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.
Seat belts, Seats, Jul 19, 2023
2016 Mazda CX-5 passenger seat belt warning light and alarm go on when unoccupied and the “airbag off” light turned off (supposed to light up if the seat is unoccupied).
Other or unspecified, Jul 19, 2023
Ghost Touch on infotainment system. The infotainment system will randomly make selections - make calls, change gps location destination, change settings, turn off screen, give verbal instructions, etc while driving. This is very distracting and can be a safety issue.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Jul 1, 2023
I buy this car 2 years ago and 3 months later is starting having problem with rear passenger brakes I took the car to the mechanic and he change disc and brakes pads. A couple months later is starting having the same problem in the same area but this time is was smell burn coming through the wheel I'm stop the car to check was is going on when I check the brakes it was very very hot. I take the car to the mechanic and he told me the EPB is bad he changed everything disc, brakes pads,caliper and EPB motor. He said try to don't used the EPB too much or I'm going to see you again with same problem ... So I'm stop to use the EPB for long time. One day I put my car in the carwash one guy hit the EPB when he's done with the car Im get inside I turn on the car and the brake warning light is starting flashing I say fu** not again and yes EPB get stock. This is make me crazy the EPB need to be fix from the dealer please make this common problem a recalls to getting fix for those people got the same issue.
Other or unspecified, Jun 8, 2023
The 'Infotainment' system in my car stopped functioning which in turn disabled the back-up camera. Mazda knew about this issue, which has been widely acknowledged as a manufacturer's defect in the system, shortly after my purchase of these vehicle. They took responsibility for this issue in the Seattle area when a large number of these units all became defective at once. However, they seemingly went out of their way to not acknowledge this issue to the rest of their customers. They issued a TSB to their dealers (tech service bulletin 09-017/17) to help them resolve the issue with any dealer inventories, but there was no notice to customers nor any recall. The absence of the rear view camera is a safety issue that I believe should have been addressed.
Electrical system, Seats, Jun 2, 2023, fire
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CAUGHT FIRE WHEN SEAT WARMERS WERE ON. I WAS TRAVELLING IN A RURAL AREA IN ALASKA WHEN I HAD TO STOP BECAUSE MY PASSENGER CAUGHT FIRE ON HER JACKET.
Electrical system, May 27, 2023
UNKNOWN cause for short battery life. The battery has been changed 4-5 times since 2020 with a brand new battery. The alternator has been checked and is fine. The dealership is going to check my vehicle again but this is an issue for multiple people with the same vehicle model.
Other or unspecified, May 27, 2023
Unknown
Fuel/propulsion system, May 23, 2023
Denso Fuel Pump should be recalled!!! It is not sending fuel to the my engine properly it's running rough at even 0-30 miles, becomes difficult to start (cold or mild engine), sputters and idel, and suddenly stalled out in the middle of the road several times, put us in danger from other motorist. My check engine warning indicator is also on, it's not shifting correctly and is lacking rpm power. Mechanic put a code scanner on it and found P0192 (low fuel rail pressure) and P0171 (System too lean)... I have the pictures. Several auto makers have issued recalls, including Mazda. But Mazda only went back as far as 2018. Toyota recalled cars as far back as 2013. Mazda needs to do the right thing or be forced to do so!
Fuel/propulsion system, May 10, 2023
Fuel system failure at only 60k miles on car. Engine light came on dash & my car just randomly started failing as if it wasn't getting gas, trying to cut off while driving down the road!! Huge hazard!! This could have caused an accident but i luckily going in a 25mph zone. Local shop diagnosed the fuel pumps failed (this car has 2 of them) and they also were able to reproduce the same issue when going to start the car to move in and out of the bay. I have called mazda and done the research- they did not put a recall on this year but it appears other years gave been recalled with fuel system related issues. This should be looked into as I've found NUMEROUS complaints on this year and model!
Exterior lighting, Apr 8, 2023
We brought our vehicle into Mazda Dealer in 2021 for campaign 20V-063(2016 CX-5 – Daytime Running Lights May Fail - Safety Recall 4320A). Our vehicle had one of the lights completely inoperable and the other flickered intermittently. Upon inspection by the dealer, they only repaired the inoperable light-unit and was unable to replicate the issue with the other light. However, the previously intermittent light is now completely inoperable and the dealer will no longer honor the repair since the campaign is closed. Please advise next steps to facilitate a repair. Thank you for your time and consideration regarding this matter.
Service brakes, Mar 31, 2023
Brakes make a jerking sound decelerating from 40 miles an hour or from coming off a freeway ramp. After two trips to the dealership, the jerking sound still persists, the dealership had mentioned it was either the ball bearings or the brake pads were worn out, but somehow the noise is still there. The vehicle still makes stop safely, but we feel that if this is not resolved that this may become a greater safety issue down the road.
