Transmission Failure Problems of Mazda MX5

While driving on a public 2-lane road and upshifting into 3rd gear at about 6,500 rpm my transmission failed. I immediately slowed from about 65 mph and coasted to a stop. I was lucky that there was a just adequate shoulder, and I was able to avoid being rear-ended by faster traffic. I pulled as far to the right as I could, still withing 4 feet of the pavement. I determined that I could still drive in 1st gear and, driving only on the shoulder, drove the car to a wider, safer spot. A friend came by later with his truck and trailer to take my car to my home. I thereupon had it towed to a Mazda dealer the next day. The dealer diagnosed a manual transmission failure, 3rd gear specifically, and told me I was lucky the gearbox didn't sieze and cause a lack of control. They replaced the entire transmission at no cost to me.

See all problems of the 2016 Mazda MX5 🔎.

Transmission is made of weak grade materials and running at high temps causing the transmission to fail randomly while driving. I am on my second transmission and Mazda fails to help or address the concern. The problem has been proven by many shops at this point and most importantly by a Mazda engineer on a youtube video. This Mazda engineer specifically states that weak tolerances are causing manual transmissions to shear teeth under load. Both times my transmissions parts exploded I was at speed. The first time was on a city street, the second time was on a very busy highway during rush hour. The first time, no gears were usable and I had to be towed home after coasting my car to a stop in neutral. The second time I could only use 4th gear and had to limp home.