2017 MAZDA MX-5 Problems

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Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

VISIBILITY/WIPER

4 complaints

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 shattered into <1 inch pieces. Small pieces of loose glass had fallen from both upper corners of the windshield. The windshield is still attached to the vehicle and rear visibility is severely limited. No third-party inspections have been executed. There was no previous damage to the windshield and the car was idling when the failure occurred. There were no indications of potential failure before the incident.

Jun 17, 2025

THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A LOT. THE CRACK APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND RAPIDLY PROPOGATED HORIZONTALLY ALONG THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD TO ROUGHLY THE CENTER OF THE GLASS. THE CAR HAD 12000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED.

Jun 20, 2019

AT 8300 MILES THIS CAR HAS DOZENS OF ROCK CHIPS IN THE WINDSHIELD, MOST OF WHICH WERE PICKED UP FROM DRIVING ON RELATIVELY CLEAN INTERSTATES AND SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEGUN TO SPIDERWEB. I BELIEVE THAT THE GLASS ON THIS VEHICLE IS ABNORMALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO PICKING UP CHIPS FROM ROCKS WHICH WILL IN TIME CREATE STRESS RISERS AND CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD TO FAIL PREMATURELY. I TALKED TO A MAZDA REP AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE NOR WAS THE WINDSHIELD COVERED BY THE FACTORY WARRANTY. THEY DIRECTED ME TO TAKE MY COMPLAINT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY. MORE PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

Mar 13, 2019

THE HEADLINER ON MY CONVERTIBLE TOP COMES UNFASTENED RIGHT ABOVE THE REAR WINDOW. IT SAGS DOWN BLOCKING THE VEIW BY AN INCH AND A HALF. THIS HAS BEEN FIXED 3 TIMES AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. THIS WINDOW IS SMALL TO BEGIN WITH. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND THE TOP WAS BEING TAKEN DOWN.

Mar 09, 2017

POWER TRAIN

1 complaint

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 transmission malfunction. Mazda issued Technical Service Bulletin 05 [XXX] c addressing this exact defect — defective synchros in 2nd and 3rd gear causing grinding, inability to engage gears, and transmission failure. My VIN falls within the TSB coverage range. The cutoff is sequential number XXX and my sequential number is XXX, placing me within the affected range. Despite this documented defect and my vehicle being under Mazda's Powertrain Limited Warranty at time of failure (under 60,000 miles), Mazda refused full coverage. The dealer offered only 50% goodwill. I escalated to the Mazda regional representative, who also declined full coverage and redirected me back to the dealer — evasive given the documented nature of this defect. This is not isolated. Multiple 2016–2017 MX-5 owners have reported identical failures, and a Mazda engineer publicly acknowledged on video that weak transmission tolerances cause gear teeth to shear under load. Active petitions are calling for a formal recall. While I was able to drive to the dealership, this failure occurred without warning. A similar failure at highway speeds or in a less favorable situation could result in complete loss of vehicle control, posing significant danger to the driver and surrounding traffic. I request that NHTSA: (1) investigate this defect across all 2016–2017 MX-5 Miata manual transmission vehicles, (2) determine whether a formal recall is warranted, and (3) require Mazda to honor full warranty coverage for VINs within the TSB range. I have retained all documentation and am prepared to provide additional information upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Mar 19, 2026

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

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 of traffic. Car then sharply veered left into center divider due to automatic sudden braking with no control of the steering wheel

Feb 13, 2026

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

TIRES

1 complaint

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 was blown out on the passenger rear. I had it replaced. Now about 2 months later, the right rear went flat after a trip. I took it to be repaired and was told that the sidewall was splitting and it could not be repaired. I am concerned that this may not be coincidence.

