Model year record
The 2006 Mazda MX-5 has 1 safety recall and 25 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is structure (6 complaints).
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
| City / highway | 22 / 27 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,400/year to fuel
| City / highway | 21 / 28 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,400/year to fuel
| City / highway | 20 / 28 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| StructureBody | 6 | 30,000 mi |
| Air bagsSensor › Occupant classification; Sensor › Occupant classification › Front passenger | 5 | 177,000 mi |
| Seat belts | 4 | 30,000 mi |
| Power trainManual transmission › Floor shift assembly; Clutch assembly | 3 | — |
| Unknown or other | 3 | — |
| SteeringHydraulic power assist system | 2 | — |
| Electrical system | 2 | — |
| Tires | 2 | — |
| SuspensionFront › Control arm › Lower ball joint | 2 | — |
| VisibilityPower window devices and controls | 1 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 1 | — |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Started out as intermittent Air Bag/Seat Belt Pretensioner system warning light about 3 months ago. Over the last 2 weeks, the warning stayed on per the manual and required replacement. I had this service performed on 3/6/2024 at a cost of $811.43 by Sumter Tire and Auto using Preordered Mazda parts invoiced on 3/1/2024.
air bag warning light for passenger will not go off
WHEN IT RAINS, WATER LEAKS INTO AND POOLS UNDER SEATS AND IN THE TRUNK. JUST HAD THE TOP REPLACED, SO IT IS NOT DUE TO AN OLD TOP. JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS CAR.
PASSENGER AIRBAG SEAT SENSOR NOT DETECTING PERSONS IN SEAT. AIRBAGS REMAIN TURNED OFF. PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATED, CODE 48 FLASHES ON DASH. COMMON PROBLEM. DOESN'T MATTER IF CAR IS MOVING OR NOT.
THE MX-5 HAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ROOF DRAIN ON THE CANDACE CONVERTIBLE TOP. IT FLOODS YOUR CAR YOUR FLOORBOARDS AND YOUR TRUCK IS FILLED WITH WATER. IT IS VERY COSTLY TO HAVE THIS REPLACED AND CARPETS DRAINED OF WATER AND THEN CLEANED. I LOVE MY CAR BUT IF I HAD KNOWN OF THIS DEFECT I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED IT.
SAME PROBLEM AS MANY OF THE OTHER PEOPLE ON THIS WEBSITE. THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM FOR THE CANVAS CONVERTIBLE IS PROBLEMATIC. HAVING WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE AS WELL AS IN THE TRUNK. COULD THIS CAUSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM? NOT SURE. IT CAN CERTAINLY CAUSE BLACK MOLD , AND I HAVE RESPIRATORY DIFFICULTIES AS IT IS! IN MY CASE, THE INSIDE OF CAR WAS MUSTY FOR MANY MONTHS (6+). I PARK MY CAR UNDER COVER, SO IT DIDN'T GET ENOUGH WATER IN TO NOTICE THE WATER OTHER THAN BY THE SMELL.BUT EACH TIME I LOOKED FOR THE SOURCE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY MOISTURE...BUT THAT MUSTY SMELL PERSISTED, AND I DIDN'T EVEN THINK OF IT MORE, OTHER THAN TO GET AIRFRESHENERS, AND RIDE WITH TOP DOWN WHEN I COULD. LOOKING BACK, THIS…
I HAVE A 2006 MX5 MIATA AND THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL AND CAP WILL NOT STAY TIGHT ALSO GETTING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I CONTACTED MAZDA AND THEY SAID THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE FILLER NECK AND CAP WILL COME OFF. FUEL SLOSHES OUT AND I REPLACED CAP WITH AN UPDATED ONE. STILL COMES LOOSE LEADING THE FILLER NECK ISSUE. THEY WILL NOT REPAIR AS ITS NOT A RECALL. MY CONCERN IS THAT IT IS A FIRE HAZARD AND THEY WILL NOT REPAIR A DEFECT THAT IS KNOWN TO HAPPEN. *TR
2ND REQUEST, NO RESPONSE RECEIVED FROM 1ST REQUEST I BOUGHT MY 2006 MAZDA MIATA FROM CARMAX (SANFORD, FL) IN 2011. MY CAR BEGAN FLOODING EVERY TIME IT RAINED. I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 50 FLOODS TO DATE. THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR HAS EXTENSIVE MOLD DAMAGE AND MILDEW. THE FLOORS ARE RUSTED. THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE SEATS IN PLACE ARE SEVERELY RUSTED. ONE SEAT NO LONGER CAN BE MOVED ON ITS' TRACK. THE DRIVER'S SEAT SLIDES OUT OF PLACE WHILE DRIVING. THE SEATBELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NO LONGER RETRACTS. ROACHES ARE LIVING IN THE CAR. I CONTACTED CARMAX BUT THEY WERE UNWILLING TO TAKE THE CAR BACK. THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOWROOM AND NOT ON THE LOT. I'M GUESSING THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM. THE 2006 AND 2007…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.