2016 Mazda CX-5
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Exterior lighting is the leading concern among 510 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 14 CX-5 model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 31 involved a crash and 10 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, headlightsFeb 6, 2020
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016 CX-5 vehicles. The LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) may fail while driving.
If the DRL fails, the vehicle's visibility may be reduced to other drivers on the road, increasing the risk of a crash.
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the headlights, and replace the sealing gasket or headlight assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 20, 2020. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 4320A.
Campaign 20V063000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, body, hatchback/liftgateSep 6, 2016
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 26, 2015, and 2013-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured December 15, 2011, to December 26, 2015. On the affected vehicles, the lift gate support struts may corrode, possibly causing the struts to break and/or the lift gate to drop unexpectedly.
If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9916H.
Campaign 16V644000 on NHTSA.gov
SteeringApr 11, 2016
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 2, 2015, 2013-2014 Mazda2 vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to August 8, 2014, 2014-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured January 19, 2013, to December 2, 2015, and 2013-2015 CX-9 vehicles manufactured December 6, 2012, to July 31, 2015. The lower mounting nuts and bolts that attach the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle may loosen, allowing the steering knuckle to separate.
If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower mounting nuts and bolts that secure the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle. If the bolts are loose, they will be replaced and then correctly tightened, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 20, 2016. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9316D.
Campaign 16V203000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, storage, tank assembly, filler pipe and capFeb 3, 2016
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Mazda CX-5 vehicles manufactured June 27, 2013, to February 2, 2016. The affected vehicles have a fuel filler pipe that may rupture in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
A rupture of the fuel filler pipe may result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will alter the attachment between the fuel filler pipe and the left rear side of the bracket of the fuel filler pipe, free of charge. The recall began on February 25, 2016. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 9216B.
Campaign 16V064000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, windshieldJan 19, 2016
Pilkington North America, Inc. (Pilkington) is recalling certain replacement windshields, model FW04026 GTY, manufactured November 23, 2015, to December 16, 2015 for use in Mazda CX-5 vehicles that are equipped with the Smart City Brake Support system. The affected windshields have a bracket mounted on the inside to hold a laser sensor or LIDAR device for the Smart City Brake Support system. These brackets were improperly affixed with only tape instead of tape and urethane and therefore may loosen.
If the bracket loosens or detaches from the windshield, the safety features of the Smart City Brake Support system may be disabled and therefore increase the risk of a crash.
Pilkington will contact the wholesalers and retailers that purchased the windshields to try to identify the affected customers. The affected windshields will be replaced, free of charge. This recall began on February 15, 2016. Owners may contact Pilkington at 1-844-278-7230.
Campaign 16E002000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: exterior lighting
161 reports, newest first. Show all
Exterior lighting, Jan 26, 2020
AT 76,000 THE DRIVER'S DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. BEFORE IT WENT COMPLETELY OUT I NOTICED IT FLICKERED.
Exterior lighting, Dec 16, 2019
MANY COMPLAINTS ON GOOGLE OF FLICKERING DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON HEADLIGHTS THAT ARE A HAZARD AND DISTRACTION TO ONCOMING DRIVERS, MAY CAUSE SEIZURES FOR SOME. MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR 3 YEARS AND MAZDA WILL NOT RESPOND TO THIS OR ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEED FOR THIS RECALL, TO HAVE THIS FIXED IS A MINIMUM OF $1200. LIGHTING IS NECESSARY AND IF IT IS FAULTY, IT BECOMES DANGEROU.S THIS NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED AND MAZDA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPINSIBILITY. TOO MANY VEHICLE OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM.
Exterior lighting, Dec 15, 2019
AT 30,000 MILES, BUT OUT OF WARRANTY THE DRIVER'S DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING AND AT TIMES WAS COMPLETELY OUT. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE ENTIRE LIGHT MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE PART WAS$1000.00. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT FLICKERING OCCURS WHILE DRIVING & WHEN CAR IS PARKED WITH MOTOR RUNNING.
