2012 Mazda MX-5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other MX-5 years
- Not enough data 9th of 21 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Mazda MX-5. That ranks 9th out of 21 MX-5 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (1 complaints, 20%), typically at around 450 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.

- 5owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 Mazda MX-5 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 1 | 20% | 450 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 20% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 20% | 77 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 20% | — | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 20% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 20% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 Mazda MX-5 recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2012 Mazda MX-5.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 mazda mz5 (na). The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v644000 (structure); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 mazda mx-5. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled and the traction control warning indicator illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The dealer diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer…
Passenger side air bag light comes on saying the air bag is not on. Happens intermittently. My wife weighs 101 lbs. I have contacted miata usa today and my dealer (3rd time). So far no satisfaction. I'm bringing the car in 08/01/2014 again. I spoke to mazda usa today (07/09/14). In not so many…
I purchased the new miata on 4/23. When going over the functions with the salesman, he pulled the emergency brake up very hard. I was not able to released it with both hands. He apologized for pulling it up too far & said that was not necessary. I used the brake a number of times as i drove the car…
2012 mazda miata sun visors do not rotate left to right, making morning southbound drive and evening northbound drive dangerous, as left hand is occupied blocking sun, and right hand required to operate both manual transmission and steering. Result is, there is an accident waiting to happen. *tr
Other Mazda MX-5 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 MX-5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 MX-5 | 3 | 1 |
| 2024 MX-5 | 5 | 1 |
| 2023 MX-5 | 7 | 1 |
| 2022 MX-5 | 5 | 1 |
| 2021 MX-5 | 1 | 1 |
| 2020 MX-5 | 3 | 1 |
| 2019 MX-5 | 11 | 3 |
| 2018 MX-5 | 3 | 3 |
| 2017 MX-5 | 11 | 2 |
| 2016 MX-5 | 34 | 3 |
| 2015 MX-5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2014 MX-5 | 6 | 0 |
| 2013 MX-5 | 2 | 0 |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 |
| 2011 MX-5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 MX-5 | 4 | 0 |
| 2009 MX-5 | 3 | 0 |
| 2008 MX-5 | 7 | 0 |
| 2007 MX-5 | 17 | 0 |
| 2006 MX-5 | 25 | 1 |
See all Mazda MX-5 problems by year, every Mazda model, or the Mazda VIN decoder.
Similar Mazda models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Mazda MX-5?
Owners most often report air bags, engine, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Mazda MX-5?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2012 Mazda MX-5 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other MX-5 model years, the 2012 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.