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: visibility/wiper
42 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, May 27, 2026
(I am the owner of the car and am filling this out for my daughter who was driving it at the time, I was not with her during the incident) While driving down the road in the rain the wipers just stopped working. I have not had any dealers ID the specific problem yet. We replaced the wiper 20amp fuse and it did not fix the problem. There were no warning lamps and there are still no warning lamps. My safety was put into danger when I could not see out the window. I was nearly at work so I waited for the rain to slow down some was able to make it to work. The rain cleared while I was at work and it has not rained since. It is available for inspection upon request.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 25, 2024
Front windshield wipers stopped working, front windshield washer still working. Fuse was checked, fuse is good.Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety is put at risk because of lack of visibility when driving in rain. The problem has been confirmed by a Mazda dealership. The vehicle and the components have been inspected by a Mazda dealership. No warning lights or messages appeared before or after the front windshield wipers stopped working. So if a person is driving the car, there is no indication that the front windshield wipers will not work if it starts raining and the driver would need to use the front windshield wipers. This is a safety hazard because the driver will not be able to see, possibly causing an accident. This Mazda CX5 does not have automatic front windshield wipers (they do not come on automatically when it starts raining).
Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, Oct 9, 2024
The controls on the Windshield Wiper/Headlight Control Stalk are not visible when driving at night. The setting markings on the Control Stalk are completely dark at night. This creates a safety hazard when driving at night in the rain and turning on your windshield wipers or changing your headlight settings is needed.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 16, 2024
Front windshield wipers not working, bcm failed
Visibility/wiper, Mar 24, 2024
In September of 2023, while driving I attempted to use the windshield wipers, and they would not function. We live in a rainy part of the country, so having non working wipers is a major safety issue. Research for possible causes pointed to the body control module which had been recalled on Mazda 3s in recent years. I took the car to the dealership, and they traced the problem to an internal failure of the body control module. I do not have the component to inspect, and I do not know what the dealership did with it after removal. We filed a complaint with Mazda in October of 2023. They gave us case #001-463-33. They were not receptive to feedback, and simply stated many times that there was not a current recall for our vehicle. There were no warning signs/messages/ lights before the wipers stopped working, and they had worked normally the day before.
Air bags, Visibility/wiper, Aug 4, 2022
1. The airbag sensor is not working. The warning signal continually flashes. My shop had airbag system analyzed. Test results showed it is not calibrated correctly. My Mazda dealer, Luther Premier Mazda, said it is an electrical problem, and I will have to pay for analysis. I paid for this analysis when Sallas had it diagnosed. 2. Due to problems with the windshield, I paid for a replacement myself, not knowing there was a recall. I want Mazda to install a Mazda windshield and calibrate the safety systems.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 15, 2022
Rear Video Camera / Back-up Camera Display Malfunction: The display in the dashboard continuously resets, causing the view from the back-up camera to disappear completely or dim to to the point where it is not viewable. This causes a safety hazard when backing up and often occurs once the vehicle is already in motion. Mazda dealer's service center reports Mazda is aware that this is a new, widespread problem, but to check for updates in 4 weeks.
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Jan 18, 2022
This is a follow up to NHTSA complaint ID Number 11442992: After doing a fair amount of research the problem was deemed to be the Front Body Control Module. A new replacement was ordered (about $250). It took about 1-1/2 to 2 weeks for the module to be received and about an hour for its installation. So far the wipers seem to be working correctly although they have yet been 'used', only tested. Googling "mazda wiper problem" you will find others reporting similar problems with the Body Control Module. I found this (https://www.mazda3revolution.com/threads/for-those-suffering-wiper-motor-issues-here-is-the-fix.232623/) forum entry when I did the aforementioned google search. And finally, post replacement I have visually inspected the original module and can easily see one of the components marked "2741" with corrosion around its mounting.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 7, 2021
2016 Mazda CX-5 windshield wipers - Correctly operating windshield wipers have four modes: single wipe, intermittent wipe, slow continuous wipe, high speed continuous wipe. One morning (September, 2021) used the single wipe mode to clear overnight accumulated moisture (car parked outside) but wiper made five passes instead of one and then stopped in an 'up' or 'non-parked' position. Tried the other three modes and all three behaved the same way, five wiper passes and then the wipers stopped, sometimes upright blocking forward vision, sometimes at an angle, but never in the 'parked' position. Driving in rain or snow requires activating the wipers every 30 seconds or so (approximate time of 5 wipes). Have had the wiper motor (which includes a circuit board) replaced twice to no avail. Today had wiper switch replaced, again to no avail. This problem seems to be similar to windshield wiper problem reported regarding 2016-2018 Mazda CX-3's.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 27, 2021
Driving on the interstate. Driver plus 3 passengers,fair amount of luggage. Listening to a book on CD. Windows up, air-conditioning on. Driving 70 mph smooth road. No cars in immediate vicinity. Suddenly there is a loud bang which scared the crap out of me. Pulled off the roadway to see what had happened. Turned out the moon roof had exploded. Fortunately the inside cover was closed otherwise the occupants would have been shredded by a glass grenade.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 27, 2020
THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK ON MY FRONT WINDSHIELD THAT SPANNED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN I WENT TO LOCATE THE POSSIBLE POINT OF THE CRACK I COULDN'T LOCATE ONE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO AN WINDSHIELD REPAIR SHOP TO GET IT REPLACED AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A STRESS CRACK THAT IS PRETTY COMMON IN MAZDA CX-5'S.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 12, 2020
A SMALL CHIP WAS ON FOUND ON THE FRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD AND I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE DEALER THAT THE CHIP WAS SMALL AND THAT THEY THE REPAIR WOULD FIX IT WITH RESIN. THE NEXT DAY A CRACK AROUND 18 INCHES FORMED ALONG THE WINDSHIELD. . AFTER THE CRACK WAS FORMED THEY STATED THEY WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WINDSHIELD AFTER THE REPAIR. THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE QUALITY OF THE WINDSHIELD MAZDA WON'T HOLD THEMSELVES RESPONSIBLE FOR. THIS NEW WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN QUOTED FOR $500 TO REPLACE. *TR
Steering, Fuel/propulsion system, Visibility/wiper, Jun 11, 2019
MY ALLSTATE REP TOLD ME THAT I HAVE 4 RECALLS
Electrical system, Air bags, Visibility/wiper, Feb 27, 2019
FIRST OCCURRED ON 9/29/2017 AND MORE OFTEN AFTER 2/3/18 BATTERY DRAINS, NO START HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE BATTERY JUMPED 5-6 TIMES, REPLACED BATTERY SAME OCCURRENCES, HAVE TAKEN BATTERY TO BE CHARGED TWICE. FURTHER INSPECTION A WEEK LATER ON BATTERY AND A DRAW TEST 1, CAME BACK GOOD. COUPLE OF WEEKS BATTERY HAD DRAINED AGAIN. NO START NOTICEABLE SIGNS OF DRAIN. AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND OFF, HAVE HAD IT SERVICED PREVIOUSLY. HEAT AND A/C NOT PROJECTING LIKE NORMAL. STAINS ON WINDSHIELD. DESIGN ERROR THERE IS NO KEY ENTRY ON TRUNK WHEN CAR MALFUNCTIONS. DASHBOARD AND/OR DISPLAY SCREEN WILL OCCASIONALLY STAY ON WHEN CAR TURNS OFF. DRIVER WINDOW RATTLES. COMMAND SWITCHES FOR DISPLAY SCREEN REPLACED STILL STICKING. SEAT BELT HAS SCARED STOMACH.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jan 27, 2019
LARGE FISH HOOK SHAPED CRACK ON WINDSHIELD OF MY 2016 MAZDA CX-5 WITH 23000 MLES. THE CRACK APPEARED ON A 55 DEGREE MORNING AFTER I PULLED MY VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE AND DROVE HALF A BLOCK TO A STOP SIGN AND I WATCHED THE CRACK APPEAR. THE CRACK STARTS AT THE TOP CENTER EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD GOES DOWN ABOUT 6 INCHES, THEN GOES INTO THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. IT WAS ABOUT 18 INCHES THAT MORNING AND HAS GROWN TO ABOUT 30 INCHES AND A HUGE FISH HOOK SHAPE IN THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS CAUSED BY A STONE IMPACT. IT WAS NOT AN IMPACT, I SHOULD KNOW, I WAS DRIVING. THE DEALER ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN IF IT IS A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD OR INSTALLATION AT THE FACTORY. WITH A LITTLE RESEARCH I AM SEEING A LOT OF CX-5 OWNERS ARE REPORTING SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE WINDSHIELDS CRACKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN THE NHTSA NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 18, 2018
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY WHEN A BASKETBALL BOUNCED OFF THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND THEN HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE HOOD BUT WHEN THE BASKETBALL HIT THE WINDSHIELD IT SHATTERED THE RIGHT TOP SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 15, 2018
I RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED 2016 MAZDA CX-5. FIVE DAYS LATER, I WENT TO GET IN IT AFTER WORK (NOT A HOT DAY) AND FOUND A CRACK RUNNING FROM UNDER THE TOP SEAM STRAIGHT DOWN AND THEN FEATHERING OUT. NO IMPACT DAMAGE. PARKED IN A SECURED LOT. IT DIDN'T LOOK RIGHT, SO I LOOKED UP MAZDA WINDSHIELDS AND FOUND OUT OTHERS HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I FOUND THE CRACK DISTRACTING AS I DROVE, ESPECIALLY IF I NEEDED TO LOOK OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE. TOOK MY CAR TO MAZDA THE FOLLOWING DAY. THEY AGREED IT LOOKED STRANGE, BUT SAID THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY WINDSHIELD ISSUES. AND YET I FOUND MANY OTHERS ON LINE HAD THE SAME ISSUE.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 26, 2018
FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW COMPLETELY SHATTERED WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. NO APPARENT ROCK OR DEBRIS HIT THE WINDOW BEFORE THE GLASS COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED. A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD AS THE GLASS SHATTERED FROM THE CENTER. UNSURE AS TO LONGEVITY / DURABILITY OF THE MAZDA OEM GLASS WINDOWS AS CAR MODEL IS RELATIVELY NEW. SO FAR HAVE NOT HAD ANY OTHER ISSUES WITH THE OTHER WINDOWS OF THE CAR. THE TEMPERED GLASS, HOWEVER, DID SHATTER AS CORRECTLY DESIGNED, NO INJURIES.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 15, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA CX-5. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (JOHN HINE MAZDA, 1545 CAMINO DEL RIO SOUTH ST, SAN DIEGO, CA 92108) AND WAS INFORMED TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 29, 2017
2016 CX5 DEVELOPED SPONTANEOUS STRESS FRACTURE IN WINDSHIELD RUNNING FROM TOP RIGHT EDGE OF SCREEN ACROSS TO MIDDLE OF GLASS. IT WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN AT THE TIME, NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD, IT JUST CRACKED.