Exterior lighting, Dec 13, 2019
NOTICED PASSENGER SIDE LED HEADLIGHT FLICKERING WHILE STOPPED BEHIND ANOTHER CAR AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. INSPECTED THE LIGHT ONCE I GET HOME AND FOUND THE DAY TIME RUNNING PORTION OF THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS THE PROBLEM. IT NOW FLICKERS AT ALL TIMES SINCE THIS COMES ONE DURING THE DAY AUTOMATICALLY. SERVICE DEPARTMENT FROM DEALER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED SAID THIS IS NOT COVERED BY MAZDA AND IT WOULD BE OUT POCKET REPAIR ($1,200).
Exterior lighting, Dec 8, 2019
THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT ON MY 2016 MAZDA CX-5 GRAND TOURING STARTED FLICKERING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE A FEW WEEKS AGO. I'VE HAD OTHER DRIVERS HONK OR FLASH THEIR LIGHTS AT ME DURING THE DAY (ONCOMING TRAFFIC) MOST CERTAINLY DUE TO THE ANNOYANCE OF THE FLICKERING LED. THIS SEEMS TO POSE A SAFETY HAZARD TO OTHERS AND MYSELF. THE ONLY SOLUTION MAZDA CURRENTLY HAS IS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $1,200. I CANNOT AFFORD THIS FIX ESPECIALLY WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE LED LIGHT LIKELY TO FAIL AT ANY TIME BRINGING THE COST TO $2,400. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN TO OTHER DRIVERS ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE AN ADVERSE REACTION TO THE STROBE-EFFECT NATURE OF THE FLICKERING LIGHT THAT CAN TRIGGER SEIZURES. IT IS ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN TO ME IF I'M LESS VISIBLE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE VIEWED 100'S OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS ONLY APPROPRIATE FOR MAZDA TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS POORLY DESIGNED/MANUFACTURED COMPONENT.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 5, 2019
THE LED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES OF MY 2016 MAZDA CX-5 HAVE BURNED OUT/STOPPED LIGHTING AFTER 39K MILES AND OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THE REPAIR REQUIRES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1200 PER ASSEMBLY. ($2400 TOTAL). BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND ONE APPARENTLY KNOWN TO MAZDA, THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL.
Exterior lighting, Nov 29, 2019
LED DRL HALO STARTED DIM FLICKERING AT 39,000 MILES ON PASSENGER SIDE. BURNT OUT COMPLETELY. A SHORT TIME LATER. A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT SHOULD BE COVERED WITH A FACTORY RECALL. THIS IS MY SECOND CX-5 AND MY EIGHTH OVERALL MAZDA. MY PLAN WAS TO PURCHASE MY 3RD CX-5 IN JAN 2020. AFTER THIS I WILL PROBABLY LOOK AT AT A VEHICLE THAT HAS A 4 YR/50,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY
Exterior lighting, Nov 26, 2019
PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT FAILED AT 40K MILES, JUST OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY PERIOD. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND REQUIRED $1200 TO FIX/REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. UNACCEPTABLE TO PAY FOR THE TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE FOR LED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ONLY FOR THEM TO DIE AT JUST OVER 3 YEARS. WROTE A LETTER TO MAZDA NORTH AMERICA CORPORATE OFFICE 4 MONTHS AGO BUT NO RESPONSE.
Exterior lighting, Nov 22, 2019
THE LED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT IN BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAVE FAILED. ON ONE SIDE THE ENTIRE LED STRIP HAS FAILED AND ON THE OTHER SIDE THE LED STRIP IS FLASHING. THIS LENDS ITSELF TO MY CAR BEING LESS VISIBLE: AS WELL AS' BEING A DISTRACTION TO OTHER DRIVERS SEEING THE FLASHING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THESE PROBLEMS WERE NOT THE RESULT OF ANY INCIDENT, THE LED STRIPS JUST FAILED FROM NORMAL USE IN A MUCH SHORTER SPAN THAN APPROPRIATE.
