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2006 Mazda MX-5

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 19 of 25 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Structure complaints

6 reports
Clear category filter
68,125 miles · Aug 11, 2018
Structure

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.

NHTSA ODI #11119348

30,000 miles · May 1, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Seat Belts

MY CAR WAS PARKED AT WORK. IT WAS RAINING. WHEN I GOT INTO THE VEHICLE, IT WAS FLOODED ON THE INSIDE UP TO 6 INCHES. THE GAS PEDAL WAS SLIPPERY. IT SMELLED MUSTY, LIKE MILDEW AND MOLD. I CONTACTED THE DEALER BUT GOT NO RETURN PHONE CALLS. I WROTE THEM A LETTER AND RECEIVED A PHONE CALL THEN. THEY TOLD ME TO TRADE THE CAR IN IF I…

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MY CAR WAS PARKED AT WORK. IT WAS RAINING. WHEN I GOT INTO THE VEHICLE, IT WAS FLOODED ON THE INSIDE UP TO 6 INCHES. THE GAS PEDAL WAS SLIPPERY. IT SMELLED MUSTY, LIKE MILDEW AND MOLD. I CONTACTED THE DEALER BUT GOT NO RETURN PHONE CALLS. I WROTE THEM A LETTER AND RECEIVED A PHONE CALL THEN. THEY TOLD ME TO TRADE THE CAR IN IF I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS. I TOLD THEM THEY SOLD ME A FLOOD CAR AND WANTED TO RETURN IT. THEY REFUSED. THIS WAS CARMAX IN SANFORD, FL. SINCE THAT TIME, THE CAR HAS FLOODED OVER 25 TIMES. I AM NOW LIVING WITH ROACHES BREEDING IN MY CAR. IT SMELLS LIKE MOLD. THE WINDOWS ARE FOGGED FROM THE INSIDE DAILY. THE SEATS HAVE GOTTEN STUCK AND THEN SLIDE OUT OF PLACE WHILE I'M DRIVING. MY INSURANCE COMPANY, GEICO, REFUSED TO HELP ME, STATING THAT THIS DAMAGE PROBABLY OCCURRED BEFORE I OWNED THE CAR. I BELIEVE THE DEALER KNEW OF THESE PROBLEMS, THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOWROOM AND NOT OUT ON THE LOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10585977

45,500 miles · May 1, 2014
Structure

THE MX-5 HAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ROOF DRAINS ON THE CANVAS CONVERTIBLE TOP. IT FLOODS CONSTANTLY. I AM REALLY GROWING TIRED OF VACUUMING UP WATER IN THIS CAR. IT EVEN FLOODS THE TRUNK. WET FEET IN STANDING WATER MAKES FOR A SAFETY ISSUE DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL YOU CAN GET TO A WET VAC TO EVACUATE STANDING WATER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10585837

17,000 miles · Jun 19, 2013
Structure

EXCESSIVE FLOODING IN CABIN ON DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL AS TRUNK. MAZDA HAS SINCE MODIFIED THEIR ROOF DRAIN SYSTEM AS THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT. ONCE THE MODEL IS OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY, THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE PARTS WITH UPDATED PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CONVERTIBLE ROOF ITSELF DOES NOT LEAK. IT IS THE DESIGN OF …

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EXCESSIVE FLOODING IN CABIN ON DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL AS TRUNK. MAZDA HAS SINCE MODIFIED THEIR ROOF DRAIN SYSTEM AS THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT. ONCE THE MODEL IS OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY, THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE PARTS WITH UPDATED PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CONVERTIBLE ROOF ITSELF DOES NOT LEAK. IT IS THE DESIGN OF THE ROOF DRAINAGE SYSTEM. MAZDA NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR FIXING ALL OF THESE CARS. THE NEW PARTS INCLUDE DEBRIS FILTERS AND RIBBED VALVES WHICH REDUCE BAFFLES GETTING STUCK SHUT IN THE DRAIN LINES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520735

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2006
Structure

I HAVE NOTICED A "SQUEAK" IN THE CONSOLE BETWEEN THE 2 SEATS, AND A HUGE LEAK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE (ENTIRE FLOOR CARPET WAS SOAKED FROM THE FRONT TO UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT) OF OUR NEW MIATA MS-5 (LESS THAN 5,000 MILES). *JB

NHTSA ODI #10165584

2,500 miles · Jul 16, 2006
StructureUnknown Or Other

CAR STARTED RATTLING FROM THE CONSOLE AREA BETWEEN THE SEATS WHERE YOU OPEN YOUR GAS CAP AT. THIS STARTED ABOUT A MONTH INTO HAVING THE VEHICLE. THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS LEAKING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR IT'S 3000 MILE MAINTENANCE. I WAS TOLD THAT "CONVERTIBLE TOPS LEAK AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE RATTLE." THE RATTLE HAS SI…

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CAR STARTED RATTLING FROM THE CONSOLE AREA BETWEEN THE SEATS WHERE YOU OPEN YOUR GAS CAP AT. THIS STARTED ABOUT A MONTH INTO HAVING THE VEHICLE. THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS LEAKING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR IT'S 3000 MILE MAINTENANCE. I WAS TOLD THAT "CONVERTIBLE TOPS LEAK AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE RATTLE." THE RATTLE HAS SINCE GOTTEN WORSE AND THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS STILL LEAKING. I WILL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE IN AGAIN FOR THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I DO NOT FEEL THAT I AM MAKING MUCH PROGRESS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10162518

Official recalls

1

06V103000 · Air Bags:frontal

Apr 5, 2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BOLT ATTACHING THE HORN ASSEMBLY TO THE STEERING WHEEL HUB MAY FAIL DURING A DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN EXTREMELY LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE HORN ASSEMBLY MAY SEPARATE AND COULD INJURE THE DRIVER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER-SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 28, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 800-222-5500.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.