Model year

2016 Mazda MX-5

NHTSA lists 3 recalls and 34 complaints for the 2016 Mazda MX-5 (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). The components listed on the most complaints are POWER TRAIN (11), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (7), AIR BAGS (5). NHTSA lists crash-test variants for this model year and marks the overall rating Not Rated. EPA rates it 30 mpg combined (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $2,750, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.

ABOUT THIS DATA

Recalls

24V695000 · Sep 18, 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…

19V496000 · Jun 27, 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.

19V072000 · Feb 1, 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…

Complaints

34 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 3, fire flag on 0, injury field 2, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.

  1. POWER TRAIN11
  2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER7
  3. AIR BAGS5
  4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
  5. STRUCTURE:BODY4
  6. ENGINE2
  7. EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
  8. STEERING2
  9. WHEELS2
  10. SUSPENSION1

Investigations

No investigations are matched to this name.

Safety ratings

NHTSA 5-star variants matched to this model year (1). Rollover possibility is the API's published figure, shown as recorded.
VariantOverallFrontSidePoleRolloverPhoto
C RWD Not rated Not RatedNot RatedNot RatedNot Rated · possibility 0—

Fuel economy

EPA configurations. Electric rows show MPGe in the combined column and kWh/100 mi separately. Annual fuel cost is EPA's published fuelCost08 figure.
ConfigurationFuelCityHwyCombkWh/100 miRangeAnnual fuel cost
MX-5 · 2L · Manual 6-spd · Rear-Wheel DrivePremium Gasoline273430——$2,750
MX-5 · 2L · Automatic (S6) · Rear-Wheel DrivePremium Gasoline263630——$2,750

Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.

Check a vehicle

This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2016 Mazda MX-5 at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.

All Mazda MX-5 model years