2016 Mazda MX5 club: In warmer weather(70 degree F or higher) and after driving for 5+ miles, the steering becomes less sensitive and gets "stuck/sticky" and requires more force to turn. When applied more force the car over corrects and you swerve cause the amount of force you needed to apply. Seems like something in the steering rack expands with heat which then creates friction which you have to overcome to continue driving. Seems like it's becoming more of a issues the more people drive
Steering
2016 Mazda MX-5 Steering problems
Owners have filed 2 complaints about the 2016 Mazda MX-5's steering with NHTSA - 6% of all its complaints, most recently on April 30, 2026. Loss of power steering, stiff or loose steering, wandering, column and rack problems.
- Complaints
- 2
- Recalls
- 0
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Steering complaints
Steering: At 55+ MPH I feel a slight bind when I make a steering change. It then releases only after I've put in too much steering correction. This occurs when in a steady direction, or whether I'm in a steady, high speed turn. It feels like a snapping rubber band. You can read about other Miata drivers who have the same issue at: miata.net in the forum. The link: https://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=714849&highlight=steering+stick
Mazda MX-5 steering complaints by year
MX-5 steering problems, every yearSource: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data