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2016 Mazda CX-5

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most CX-5 years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Mazda CX-5 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 133.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

335 reports with mileage · 175 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 161 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 71 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 66 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

31 crash reports10 fire reports13 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

2 reports
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3,600 miles · Aug 14, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

MY COMPLAINT IS IDENTICAL TO COMPLAINT # 10913740. I SPECIAL ORDERED MY CX-5 & PICKED IT UP FEB 2017.DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY, REVS UP TO 6000 BEFORE ENGAGING, CAN'T ACCELERATE WHEN I NEED TO (LIKE MERGING ON FREEWAY OR CHANGING LANES). PLEASE SEE COMPLAINT # 10913740 BECAUSE HE DESCRIBES IT BETTER THAN I, A NON "CAR PERSON" CA…

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MY COMPLAINT IS IDENTICAL TO COMPLAINT # 10913740. I SPECIAL ORDERED MY CX-5 & PICKED IT UP FEB 2017.DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY, REVS UP TO 6000 BEFORE ENGAGING, CAN'T ACCELERATE WHEN I NEED TO (LIKE MERGING ON FREEWAY OR CHANGING LANES). PLEASE SEE COMPLAINT # 10913740 BECAUSE HE DESCRIBES IT BETTER THAN I, A NON "CAR PERSON" CAN. I'VE PUT MY MY GAS FOOT TO THE FLOOR TRYING TO GAIN SOME SPEED SO I WOULDN'T GET REAR ENDED AND IT TAKES, LITERALLY, ABOUT 10 SECONDS TO RESPOND AT ALL. THE DEALER CLAIMS IT IS SHIFTING AS DESIGNED & SAYS THEY CAN'T RECREATE THE PROBLEM. CAR WAS THERE @3600 MILES & THEY TOLD ME THE TECH COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR BUT DID I WANT A DRIVE WITH HIM. I DID ONE, & HE TRIED TO TELL ME THAT REVVING TO 5000 WHEN ON A SMALL INCLINE WAS NORMAL. THIS IS A LIE. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK AGAIN- IT WAS IN FOR 7 DAYS. 2ND TIME MANUFACTURER INVOLVED, & SUPPOSEDLY ITS ENGINEERS WOULD WORK ON IT. BUT ALL THEY DID IS RUN DIAGNOSTICS (DOESN'T ANYBODY ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE ACTUAL CAR ANYMORE - COMPUTERS DO MALFUNCTION) AND WHAT THEY CAME UP WITH IS THAT I WAS ENGAGING THE GAS AND THE BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME, CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO SHIFT. FIRST OF ALL, MY TINY FOOT COULDN'T BE ON BOTH PEDALS IF I TRIED; SECOND, MY LEFT FOOT IS A CLUTCH FOOT. I AM SO USED TO USING IT ON A CLUTCH ONLY THAT IT DANGLES WHERE A CLUTCH WOULD BE IF I HADN'T BOUGHT THIS STUPID AUTOMATIC 2016 CX-5. SO NOW MAZDA IS SAYING THAT THEIR ENGINEERS & DEALER TECHNICIANS ARE INFALLIBLE AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING FOR ME. MEANWHILE, I AM STUCK WITH THIS POS I BOUGHT FOR $27,000 CASH WHICH IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS BUT EXTREMELY UN-FUN TO DRIVE DUE TO THE JERKING, REVVING, ETC., WHICH ARE VERY UNNERVING, AND WITH 5000 MILES ON CAR, I SHOULD WANT TO DRIVE IT. INSTEAD I AM DRIVING MY NEARLY 12 YEAR OLD VW SO THAT I CAN GET PLACES SAFELY AND WITHOUT THE JARRING PROBLEM OF THE MAZDA.

NHTSA ODI #11015202

1,048 miles · Aug 8, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

WHILE DRIVING ON A SLOPE WITH BIT OF CURVE ON A HIGHWAY WHEN I APPLIED A MILD BRAKE TO REDUCE THE SPEED, THE CAR ABRUPTLY MOVED STRAIGHT LEFT AND GOES OFF ROAD. THE BRAKE AND STEERING DIDN'T RESPOND IMMEDIATELY FOR FEW SECONDS AND THE CAR KEEP GOING DOWN OFF ROAD ON A VERY ROUGH TERRAIN. LUCKILY IT STOPPED FEW METERS BEFORE A …

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WHILE DRIVING ON A SLOPE WITH BIT OF CURVE ON A HIGHWAY WHEN I APPLIED A MILD BRAKE TO REDUCE THE SPEED, THE CAR ABRUPTLY MOVED STRAIGHT LEFT AND GOES OFF ROAD. THE BRAKE AND STEERING DIDN'T RESPOND IMMEDIATELY FOR FEW SECONDS AND THE CAR KEEP GOING DOWN OFF ROAD ON A VERY ROUGH TERRAIN. LUCKILY IT STOPPED FEW METERS BEFORE A SHARP FALL.

NHTSA ODI #11013605

Official recalls

4

20V063000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Feb 6, 2020

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016 CX-5 vehicles. The LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) may fail while driving.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the DRL fails, the vehicle's visibility may be reduced to other drivers on the road, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

16V644000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate

Sep 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

16V203000 · Steering

Apr 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

16V064000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap

Feb 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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A rupture of the fuel filler pipe may result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Mazda CX-5 problems