Reliable Auto DB

2017 Mazda MX-5 reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Mazda MX-5 over 10 years — 2 per year. That is more complaints per year than most MX-5 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 1. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Air bag control module, software and Transmission control module.

2012 Mazda MX-5
Photo by Chris Woodrich, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

11

Per year

2

Recalls

2

Years on the road

10

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Visibility and wipers (4 of 11), then Steering (2) and Air bags (1). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2016 and 2018

The 2016 MX-5 has 34 complaints, 4 per year, and the 2018 has 3 complaints, 1 per year. The 2017 has fewer complaints per year than the 2016. The 2017 has more complaints per year than the 2018.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2017 Mazda MX-5. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (2)

Recall air bags, air bag control module, software 2024-09-18 · NHTSA campaign 24V695000
Summary 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."
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.
Recall powertrain, automatic transmission, transmission control module 2019-02-01 · NHTSA campaign 19V072000
Summary 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.
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.

Complaints by component (11 total)

Visibility and wipers
4
Steering
2
Air bags
1
Electrical system
1
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
Powertrain
1
Service brakes
1
Tires
1
Crash-flagged

1

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

1

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

220172201822019120242202522026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "I am filing this complaint regarding a manual transmission failure on my 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata (VIN: [XXX] ) at 55,000 miles. The failure occurred without warning while driving, causing immediate and significant…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-03-19
  • "Happened at US 101 Southbound 0.1 MILES SOUTH of RENGSTORFF AVENUE. “Power Steering Malfunction” light came on, then suddenly after 1 second, the car’s steering went stiff and suddenly braked while at freeway speed flow…"
    Steering, Electrical system · filed 2026-02-13
  • "I have 205/45/R 17 on a car that I drive on short trips maybe once a week or two. Driving on the highway, the tpms light came on and the handling was instantly strange. I pulled over and checked the tire, the sidewall…"
    Tires · filed 2025-09-25
  • "Vehicles rear windshield spontaneously shattered. Vehicle was idle and upon starting the vehicle a cracking sound was heard in the cabin and the rear view mirror was unusable as the rear windshield was entirely…"
    Visibility and wipers · filed 2025-06-17
  • "Airbag recall mail received from Mazda, when trying to book online mazdausa.com service depart denies vehicle has a recall and refused to schedule appointment"
    Air bags · filed 2024-11-14

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2017 Mazda MX-5 C RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
MX-5 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Rear-wheel drive 26 35 29 MPG $2750
MX-5 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 26 33 29 MPG $2750

Specs and fitment

4th generation (ND), 2016–2023
Body styles Roadster
Oil SAE 0W-20 (SKYACTIV-G 2.0L) , 4.5 qt capacity
Tire size 195/50R16, 205/45R17 (trim-dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA safety recall 24V695000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that 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.". An air bag that deploys with excessive force can increase the risk of injury during a crash. 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.

Compare

Previous year 2016 Mazda MX-5 Next year 2018 Mazda MX-5 See every Mazda MX-5 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Mazda MX-5 reliable?

Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Mazda MX-5 over 10 years — 2 per year. That is more complaints per year than most MX-5 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 1. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Air bag control module, software and Transmission control module.

What are common problems with a 2017 Mazda MX-5?

The complaints owners file most often name Visibility and wipers (4 of 11), then Steering (2) and Air bags (1). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2017 Mazda MX-5 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2016 MX-5 has 34 complaints, 4 per year, and the 2018 has 3 complaints, 1 per year. The 2017 has fewer complaints per year than the 2016. The 2017 has more complaints per year than the 2018.

Has the 2017 Mazda MX-5 been recalled?

The 2017 Mazda MX-5 has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2017 Mazda MX-5?

Owners have filed 11 complaints about the 2017 Mazda MX-5 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2017 Mazda MX-5 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2017 Mazda MX-5 is 29 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a Mazda MX-5 Miata use?

NC (2012-2015): SAE 5W-30 for the 2.0L MZR. ND/NE (2016-on): SAE 0W-20 for SKYACTIV-G 2.0L.

What does NHTSA recall 24V695000 cover on ND MX-5?

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.

What tire size does the NC MX-5 use?

205/45R17 on the NC generation listed here.