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
510 reports, newest first.
Exterior lighting, Mar 27, 2019
DAYTIME LED RUNNING LIGHTS FLICKERING AND GOING OFF. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 22,000 MILES THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NOW I FEAR MY WHOLE HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN PARKED AND DRIVING. A SAFETY RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED FOR THIS SERIOUS AND DEADLY PROBLEM. NOTICED THIS A MONTH AGO BUT COULD HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR AWHILE I AM BEGGING YOU PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BECAUSE AT 22,000 MILES THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN
Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 24, 2019
WHEN I START THE CAR IN THE BEGINNING OF A COLD DAY, I SMELL GAS ALL AROUND THE CAR. I FOUND THAT THE CAR HAS AN INCOMPLETE RECALLS WHEN I ENTERED THE VIN NO., BUT I CALLED THE NO. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR HASN'T ANY RECALLS.
Exterior lighting, Mar 22, 2019
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS FLICKERING. DEALERSHIP ADVISED NEEDS REPLACED AT $1100 PLUS FOR ONE. I THOUGHT LEDS LASTED FOR 10 YEARS. VEHICLES ARE BEING DRIVEN IN UNSAFE CONDITIONS BECAUSE OF COST OR ARE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. MAZDA SHOULD HAVE TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND STAND BEHIND THIS ISSUE.
Engine, Mar 21, 2019, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA CX-5. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE AND BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HEARD ANOTHER POPPING NOISE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE HIMSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CAPITOL MAZDA (LOCATED AT 980 CAPITOL EXPRESSWAY AUTO MALL, SAN JOSE, CA 95136, (408) 763-4018) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK FAILED AND THE ENGINE ROD WAS FRACTURED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1-1844061638. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
Exterior lighting, Mar 4, 2019
MAZDA CX-5, HIGHLIGHT ASSEMBLIES NEED FULL REPLACEMENT, TWO MONTHS OUT OF 3 YEAR WARRANTY. NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY CONCERN.... ????? $3,000 TO REPLACE BOTH.
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.
Other or unspecified, Feb 24, 2019
DURING THE COLD WEATHER, THE CAR STRUGGLED TO START. AFTER STARTING, THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHTS FLASHED ON BOTH THE PARKING BRAKE BUTTON AND IN THE DASH. THE CAR DROVE AS IF THE BRAKE WAS DISENGAGED BUT THE FLASHING LIGHTS CONTINUE (PARKING BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING). A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWED SEVERAL OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE AND A WEBSITE SHOWS THIS ISSUE ALSO HAS OCCURRED IN THE PAST WITH OTHER 2016 MODELS THAT HAVE HAD RECALLS (MAZDA6). SO FAR MAZDA DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE.
Exterior lighting, Feb 16, 2019
PROBLEM WITH BOTH LED RUNNING LIGHTS. ONE IS COMPLETELY OUT AND THE OTHER STRING IS PARTIALLY LIT. MY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON (CONSISTENT WITH ONLINE COMPLAINT POSTS) BUT THE WARRANTY WILL ONLY COVER IT IF THE MILES ARE UNDER 36,000 MILES...MY CAR'S MILEAGE IS OVER THAT.
Exterior lighting, Feb 15, 2019
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT IS FLICKERING - DEALERSHIP SAID THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT OVER $1000 PER SIDE. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 3 1/2 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS 46000 ON IT BUT OF COURSE OUT OF WARRANTY. THERE HAVE BEEN TOO MANY DEFECTIVE 2016 MAZDA CX-5'S WITH THE SAME ISSUE - HOW CAN THESE DEALERS SELL DEFECTIVE VEHICLES OR NOT BE MADE TO FIX THE CHEAP DEFECTIVE PARTS THEY USE. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE USED FOR SAFETY.....SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.
Exterior lighting, Feb 12, 2019
DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS FAILING AFTER ONLY 50000 MILES
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Feb 11, 2019
STARTED CAR IN DRIVEWAY 2/10/19, 4 PM 'ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE TIMING WAS OBVIOUSLY ABNORMAL. RANDOM AUTOMATIC BRAKING NOTED WHEN CAR IN MOTION, WITHIN ONE BLOCK OF LEAVING DRIVEWAY. IMMEDIATE INABILITY TO ACCELERATE BEYOND 10-12 MPH EXPERIENCED. ERROR MESSAGES THEN OBSERVED ON CAR DASHBOARD WARNING SECTORS: CHECK ENGINE; TRACTION CONTROL: TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING; SMART CITY BRAKE SUPPORT MALFUNCTION-FORWARD SCBS DISABLED. CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE TO DEALER 12 MILES AWAY. CAR TOWED TO DEALER SITE 2/11/19 MONDAY AM. CAR HAS 28,330 MILES PER ODOMETER; SERVICE MAINTENANCE UP TO DATE, AS MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED. DEALER ASSESSMENT OF CAUSE ON 2/11/19 REPORTED AS 'RATS NESTING IN ENGINE AND EATING THROUGH SOY INSULTATION ON WIRING ON ENGINE HARNESS.' REPAIR COSTS OF > $1,500 ESTIMATED. IT SEEMS THAT INSULATING ENGINE COMPONENT WITH NUTRIENTS ATTRACTIVE TO NESTING, UBIQUITOUS VERMIN IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN FOR CAR OWNERS AND USERS. ANY NHTSA GUIDANCE ON THIS CRITICAL ISSUE?
