Reports indicate that new Mazda Miatas are currently stranded at ports for reasons that remain unclear.

      Mazda

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      Some future owners of the 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata are reporting delays at ports, which appear to stem from a part shortage rather than tariffs. Following a tip from a customer whose Miata has been stationary at the Port of Los Angeles for three weeks, we discovered several other customers reporting similar delays across various Mazda forums. Limited information from dealers suggests that Mazda is awaiting replacement parts before the vehicles can be shipped out for delivery.

      Several buyers indicate that the issue may be related to software or one of the MX-5's electronic modules. We have contacted Mazda for further details and will update this post if we receive any.

      Sometimes, vehicles are held at ports to resolve issues that were discovered after leaving the factory. This can involve replacing a faulty or improperly installed component with a new physical part. For instance, during its emissions scandal in 2015, Volkswagen had thousands of vehicles stranded in ports while waiting for fixes after withdrawing their emissions certificates for diesel vehicles. At times, the holds are simply for software updates, which dealers can often handle. However, addressing these issues at the port allows for better oversight, reducing the chances of a vehicle being inadvertently delivered to a customer with a defect.

      Despite some reports suggesting that all 2025-model-year MX-5s are being held, it seems that certain MX-5s are still reaching customers, indicating that the problem may affect only a specific group of Miatas. Our tip came from a customer who ordered a 35th Anniversary model (shown), and a review of Miata.net indicates he isn't alone. However, in the same discussion, other members have mentioned receiving the same trim, implying that not all are similarly affected or that Mazda is beginning to resolve the backlog.

      A number of current-model-year Miatas are already available at U.S. dealerships—an initial search on Autotrader revealed over 700 new ones in stock. Yet, this doesn’t eliminate the possibility of new issues obstructing the arrival of new vehicles to the country.

      Mazda

      For Miata buyers, the good news is that vehicles already at their final U.S. port will not incur additional import duties. This means that regardless of any political changes in the upcoming weeks, the delays will only result in lost time, not extra costs.

      Do you have any information about new Miatas facing challenges in reaching dealerships? Please send us a note at [email protected].