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Light NHTSA footprint — 34 owner complaints and 1 active recall campaign. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
The 2016 Mazda MX-5 has 34 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 recall on file (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). The most-reported system is powertrain at 11 complaints, typically surfacing around 33,002 miles (~$2,500 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 MX-5 | 2 | 0 |
| 2014 MX-5 | 6 | 0 |
| 2015 MX-5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016 MX-5 (this page) | 34 | 1 |
| 2017 MX-5 | 11 | 0 |
| 2018 MX-5 | 3 | 1 |
| 2019 MX-5 | 11 | 0 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: powertrain is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 33,002 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 1 active recall on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 8.2/10 model. The priciest documented failure is powertrain (~$2,500) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
Headlights shake. Mirror covers on visors broke, never even used mirrors. Burns oil.
The car was stationary, in neutral with the parking brake in place when I heard a loud bang and then the next day, the transmission was making an unusual whining noise in third gear while driving on the city and in the highway (during traffic) at around 30-35 MPH. This LED me to…
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…
Since 2019 there have been several instances with my vehicle where someone has been able to knock the power offline thereby disabling it. It happened in five locations - a storage location in Olive BranchN MS, a former address in Memphis, TN (4330 Angarath Dr), a restaurant…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Parts that separate from the vehicle may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.2 out of 10 based on 34 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Mazda MX-5 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
On the NHTSA data, the 2016 Mazda MX-5 does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.2/10 — above the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the powertrain first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 11 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 33,002 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 8.2 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 34 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is powertrain. Typical failure occurs around 33,002 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 11 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 33,002 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 33,002 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 34 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.