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2016 Mazda MX-5

Gas

Two Seaters
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11

Safety Signal

81 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns3

Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA34

Crash ratingNHTSA overall—

Fuel economybest combined, EPA30 mpg

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2016 Mazda MX-5 is sold in the U.S. as a gas sports car with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the MX-5, is EPA-rated at 30 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 34 complaints, most often about the power train.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
MX-5	Gas	RWD	2.0L 4-cyl	27	34	30	$2,600
MX-5	Gas	RWD	2.0L 4-cyl	26	36	30	$2,600

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36168, 36169.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database

○minor

Air Bags

6924I

77,670 vehicles

ProblemMazda 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."RiskAn air bag that deploys with excessive force can increase the risk of injury during a crash.FixDealers 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 24V695000reported Sep 18, 2024Mazda North American Operations

▲high

Structure

3619F

2,476 vehicles

ProblemMazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016 Miata MX-5 vehicles. The skid plate and metal bracket may detach from underneath the vehicle.RiskParts that separate from the vehicle may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.FixMazda 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.

NHTSA campaign 19V496000reported Jun 27, 2019Mazda North American Operations

▲high

Power Train

3019A

14,370 vehicles

ProblemMazda 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.RiskIf the vehicle abruptly downshifts, the driver may lose control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.FixMazda 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 19V072000reported Feb 1, 2019Mazda North American Operations

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

34complaints filed

3 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 5 · 2017: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 5 · 2020: 5 · 2021: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 1

Most-cited components

Power Train11

Unspecified7

Air Bags5

Structure4

Electrical System4

Wheels2

What owners describe

“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 â€œstuck/stickyâ€� and requires more force to turn. When applied more force the car over corrects and you swerve cause the amount of force you needed to apply. Seems like something …”Apr 30, 2026 · Steering · NHTSA owner report

“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 recall repair. The dealer was made aware of t…”Apr 9, 2025 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report

“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”Nov 12, 2024 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Other MX-5 model years

2026 Mazda MX-5

0 recalls · 1 complaints

2025 Mazda MX-5

1 recalls · 3 complaints

2024 Mazda MX-5

1 recalls · 5 complaints

2023 Mazda MX-5

1 recalls · 7 complaints

2022 Mazda MX-5

1 recalls · 5 complaints

2021 Mazda MX-5

1 recalls · 1 complaints

2020 Mazda MX-5

1 recalls · 3 complaints

2019 Mazda MX-5

3 recalls · 11 complaints

2018 Mazda MX-5

3 recalls · 3 complaints

2017 Mazda MX-5

2 recalls · 11 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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