Vehicle Data Hub

2016 Mazda MX-5 problems

The 2016 Mazda MX-5 has 42 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (26%) concerns drivetrain & axles. Next are air bags (12%) and electrical system (10%).

At a glance

Complaints
42 filed with NHTSA
Most reported
Drivetrain & axles 26% of complaints
Crashes and fires
3 and 0
Injuries and deaths
2 and 0
Typical mileage
22,000 miles 26 complaints with mileage

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

Where the complaints are

Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.

  • Drivetrain & axles 26%
  • Air bags 12%
  • Electrical system 10%
  • Body & structure 10%
  • Engine 5%
  • Lighting 5%
  • Steering 5%
  • Wheels 5%
  • Cruise control 2%
  • Suspension 2%

When problems show up

Complaints by mileage, 2016 Mazda MX-5 Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 22,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 13 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 6 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 3 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 3 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 1 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 0 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 0 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 22,000 miles
Based on 26 complaints that include mileage. 85% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles13
20k to 40k miles6
40k to 60k miles3
60k to 80k miles3
80k to 100k miles1
100k to 120k miles0
120k to 140k miles0
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 26 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 22,000 miles.

Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 2 injuries reported.

It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.

What owners wrote

A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.

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.

Reported at 1,900 miles, November 2016 Injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 mazda mx-5. While driving approximately 10 MPH across an intersection, the vehicle decelerated. There were no warning indicators illuminated. Another vehicle traveling across the intersection colided with the rear passenger side of the contact's vehicle. Police report number: 2019643494 was filed. There were no injuries reported. The vehicle was towed to a body shop and repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 49,000.

Reported at 49,000 miles, December 2019 Crash

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 came out. (Dash cam video won't upload but I can email or text it if needed) the car is currently at the Ken garff Honda body shop in Riverdale Utah.

May 2022 Crash

Car was in motion, while driving the car the red key light on the engine start button started flashing. When we got home the car would not turn off. Also couldn't shift the car. Finally got the car to turn off and when we started the car again the check engine light came on. Car dealership found several codes stored, but could not find the problem. Believe this is a serious safety issue with red warning lights start flashing when driving, car would not turn off and we could not shift the car.

Reported at 25,850 miles, June 2018

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.

Reported at 50,000 miles, August 2019

Other model years of the MX-5

  • 2026
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