Exterior lighting, Nov 17, 2019
DRIVERS SIDE LED HEADLIGHT NOT WORKING AFTER 3 YEARS AND ~25K MILES. I SEE SO MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON ONLINE FORUMS AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE BY MAZDA OVER THIS ISSUE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED VIA A RECALL AND NOT CHARGE CUSTOMERS FOR AN EXPENSIVE FULL HEADLIGHT CONSOLE REPLACEMENT. WHAT IS THE USE OF GETTING A MORE EXPENSIVE TECH PACKAGE FOR THESE LIGHTS AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE WHEN THEY DON'T EVEN WORK FOR 3 YEARS.
Exterior lighting, Nov 14, 2019
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (LED HALO) ON RIDER'S SIDE FLICKERING. VEHICLE HAS UNDER 50K MILES. HAS AGED OUT OF WARRANTY. ENTIRE UNIT MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST EXCEEDING $1200. A FLICKERING LIGHT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND REDUCES VISIBILITY. CAN ALSO BE SEEN AS A DISTRACTION TO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD.
Exterior lighting, Nov 2, 2019
LED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS SYSTEMATICALLY FAIL. DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED AT JUST UNDER 36,000 MILES. PASSENGER SIDE FAILED AT 53,000 MILES. THE FAILURE REQUIRES COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF HEADLIGHT UNIT. COST IS $1100-1200 OR MORE. FLICKERING OR FAILING LIGHTS ARE A DISTRACTION FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC. LACK OF DRL MAY VIOLATE SOME STATE LAWS.
Exterior lighting, Oct 31, 2019
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (LED HALO) ON RIDER'S SIDE NO LONGER WORKS. VEHICLE HAS 30098 MILES, BUT HAS AGED OUT OF WARRANTY. ENTIRE UNIT MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST EXCEEDING $1200. WILL NOT PASS STATE SAFETY INSPECTION AS IS.
Exterior lighting, Oct 18, 2019
VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 33,000 MILES AND THE DRIVER-SIDE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT HAS GONE OUT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD NOT HAPPEN WITH LED LIGHTS THIS EARLY IN THE VEHICLE'S LIFE.
Exterior lighting, Oct 3, 2019
MY HUSBAND NOTICED DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE HEADLIGHT BRIGHTNESS AS I DROVE BEHIND HIM. AFTER PARKING, HE INSPECTED THE LIGHTS AND NOTICED FLICKERING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE LED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT. THE CAR HAS 29,650 MILES. THE REPAIR INVOLVES AN ENTIRELY NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME $1,300 TO FIX THIS REPAIR. THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT IS A SAFETY FEATURE, AND IT'S UNACCEPTABLE THAT MAZDA IS TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART. TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS HAVE SAID THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM SINCE THEY HAVE DONE REPAIRS. I'VE SEEN DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE FOR THE SAME YEAR/MAKE OF CAR WITH DEFECTIVE RUNNING LIGHTS. I CALLED UP THE MAZDA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND DID NOT RECEIVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE SINCE THEY SAID THEY NEEDED A DIAGNOSTIC WHEN YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THE LIGHT FLICKERS VISUALLY. THE DIAGNOSTIC COSTS $150. I DON'T SEE THE POINT IN PAYING $150 TO DIAGNOSIS SOMETHING YOU CAN VISUALLY SEE THERE IS A PROBLEM WHICH IS ALREADY A KNOWN ISSUE AMONG CX-5 OWNERS.
Exterior lighting, Oct 3, 2019
THE DRIVER'S HEADLIGHT HALO FOR THE DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS WAS HAVING ISSUES AT 30,939. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WOULD HAVE COST $1,000. NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE IS HAVING ISSUES AT 33,183 MILES AND NOW THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY THE CURRENT QUOTE IS $1,200. A THREE YEAR OLD CAR UNDER 36,000 MILES SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THESE ISSUES, NOR SHOULD THEY BE ALMOST $2,500 IN REPAIRS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I NOTICED IT WHILE DRIVING AND SEEING THE LESS BRIGHT REFLECTION COMING OFF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT A STOP LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE. I SPOKE WITH SHAVON ON THE HELP LINE AND SHE WAS EXTREMELY PROFESSIONAL AND COURTEOUS ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS (*****)
Exterior lighting, Oct 2, 2019
THE DRIVER SIDE LED RUNNING LIGHT BURNED OUT AROUND 45,000 MILES. THE REPAIR INVOLVES AN ENTIRELY NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY; MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME $934 FOR THIS PART AND THE WORK REQUIRED. THE RUNNING LIGHT IS A SAFETY FEATURE OF ALL NEWER-MAKE CARS, AND IT'S UNACCEPTABLE THAT MAZDA IS TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A DEFECTIVE PART. I'VE SEEN DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE FOR THE SAME YEAR/MAKE OF CAR WITH DEFECTIVE RUNNING LIGHTS.
