NHTSA vehicle safety data

2018 Mazda MX-5 Recalls & Complaints

The 2018 Mazda MX-5 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 3 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mazda dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2018 Mazda MX-5. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2018 Mazda MX-5 owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Mazda MX-5, describing incidents dated November 1, 2019 to April 28, 2024.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 1 complaint
Engine 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Control 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11595229 · Filed June 19, 2024
2018 Mazda Miata MX-5 Club Sport, manual transmission Heading home from a friends house that evening, transmission started whirring/whining in 6th gear, then 5th, and so on through 2nd - 1st gear seems to be unaffected. I was forced to apply hazard flashers and travel well below the speed limit in…
ODI #11384229 · Filed December 20, 2020
I'VE OWNED MY 2018 MAZDA MX-5 FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS. THE PROBLEMS SLOW STARTED ARISING. AT FIRST I HADN'T NOTICED, BUT WHEN GOING IN AND OUT OF 'DRIVE' THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS EITHER GOING TO STALL OR ACCELERATE. I HAD INITIALLY THOUGHT WAS BECAUSE IT'S A 'SPORTS CAR.' IN AUGUST OF 2020 THE…
ODI #11281684 · Filed November 22, 2019
STARTED FROM CREAK NOISE AS CAR START TO MOVE, ACCELERATE OR STOP. NOW IT DEVELOPED TO SOME TICKING NOISE EVERY TIME CAR ACCELERATE OR DECELERATE. THE CAR IS ONLY AT ABOUT 9700 MI WENT TO SPREEN MAZDA LOMA LINDA CA TO INSPECT THE CAR. THEY SAID IT IS NORMAL AND COME BACK WHEN IT GETS WORSE

Read all 3 complaints

Air Bags May Deploy with Excessive Force/FMVSS 208

NHTSA #24V695000 · Air Bags — Air Bag/Restraint Control Module — Software · NHTSA notice

Reported September 18, 2024 · Mazda North American Operations

Potentially affected: 77,670 vehicles

Repair completion: 69.5% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Mazda campaign 6924I · Owners notified November 7, 2024

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Fuel Pump May Fail

NHTSA #21V875000 · Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump · NHTSA notice

Reported November 12, 2021 · Mazda North American Operations

Potentially affected: 121,038 vehicles

Repair completion: 86.48% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Mazda campaign 5321K · Owners notified July 18, 2022

Recall group: Denso fuel pumps

Defect description

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.

Safety consequence

Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5321K.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Transmission Software May Cause Abrupt Downshift

NHTSA #19V072000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Control Module (TCM/PCM/TECM) · NHTSA notice

Reported February 1, 2019 · Mazda North American Operations

Potentially affected: 14,370 vehicles

Repair completion: 90.13% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Mazda campaign 3019A · Owners notified March 14, 2019 · Vehicles built April 20, 2015 – December 11, 2018 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

2018 Mazda MX-5 C RWD

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

3 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Mazda MX-5.

Power Train

ODI #11595229

Incident: April 28, 2024 · Filed: June 19, 2024

2018 Mazda Miata MX-5 Club Sport, manual transmission Heading home from a friends house that evening, transmission started whirring/whining in 6th gear, then 5th, and so on through 2nd - 1st gear seems to be unaffected. I was forced to apply hazard flashers and travel well below the speed limit in the right lane of the PA turnpike until I made my way to local roads. As I got closer to home, there was also a slight crunch between gears. All of the symptoms above got worse until arriving home, where the vehicle was parked to await diagnosis/repair. 2016+ Mazda Miata MX-5 manual transmissions are infamous for being fragile, but I never expected my transmission to fail before I reached 20,000 miles on the odometer. Mazda also refused to refund it due to my car being just months out of warranty. I am now out $2000+ from sourcing a new transmission and having it installed on a relatively new car, which is unheard of.

Electrical System; Vehicle Speed Control; Engine

ODI #11384229

Incident: July 1, 2020 · Filed: December 20, 2020

I'VE OWNED MY 2018 MAZDA MX-5 FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS. THE PROBLEMS SLOW STARTED ARISING. AT FIRST I HADN'T NOTICED, BUT WHEN GOING IN AND OUT OF 'DRIVE' THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS EITHER GOING TO STALL OR ACCELERATE. I HAD INITIALLY THOUGHT WAS BECAUSE IT'S A 'SPORTS CAR.' IN AUGUST OF 2020 THE WINDOW REGULATOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD MALFUNCTIONED. FAST FORWARD TO DECEMBER 2020, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR HAS MALFUNCTION AS WELL. I'VE BEEN DOING RESEARCH AS TO WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN TO A VEHICLE THAT'S ABOUT 2 YEARS OLD. I'VE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE OCTOBER OF 2018. INTERNET FORUMS SUGGESTED FAULTS WITH THE ELECTRICAL WIRING. I'VE INFORMED THE MAZDA OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THESE ISSUES AND INFORMED THEM OF THE INCONVENIENCE. MAKE NOTE I HAVE ONLY MADE A COMPLAINT TO THE WINDOW REGULATORS FAILING. I'VE PROVIDED THEM WITH MY VIN AND YET TO HEAR FROM THEM SINCE. IT DIDN'T OCCUR TO ME TO DO RESEARCH ON MY VIN, SO I DID AND MUCH TO MY CHAGRIN AFTER APOLOGIZING FOR POSSIBLY BEING RUDE, I FIND THAT MY VEHICLE HAS HAD A SERIOUS RECALL SINCE FEBRUARY 01ST OF 2019. A YEAR AND 10 MONTHS AND NO RECALL NOTICE WHAT SO EVER! SHOULDN'T THE DEALERSHIP KNOW OF THE PROBLEMS! SERIOUSLY I COULD HAVE DIED! I QUOTE, DIRECTLY FROM NHTSA, 'THE SUDDEN UNEXPECTED DOWNSHIFT WHILE DRIVING MAY NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE STABILITY OF THE VEHICLE, AND COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.' THIS IS INCREDIBLY DEPRESSING, SINCE THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. THEY HAD CLOSE TO 2 YEARS TO INFORM ME OF THIS RECALL AND I HAD TO FIND OUT MYSELF.

Structure

ODI #11281684

Incident: November 1, 2019 · Filed: November 22, 2019

STARTED FROM CREAK NOISE AS CAR START TO MOVE, ACCELERATE OR STOP. NOW IT DEVELOPED TO SOME TICKING NOISE EVERY TIME CAR ACCELERATE OR DECELERATE. THE CAR IS ONLY AT ABOUT 9700 MI WENT TO SPREEN MAZDA LOMA LINDA CA TO INSPECT THE CAR. THEY SAID IT IS NORMAL AND COME BACK WHEN IT GETS WORSE

Other Mazda MX-5 model years

Check your 2018 Mazda MX-5 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mazda MX-5 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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