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#BS-2016-MAZMX5-5078

2016 Mazda Mx 5

Based on reports from 41 owners and 3 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints
41
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Recalls
3
TSBs
515
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 41 complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, and 3 recalls. Complaint rate is 4.7x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the DrivetrainHIGH

11 owners reported drivetrain issues — failures commonly reported around 24K miles.

!Inspect the AirbagsMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

18
0–30K
4
30–60K
4
60–90K
90–120K
120–150K
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (18 reports) • Median: 24K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Drivetrain (11 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Drivetrain11 (27%)
Other7 (17%)
Airbags5 (12%)
Structure:body4 (10%)
Electrical4 (10%)
Wheels & Tires2 (5%)
Engine2 (5%)
Lights2 (5%)

2016 Mazda Mx 5: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 27% of all reports filed for the 2016 Mazda Mx 5, with 11 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 24,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 24K-mile mark.

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 12% of all reports filed for the 2016 Mazda Mx 5, with 5 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Structure:body Issues

Structure:body complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 2016 Mazda Mx 5, with 4 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to structure:body-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 2016 Mazda Mx 5, with 4 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

5
16
4
17
6
18
7
19
5
20
5
21
2
22
2
23
4
24
1
25

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2016 Mazda Mx 5. Recent trend: decreasing.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (3 recalls)

19V072000Mar 2019

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.

19V496000Aug 2019

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016 Miata MX-5 vehicles. The skid plate and metal bracket may detach from underneath the vehicle.

24V695000Nov 2024

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."

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2016 Mazda Mx 5 vs. Class Average (Two Seaters)

This vehicle

41

Class avg

9

4.7x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical two seaters vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 41 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 3 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Mazda Mx 5 Model Years

202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919971996199519941993199219911990
View all Mazda Mx 5 years →

2016 Mazda Mx 5: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2016 Mazda Mx 5?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2016 Mazda Mx 5 is related to the drivetrain, with 11 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2016 Mazda Mx 5 reliable?
The 2016 Mazda Mx 5 has 41 complaints, 3 crash reports, and 0 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 4.7x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How much does it cost to fix 2016 Mazda Mx 5 problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2016 Mazda Mx 5 have any recalls?
Yes, the 2016 Mazda Mx 5 has 3 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Mazda Mx 5 problems start?
Based on 26 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 24,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 41 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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