Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2023 MX-5.
The 2023 Mazda MX‑5 continues as a lightweight, two‑seat roadster built on Mazda’s proprietary Skyactiv platform, delivering 26 city / 35 highway / 30 combined fuel economy while offering a smooth S‑6 automatic transmission. Its most recent reliability snapshot shows just seven owner complaints, with the power train cited as the primary concern and only one recall issued. Historically, the MX‑5’s complaint count has fluctuated from a single report in 2011 to a peak of 34 in 2016, underscoring a generally dependable pedigree with occasional power‑train issues that have largely been addressed in newer models.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic (S6) |
| Overall length | 153.9 in |
| Overall width | 68.1 in |
| Overall height | 48.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 90.9 in |
| Curb weight | 2348 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 59.4 / 59.8 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 53/47 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 26 / 35 / 30 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Recommended fuel | Premium Gasoline |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 2023 model year registers 7 complaints and 1 recall, representing a slight uptick from 2022’s 5 complaints while matching its single recall, and sitting just above 2024’s 5 complaints in the federal record. Across the generation, regulatory activity peaked dramatically in 2016 with 34 complaints and 3 recalls, followed by a steady downward trend in technical service bulletins from 414 in 2017 to just 117 in 2023—the lowest in the dataset. This positions 2023 as a mature production year with minimal factory service guidance and stable recall exposure, though Power Train concerns account for 4 of the 7 complaints while crash incidents register only 1 and fire complaints register 0. Given the declining TSB volume and controlled complaint rates relative to the 2016 spike, 2023 represents a sound acquisition point in the model cycle.
All 7 complaints on record, top 4 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016-2023 MX-5 Miata vehicles. A software error in the air bag control module may cause the front air bags to deploy with excessive force during a crash. As… Remedy: Dealers will update the Sophisticated Air Bag Sensor (SAS) control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 7, 2024. Owners may contact…
Showing 5 of 117 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| SA-041-26 | 2026-06-18 | Electrical System | This SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in… |
| 09-020-26 | 2026-06-17 | Structure | DESCRIPTION Some vehicles may exhibit scratches (1) on the rear of the seat back bar… |
| SA-027-26a | 2026-06-16 | Electrical System | This SA supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted… |
| SA-033-26 | 2026-06-03 | Electrical System | This SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted below… |
| SA-031-26 | 2026-04-30 | Structure | DESCRIPTION Some vehicles may require the replacement of a damaged VIN plate or vehicle… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 26 city / 35 highway / 30 combined mpg.