Mazda MX-5/Miata ND Buyers guide (2015-2024) Avoid known problems on Mazda MX-5 Roadster (1.5/2.0)

Mazda MX-5/Miata/Roadster ND ND1 ND2 ND3 (2015-2024) Buyers guide for common problems with the 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre skyactive models. Avoid buying a cheap broken MK4 Mazda MX-5 with rust and known faults, and if you have already bought one then you can use this as an owner's guide on what to look out for. Avoid the mistakes of buying the cheapest broken Mazda MX-5 ND as a track car or fast daily only to have large bills and spend more time looking at your Miata than driving it. You may be attempting to fix the Mazda MX-5 with parts known to fix weak points with our review. This buyer's guide covers the Mazda MX-5 and Mazda Miata from 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 in all trims from Icon to R-Sport or basic SE. Mazda MX-5 owners may also find our guide useful and informative as we list common faults and problems to keep a look out for.

The MK4 Mazda MX-5 ND is a reliable vehicle although some known faults and problems remain and should be avoided when looking for one to buy.

If you have previously bought or sold a Mazda MX-5 why not add a comment below about your experience.

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Legal and disclaimer - Any content not originally created by The Miles Driven remains the property of the original owner and is editorialised for media reporting. All content is used within the confines of media reporting/editorial use and is transformative in nature to inform others with new information and content about cars and vehicles. We use no more of the original content than necessary in alignment with U.S copyright law for fair use and U.K fair dealing. We accept no liability for the purchase of vehicles using our guide and suggest thorough due diligence by individual professional inspections before making a buying decision.

ND Mazda MX-5 running costs and reliability as well as common faults and what to know before you buy.

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[cptndave]

Got my 2004 roadster GT RS in Australia. Couldn’t be more happier. After owning the NC for ten years. It is what it is. Nothing more nothing less. So grateful to Mazda for keeping it the real roadster it was originally built for.

[ThatsjustRyan]

2020 club owner here. Be on the lookout for your infotainment screen getting delaminated from the inside. This is due to sudden temperature change inside the cabin which in turn causes the adhesive on the inside of the screen to delaminate. If you have your AC on cold full blast on a hot sunny day and you park your car in direct sunlight which heats the infotainment screen assembly, it will happen.
It looks like a bunch of spider webs or frozen ice crystals.
I'm taking mine to the dealership in a couple of days to see if the warranty will cover it.

[travis]

My press car this week is the Club trim. I’ve had a smile on my face the entire time.

[carlosbrigett]

Owner of, now my 5th MX-5, the 4th being totaled, but replaced with another 2023. I presently have a little over 9K miles on it and it is presently in the shop. The synchronizer going from 4th to 3rd gear is gone. From the very 1st day of driving it, I knew something was not right with the transmission. It just wasn't as smooth shifting as all the others. I figured it might clear up. It didn't, but I had to see if it would get worse before I took it in for assessment of the problem. It got worse. It was impossible to drive, not being able to downshift to 3rd. A new transmission is on order. Hopefully it won't take too long, I can't stand driving an automatic.

[youdidntbuildthat]

Adjusting for inflation, the ND3 base is slightly cheaper than the very first Miata.

[feykroTV]

late 2015 1.5 owner here, and there's one "issue" that's worth mentionning even though it's not very problematic.
The soft top lining layer may get "uncliped" near the rear window, causing bad visibility. All you need to do is put it back in place, but it can be annoying and would have been worth mentionning

[Angelalovescutecats]

You can retro fit the reach steering column to early cars.

[JasondeVries-tc]

My 2018 is the most reliable car I've ever owned, and I beat it like a red headed step child. It's never been in the shop for repairs the entire time I've owned it. It's my daily driver/winter car, and it's just as much fun as my 2020 GR Supra. The Mazda is great for around the city, and the Supra is better for long 4+ hour road trips. If you're over 6' tall, it's a tight fit.

[alimitchell]

got to 3 min...im 4 weeks in to smiling driving,
its what a drivers car is all about.
its bulletproof...
it works...
there are no quirks.
its a lightweight, fun sports car..and holds the road like glue..

[jameslane]

One issue ive noticed on my 2016 GT is that the back of the inside of the soft top starts to droop, the clips that hold it up come undone and you have to reclip it everytime you put the top down then back up again

[Foxtrot_Woof]

Roof rubbing on the roll hoop problem still persists. My 2022 GT will do so if you don't press the soft top down along the back edge (closest to the trunk).

Also 2021-2023 models have been suffering transmission gear grinding issues as there seems that there was a quality control issue on the synchronizers on these transmissions. My 2022 had the gearbox replaced under warranty at 14k miles.

[gzknk]

The NC hydraulic rack is better than the ND electric one (I had a 2007 NC for 14 years and upgraded to an ND2 in 2021). But it's a close run thing. The ND's is still bluddy good.

[ScottALaFollette]

Thorough review, thank you.
You have a new subscriber.

[jaimylippens]

there was also a fuel pump recall, i've had it done

[Gurka]

You didn’t emphasize enough the gearbox issues, this is by far the biggest one and it affected the car throughout its development cycle including 2023 model years. It’s a huge issue with the car unfortunately, you need to be aware of the fact that you might need to replace the box at some point.

[ITNoetic]

My 2022 ND2 had the issue with the roof rubbing against the roll hoop. It can be a big problem if left unaddressed because the rubbing can wear a hole into your convertible top, which is an expensive fix if you don't catch it within the warranty period, which can easily happen depending on how infrequently you put the top down. It doesn't just affect older models. It only happens if you push your seat all the way back.

[onlywenilaugh]

What is average cost to replace clutch and the new dual mass flywheel? I've heard it's quite expensive since shops won't try to resurface a dual mass flywheel very often.

[eugenegutierrez]

Why every Miata owner out always says something about put a smile on your face. I have cx5. It doesn’t do that to my face. 😅

[Doppo]

Good video but tough to watch all way through with just one tone of voice all the way through