YearToAvoid

2012 Mazda MX-5 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

53/100

#8 most-complained of 16 MX-5 years

The 2012 Mazda MX-5 has 5 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 53 out of 100 — #8 highest of 16 MX-5 model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is brakes (2 complaints, 40% of the total). Complaints report 1 crash.

Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
24
21 city / 27 hwy

Top 2012 Mazda MX-5 problems

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

  1. Brakes2 (40%)
  2. Airbags1 (20%)
  3. Engine1 (20%)
  4. Structure & Body1 (20%)
  5. Visibility & Wipers1 (20%)
2012 Mazda MX-5 complaints: complaints filed per month2Apr 2012Jul 2014Nov 2016Feb 2017
6 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2012 to Feb 2017; peak Apr 2012 (2).

2012 Mazda MX-5 recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2012 Mazda MX-5 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21 MPG
Highway
27 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.

2012 compared with other MX-5 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010No verdict334024
2011No verdict01024
2012Caution535024
2013No verdict202024
2014Good476024

All Mazda MX-5 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Mazda MX-5 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 Mazda MX-5 ranks #8 of 16 among MX-5 model years (Complaint Index 53/100, verdict: Caution). It has 5 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Mazda MX-5?
The most reported problem areas are brakes (2 complaints), airbags (1 complaints), and engine (1 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 450 miles.
Does the 2012 Mazda MX-5 have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2012 Mazda MX-5 in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Mazda MX-5?
EPA rates the 2012 Mazda MX-5 at 24 MPG combined (21 city / 27 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.