← New search

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.

About this comparison →

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

Exterior Lighting complaints

161 reports
Clear category filter
36,000 miles · Sep 28, 2018
Exterior Lighting

2016 MAZDA CX5 GRAND TOURING W/LED LIGHTING OUR LEFT LED HEADLIGHT UNIT DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHT HAS FAILED. WE SOON LEARNED THIS A COMMON FAILURE WITH OURS AND MANY OTHER CX5'S DUE TO WATER INTRUSION. THERE ARE UNITS THAT HAVE FAILED AND UNITS THAT WILL FAIL. FURTHER WE LEARNED THERE IS NO REPAIR EXCEPT FOR A COMPLETE HEADLIGHT…

Read full complaint

2016 MAZDA CX5 GRAND TOURING W/LED LIGHTING OUR LEFT LED HEADLIGHT UNIT DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHT HAS FAILED. WE SOON LEARNED THIS A COMMON FAILURE WITH OURS AND MANY OTHER CX5'S DUE TO WATER INTRUSION. THERE ARE UNITS THAT HAVE FAILED AND UNITS THAT WILL FAIL. FURTHER WE LEARNED THERE IS NO REPAIR EXCEPT FOR A COMPLETE HEADLIGHT UNIT REPLACEMENT. THE UNITS ARE "SEALED." THERE IS NO ACCESS EVEN TO REPLACE A SIMPLE HEADLIGHT BULB. SHOULD A LIGHT FAIL FAR FROM A DEALER, AT NIGHT, ONE IS STUCK. WE BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY DEFECT AND THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BY THE NHTSA TO REQUIRE THE MANUFACTURER (MAZDA) TO REPLACE BOTH DEFECTIVE SEALED LED HEADLIGHT UNITS. OUR MAZDA DEALER REFUSES TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE ON A WARRANTY BASIS. BASED ON OUR RESEARCH THIS FAILURE GENERALLY OCCURS AROUND THE 36,000 MILE MARK. IF A HEADLIGHT CANNOT BE REPLACED, AT NIGHT, FAR FROM A DEALER, THEN A SUBSTANTIAL SAFETY ISSUE EXISTS. THE DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHT IS A MANDATED SAFETY ITEM AND SHOULD ALWAYS BE RELIABLE AND FUNCTIONING . PLEASE NOTE THE MANY OTHER MAZDA CX5 OWNERS WHO HAVE ALSO COMPLAINED. WE FIRST NOTICED THIS FAILURE BY OBSERVING OUR REFLECTION IN A BUSINESS WINDOW. THE LED DAYTIME LIGHTS ONLY COME ON WHEN THE VEHICLE FIRST STARTS ROLLING PRECLUDING PERFORMING A PRECHECK.

NHTSA ODI #11132048

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2018
Exterior Lighting

MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT WAS FLICKER AND WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW MY LEFT HEADLIGHT IS OUT AND WILL COST OVER $1100 TO REPLACE BECAUSE THE WARRANTY ENDED. VEHICLE ONLY AS 23,000 MILES. THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH THESE HEADLIGHTS FROM ALL THE COMPLAINTS FILED.

NHTSA ODI #11131934

40,000 miles · Sep 22, 2018
Exterior Lighting

BOTH FRONT LED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES SEEM TO BE TOTALLY UNRELIABLE AFTER ~35K TO 40K MILES AND CUSTOMERS ARE UNLIKELY TO QUICKLY REPLACE SOMETHING THAT COSTS $1200 EACH TIME. MAZDA AGREED TO FIX ONE BUT WHEN THE SECOND ONE WENT BAD AROUND 40K (OUR KID NOTICED WHILE WE WERE PULLING IN INTO THE GARAGE AT NIGHT) THEY SAID IT'S OUTS…

Read full complaint

BOTH FRONT LED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES SEEM TO BE TOTALLY UNRELIABLE AFTER ~35K TO 40K MILES AND CUSTOMERS ARE UNLIKELY TO QUICKLY REPLACE SOMETHING THAT COSTS $1200 EACH TIME. MAZDA AGREED TO FIX ONE BUT WHEN THE SECOND ONE WENT BAD AROUND 40K (OUR KID NOTICED WHILE WE WERE PULLING IN INTO THE GARAGE AT NIGHT) THEY SAID IT'S OUTSIDE WARRANTY AND THEY DON'T SEE ANY ISSUES. THERE SEEM TO BE NEARLY 20 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS JUST ON THIS ONE SITE. THE SUV WON'T PASS STATE INSPECTION WITHOUT THIS ISSUE FIXED, AND AT $1200 A POP, DRIVERS ARE LIKELY TO PUSH THE LIMITS AND DRIVE THE SUV WITHOUT FIXING THE ISSUE. *LN *TR

NHTSA ODI #11130761

40,400 miles · Sep 17, 2018
Exterior Lighting

DRIVER SIDE LED DAYTIME RUNNING HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING, AND INTERMITTENTLY TURNING OFF AT 40,400 MILES. PULLED OVER BY STATE POLICE AND ISSUED A WARNING VIOLATION FOR NON-FUNCTIONING HEADLIGHTS. VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON SAFETY ISSUE AMONG 2016 MAZDA CX-5 OWNERS.

NHTSA ODI #11129983

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

DRL IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DRIVER SIDE COMPLETELY RUN OUT, PASSENGER SIDE - DIMMED AND FLICKERING PERMANENTLY. SMART CITY BRAKE SUPPORT SYSTEM IS DISABLED AND NOT WORKING AS WELL AS ADAPTIVE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS.

NHTSA ODI #11128769

37,500 miles · Aug 31, 2018
Exterior Lighting

RIGHT SIDE RUNNING LIGHT WENT BAD JUST AFTER 36K MILES, VERY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT, HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, 1200.00 TO REPLACE A RUNNING LIGHT???

NHTSA ODI #11123630

29,950 miles · Aug 15, 2018
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA CX5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER (COCHRAN VOLKSWAGEN OF NORTH HILLS 11750 US-19, WEXFORD, PA 15090 (412) 245-4620) WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA CX5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER (COCHRAN VOLKSWAGEN OF NORTH HILLS 11750 US-19, WEXFORD, PA 15090 (412) 245-4620) WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY AND THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIAGNOSIS FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND WAS PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING ON 08/20/2018. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,950.

NHTSA ODI #11120052

20,000 miles · Aug 9, 2018
Exterior Lighting

THE PASSENGER DAYTIME RUNNING LED LIGHT IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY EITHER DOES NOT WORK OR WILL FLICKER DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. IN ORDER FOR VEHICLES TO PASS INSPECTION, ALL EXTERIOR LIGHTS MUST WORK, SO THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT MAZDA NEEDS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE.

NHTSA ODI #11118818

34,900 miles · Aug 4, 2018
Exterior Lighting

RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER SIDE) DRL LED LIGHT STRIP FLICKERING AND/OR NOT ILLUMINATING WITH MAIN HEADLIGHTS EITHER OFF OR ON. DURING DAYTIME DRIVING, WITH HEADLIGHTS OFF, LED DRL NOT ILLUMINATING AFFECTS VEHICLE CONSPICUOUSITY.

NHTSA ODI #11115681

31,000 miles · Aug 2, 2018
Exterior Lighting

AFTER APPROXIMATELY 31,000 MILES, MY DRIVER SIDE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS CEASED TO WORK. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, SINCE I USE MY DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS TO ALERT ONCOMING TRAFFIC OF MY PRESENCE.

NHTSA ODI #11115371

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