Most common 2006 Mazda MX-5 problems
Share of the 25 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mazda MX-5 complaints by model year
Best MX-5 years: 2018, 2012, 2014. Years to avoid: 2016, 2006, 2007. Compare all years →
2006 Mazda MX-5 recalls (1)
Air bags › Frontal
On certain passenger vehicles, the bolt attaching the horn assembly to the steering wheel hub May fail during a driver side front air bag deployment in extremely low ambient temperature.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver-side frontal air bag module free of charge. The recall began on April 28, 2006. Owners May contact Mazda at 800-222-5500.
What 2006 Mazda MX-5 owners say
Body & structure
My car was parked at work. It was raining. When I got into the vehicle, it was flooded on the inside up to 6 inches. The gas pedal was slippery. It smelled musty, like mildew and mold. I contacted the dealer but got no return phone calls. I wrote them a letter and received a phone call then. They told me to trade the car in if I was having problems. I told them they sold me a flood car and wanted to return it. They refused. This was carmax in sanford, fl. Since that time, the car has flooded over 25 times. I am now living with roaches breeding in my car. It smells like mold. The windows are fogged from the inside daily. The seats have gotten stuck and then slide out of place while I'm driving. My insurance company, geico, refused to help me, stating that this damage probably occurred before I owned the car. …
Excessive flooding in cabin on drivers and passenger side as well as trunk. Mazda has since modified their roof drain system as this is a known defect. Once the model is out of factory warranty, they refuse to replace parts with updated parts to fix the problem. The convertible roof itself does not leak. It is the design of the roof drainage system. Mazda needs to be held accountable for fixing all of these cars. The new parts include debris filters and ribbed valves which reduce baffles getting stuck shut in the drain lines.
Seat belts
Started out as intermittent Air Bag/Seat Belt Pretensioner system warning light about 3 months ago. Over the last 2 weeks, the warning stayed on per the manual and required replacement. I had this service performed on 3/6/2024 at a cost of $811.43 by Sumter Tire and Auto using Preordered Mazda parts invoiced on 3/1/2024.
2nd request, no response received from 1st request I bought my 2006 Mazda miata from carmax (sanford, fl) in 2011. My car began flooding every time it rained. I have had at least 50 floods to date. The interior of the car has extensive mold damage and mildew. The floors are rusted. The bolts that hold the seats in place are severely rusted. One seat no longer can be moved on its' track. The driver's seat slides out of place while driving. The seatbelt on the driver's side no longer retracts. Roaches are living in the car. I contacted carmax but they were unwilling to take the car back. The car was in the showroom and not on the lot. I'm guessing they knew of the problem. The 2006 and 2007 miatas have faulty/defective drains. Mazda is aware of the problem but never did a recall. They also expect $1000.00 from me to fix the problem. …
Transmission & drivetrain
This MX-5 has the 5 speed manual transmission. With approximately 1,200 miles on the vehicle, the clutch friction point (the location in pedal travel where the clutch begins to engage) moved from the bottom of the pedal (near the floor) to approximately one inch from the top (pedal normal position -- not depressed). Servicing dealer held the vehicle overnight and stated "they all do that". When I requested to drive the vehicle they compared it to, I was told they were too busy. I walked over to the sales department and asked a salesperson if I could compare mine to a similarly-equipped model on the lot. We located the only other 5 speed manual in their inventory and I confirmed the clutch engagement was towards the bottom of pedal travel, just as mine was when it was "new". The friction point on this clutch continues to creep forward. …
Dt*: the contact stated to put the vehicle in reverse, slight downward pressure must be applied to first gear. Since the pressure is so slight, it is not possible to tell if the vehicle is in first gear or reverse until the accelerator pedal is depressed. The dealership has not been alerted.
2006 Mazda MX-5 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 22 / 27 / 24 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 21 / 28 / 24 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Sports car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Mazda MX-5 a good car?
Based on 25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 MX-5 rates use caution: 2.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the MX-5 at the same age. It is one of the MX-5 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Mazda MX-5?
The body & structure — 6 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the seat belts (4) and transmission & drivetrain (3).
How many recalls does the 2006 Mazda MX-5 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2006 Mazda MX-5, the most recent from April 5, 2006 (frontal). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mazda MX-5?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2018, 2012 and 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2016, 2006 and 2007. See the full Mazda MX-5 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2006 Mazda MX-5 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 20,000 miles; 79% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.