ND Miata Package Tray: Finding the Right OEM Part Number for Soft Top vs. RF

ByKenji Alvarez

The Panel Has a Name: Package Tray

The small rigid panel that sits just inside the roll hoops on an ND Miata — directly beneath the folded soft top — is officially called the package tray. That’s Mazda’s term for it, and it’s what dealer parts catalogs index it under. Search by that name rather than “rear shelf” or “deck panel” and you’ll find it a lot faster.

About Part Number N243-70-500B

This is a real Mazda part number. It appears in multiple dealer parts systems for the ND-generation MX-5 and is indexed as “TRAY,PACKAGE” in Mazda’s own nomenclature. The wrinkle: at least one major dealer parts catalog lists N243-70-500B explicitly under the MX-5 Miata RF G-TOURING trim, not the standard soft-top convertible.

That distinction matters. The RF (Retractable Fastback) uses a completely different roof mechanism, and the package tray in the RF cabin is shaped around different hardware. It’s possible the RF and soft-top share this part — Mazda reuses components across body styles fairly often — but it’s also possible the soft-top needs a slightly different piece with a different suffix. Don’t assume they’re interchangeable.

Separately, the official Mazda USA parts site lists a package tray under a broader MX-5 Miata catalog with the part number NF79-70-500D. Whether that’s a trim variant, a color variant, or the specific soft-top fitment isn’t spelled out in the listing. It may well be the one you need.

The Fastest Way to Get the Right Part Number

Use your VIN. Go to parts.mazdausa.com, enter your VIN, and navigate to the interior or body section. The catalog filters to your exact build — body style, trim level, and model year all baked in. Search “package tray” within that context and the correct part number comes up without any guesswork.

This takes about 30 seconds and cuts through the soft-top vs. RF ambiguity entirely. It also catches any running changes Mazda applied during the 2023 model year.

Package Tray vs. Parcel Shelf: Not the Same Thing

A related part causes confusion in search results: the rear parcel shelf assembly, part number N243-68-78X on the ND. This is the lower, carpeted panel near the trunk opening — not the rigid piece right behind the roll hoops. If your damaged part is plastic or body-color and sits where the folded top rests, that’s the package tray. If it’s carpeted and closer to the trunk lid, you’re looking at the parcel shelf instead. Ordering the wrong one is an easy mistake when both show up in the same search.

What the Package Tray Actually Does

It’s more structural than it looks. The tray stiffens the rear of the cabin between the roll hoops — on a roadster body that matters for torsional rigidity. It also acts as a wind buffer at speed and gives the folded top a clean resting surface. The recessed area (the “dent” in the forum post photo) is a formed depression that accommodates the top’s latch hardware or boot clips when stowed, so everything sits flush.

Replacement is straightforward. A plastic trim pry tool, a handful of clips, and it comes out. No disassembly of the soft-top mechanism required.

Ordering

Once you have the confirmed part number from the VIN lookup, any authorized Mazda dealer can source it. Online dealer parts stores often price identically to the counter — sometimes cheaper. Have your VIN ready when you order; it lets the system cross-reference your exact build and avoids a return trip if a suffix turns out to be wrong.

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