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.
Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 16, 2015, crash
BRAND NEW MAZDA CX5 2DAYS AFTER FIRST USE VEHICLE STARTED BUCKING BADLY. FIRST REPORTED TO DEALER AND COMMENT WAS "IT IS THE DRIVER" NEXT DAY ON PARKWAY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS THE VEHICLE SLIPPED INTO WHAT APPEARED TO BE NEUTRAL NEARLY RESULTING IN LANE CHANGE ACCIDENT,. CAR CONTINUED TO BUCK SLIPPING GEARS IN ROUTINE DRIVING . ON WAY TO RETURN CAR TO DEALERSHIP CAR STARTED TO MOVE AT RED LIGHT AND THEN STOPPED RESULTING IN MINOR REAR END COLLISION.
Electrical system, Sep 14, 2015
ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM CAN NEVER BE TURNED OFF AND REMAINS ON AT ALL TIMES. THE DEVICES LIKE THE CD PLAYER IF A CD IS INSERTED ALWAYS IS IN OPERATION AND MAY CAUSE UNNECESSARY WARE OF THE DEVICE AND RESULTS IN UNSAFE DISTRACTIONS WHICH THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. MAZDA ONLY HAS OFFERED ONE SOLUTION, TO TURN THE VOLUME DOWN OR PLACE THE SYSTEM IN MUTE; HOWEVER, THIS IS RESET WHEN A VEHICLE RESTART IS DONE AND THE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM IS AGAIN INITIATED. TURNING THE VOLUME OFF OR MUTING OF THE SYSTEM IS DISTRACTIVE TO THE DRIVER WHICH CAN BE A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN SINCE THE SYSTEM IS ALWAYS ON. POSSIBLE ISSUES WITH NON-REQUIRED SYSTEMS THAT ARE ALWAYS IN OPERATION WHICH CAN NEVER BE TURNED OFF BY THE OPERATOR IS A CONSIDER A SAFETY CONCERN. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR A RECALL STATUS SINCE THERE IS NO SOLUTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER.
Other or unspecified, Aug 31, 2015
CAR WAS PARKED WHILE AT WORK, CAME OUT TO FIND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED, RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE. NO ROCK CHIPS ANYWHERE TO BE FOUND. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY CONTACTED A MAZDA REP WHO AGREED IT WAS A DEFECT. I WAS RELIEVED TO HEAR THAT, BUT VERY DISSATISFIED THAT THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD IS ON BACK ORDER FOR A COUPLE MONTHS. THE WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED BADLY ENOUGH THAT I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE LETTING MY PREGNANT WIFE DRIVE IT. WE BOUGHT THIS LARGER VEHICLE TO FIT A BABY CARRIER, NOW THE BABY WILL BE HERE BEFORE THE WINDSHIELD. THIS PUTS US IN A TIGHT SPOT, WE HAVE A BRAND NEW VEHICLE WE CAN NOT DRIVE. I UNDERSTAND THE DEALERSHIPS NOT AT FAULT AND THEY WERE VERY FRIENDLY, AND HELPFUL. I AM GLAD THEY AGREED TO REPLACE IT, BUT STILL OUT OF A VEHICLE FOR ALMOST 3 MONTHS WITHOUT A RENTAL IS CRAZY.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 30, 2015
AFTER ONE MONTH OF OWNERSHIP, A CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE TOP, CENTER. THE CRACK EXTENDED DOWN TO THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD CREATING A LARGE OBLONG OVAL. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF BEING HIT BY ROAD DEBRIS. THE MAZDA SERVICE CENTER CONFIRMED THIS AND DECLARED IT A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. IT HAS BEEN OVER 5 WEEKS AND I AM STILL WAITING FOR THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD TO ARRIVE. THE ISSUE APPEARS TO BE RAMPANT ENOUGH THAT NEW WINDSHIELDS ARE BACK ORDERED WITH NO INDICATION OF WHEN IT WILL BE AVAILABLE.
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.
