2009 Mazda MX-5 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2009 Mazda MX-5, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags250.0%
- Electrical125.0%
- Interior & seats125.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
ON APRIL 2,2020 ME AND A PASSENGER WERE IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE WE FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN IN THE MX 5 AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR THE DRIVER SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE AND WE WERE HURT VERY BAD AND SHOULD NOT HAVE MADE IT ALFA INSURANCE IS HOLDING THE CAR FOR AN INVESTIGATION. THIS HAPPENED ON HWY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .