2016 Mazda MX-5 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 2016 Mazda MX-5, and owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 2016 Mazda MX-5
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Software (air bags)
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…
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.…
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Underbody shields (structure)
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.
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…
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Power train: 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.
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…
34 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2016 Mazda MX-5 have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a crash. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 27,321 miles. Complaints peaked in 2016 with 5 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 30, 2026 · Steering
“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 sta”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 9, 2025 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2016 Mazda MX-5. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 30 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 26–27 / 34–36 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Two Seaters |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6); Manual 6-spd |
Compare Mazda MX-5 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Mazda MX-5 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 Mazda MX-5 | 1 | 25 |
| 2007 Mazda MX-5 | 0 | 17 |
| 2008 Mazda MX-5 | 0 | 7 |
| 2009 Mazda MX-5 | 0 | 3 |
| 2010 Mazda MX-5 | 0 | 4 |
| 2011 Mazda MX-5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2012 Mazda MX-5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2013 Mazda MX-5 | 0 | 2 |
| 2014 Mazda MX-5 | 0 | 6 |
| 2015 Mazda MX-5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2016 Mazda MX-5 | 3 | 34 |
| 2017 Mazda MX-5 | 2 | 11 |
| 2018 Mazda MX-5 | 3 | 3 |
| 2019 Mazda MX-5 | 3 | 11 |
| 2020 Mazda MX-5 | 1 | 3 |
| 2021 Mazda MX-5 | 1 | 1 |
| 2022 Mazda MX-5 | 1 | 5 |
| 2023 Mazda MX-5 | 1 | 7 |
| 2024 Mazda MX-5 | 1 | 5 |
| 2025 Mazda MX-5 | 1 | 3 |
| 2026 Mazda MX-5 | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 2016 Mazda MX-5
How do I know if my 2016 Mazda MX-5 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2016 Mazda MX-5; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mazda dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 19V072000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Mazda models
- 6263,130 complaints
- MAZDA32,987 complaints
- CX-52,451 complaints
- MAZDA62,234 complaints
- Tribute2,102 complaints
- CX-91,438 complaints
- CX-71,132 complaints
- Protege1,076 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.