Electrical system, Aug 12, 2015
2016 MAZDA CX-5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION/ "ROOM FUSE" FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE GPS, RADIO, BLUETOOTH AND OTHER INTERIOR FUNCTIONS FAILED. NO WARNING LIGHTS OTHERWISE APPEARED. AFTER PUTTING GAS IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. NO WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED TO EXPLAIN THE IGNITION FAILURE. THE CONSUMER SUBSEQUENTLY LEARNED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS A BLOWN "ROOM FUSE". HE WAS INFORMED A SENSOR IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM WAS TIED TO THE "ROOM FUSE" WHICH WAS THE REASON THE KEY FOB WAS NOT BEING DETECTED, DESPITE THE GREEN LIGHT INDICATIONS. THE DEALER STATED TOO MANY DEVICES WERE CONNECTED TO THE POWER OUTLET AT THE SAME TIME AS THE BLUETOOTH AND NAVIGATION WERE BEING USED.*JB
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jul 29, 2015
THE CAR WAS PARKED OVER THE WEEKEND IN A VERY SECLUDED COUNTY LOCATION (NO OTHER PEOPLE AROUND). I NOTICED A LARGE CRACK IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TWO DAYS LATER WHEN I NEXT USED THE CAR. THERE ARE NO VISIBLE CHIPS ON THE GLASS. THE CRACK SPREAD OUTWARD FROM WHERE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS ATTACHED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A FACTORY INSTALLATION OR DEFECTIVE PART ISSUE.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 25, 2015
THE WINDSHIELD EASILY CHIPS AND CRACKS. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND MAZDA SEEMS TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR DIES.
Visibility, Jun 17, 2015
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WE NOTICED A CRACK THAT BEGAN AT THE BOTTOM CENTER OF OUR NEW CX-5'S WINDSHIELD. THERE HAD BEEN NO IMPACT BY A ROCK OR ANYTHING ELSE. IT BEGAN AT THE VERY EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD, AND WENT UPWARDS. WE WERE ON A WEEKEND TRIP, AND THERE WAS NO NEARBY MAZDA DEALER. OVER THE MILES THE STRAIGHT CRACK GREW INTO QUESTION MARK SHAPE ABOUT 10" HIGH. ARRIVING AT OUR DESTINATION, THE DEALER CLAIMED THERE WAS A TINY IMPACT MARK EXACTLY UNDERNEATH THE WIPER BLADE. I WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING EXCEPT THE CRACK, AND I KNOW THERE WAS NO IMPACT OF ANY TYPE. THIS WAS A FRIDAY, AND THE DEALER SAID THE GLASS COULDN'T BE THERE UNTIL THE FOLLOWING WEEK -- BY WHICH TIME WE WOULD HAVE RETURNED HOME -- SO WE DROVE HOME A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER AND SPOKE WITH THE DEALER WHO SOLD US THE CAR [NOTE THAT IT WAS ABOUT 3 WEEKS OLD -- PRACTICALLY NEW]. OUR DEALER [NORTH POINT MAZDA, IN SHERWOOD AR] ALSO CLAIMS THERE IS AN INVISIBLE IMPACT MARK. OF COURSE, WITH AN IMPACT, THEY AVOID ALL RESPONSIBILITY. LOOKING AT THIS DATABASE, THERE SEEM TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE SAME SITUATION AS MINE -- NEW CX-5 OWNERS DEVELOPING A MYSTERY CRACKED WINDSHIELD. THIS IS EXPENSIVE GLASS -- IT HAS SENSORS FOR THE WIPERS, ETC. AND NOW THE GLASS IS ON BACKORDER, SO WILL TAKE A MONTH TO ARRIVE! OVER THE MILES THE CRACK HAS GROWN IN SIZE, AND HAS ALSO BRANCHED OUT. I WONDER WHEN MY NEW VEHICLE ACTUALLY BECOMES UNSAFE TO DRIVE? MAZDA SAYS IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM, AND THEIR SERVICE MANAGER AND GENERAL MANAGER HAVE BOTH DECLINED TO EVEN RETURN MY CALL. CLEARLY THEY AREN'T PROPONENTS OF SERVICE AFTER THE SALE! HOPEFULLY THE REST OF THE CAR HOLDS UP BETTER -- WE REALLY LIKE IT EXCEPT FOR THE GIANT, MULTI-BRANCH WINDSHIELD CRACK THAT WE NOW HAVE TO LIVE WITH FOR ANOTHER MONTH! OF COURSE, NORTH POINT MAZDA WON'T BE GETTING ANY MORE OF MY BUSINESS....UPDATED 07-16-15 *BF UPDATED 9/21/2015 *JS
Visibility/wiper, Jun 15, 2015
GLASS CRACKED FROM TOP, MIDDLE PORTION OF WINDSHIELD GLASS, NO APPARENT SIGN OF ROCK CHIP. SPREAD IMMEDIATELY INTO VIEWING AREA. CONCERN FOR OVERALL SAFETY AND INTEGRITY OF GLASS. ADVISED BY DEALER TO CONTACT INSURANCE, ADVISED BY INSURANCE IT'S A $500 DEDUCTIBLE. ONLINE RESEARCH HAS LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AS IT HAS HIGH NUMBERS OF COMPLAINTS.