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2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
46% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 58% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 6 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 38%).
Does the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 13 of 28 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (46%), and the largest group is filed under power train (11). On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 13 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: If the vehicle abruptly downshifts, the driver may lose control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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…
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 13 of 28 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (46%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata is power train: 11 of 34 complaints (32%) name it, followed by air bags (5) and structure (4). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 46% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 58% of the 1,790 model years we track. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total: 19V072000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Mazda MX-5 Miata years are better?
The 2016 is the only Mazda MX-5 Miata year with enough complaints on record to score, so there is no better year to point to yet.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.