Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Mazda MX-5/ problems

Owners filed 3 complaints about the 2009 Mazda MX-5/ with NHTSA between Aug 2014 and May 2020. The most-cited component is air bags (2).

Complaints
3
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags2
  2. Electrical system1
  3. Latches/locks/linkages1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20141
20150
20160
20170
20180
20190
20202

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

2 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 MAZDA MX-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH A DEER HIT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE BEFORE CRASHING TO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED DURING THE INCIDENT AND THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BELTS WERE ENGAGED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED SORENESS AND SCRATCHES HOWEVER NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 29, 2020Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11326516

Electrical system

1 report
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA MX-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE DOORS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 4, 2014Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10618800

Latches/locks/linkages

1 report
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.