Sep 25, 2025

AIR BAGS

1 complaint

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

Nov 14, 2024

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

WHEN USING ANDROID AUTO WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THE TOUCHSCREEN IS DISABLED WHICH MEANS I NEED MY EYES ON THE SCREEN TO WATCH THE SELECTION MOVE BY TURNING THE SELECTION WHEEL RATHER THAN JUST TOUCHING THE SCREEN. I THINK THIS IS MUCH MORE OF A DISTRACTION. OTHER CAR MODELS ALLOW TOUCHSCREEN USE.

Dec 03, 2018

SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

FRONT BREMBO BRAKES LOCKED AFTER CAR IS PARKED OVERNIGHT. IT UNLOCKED AFTER I FORCE THE CAR FORWARD. IT RELEASES WITH A LOUD SNAP. THIS OCCURS 2 OR 3 TIMES A MONTH. CAR DRIVES FINE. DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION. DEALER REQUESTS OVERNIGHT ASSESSMENT UNFORTUNATELY THIS OCCURS WITHOUT PREDICTABILITY.

Nov 30, 2018

STEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

1 complaint

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, SUDDENLY LOST ALL STEERING WITH CAR GOING STRAIGHT ACROSS LANE. "POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION" WARNING LIGHT APPEARED, THEN STEERING RETURNED. "DSC MALFUNCTION" WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ON AND "TPMS MALFUNCTION" WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ON. IF THERE WAS A CAR IN OPPOSITE LANE, WOULD HAVE RAN INTO. ONCE CAR WAS RESTARTED, ALL WARNINGS DISAPPEARED. BRINGING INTO DEALER 5/11.

May 10, 2017

4.3/5.0

94 reviews

MAZDA MX-5 VIN Decoder — Free VIN Check Video Guide

Watch our quick MAZDA MX-5 VIN decoder walkthrough. Learn how to decode any MAZDA MX-5 VIN number to get full vehicle history, recall alerts, specifications, fuel economy (MPG), safety ratings, and known problems — completely free on ForCar.org.

Where to Find VIN for Problems Check

To check for problems and complaints on your 2017 MAZDA MX-5, you'll need the VIN number. Find your VIN in one of these 4 common locations.

Where to Find VIN Number on 2017 MAZDA MX-5 for Problems Lookup - Dashboard, Door Jamb, Engine Bay, Documents

Understanding VIN Structure for Problem Reports

Each character in your 2017 MAZDA MX-5 17-digit VIN helps identify specific complaints and problems affecting your vehicle model.

2017 MAZDA MX-5 VIN Structure for Complaint Verification - WMI, VDS, Check Digit, Model Year, Plant Code

How to Check 2017 MAZDA MX-5 Problems in 3 Steps

Locate Your VIN

Find the 17-character VIN on your 2017 MAZDA MX-5 dashboard (visible through windshield), door jamb, engine bay, or vehicle documents.

Review by Component

Browse owner-reported complaints organized by vehicle component (engine, transmission, brakes, electrical) to identify common issues and problem patterns for this model year.

Check Safety Issues

Review crash and fire incidents for each component to assess safety concerns. Contact your MAZDA dealer or report problems to NHTSA at SaferCar.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 2017 MAZDA MX-5 have?

The 2017 MAZDA MX-5 currently has 11 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2017 MAZDA MX-5?

The most common problems reported for the 2017 MAZDA MX-5 are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2017 MAZDA MX-5 problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2017 MAZDA MX-5 comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.

How do I report problems with my 2017 MAZDA MX-5?

You can report safety problems with your 2017 MAZDA MX-5 directly to NHTSA at SaferCar.gov or call 1-888-327-4236. Your complaint helps identify patterns and may lead to recalls or investigations.

Where can I find my VIN to check problems?

Your 2017 MAZDA MX-5 VIN is located in 4 places: (1) Dashboard near windshield on driver's side, (2) Driver's door jamb sticker, (3) Engine bay, (4) Vehicle registration and insurance documents.

Is the 2017 MAZDA MX-5 reliable?

Reliability can be assessed by reviewing the number and severity of owner complaints for the 2017 MAZDA MX-5. Check complaints by component, crash reports, and fire incidents above to evaluate potential issues and problem patterns.