear failurePOWER TRAIN11 complaints2016-07 → 2024-06mx-5-2016-manual-transmission-gear-failure

11595214 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
11208153 TRANSMISSION IS MADE OF WEAK GRADE MATERIALS AND RUNNING AT HIGH TEMPS CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING. I AM ON MY SECOND TRANSMISSION AND MAZDA FAILS TO HELP OR ADDRESS THE CONCERN. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN PROVEN BY MANY SHOPS AT THIS POINT AND MOST
10884455 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

Air bag recall repair parts unavailableAIR BAGS3 complaints2024-09 → 2025-04mx-5-2016-airbag-recall-parts-unavailable

11653763 The contact owns a 2016 Mazda MX-5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V695000 (AIR BAGS); however, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the
11624787 Contacted Rohrich Mazda 2690 W Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh Pa 412.344.3600 regarding the airbag recall today. They have no knowledge of this recall and therefore I am unable to have it corrected. Is my car safe to drive? When will I be able to get it fixed? Thanks, Bill
11616237 The contact owns a 2016 Mazda MX-5. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable

Air bag non-deployment in crashAIR BAGS2 complaints2016-11 → 2022-05mx-5-2016-airbag-non-deployment-crash

11464904 I was in an accident on May 1st 2022. I was traveling south when another car hit me. The airbags didn't deploy at all none of them did you can see from the pics and video I have attached and hear the audio from my dash cam saying the airbag deployment was detected but no airbags
10927258 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

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

count	earliest_date	latest_date	crash_flagged	fire_flagged	top_components
34	2016-07-13	2026-04-30	3	0	POWER TRAIN:11; UNKNOWN OR OTHER:7; AIR BAGS:5; STRUCTURE:4; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:4

Recalls all years →

campaign_number	report_received_date	component	summary	consequence	remedy
19V072000	01/02/2019	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)	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.	If the vehicle abruptly downshifts, the driver may lose control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.	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.
19V496000	27/06/2019	STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS	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.	Parts that separate from the vehicle may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.	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.
24V695000	18/09/2024	AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE	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."	An air bag that deploys with excessive force can increase the risk of injury during a crash.	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.

Investigations all years →

none listed

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_years	occupant_deaths	match_type	vpic_recovered
2010-2024	9	legacy-code	0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2016 Mazda MX-5 vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2016/mazda/mx-5

@misc{wrenchpro_2016_mazda_mx_5_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2016 Mazda MX-5},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2016/mazda/mx-5}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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