Exterior lighting, Sep 25, 2019
2016 MAZDA CX5 HEADLIGHT PROBLEM THE LEFT ONE WENT OUT AND WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY. NOW THE RIGHT ONE HAS GONE OUT AND THEY WANT $1200 TO FIX IT. THE CAR ONLY HAS 48000 MILES ON IT. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BECAUSE HEADLIGHTS SHOULD NOT NEED REPLACING THIS SOON.
Exterior lighting, Sep 24, 2019
PASSENGER SIDE LED MODULE DRL LIGHT STRIP IS DIM/FLICKERING. HAPPENED IN YEARS 3-4 SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. DEALER OFFERED ZERO ASSISTANCE. LED LIGHTS SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER. A QUICKER INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD ON MY MODEL YEAR. IN FACT, I HAVE SEEN MANY VEHICLES WITH FAULTY LIGHT IN M DAILY DRIVING.
Exterior lighting, Sep 18, 2019
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT ISSUE - SEEMS LIKE A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, LIGHT FLICKERS BEFORE IT FINALLY BLOWS, DRL ONLY COME ON WHEN VEHICLE IS IN "DRIVE", SO ONLY WHEN IN MOTION, DOESN'T MATTER WHAT TYPE OF ROAD, OR DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. THE FLICKERING IS A HAZARD FOR OTHER DRIVERS, AND IS MAJORLY ANNOYING TO OWNER, THE FIX IS NEARLY $1000 TO REPAIR. THIS IS THE SECOND ONE TO GO, THE FIRST (ON DRIVER'S SIDE) BLEW WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, LESS THAN 36K MILES, SECOND ONE HAS NOW GONE, AT 71K, WELL OUT OF WARRANTY.
Exterior lighting, Sep 16, 2019
DRIVER SIDE LED DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHT IS FLICKERING AT 25% BRIGHTNESS, PASSENGER SIDE LED DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHT IS NOT FUNCTIONING. CAR HAS ONLY 56,000 MILES. LED LIGHTS SHOULD NOT FAIL THIS EARLY. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET. I WILL NOT REPLACE DUE TO EXTREMELY HIGH COST OF OVER $1000 PER HEADLIGHT. VISIBILITY OF THESE VEHICLES HAS BEEN SEVERELY COMPROMISED DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF SOMETHING THAT SHOULD LAST FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.
Exterior lighting, Sep 16, 2019
LED RUNNING DAYTIME DRIVING LIGHTS HAVE FAILED AT ONLY 3 YEARS!
Exterior lighting, Sep 7, 2019
DRIVERS SIDE LED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT IS DIM AND DIFFICULT TO SEE.
Exterior lighting, Sep 4, 2019
LED LIGHTS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAVE FAILED. HEADLIGHT (LOW/HIGH BEAMS) AND DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL CONTINUE TO OPERATE NORMALLY. CAR WAS STATIONARY WHEN A FRIEND NOTICED THE PROBLEM. ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED AS A PROBLEM IN NUMEROUS CASES. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED OTHER OWNERS REPORTING SAME PROBLEM AND ADDED MY INFORMATION ON THEIR RECORDS.
Exterior lighting, Aug 28, 2019
2016 CX-5. LAST YEAR, THE DRIVER SIDE DAYTIME RUNNING LED HEADLIGHT STARTED FLICKERING FOR A FEW MONTHS, THEN WENT COMPLETELY DARK. CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, SO IT WAS REPLACED FOR FREE. NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE DAYTIME RUNNING LED HEADLIGHT IS DOING THE SAME THING. CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND MAZDA SAYS IT WILL COST $1200. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.