2006 Mazda MX-5 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2006 Mazda MX-5 has a complaint index of 79, ranking 5th worst out of 20 model years, and carries an Avoid verdict. Owners most often reported Structure & Body issues (28% of complaints) along with steering, transmission, and electrical problems, plus one airbag recall.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 79/100
- #5 of 20 MX-5 years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 25
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Structure & Body
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 24
- 21 city / 28 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2006 Mazda MX-5 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Structure & Body7 (28%)
- Seat Belts4 (16%)
- Electrical System3 (12%)
- Other3 (12%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (12%)
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (12%)
- Airbags2 (8%)
- Brakes2 (8%)
- Steering2 (8%)
- Fuel System1 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Rear tire or wheel failures have caused sudden loss of steering control at highway speed.
- Owners describe constant steering correction needed to keep the car tracking straight, with dealers unable to find a fix.
- Power windows stop working in cold weather, requiring repeated raising and lowering to free them.
- The manual transmission clutch friction point shifts unexpectedly, moving from near the floor to near the top of pedal travel.
- Some drivers report accidentally engaging first gear instead of reverse, or reverse instead of first, due to a narrow shift gate.
- Convertible top leaks and a rattling noise near the center console appear within the first few thousand miles.
2006 Mazda MX-5 recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 06V103000Apr 5, 2006Airbags2,600 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
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.
Risk: 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.
2006 Mazda MX-5 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 28 MPG
- Combined
- 24 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,300
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2006 compared with other MX-5 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2006 Mazda MX-5 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 MX-5 has a complaint index of 79 and ranks 5th worst among the 20 model years with data, earning an Avoid verdict relative to other MX-5 years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 Mazda MX-5?
- NHTSA complaints show Structure & Body issues make up 28% of reports, followed by seat belt problems at 16%, and electrical, suspension, and transmission issues each at 12%.
- Does the 2006 Mazda MX-5 have any recalls?
- Yes, one recall (campaign 06V103000) covers a driver-side front airbag module where the horn assembly bolt could fail during deployment in low temperatures; dealers replace the module free of charge.
- How does the 2006 MX-5 compare to other model years?
- The 2006 MX-5's complaint index of 79 is worse than 2007 (68, Caution) and 2008 (47, Good), but better than 2016 (100, Avoid) and 2009 (95).
- What mileage do 2006 MX-5 problems typically show up at?
- The median mileage at failure across all reported issues for the 2006 MX-5 is 20,000 miles, though specific problem areas vary, with transmission issues appearing as early as 2,050 miles.