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.

Complaints by model year
  1. 510

Of the 2016 reports, 31 involved a crash and 10 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.

Primary concernExterior lighting161 reports · 32% of complaints
Owner complaints510Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship5 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Exterior lighting161
  2. Electrical system71
  3. Service brakes69
  4. Other or unspecified57
  5. Power train51
  6. Visibility/wiper42
  7. Engine39
  8. Air bags19

Recalls and investigations

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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: power train

51 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Power train, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 28, 2015

    STOPPED ON HIGHWAY AT RED LIGHT. WENT TO PULL OUT ON GREEN, CAR HESITATED THEN IT FELT LIKE I WAS BEING HIT FROM BEHIND THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED WITH A BIG THUD BEFORE I COULD GET MOVING. FURTHER ON DOWN THE ROAD IT WOULD WITHOUT WARNING, DOWNSHIFT THEN UPSHIFT, GOING SOMETIMES FROM 6TH GEAR TO 3RD AND THROWING ME FORWARD. EVERYTIME I WOULD STOP AND TRY TO START THERE WAS HESITATION FROM THE TRANSMISSION THEN IT WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR. WHEN I WAS STOPPED ON A SLIGHT UPGRADE, THE CAR WOULD DRIFT BACKWARD A GOOD BIT, THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS TO GIVE IT MORE GAS AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD AGAIN SLAM INTO GEAR. DURING ALL THIS NO ENGINE OR WARNING LIGHTS OF ANY KIND CAME ON. THE MODEL I WAS DRIVING WAS LESS THAN 30 DAYS OLD WITH ONLY 3300 MILES ON IT. I AM CONCERNED, BECAUSE I TRADED IN A 2014 MAZDA CX 5 ( SAME MODEL) AND IT ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. MAZDA IS REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS 2016 UNIT.