Service bulletin 09-018-16-3176

A bulletin is a manufacturer's communication to its dealers, as NHTSA indexes it. The summary is NHTSA's. The document is the manufacturer's: read it at NHTSA. A bulletin is not a recall, and listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned.

The communication, as NHTSA indexes it (as of 2026-10-19)
Type	Service bulletin
NHTSA id	10090862
Published by NHTSA	2017-02-08
Manufacturer's number	09-018-16-3176
Manufacturer's date	2016-03-21
NHTSA component	SEATS

NHTSA's summary

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT SCRATCHES (A) ON THE REAR OF THE SEAT BACK BAR GARNISH (B) FROM CONTACT WITH THE CON-VERTIBLE TOP (C). DUE TO ASSEMBLY VARIATIONS, THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE SEAT BACK BAR GARNISH AND THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS TOO SMALL ON SOME VEHICLES.

The document

No address for NHTSA's copy can be built for this communication. Ask the dealer for it by the manufacturer's number.

Components

Seats

Vehicles listed
MAZDA MX-5	2016

Listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned: the document says which.

Other bulletins for the same vehicles and component
09-020-26	2026-07-03. Service bulletin. DESCRIPTION Some vehicles may exhibit scratches (1) on the rear of the seat back bar garnish (2) from contact with the convertible top (3). Due to assembly variations, the clearance between the seat back bar garnish and the convertible top is too small on some vehicles. REPAIR PROCEDURE 6. Install the seat back crossmember assembly from the vehicle according to the instructions on MGSS online or the Workshop Manual (section 09-10 SEAT BACK CROSSMEMBER ASSEMBLY REMOVAL/INSTALLATION). 7. Reinstall the rear seat back bar garnish while twisting the garnish so that the garnish can be kept closer to the seat back bar and away from the convertible top (for both left and right sides).
09-016-24	2024-04-02. Service bulletin. Some vehicles may exhibit scratches (1) on the rear of the seat back bar garnish (2) from contact with the convertible top (3).
09-017-23	2023-04-04. Service bulletin. Some vehicles may exhibit scratches (1) on the rear of the seat back bar garnish (2) from contact with the convertible top. Due to assembly variations, the clearance between the seat back bar garnish and the convertible top is too small on some vehicles.
09-016-16-3158	2021-01-28. Service bulletin. At PDI or when new vehicle is delivered, some customers may complain about wrinkles on the leather seat cushion and/or seat back surface.Customers having this concern should have their vehicle repaired by a qualified upholstery repair specialist using the following repair procedure.
09-001-20-3670	2020-01-23. Service bulletin. Some vehicles may exhibit scratches (1) on the rear of the seat back bar garnish (2) from contact with the convertible top (3).Due to assembly variations, the clearance between the seat back bar garnish and the convertible top is too small on some vehicles.On later 2016 models (starting with VINs JM1ND******117681), the link stopper of the convertible top has been changed to adjust the opening angle and folding position of the convertible top. This increased the gap between the seat back bar garnish and the convertible top when folded down. On these later models, the issue seems to occur if the customer does not completely lock the convertible top down when lowered. NOTE: Make the customer aware that the top needs to be completely locked down when lowered to prevent this from happening. With the convertible top lowered, press down on both the front and rear areas of the top (as shown with the arrows) until a latch sound is heard and the top does not pop up.
09-019-19-3592	2019-05-03. Service bulletin. Some vehicles may exhibit scratches (1) on the rear of the seat back bar garnish (2) from contact with the convertible top (3). Due to assembly variations, the clearance between the seat back bar garnish and the convertible top is too small on some vehicles.On later 2016 models (starting with VINs JM1ND******117681), the link stopper of the convertible top has been changed to adjust the opening angle and folding position of the convertible top. This increased the gap between the seat back bar garnish and the convertible top when folded down. On these later models, the issue seems to occur if the customer does not completely lock the convertible top down when lowered. NOTE: Make the customer aware that the top needs to be completely locked down when lowered to prevent this from happening. With the convertible top lowered, press down on both the front and rear areas of the top (as shown with the arrows) until a latch sound is heard and the top does not pop up.
09-015-18-3445a	2018-11-13. Service bulletin. At PDI or when new vehicle is delivered, some customers may complain about wrinkles on the leather seat cushion and/or seat back surface. Customers having this concern should have their vehicle repaired by a qualified upholstery repair specialist using the following repair procedure.
09-028-18-3490	2018-08-20. Service bulletin. Some vehicles may exhibit scratches (1) on the rear of the seat back bar garnish (2) from contact with the convertible top (3). Due to assembly variations, the clearance between the seat back bar garnish and the convertible top is too small on some vehicles. On later 2016 models (starting with VINs JM1ND******117681), the link stopper of the convertible top has been changed to adjust the opening angle and folding position of the convertible top. This increased the gap between the seat back bar garnish and the convertible top when folded down. On these later models, the issue seems to occur if the customer does not completely lock the convertible top down when lowered. NOTE: Make the customer aware that the top needs to be completely locked down when lowered to prevent this from happening. With the convertible top lowered, press down on both the front and rear areas of the top (as shown with the arrows) until a latch sound is heard and the top does not pop up.
09-015-18-3445	2018-04-23. Service bulletin. At PDI or when new vehicle is delivered, some customers may complain about wrinkles on the leather seat cushion and/or seat back surface.
09-018-16-3176	2017-05-30. Service bulletin. SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT SCRATCHES (A) ON THE REAR OF THE SEAT BACK BAR GARNISH (B) FROM CONTACT WITH THE CON-VERTIBLE TOP (C). DUE TO ASSEMBLY VARIATIONS, THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE SEAT BACK BAR GARNISH AND THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS TOO SMALL ON SOME VEHICLES.