Electrical system, Mar 2, 2023
The electronic emergency brake switch freezes in cold weather . The parking brake can not be released until the weather warms. This is safety issue, because the motorists is now stranded. I took my vehicle to the dealership,. but the would not address the problem. This happened 2 times on the following dates 13 February 2019 14 February 2022. I'm retired and very little. I only have about 23000.miles on my vehicle. I live ln New York City and do not feel safe driving in the winter, because my vehicle's electronic emergency brake switch freezes in the cold weather .
Air bags, Seat belts, Seats, Feb 21, 2023, crash
The contact owned a 2016 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, another vehicle going 110 MPH crashed into the rear of the vehicle. The air bags failed to de[ploy. The contact hit his head against the front driver's side window and he became unconscious. The contact stated upon regaining consciousness, he noticed that he was laying flat on his back as the seat had fractured. The contact also noticed that the seat belt had fractured into two. The front of the other vehicle caught on fire and the fire expanded to the rear of the contact's vehicle. The emergency units and State police patrol assisted the contact out of the vehicle through the driver's side door. The emergency units transported the contact to the hospital, where he was informed that he had sustained head, neck, and back injuries. Additionally, the contact was informed that he had sustained a stroke on the left side of his body. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Service brakes, Feb 16, 2023
Left rear outer brake pad was worn down to the backing plate. After repairs were made, it started smoking while driving. We thought it was going to catch on file. I found a Mazda service bulletin - 04-005/16 - regarding a defective brake control module that controls the electronic parking brake. Why wasn't this a safety recall?
Parking brake, Feb 3, 2023
My EPB or Electronic Parking Brake started to Malfunction. It will lock up during parking, and driving and stay locked. It will flash Malfunction light, and the Parking Brake light on the dash will come on, and off. Sometimes If I turn off the vehicle for a while, it will again function. I have not been driving this vehicle, because of the issue I am very scarred my brakes will lock up when it is icy or wet, or slick, and I will injure myself or others Unintentionally. when I first had this issue, I decided to do research, and it seems to be a very common problem across all 2016 model Mazda Cx-5 with EBP. I suspect the EBP module is defective, and I cannot afford to pay the dealer 1500 to replace this part to correct the Safety Hazard Mazda originally created. This should never happen to me or the countless others whom own the 2016 model with EBP. A quick google search will result in countless claims of this same issue with the 2016 model.
Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 2, 2023
The low pressure fuel pump on my Cx-5 failed on my drive back home, while in a remote area. I was able to limp the vehicle home with a check engine light that illuminated (at the time of the incident) and erratic vehicle performance (uneven power deliver). This occurred on level ground at highway speed - no incident precipitated the part failure. Once home the following day, the vehicle would not restart. Upon diagnostic review, the vehicle had thrown two codes, one being a low fuel rail pressure (P0192 and P0171). This is a know issue for these defective (Denso) fuel pumps. The manufacturer should extend the recall to include vehicles manufactured prior to 2018.
Other or unspecified, Jan 30, 2023
My 2016 Mazda CX5 lost the main computer. This powers the nav system, radio, apps associated with the vehicle but most importantly, the rear view camera. As a result, the back up camera does not work properly due to the computer system remaining in a reboot mode. When I initially reported the problem to Mazda they indicated that they would order the part. They claimed supply chain issues and as a result, kept pushing the replacement delivery date forward. It has been over a year and was just advised there is another 4-5 months wait time. My wife and I have been very patient but recently, events took a turn for the worse. The car must have been designed with the rear view camera as a solution in the reduced visibility of the actual car design. My wife came close to backing into a child. This has scared us now and unfortunately the car can’t be traded in without taking a financial hit. There has been no real answer why this part is taking 1.5 years for delivery but we can’t believe the lack pf attention that Mazda has placed on our concerns. This is absolutely a safety issue and someone needs to investigate if this is happening with many of these vehicles. I would hate to see someone lose their life due to corporate neglectfor safety. Thank you for listening.
Steering, Suspension, Dec 12, 2022
TSB issue with suspension steering gear assembly needs to be removed and have spacer kit installed. Issue caused the front lower ball joint to wear more than usual and crack. Due to TSB a joint kit needs to be installed and control arms replaced.
Power train, Dec 2, 2022
I was driving on the freeway, going 60-65mph for about 10 minutes. All of a sudden, the engine went from ~2k RPM to ~4 RPM. The speed stayed the same. And then it happened again a few minutes later. A few days after this incident, while driving on the freeway, going 60mph, the car refused to go past 60mph. This also happened ~2 weeks prior. This would have caused an accident had I needed to speed up to avoid an issue but my car refused to go any faster on a flat road.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 5, 2022
The check engine light came on when I was in my way home. This morning when I started my car, the engine reved on its own and then it went to 0. This is super dangerous. The car could have stopped in the middle of the freeway. I had my car towed to a local mechanic. The error code that came up was p0192. Looks like there is a recall for the fuel pump issue for many mazda, yet mine isn’t part of it.