Exterior lighting, Feb 6, 2019
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. DRIVERS SIDE LIGHT GOING OUT. PASSENGER SIDE RUNNING LIGHT IS OUT. I CALLED DEALERSHIP AND PRICE WAS GOING TO BE CLOSE TO $1200 EACH. I WAS UNAWARE THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT WAS OUT. I DID NOTICE LAST FALL A 'BLINKING' IN THE LED ON DRIVER'S SIDE. WILL THERE BE A RECALL ON THIS MALFUNCTION?
Service brakes, Feb 4, 2019
TOOK CAR IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION. LESS THAN 10,000 MILES, CAR JUST 2 YEARS OLD. NEEDED MAJOR BRAKE JOB. TOTAL $600. THEY ARE TELLING ME BECAUSE I LIVE AT THE BEACH THE SALT CORRODED THE BRAKES AND IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WROTE TO MAZDA HEADQUARTERS. NO ONE WOULD HELP ME. MY CONCERN IS WILL THIS BE OCCURRING EVERY 2 YEARS AND ARE THE BRAKES SAFE????
Exterior lighting, Jan 31, 2019
THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILED AFTER 3 YEARS AND 60,000 MILES. IT IS AN LED, NON-REPLACEABLE LIGHT THAT IS PART OF THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. OUT OF WARRANTY AND DEALERS WANT IN EXCESS OF $1,000 TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE LED LIGHT SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 3 YEARS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE A RECALL BY MAZDA.
Service brakes, Jan 28, 2019
THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE FAILS TO PROPERLY RELEASE CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO CALIPERS, ROTORS, AD PADS.
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.
Exterior lighting, Jan 21, 2019
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS NO LONGER WORK. FREQUENT PROBLEM WHEN RESEARCHING WEB
Exterior lighting, Jan 19, 2019
DAYTIME RUNNING HEAD LIGHT IS GOING DIM. THE LEDS ARE FAILING AFTER ONLY A LITTLE OVER 3 YEARS.
Exterior lighting, Jan 10, 2019
I AND NUMEROUS CX 5 OWNERS ARE REPORTING DAYTIME LED RUNNING LIGHT FAILUE AT AROUND 35,000 MILES OR 3 YEARS. THIS PROBLEM IS DIFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO DETECT BECAUSE THE LIGHTS ONLY TURN ON WHEN THE VEHILE STARTS TO MOVE. THE PROBLEM CAN ONLY BE FIXED BY REPLACING THE WHOLE LED ASSEMBLY ($1,200) PER HEADLIGHT. THEREFORE, MANY OWNERS WILL SIMPLY DRIVE THERE CARS IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION BECAUSE THEY ARE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM OR CANNOT AFFORD THE REPAIR.
Service brakes, Jan 10, 2019
AT 31,234 MILES MY MECHANIC SAID THAT MY BRAKE PADS AND ROTARS AND TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN WE WAS REPLACING THEM, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND CALIPERS SEIZED UP AND HE HAD TO ORDER PARTS (WHICH TOOK A WHILE BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF ISSUES WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON MY MODEL OF CAR). HE SAID THAT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKES LIKELY ALSO CAUSED WEAR AND TEAR ON MY REGULAR BREAKS AND CAUSED THEM TO NEED TO BE REPLACED EARLY.
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Jan 7, 2019, crash
I WAS STOPPED BUT DID NOT HAVE THE CAR IN PARK WHEN VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AT HIGH SPEED. I WAS IN A DRIVEWAY AND HIT SOMEONE'S GARAGE.
Exterior lighting, Jan 4, 2019
MY 2 YEAR OLD "TOP OF THE LINE" MAZDA CX-5 AWD GRAND TOURING HAD A FAILURE OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (PASSENGER SIDE). WHEN I ASKED MY MAZDA DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT THEY SAID "YEAH, WE'VE SEE LOTS OF THOSE PROBLEMS ON YOUR YEAR/MODEL, YOU DEFINITELY NEED TO GET IT FIXED SINCE YOU WILL FAIL YOUR SAFETY CHECK". I ASKED SINCE THIS WAS A "COMMON" SAFETY PROBLEM FOR MY MODEL/YEAR WHY IS THERE NO RECALL FROM MAZDA. MAZDA DEALERSHIP STAFF SHRUGGED AND HANDED ME AN ESTIMATE FOR $1500.00 TO FIX THIS SAFETY RELATED PROBLEM ON MY 2 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. THEY SAID FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA, BUT MAZDA IS NOT PAYING FOR THIS.
Exterior lighting, Jan 2, 2019
PASSENGER SIDE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT HAS BURNED OUT. NO WAY TO GET TO IT AS THE LIGHT IS SEALED. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE AS THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. LED LIGHTS ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST TENS OF THOUSAND OF HOURS, THIS HAS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE ACTUAL ELECTRONICS. IN MY RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A PRETTY COMMON PROBLEM, AND CX-5 OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY HUNDREDS (IN SOME CASES THOUSANDS) OF DOLLARS TO FIX A FAULTY/ FLAWED LIGHT.
Service brakes, Dec 29, 2018
THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN FAULTY SINCE I'VE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. THERE IS A LOUD SCREAM THAT IS NOT FROM DUST OR WEAR. THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES ARE VERY LOUD EVERY TIME I APPLY THEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, HAVE CONTACTED THE COMPANY BEFORE.
Exterior lighting, Dec 27, 2018
RUNNING LIGHT ON THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT IS EXTREMELY DIM AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT EVEN COME ON.