Mazda

MX-5

Two Seaters · model years 2006 to 2026

See all 52 MX-5 trims All Mazda cars

The verdict

Best year: 2015. complaints: 0, below this model's typical 3; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1.

Worst year: 2016. complaints: 34, about 17x this model's typical 2; recalls: 3, about 3x this model's typical 1.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Mazda MX-5
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	TSBs	Top complaints
2006	3Gas	24	no data	$3,200	no data	no data	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2006
2007	3Gas	24	no data	$3,200	no data	no data	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2007
2008	3Gas	24	no data	$3,200	no data	no data	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2008
2009	3Gas	24	no data	$3,200	no data	no data	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2009
2010	3Gas	24	163	$3,200	0	0	184	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 3 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
2011	3Gas	24	163	$3,200	0	0	185	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 3 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
2012	3Gas	24	163	$3,200	0	0	185	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 3 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
2013	3Gas	24	163	$3,200	0	0	186	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 3 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
2014	3Gas	24	163	$3,200	0	0	167	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 3 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
2015	3Gas	24	163	$3,200	0	0	165	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 3 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	2Gas	30	155	$2,550	3	34	469	POWER TRAIN 26%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17%, AIR BAGS 12%
complaints: 34, about 17x this model's typical 2 recalls: 3, about 3x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	2Gas	29	155	$2,650	2	11	390	VISIBILITY/WIPER 31%, STEERING 15%, AIR BAGS 8%
complaints: 11, about 5.5x this model's typical 2 recalls: 2, about 2x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 9 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	2Gas	29	155	$2,650	3	3	343	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20%, ENGINE 20%, POWER TRAIN 20%
complaints: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 recalls: 3, about 3x this model's typical 1 Score: 25 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	2Gas	29.5	181	$2,600	2	11	286	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 11%, POWER TRAIN 11%
complaints: 11, about 5.5x this model's typical 2 recalls: 2, about 2x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 Score: 8 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	2Gas	29.5	181	$2,600	1	2	243	AIR BAGS 50%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 50%
complaints: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 Score: 70 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	2Gas	29.5	181	$2,600	1	1	204	POWER TRAIN 100%
complaints: 1, below this model's typical 2 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 Score: 78 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	2Gas	29.5	181	$2,600	1	5	161	POWER TRAIN 50%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 17%
complaints: 5, about 2.5x this model's typical 2 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 Score: 30 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	2Gas	29.5	181	$2,600	1	7	114	POWER TRAIN 50%, AIR BAGS 13%, SEAT BELTS 13%
complaints: 7, about 3.5x this model's typical 2 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 29 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	2Gas	29	181	$2,650	1	5	117	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 29%, POWER TRAIN 29%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 14%
complaints: 5, about 2.5x this model's typical 2 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 Score: 30 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	2Gas	29	181	$2,600	1	2	65	SEAT BELTS 50%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 50%
complaints: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 Score: 70 of 100, where higher is better.
2026	2Gas	29	no data	$2,600	no data	no data	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2026

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median2006: 24 to 2026: 29

Owner complaints2010: 0 to 2025: 2

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Mazda MX-5 to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.