2006 Mazda MX-5

25 complaints on file, page 1 of 2.

1. Filed Mar 6, 2024Failure Feb 21, 2024The Villages, FLSeat belts

   Started out as intermittent Air Bag/Seat Belt Pretensioner system warning light about 3 months ago. Over the last 2 weeks, the warning stayed on per the manual and required replacement. I had this service performed on 3/6/2024 at a cost of $811.43 by Sumter Tire and Auto using Preordered Mazda parts invoiced on 3/1/2024.

   NHTSA complaint 11575781
2. Filed Aug 23, 2022Failure Aug 22, 2022Lehigh Acres, FLAir bags, Occupant classification

   air bag warning light for passenger will not go off

   NHTSA complaint 11480898
3. Filed Aug 11, 2018Failure Aug 9, 201868,125 milesJupiter, FLBody

   WHEN IT RAINS, WATER LEAKS INTO AND POOLS UNDER SEATS AND IN THE TRUNK. JUST HAD THE TOP REPLACED, SO IT IS NOT DUE TO AN OLD TOP. JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS CAR.

   NHTSA complaint 11119348
4. Filed Apr 6, 2018Failure Apr 3, 2018177,000 milesLewisville, TXFront passenger, Occupant classification, Air bags

   PASSENGER AIRBAG SEAT SENSOR NOT DETECTING PERSONS IN SEAT. AIRBAGS REMAIN TURNED OFF. PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATED, CODE 48 FLASHES ON DASH. COMMON PROBLEM. DOESN'T MATTER IF CAR IS MOVING OR NOT.

   NHTSA complaint 11083584
5. Filed Jun 11, 2015Failure Jun 1, 2011Memphis, TNUnknown or other

   THE MX-5 HAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ROOF DRAIN ON THE CANDACE CONVERTIBLE TOP. IT FLOODS YOUR CAR YOUR FLOORBOARDS AND YOUR TRUCK IS FILLED WITH WATER. IT IS VERY COSTLY TO HAVE THIS REPLACED AND CARPETS DRAINED OF WATER AND THEN CLEANED. I LOVE MY CAR BUT IF I HAD KNOWN OF THIS DEFECT I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED IT.

   NHTSA complaint 10724678
6. Filed Nov 20, 2014Failure Mar 1, 2014100,200 milesHouston, TXEquipment adaptive/mobility, Unknown or other

   SAME PROBLEM AS MANY OF THE OTHER PEOPLE ON THIS WEBSITE. THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM FOR THE CANVAS CONVERTIBLE IS PROBLEMATIC. HAVING WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE AS WELL AS IN THE TRUNK. COULD THIS CAUSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM? NOT SURE. IT CAN CERTAINLY CAUSE BLACK MOLD , AND I HAVE RESPIRATORY DIFFICULTIES AS IT IS! IN MY CASE, THE INSIDE OF CAR WAS MUSTY FOR MANY MONTHS (6+). I PARK MY CAR UNDER COVER, SO IT DIDN'T GET ENOUGH WATER IN TO NOTICE THE WATER OTHER THAN BY THE SMELL.BUT EACH TIME I LOOKED FOR THE SOURCE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY MOISTURE...BUT THAT MUSTY SMELL PERSISTED, AND I DIDN'T EVEN THINK OF IT MORE, OTHER THAN TO GET AIRFRESHENERS, AND RIDE WITH TOP DOWN WHEN I COULD. LOOKING BACK, THIS WAS PROBABLY THE CAUSE CONSTANTLY AGGRAVATING MY BREATHING PROBLEMS. ONE DAY I VISITED MY BROTHER IN FLORIDA, I WAS UNABLE TO PARK UNDER COVER, SO I PARKED OUTSIDE ON DRIVEWAY. I CAME OUT THE NEXT DAY, THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE CAR HAD ABOUT 4-6 INCHES OF WATER IN IT (I WAS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE SO THE TRUNK FILLED ABOUT 6 AND THE INSIDE ABOUT 4) , MUCH OF MY STUFF IN THE TRUNK WAS RUINED! I DRIED UP AS MUCH AS I COULD, HAD IT SHAMPOOED AND WHEN I GOT BACK TO TEXAS, I BROUGHT THE CAR IN, AND THE PROBLEM WAS THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM.... AND OF COURSE MY CAR WAS INFESTED WITH BLACK MOLD WHICH IS A MAJOR HEALTH HAZARD TO PEOPLE WITH LUNG ISSUES, (AS WELL AS THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE LUNG ISSUES!) I HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE CARPET, ALL THE PADDING, HAVE ALL THE BLACK MOLD REMOVED, REPLACE ALL MY BELONGINGS THAT GOT RUINED, AND PAY TO HAVE THE LINES "FLUSHED" SO IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.....NOW I AM FINDING OUT ON HERE THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS AND HAVE DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT IT? I GUESS MY NEXT CAR WILL NOT BE A MAZDA. ALL THAT WORK WAS NOT CHEAP, AND I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO FIX IT OR IT WOULD CONTINUE TO BE A DETRIMENT TO MY HEALTH... I GUESS THE NEXT STEP WILL TO BE SPEAKING WITH AN ATTORNEY. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10659886
7. Filed Aug 21, 2014Failure Aug 6, 20149,550 milesLemoyne, PAFuel/propulsion system