Power train, Engine, Oct 11, 2022
Car: 2018 Mazda CX-5 Touring with approximately 39,000 miles. Issue: Burning smell coming from engine compartment- Oil leaking from engine. Problem: Cracked cylinder head as diagnosed by dealer and to be replaced under Mazda Power Train Warranty. Safety was a concern not knowing the issue. Concerned of engine failure, fire, and overall safety. Warnings: No warnings or check engine light was also concerning. Time frame: 10/1/22 evening- noticed slight burning smell which lasted only a few minutes. No evidence of oil leaking. - 10/2/22: Slight burning smell occurred briefly on and off through out late afternoon. No evidence of oil leaking. Smell dissipated. - 10/3/22: Stronger presence of burning smell. Started to notice oil leaking from under car. - 10/4/22: Car inspected by local mechanic and advised to bring to dealer for further assessment. Mechanic observed increased oil leakage and stated oil was coming from within engine. Car towed to dealer, evaluated with a cracked cylinder head. Repair to be covered under Mazda Power Train Warranty. Additional concern: Short and Long Term residual effects on other engine components. Other reports: none. Awareness: I’ve come to understand that there seems to be similar issues with certain model years/production runs that might not be reported due to being covered under warranty. The consumer provided the correct VIN for the vehicle.
Electrical system, Sep 18, 2022
smart key. during driving all the lights on the dashboard come on and the siren goes off and unable to have it turn off. After a period of time, its wears down the battery and it is no longer drivable. First time, it was towed to the AAA auto repair and they could not find anything wrong with it. The 2nd and 3rd time, AAA towed it back to Maita Mazda where we purchased it in good faith less than two months ago, and their service department could not find anything wrong with the electrical system. They replaced the battery the seond time, and the issue still occurred again when I turned it off. Then turned it back on as I needed to close the driver side window, and it would not turn on. No one seems to believe me, and we cannot get Maita to take it back and give us another vehicle in its place. It is extemely dangerous to drive in traffic, and we only bought it because it has a big enough trunk for my spouse's walker, and later a wheel chair. It is paid for in full,
Electrical system, Service brakes, Sep 13, 2022
Last month, my vehicle suddenly applied the electronic parking brake (EPB) while I was driving. The EPB & related warning lights illuminated & would not release until the vehicle was turned off. After turning off the vehicle, the EPB motor could be heard applying the brake to the rear wheels. When the car was restarted, the EPB would remain off for a period of time but would then suddenly reapply. I took my vehicle to a Mazda dealer & they determined the calipers & EPB motor had failed due to my vehicle not being placed in service mode by the brake servicer. This explanation makes no sense because the brakes were replaced over a year ago (& not since) with thousands of miles being driven since then without this issue arising. I also conducted my own research & found that Mazda has issued at least 3 separate technical service bulletins (TSB) on this issue. The first two recommended replacement of the EPB switch & the third determined that defective calipers were the cause and should be replaced. I asked the dealer to save my calipers & confirmed that they are part of the defective batch noted in this TSB. I have contacted Mazda (including their legal counsel) & they are unwilling to provide any explanation or engage in any sort of investigation. As former legal counsel for an automotive company, I believe this presents a serious safety issue for consumers based upon the fact that a parking brake could randomly engage while driving & cause sudden loss of speed/control. Thankfully, this did not result in harm to my family, myself or others. I am certain that this issue is affecting others based on chatboard discussions I have found online related to this topic (which helped me find the TSB). I am concerned that Mazda may have attempted to undertake a silent recall via this TSB where in warranty customers are covered & out of warranty customers are given the 'service mode' explanation to justify their responsibility. This should have been handled as a recall by Mazda.
Engine, Sep 1, 2022
While driving to the airport suddenly all dashboard lights came on and engine "died" during the drive about 50mph. My wife who was driving, was lucky not to get into a crash and steered the car to the side to a full stop . The tow truck driver tried to restart the engine w/o success. The garage determined it is a catastrophic engine failure and need to be replaced. About 2 weeks prior we had an engine warning light. The car was taken to our regular serviced garage and was inspected w/o any issues and light was reset. All routing maintenance has been performed by same garage. There are similar reports on the web about total engine failure of Mazda CX5 during driving!!!
Exterior lighting, Aug 26, 2022
My vehicle does have an outstanding recall on the headlight. The dealership that was servicing my vehicle closed and said they had completed the recall but had not gotten to it before they closed up. Mazda says it's my problem they did the recall. My light does not work.