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Buying guide

Mazda MX-5 ND (2015 to now): buying guide, problems and NZ numbers

The Mazda MX-5 ND has been built since 2015 as a convertible or targa, with a manual or automatic gearbox, rear wheel drive and petrol power. Chassis codes: ND5RC and NDERC. Redline has a curated guide to its 7 most reported weak points, from owner club and specialist sources.

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Key facts

Years
2015 to now
Chassis codes
ND5RC, NDERC
Body types
Convertible, Targa
Gearboxes
Manual, Automatic
Drive
RWD (rear wheel drive)
Fuel
Petrol

On NZ roads

Counting every one on the NZ register. The first look can take up to 15 seconds.

Known weak points

Curated by Redline from owner club and specialist sources Commonly reported by owners and specialists for the Mazda MX-5 ND (2015 to present). Not every car has these; check this one.

  1. i-ELOOP stop start (2015 to 2017 builds)

    Some cars built May 2015 to April 2017 had an i-ELOOP stop start fault that in the worst case could cause a fire.

    Where to look
    The recall record for the VIN
    How to test
    Have a Mazda dealer confirm the remedial work has been done.
    Cost if it needs fixing
    Low cost recall work is free

    Sources: pistonheads.com (opens in a new tab)

  2. Manual gearbox selection

    Problems selecting 1st to 2nd and 3rd to 2nd are reported, sometimes at very low km, and quite a few early gearboxes were replaced under warranty. Heavy track use is a risk.

    Where to look
    The gear lever, and warranty records
    How to test
    Change 1st to 2nd and 3rd to 2nd several times warm and cold. Ask whether the gearbox has been replaced.
    Cost if it needs fixing
    High cost gearbox replacement

    Sources: pistonheads.com (opens in a new tab)

  3. Rear calipers

    Rear calipers can seize, and a knock from the slider pins can be mistaken for a suspension noise.

    Where to look
    The rear calipers
    How to test
    Listen for a knock over bumps from the rear and check one wheel is not hotter after the drive.
    Cost if it needs fixing
    Low cost caliper parts

    Sources: pistonheads.com (opens in a new tab)

  4. Hub carrier bushes

    Hub carrier bush failure is reported, and the fix can need a complete new hub.

    Where to look
    The rear hub carriers
    How to test
    Listen for clunks and feel for vague rear end behaviour on the drive.
    Cost if it needs fixing
    Medium cost a complete hub assembly

    Sources: pistonheads.com (opens in a new tab)

  5. Spring coil clash fix

    Spring coils were known to touch on bumps; Mazda fitted a C shaped plastic piece on the second coil from the top.

    Where to look
    The front springs behind each front wheel
    How to test
    Look for the plastic clip on the spring and listen for a clack over bumps.
    Cost if it needs fixing
    Low cost dealer fix

    Sources: pistonheads.com (opens in a new tab)

  6. Soft top wear at the roll hoops

    Roofs can rub against the roll hoops if not lowered exactly as the manual says, wearing the front section.

    Where to look
    The front section of the soft top where it meets the roll hoops
    How to test
    Lower and raise the roof and look for rubbing marks or wear on the front section.
    Cost if it needs fixing
    Medium cost a new roof

    Sources: pistonheads.com (opens in a new tab)

  7. Engine mounts and throttle body

    Engine mounts can fail on harder driven cars, and some faulty throttle body modules are reported.

    Where to look
    The engine mounts and throttle body
    How to test
    Feel for clunks on and off the throttle and check the idle is steady.
    Cost if it needs fixing
    Medium cost mounts or a throttle body

    Sources: pistonheads.com (opens in a new tab)

General guidance from owner and specialist sources. Check the specific car with an independent inspection. Researched 1 November 2026.

What the cost bands mean
  • Low: a small job. Typically a few hundred dollars or less at an NZ workshop, often a DIY fix.
  • Medium: a proper workshop job. Typically several hundred to a couple of thousand dollars.
  • High: a major job. Typically several thousand dollars or more, enough to change what the car is worth.

Service items

Questions to ask the seller

  • Has the gearbox been replaced under warranty?
  • Has the i-ELOOP recall been done?
  • Has the car been tracked?
  • Is it the 1.5 or the 2.0, and soft top or RF?

New Zealand notes

  • NZ has NZ new MX-5s and Japanese import Roadsters. Check the recall record against the VIN with a Mazda dealer.

An ND suits a driver who wants a light, modern roadster with low running costs.

US recalls

Looking up US recall data.

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