   I HAVE A 2006 MX5 MIATA AND THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL AND CAP WILL NOT STAY TIGHT ALSO GETTING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I CONTACTED MAZDA AND THEY SAID THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE FILLER NECK AND CAP WILL COME OFF. FUEL SLOSHES OUT AND I REPLACED CAP WITH AN UPDATED ONE. STILL COMES LOOSE LEADING THE FILLER NECK ISSUE. THEY WILL NOT REPAIR AS ITS NOT A RECALL. MY CONCERN IS THAT IT IS A FIRE HAZARD AND THEY WILL NOT REPAIR A DEFECT THAT IS KNOWN TO HAPPEN. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10627097
8. Filed Jun 24, 2014Failure Jun 1, 201232,000 milesJacksonville, FLSeat belts, Seats

   2ND REQUEST, NO RESPONSE RECEIVED FROM 1ST REQUEST I BOUGHT MY 2006 MAZDA MIATA FROM CARMAX (SANFORD, FL) IN 2011. MY CAR BEGAN FLOODING EVERY TIME IT RAINED. I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 50 FLOODS TO DATE. THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR HAS EXTENSIVE MOLD DAMAGE AND MILDEW. THE FLOORS ARE RUSTED. THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE SEATS IN PLACE ARE SEVERELY RUSTED. ONE SEAT NO LONGER CAN BE MOVED ON ITS' TRACK. THE DRIVER'S SEAT SLIDES OUT OF PLACE WHILE DRIVING. THE SEATBELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NO LONGER RETRACTS. ROACHES ARE LIVING IN THE CAR. I CONTACTED CARMAX BUT THEY WERE UNWILLING TO TAKE THE CAR BACK. THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOWROOM AND NOT ON THE LOT. I'M GUESSING THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM. THE 2006 AND 2007 MIATAS HAVE FAULTY/DEFECTIVE DRAINS. MAZDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT NEVER DID A RECALL. THEY ALSO EXPECT $1000.00 FROM ME TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I CONTINUE TO HAVE FLOODING EVERY TIME IT RAINS, SO IT'S THREE YEARS OF FLOODING AT THIS POINT IN TIME. THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED "SALVAGE" AT THIS POINT DUE TO THE YEARS OF EXTENSIVE WATER DAMAGE. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10605600
9. Filed May 1, 2014Failure Dec 1, 201130,000 milesJacksonville, FLElectrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), Seat belts, Structure

