Skip to content
Mazda MX-5Model year report

2006 Mazda MX-5 Problems

Complaints
25filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
20,000miles, 19 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
24 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl RWD · 22 city / 27 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2006 Mazda MX-5 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 25 consumer complaints for the 2006 Mazda MX-5. The part named most often is body and structure, with 6 complaints (24% of the total), followed by seat belts (4) and other or unknown (3). 19 of the complaints include a mileage, and 79% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 20,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 170 technical service bulletins for this model year. Body and structure complaints overlap with 13 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Equipment (1), Exterior lighting (1), Fuel system (1), Seats (1), Suspension (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Body and 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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10585977, filed 2014-05, 30,000 miles

Seat belts: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10605600, filed 2014-06, 32,000 miles

Other or unknown: “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+). …”

NHTSA complaint #10659886, filed 2014-11, 100,200 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “This MX-5 has the 5 speed manual transmission. With approximately 1,200 miles on the vehicle, the clutch friction point (the location in pedal travel where the clutch begins to engage) moved from the bottom of the pedal (near the floor) to approximately one inch from the top (pedal normal position -- not depressed). Servicing dealer held the vehicle overnight and stated they all do that . When I requested to drive the vehicle they compared it to, I was told they were too busy. …”

NHTSA complaint #10151222, filed 2006-02, 1,200 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

79% of the 19 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 2,900 and 45,500 miles.

42%0–1011%10–2526%25–5011%50–750%75–1005%100–1505%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (19 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 20,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

2005820102012201420182024
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2006 Mazda MX-5 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
MX-5 RWD2.0L 4-cyl5-speed manual222724$3,400
MX-5 RWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed manual212824$3,400
MX-5 RWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed automatic202823$3,550

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2006 Mazda MX-5 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 170 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 170 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mazda MX-5

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2024514,4081—29—Too new
20237—1—30—Too new
2022514,0001—30—Not enough data
20191124,1103—30—Not enough data
2017118,1502—29—Not enough data
20163421,8293—30Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
201468000—24—Not enough data
201254500—24—Not enough data
2008740,0000—24—Not enough data
20071711,8760—24—Stable
20062520,0001—24Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Mazda MX-5 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2006 Mazda MX-5 have?

NHTSA recorded 25 consumer complaints for the 2006 Mazda MX-5 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2006 Mazda MX-5 is reported most often?

Body and structure is named most often, in 6 complaints (24% of the total), followed by seat belts with 4.

Has the 2006 Mazda MX-5 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2006 Mazda MX-5 get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Mazda MX-5 (MX-5, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 24 mpg combined, 22 city and 27 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,400 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2006 Mazda MX-5 reported?

Among the 19 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 20,000 miles and the middle half falls between 2,900 and 45,500 miles; 79% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.