YearToAvoid

2006 Mazda MX-5 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

79/100

#5 most-complained of 20 MX-5 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2006 Mazda MX-5 has 25 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 79 out of 100 — #5 highest of 20 MX-5 model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is structure & body (7 complaints, 28% of the total). Complaints report 1 crash and 1 injury.

Complaints
25
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
24
21 city / 28 hwy

Top 2006 Mazda MX-5 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Structure & Body7 (28%)
  2. Seat Belts4 (16%)
  3. Electrical System3 (12%)
  4. Other3 (12%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (12%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain3 (12%)
  7. Airbags2 (8%)
  8. Brakes2 (8%)
  9. Steering2 (8%)
  10. Fuel System1 (4%)
2006 Mazda MX-5 complaints: complaints filed per month5Dec 2005Jun 2006Sep 2010Mar 2012May 2014Nov 2014Aug 2018
31 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2005 to Mar 2024; peak May 2014 (5).

2006 Mazda MX-5 recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. 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

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006Avoid7925124
2007Caution6817024
2008Good477024

All Mazda MX-5 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Mazda MX-5 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 Mazda MX-5 ranks #5 of 20 among MX-5 model years (Complaint Index 79/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 25 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Mazda MX-5?
The most reported problem areas are structure & body (7 complaints), seat belts (4 complaints), and electrical system (3 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 20,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Mazda MX-5 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2006 Mazda MX-5, most recently reported 2006, covering airbags.
What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Mazda MX-5?
EPA rates the 2006 Mazda MX-5 at 24 MPG combined (21 city / 28 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,300. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.