   MY CAR WAS PARKED AT WORK. IT WAS RAINING. WHEN I GOT INTO THE VEHICLE, IT WAS FLOODED ON THE INSIDE UP TO 6 INCHES. THE GAS PEDAL WAS SLIPPERY. IT SMELLED MUSTY, LIKE MILDEW AND MOLD. I CONTACTED THE DEALER BUT GOT NO RETURN PHONE CALLS. I WROTE THEM A LETTER AND RECEIVED A PHONE CALL THEN. THEY TOLD ME TO TRADE THE CAR IN IF I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS. I TOLD THEM THEY SOLD ME A FLOOD CAR AND WANTED TO RETURN IT. THEY REFUSED. THIS WAS CARMAX IN SANFORD, FL. SINCE THAT TIME, THE CAR HAS FLOODED OVER 25 TIMES. I AM NOW LIVING WITH ROACHES BREEDING IN MY CAR. IT SMELLS LIKE MOLD. THE WINDOWS ARE FOGGED FROM THE INSIDE DAILY. THE SEATS HAVE GOTTEN STUCK AND THEN SLIDE OUT OF PLACE WHILE I'M DRIVING. MY INSURANCE COMPANY, GEICO, REFUSED TO HELP ME, STATING THAT THIS DAMAGE PROBABLY OCCURRED BEFORE I OWNED THE CAR. I BELIEVE THE DEALER KNEW OF THESE PROBLEMS, THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOWROOM AND NOT OUT ON THE LOT. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10585977
10. Filed May 1, 2014Failure Apr 30, 201445,500 milesCentreville, VABody

    THE MX-5 HAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ROOF DRAINS ON THE CANVAS CONVERTIBLE TOP. IT FLOODS CONSTANTLY. I AM REALLY GROWING TIRED OF VACUUMING UP WATER IN THIS CAR. IT EVEN FLOODS THE TRUNK. WET FEET IN STANDING WATER MAKES FOR A SAFETY ISSUE DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL YOU CAN GET TO A WET VAC TO EVACUATE STANDING WATER. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10585837
11. Filed Jan 3, 2014Failure Dec 12, 2013Central, SCTires

    GOODYEAR EAGLE GT 205 45/R17 88V TIRES ON A MAZDA MX-5 GRAND TOUR, 2006. THE TIRES HAD ABOUT 25000 MILES ON THEM WITH LOTS OF TREAD LEFT WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. ONE TIRE WENT FLAT AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ALL FOUR, INCLUDING THE FLAT, TIRES HAD DEVELOPED SLICES OR CRACKS ALONG THE ENTIRE INTER WALL OF ALL FOUR TIRES. IT APPEARS LIKE THE WALL AND INNER BELT HAVE SEPARATED AND THE RUBBER JUST BECOMES STRESSED AND WEEK AND CRACKS. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MULTIPLE (POSSIBLE ALL FOUR) TIRES FROM GOING FLAT AT THE SAME TIME. I HAVE PICTURES AND AM CONTACTING GOODYEAR THROUGH SAM'S CLUB TIRES. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10558396
12. Filed Jun 19, 2013Failure Sep 1, 201117,000 milesCentreville, VABody

    EXCESSIVE FLOODING IN CABIN ON DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL AS TRUNK. MAZDA HAS SINCE MODIFIED THEIR ROOF DRAIN SYSTEM AS THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT. ONCE THE MODEL IS OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY, THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE PARTS WITH UPDATED PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CONVERTIBLE ROOF ITSELF DOES NOT LEAK. IT IS THE DESIGN OF THE ROOF DRAINAGE SYSTEM. MAZDA NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR FIXING ALL OF THESE CARS. THE NEW PARTS INCLUDE DEBRIS FILTERS AND RIBBED VALVES WHICH REDUCE BAFFLES GETTING STUCK SHUT IN THE DRAIN LINES. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10520735
13. Filed Mar 6, 2012Failure Mar 10, 201030,000 milesCape Coral, FLSeat belts

    IT HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED THAT THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS IN 2006 MAZDA MIATAS FAIL TO RETRACT THE SEAT BELT. INITIAL MAZDA DENIED THE EXISTENCE OF THE PROBLEM AND IN MY CASE TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL FOR A SEAT BELT NOT TO RETRACT. IN RESPONSE MAZDA FINALLY ISSUED A TSB (08-001/11) IN 2008 WHICH RECOMMENDS WASHING THE SEAT-BELT AND REPLACING THE RETRACTOR GUIDE - BUT NOT REPLACING THE RETRACTOR. THE SOLUTION OFFERED BY MAZDA IS INADEQUATE AND FAILS TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE CONDITION. THE RESULT IS SEAT BELTS THAT DON'T RETRACT LEAVING THE SEAT BELT EXPOSED TO BEING DAMAGED BY BEING PINCHED IN DOOR CLOSINGS. ET CETRA. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10450478
14. Filed Sep 24, 2011Failure Sep 19, 201151,000 milesSAN Diego, CASteering, Suspension, Lower ball jointCrash1 injured

