YearToAvoid

2017 Mazda MX-5 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

80/100

#4 most-complained of 16 MX-5 years

The 2017 Mazda MX-5 has a Complaint Index of 80, ranking 4th worst out of 16 model years, with an Avoid verdict. Owners mainly reported Visibility & Wipers issues (36% of complaints) plus two recalls covering airbags and transmission software.

Complaints
11
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
29
26 city / 34 hwy

Top 2017 Mazda MX-5 problems

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

  1. Visibility & Wipers4 (36%)
  2. Brakes2 (18%)
  3. Steering2 (18%)
  4. Airbags1 (9%)
  5. Electrical System1 (9%)
  6. Other1 (9%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (9%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain1 (9%)

What owners report

  • Convertible top headliner comes unfastened and sags, partially blocking rear visibility, and recurs even after repeated repairs.
  • Windshields develop rock chips that spiderweb or crack outright, sometimes while the car is simply parked.
  • Rear windshield has spontaneously cracked or shattered with a loud noise while the vehicle sat idle.
  • Power steering malfunction light triggers sudden stiff steering and unexpected automatic braking at freeway speed, causing loss of control.
  • Front Brembo brakes have locked up overnight after parking, releasing only with a loud snap when forced.
  • Tire sidewalls have blown out during normal highway driving, followed by a flat tire from the same wheel weeks later.
2017 Mazda MX-5 complaints: complaints filed per month2Mar 2017Nov 2018Mar 2019Nov 2024Sep 2025Mar 2026
13 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2017 to Mar 2026; peak May 2017 (2).

2017 Mazda MX-5 recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 24V695000Sep 18, 2024Airbags77,670 vehicles

    Air bags: air bag/restraint control module:software

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016-2023 MX-5 Miata vehicles. A software error in the air bag control module may cause the front air bags to deploy with excessive force during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

    Risk: An air bag that deploys with excessive force can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the Sophisticated Air Bag Sensor (SAS) control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 7, 2024. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 6924I.

  2. NHTSA 19V072000Feb 1, 2019Transmission & Powertrain14,370 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission:control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016-2019 MX-5 (Miata) vehicles with automatic transmissions. Due to incorrect programming of the Transmission Control Module (TCM), certain conditions may cause the vehicle to unexpectedly downshift and abruptly decelerate.

    Risk: If the vehicle abruptly downshifts, the driver may lose control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the TCM with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3019A.

2017 Mazda MX-5 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
26 MPG
Highway
34 MPG
Combined
29 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,750
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.

2017 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
2015No verdict71024
2016Avoid10034330
2017Avoid8011229
2018No verdict273329
2019Avoid8711329.5

All Mazda MX-5 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Mazda MX-5 a bad year?
NHTSA data gives the 2017 MX-5 a Complaint Index of 80 and an Avoid verdict, ranking 4th worst among 16 model years of the MX-5.
What is the biggest problem with the 2017 Mazda MX-5?
Visibility & Wipers complaints, mostly convertible-top headliner and windshield cracking issues, make up 36% of reported problems, with a median failure mileage of 8,300 miles.
Does the 2017 Mazda MX-5 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists two recalls for the 2017 MX-5: one for airbag control module software that could cause excessive deployment force, and one for transmission control module software affecting automatic-transmission cars.
How does the 2017 MX-5 compare to other years?
The 2017 MX-5's Complaint Index of 80 is close to the 2019 model (87) and 2023 model (93), both also rated Avoid, while years like 2014 (Complaint Index 47) and 2015 (Complaint Index 7) fared better.

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.