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2018 Mazda MX-5

Gas
Two Seaters
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
B
Safety Signal
81 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns3
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA3
Crash ratingNHTSA overall—
Fuel economybest combined, EPA29 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2018 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 29 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 3 complaints, most often about the structure.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
MX-5GasRWD2.0L 4-cyl263329$2,650
MX-5GasRWD2.0L 4-cyl263529$2,650

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 39770, 39771.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2018 Mazda MX-5 is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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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

Fuel System, Gasoline

5321K
121,038 vehicles
ProblemMazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.RiskFuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5321K.
NHTSA campaign 21V875000reported Nov 12, 2021Mazda 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
3complaints filed

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

Filed per year: 2019: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2024: 1

Most-cited components

Structure1
Electrical System1
Engine1
Vehicle Speed Control1
Power Train1

What owners describe

“2018 Mazda Miata MX-5 Club Sport, manual transmission Heading home from a friends house that evening, transmission started whirring/whining in 6th gear, then 5th, and so on through 2nd - 1st gear seems to be unaffected. I was forced to apply hazard flashers and travel well below the speed limit in the right lane of the…”Jun 19, 2024 · Power Train · 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

A

2026 Mazda MX-5

0 recalls · 1 complaints

A

2025 Mazda MX-5

1 recalls · 3 complaints

A

2024 Mazda MX-5

1 recalls · 5 complaints

A

2023 Mazda MX-5

1 recalls · 7 complaints

A

2022 Mazda MX-5

1 recalls · 5 complaints

A

2021 Mazda MX-5

1 recalls · 1 complaints

A

2020 Mazda MX-5

1 recalls · 3 complaints

B

2019 Mazda MX-5

3 recalls · 11 complaints

B

2017 Mazda MX-5

2 recalls · 11 complaints

B

2016 Mazda MX-5

3 recalls · 34 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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