    9/19/2011 12:00 P.M. DRY ROAD CONDITIONS. DRIVING SOUTHBOUND AT JUNCTION OF INTERSTATE 15 AND STATE HWY 163 THE LEFT REAR SIDE OF MY 2006 MAZDA MIATA EXPERIENCED A LOUD EXPLOSION RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF STEERING. THE VEHICLE SPUN COMPLETELY AROUND 3 TIMES CROSSING 3 LANES OF HIGHWAY 163, HIT THE CURB AND WAS THROWN ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE DID NOT OVERTURN. THE TIRE WAS OFF THE RIM. THE RIM HAS EVIDENCE OF AN IMPACT TO THE INNER WHEEL. THE CONTROL ARM ON THE LEFT HAD SHEARED OFF. I AM FILING THIS AS PREVIOUS SUSPENSION PROBLEMS CONTROL ARM FAILURES (SEE BELOW). THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING FIXED AT JOHN HINE MAZDA SAN DIEGO CA. RECALLS MAZDA RX-8: 05V325000 THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MAY CRACK SUSPENSION & STEERING, AUGUST 30, 2005 SUMMARY: DUE TO IMPROPER FORGING OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, CRACKS MAY OCCUR IN THE BALL JOINT SOCKET. IN SEVERE DRIVING CONDITIONS THE BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE BALL JOINT SOCKET AND LOSS OF STEERING MAY OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AS REQUIRED. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON AUGUST 30, 2005. THE MAZDA RECALL NUMBER IS 3405G. ORIGINAL RECALL FROM THE NHTSA MODEL YEAR(S): 2004 MFR'S REPORT DATE: AUGUST 30, 2005 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V325000. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10427017
15. Filed May 28, 2011Failure May 25, 201145,500 milesBeaumont, TXTires

    MAZDA MIATA 2006, YOKOHAMA TIRE ADVANA11A205/50R16, DRIVING ON I-10 ON RAMP ABOUT 45-50MPH, BIG POP AND THUD, PULLED OVER ON SHOULDER, LOOKED AT BACK RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD SPLIT ON INSIDE OF TIRE BETWEEN RIM AND TIRE EDGE ABOUT 10 INCHES LONG. TIRE WAS MAINTAINED WITH CORRECT AIR PRESSURE AND ROTATION BY AUTO DEALER THAT SOLD ME THE MIATA. THE CAR DEALERSHIP HAD A TIRES FOR LIFE PROGRAM ON MY MIATA AND THIS WAS MY SECOND SET AND I HAD APPROX. 45,500 MILES ON THE CAR. I WAS VERY THANKFUL THE TIRES HAD BEEN ROTATED ON THE LAST OIL CHANGE/INSPECTION POINT ON MY CARS MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.--OR THAT TIRE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON MY FRONT--PROBABLY WOULD HAVE FLIPPED THE CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS PARTICULAR TIRE IS DEFECTIVE OR A FLUKE, BECAUSE THIS IS THE KIND OF TIRES THAT MY DEALER WILL PUT ON MY MIATA FOR THE ENTIRE TIME I OWN THIS CAR? THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10403638
16. Filed Sep 16, 2010Failure Sep 15, 201020,000 milesRIO Rico, AZHeadlights

