AI Damage2021 Mazda MX-5: common problems
Owners of the 2021 Mazda MX-5 filed 1 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain. The maker issued 212 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 1
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 212
What fails most often
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (100% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 13.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: RWD
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 72 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 62 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Wheels | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Seats | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Lane departure | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Seat belts | 0 | 0 | 3 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and a burning odor was detected. The failure nearly caused a collision. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the clutch had melted and needed to be replaced.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,964 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 7% least complained about).
On average one model year of the MX-5 has 8 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 1, below average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...),…
If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal MGSS diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been…
- The Mazda DCA-8000 is required for all warranty battery testing
If the Mazda DCA-8000 is not used, incorrect battery testing may result in unnecessary battery replacement. Use the following test procedures in this Service Bulletin to test Mazda vehicle batteries and to generate a…
- Some vehicles may exhibit scratches (1) on the rear of the seat back bar garnish (2) from contact with the…
Some vehicles may exhibit scratches (1) on the rear of the seat back bar garnish (2) from contact with the convertible top (3). Due to assembly variations, the clearance between the seat back bar garnish and the…
- Some vehicles may require the replacement of a damaged VIN plate or vehicle certification label
To obtain a replacement VIN plate (bulkhead-mounted and visible through the lower-left area of the windshield), contact DAG (Dealer Assistance Group) using VIN Plate Request Form available on One Mazda. To obtain a…
- Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems
Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not…
- If an engine assembly is replaced after a catastrophic internal mechanical failure, clean the intake…
If an engine assembly is replaced after a catastrophic internal mechanical failure, clean the intake manifold internally before installing a replacement engine assembly. If the intake manifold is not cleaned properly…
- There is a concern that some water pumps are being replaced that are not faulty, due to signs of a very…
There is a concern that some water pumps are being replaced that are not faulty, due to signs of a very small coolant leak from the bleed hole. This Service Alert is to inform you about the water pump sealing mechanism…
- There are currently 2 methods for cutting a new auxiliary key blank
A. Auxiliary Key Trace Cut Method • B. Auxiliary Key Code Cut Method 2019 and newer models require a 10-digit key code to accurately cut keys • 5-digit codes CANNOT be provided for 2019 and newer vehicles (the…
- Some customers may report an odor or water in the HVAC system and upon inspection, the cabin air filter…
Some customers may report an odor or water in the HVAC system and upon inspection, the cabin air filter may be found to be wet.
- Some vehicles may exhibit the power window(s) not working properly (window does not move or has fallen…
Some vehicles may exhibit the power window(s) not working properly (window does not move or has fallen into the door) and/or making an abnormal noise while operating the power window switch. This may be caused by the…
- If the right-side Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) control module is replaced for any reason, it is also…
If the right-side Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) control module is replaced for any reason, it is also necessary to replace the left-side BSM control module in order to complete the radar aiming procedure. If the…
- A musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system is operating
It is most noticeable when the A/C is first turned ON. This odor is the result of mold growth in the A/C evaporator/cooling unit which is caused by condensation, dust, and pollen within the cooling unit. This condition…
NHTSA lists 212 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Mazda MX-5?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain. Total complaints: 1. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: loss of power / limp mode (100%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 Mazda MX-5?
NHTSA lists 212 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2021 Mazda MX-5 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2021 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.