2023 Mazda MX-5 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2023 Mazda MX-5 has a complaint index of 84, ranking 4th worst out of 20 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. Owners mainly report manual transmission problems, which make up 57% of complaints, plus one airbag recall.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 84/100
- #4 of 20 MX-5 years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 7
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 29.5
- 26 city / 34.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2023 Mazda MX-5 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (57%)
- Airbags1 (14%)
- Other1 (14%)
- Seat Belts1 (14%)
- Steering1 (14%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Manual transmissions fail at low mileage, with some owners reporting failure at less than 10,000 miles.
- Third and fourth gear become unusable without warning while driving.
- Synchronizer failure causes unreliable gear changes and has led to more than one transmission replacement on the same car.
- First gear sometimes refuses to engage, forcing the driver to start in second gear.
- Shifting from second to third gear produces a grinding noise, sometimes requiring a full transmission replacement.
- Steering feels sticky and requires extra force to move out of position once the car reaches full operating temperature.
2023 Mazda MX-5 recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- 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.
2023 Mazda MX-5 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 26 MPG
- Highway
- 34.5 MPG
- Combined
- 29.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,700
- 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.
2023 compared with other MX-5 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2023 Mazda MX-5 reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2023 MX-5 a complaint index of 84 and ranks it 4th worst among 20 model years, with an Avoid verdict relative to other MX-5 years.
- What is the main problem with the 2023 Mazda MX-5?
- Transmission & Powertrain issues dominate, making up 57% of complaints (4 of 7), mostly involving manual transmission failures and shifting problems.
- Does the 2023 Mazda MX-5 have a recall?
- Yes. NHTSA recall 24V695000 covers a software error in the airbag control module that can cause front airbags to deploy with excessive force during a crash, affecting 2016-2023 MX-5 Miata vehicles.
- How does the 2023 MX-5 compare to other years?
- The 2023 model's complaint index of 84 is higher than most other MX-5 years; only 2016 (100) and 2019 (89) score worse, both also rated Avoid.