    HAZING OF HEADLIGHT LENSES. THERE IS SEVERE DEGRADATION OF LIGHT OUTPUT OVER TIME DUE TO ABRASION. THIS CAUSES DECREASED VISIBILITY AND OVERDRIVING THE LIGHTS, PARTICULARLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, BUT ALSO DURING NORMAL DRIVING. I HAVE TWO 2006 CARS, A MAZDA MIATA AND A TOYOTA RAV4, AND BOTH BEGAN TO SHOW ABRASION BY 20,000 MILES. NOW MY 1963 CHEVY, WITH GLASS HEADLIGHTS, HAS NEVER HAD THAT PROBLEM. TWO RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. CHECK THE PRICE OF REPLACING MODERN LIGHTS. YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHY WHEN YOU DO RECOMMENDATION #2 WHY OWNERS DON'T REPLACE THEM . 2. LOOK AT CAR LIGHTS WHILE YOU'RE OUT AN ABOUT. OBSERVE HOW BAD MANY LIGHTS THERE ARE. UNLESS THIS ONLY A PROBLEM IN PLACES LIKE ARIZONA. NOW MY 1963 CHEVY, WITH GLASS HEADLIGHTS, HAS NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. THEY'VE BEEN BROKEN BY DEBRIS BUT THAT'S KIND OF OBVIOUS AND A NEW LIGHT IS (STILL) ONLY ABOUT $9. ALSO WHEN THEY BREAK OR BURN OUT THE RESULT IS IMMEDIATELY NOTICED. WITH THE ABRASION ISSUE LIGHTING IS DEGRADED OVER TIME AND GOES UNNOTICED. LIKE HOW SHOCK ABSORBERS WEAR OUT A LITTLE BIT OVER TIME AND THE DRIVER DOESN'T NOTICE ARE THERE STATISTICS WHERE THE CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS AT NIGHT ARE ATTRIBUTED TO "I DIDN'T SEE HIM" OR "I DIDN'T SEE HER IN TIME"? THIS COULD BE CAUSED BY LIGHT OUTPUT RATHER THAN HUMAN ERROR. I UNDERSTAND THAT PLASTIC IS SAFER THAN GLASS. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MATERIALS AVAILABLE THAT ARE SAFE AND WON'T ABRADE . THINK AIRCRAFT. LIGHTING SHOULD BE HELD TO A REASONABLE MILEAGE WARRANTY AND MADE TO LAST AT LEAST AS LONG AS THE WINDSHIELD. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10355876
17. Filed Aug 15, 2006Failure Aug 6, 2006Knoxville, TNStructure

    I HAVE NOTICED A "SQUEAK" IN THE CONSOLE BETWEEN THE 2 SEATS, AND A HUGE LEAK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE (ENTIRE FLOOR CARPET WAS SOAKED FROM THE FRONT TO UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT) OF OUR NEW MIATA MS-5 (LESS THAN 5,000 MILES). *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10165584
18. Filed Jul 16, 2006Failure Jul 7, 20062,500 milesThomasville, NCStructure, Unknown or other

    CAR STARTED RATTLING FROM THE CONSOLE AREA BETWEEN THE SEATS WHERE YOU OPEN YOUR GAS CAP AT. THIS STARTED ABOUT A MONTH INTO HAVING THE VEHICLE. THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS LEAKING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR IT'S 3000 MILE MAINTENANCE. I WAS TOLD THAT "CONVERTIBLE TOPS LEAK AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE RATTLE." THE RATTLE HAS SINCE GOTTEN WORSE AND THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS STILL LEAKING. I WILL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE IN AGAIN FOR THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I DO NOT FEEL THAT I AM MAKING MUCH PROGRESS. *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10162518
19. Filed Jun 25, 2006Failure Jun 23, 20065,900 milesMilpitas, CAElectrical system

    COMPLETE POWER LOSS AT 40 MILES PER HOUR WHILE IN OPERATION. ALL WARNING DASH LIGHTS CAME ON CONCURRENT WITH LOSS OF POWER. NO RESTART. *NM

    NHTSA complaint 10160695
20. Filed Mar 3, 2006Failure Mar 1, 20064,575 milesTulsa, OKService brakes, Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

    THE DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL (DSC) ACTIVATED, DASH LIGHT STAYED ON, WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE PROBABILITY THAT HAD THE PAVEMENT BE SLIPPERY WITH RAIN, SNOW OR ICE THE DSC BRAKING THE WHEELS TO PREVENT A SKID, THAT WASN'T THERE, WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY HAVE CAUSED A SKID, PROBABLY LEADING TO AN ACCIDENT. *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10151746