Visibility/wiper, May 18, 2017
AFTER TWO MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED DUE TO A ROCK STRIKE. THE WINDOWS WAS REPLACED WITH AN OEM WINDSHIELD. THREE MONTHS LATER THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED RANDOMLY WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE (ROCK ETC)
Visibility/wiper, May 15, 2017
2 WEEKS OLD VEHICLE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AFTER PARKED IN THE SUN FOR 3 HOURS.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 25, 2017
DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, THE CHROME AROUND THE VENTS REFLECTS ONTO THE SIDE WINDOWS. THIS CAUSES A DISTRACTION, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO LOOK INTO THE SIDE MIRRORS. I CONTACTED MAZDA ABOUT THIS, THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO PLAN TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. NOTHING YET HAS HAPPENED TO ME ABOUT THIS, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT HAPPEN TO ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. AN EASY FIX WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE SHINY CHROME TRIM WITH A DARKER TRIM. I ATTACHED SOME PICTURES TO SHOW THIS. THE PICTURES DO NOT SHOW EXACTLY HOW BAD IT IS, BUT IT WILL SHOW THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 11, 2016
MY 7 MONTH 2016 CX 5 WITH 15,000 MILES WAS PARKED AT WORK. WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR TO GO HOME, MY WINDSHIELD HAD A LARGE CRACK DOWN THE MIDDLE FROM THE TOP SPREADING OUT ON BOTH DRIVER & PASSENGER SIDES INTO THE VIEWING AREA LIKE A SPIDER WEB. IT STARTED RIGHT WHERE THE BLACK PLASTIC HOUSING IS FOR THE TECH PKG SENSORS BEHIND THE MIRROR. I STOPPED AT TECHNIGLASS ON MY WAY HOME & DAMON CHECKED IT OUT & SAID THERE WAS NO SIGN OF A ROCK CHIP, IT WAS A STRESS CRACK AND IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY & THAT HE HAS SEEN IT A LOT ON CX-5'S. ALSO TOLD ME THE WINDSHIELDS WERE ON BACK ORDER & THEY COST $1100. THE FOLLOWING DAY I TOOK IT TO DAHLE MAZDA IN SLC FOR 15,000 MILE SERVICE & SHOWED THEM THE CRACK & ASKED THEM TO REPLACE IT UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY. THEY CAME BACK & TOLD ME THEY DID FINE POINT PEN TRICK & THERE WERE TWO ROCK CHIPS & IT IS NOT WARRANTABLE. I SHOWED THEM TECHNIGLASS NOTE SHOWING THERE WERE NO ROCK CHIPS & THEIR DIAGNOSIS OF A STRESS CRACK. ASKED FOR THE SERVICE MANAGER & SHARED THIS INFO & 30+ COMPLAINTS FROM ONLINE NHTSA & MAZDA247.COM WEBSITES CONFIRMING THE DEFECT WITH OTHER CX 5 OWNERS. MADE HIM DOCUMENT THEIR REFUSAL TO REPLACE ON MY SERVICE RECORD & TOLD HIM IT WAS UNACCEPTABLE & THAT I WAS GOING TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH MAZDA USA & NHTSA. HE SAID HE WOULD ALSO CHECK WITH MAZDA USA TO SEE IF HE COULD DO ANYTHING & THAT HE WOULD CALL ME BACK'..HE NEVER DID. I ALSO LEARNED THAT TECHNIGLASS AND OTHER 3RD PARTY WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT COMPANIES CANNOT GET THESE REPLACEMENT WS FROM THEIR SUPPLIERS, THEY MUST ORDER THEM DIRECT FROM THE MAZDA DEALER, WHICH I FIND CONCERNING. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT & NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY MAZDA USA.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 13, 2016
2016 CX-5 IS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD AND ALREADY ON ITS THIRD WINDSHIELD. THE FILED COMPLAINT LIST FOR THIS CAR IS JUST ONE CRACKED WINDSHIELD AFTER ANOTHER AND DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER.