IllustrationTHE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE STOPPED WORKING ON BOTH HEAD LIGHTS. THE COST FOR FIXING THE HEAD LIGHTS IS $1300.00 A PIECE. THE DEALER WON'T WARRANTY THIS REPAIR AND SAID IT WASN'T A SAFETY ISSUE. THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE THE ONES THAT SELF LEVEL AND TURN WHEN THE CAR TURNS.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all CX-5 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1410–25K
12125–50K
5550–75K
1175–100K
7100–150K
0150K+
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 reportsTHE DRL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLICKED THEN FAILED AROUND 12K MILE IN APRIL 2018. NOT LONG AFTER THAT, THE DRL ON THE DRIVER SIDE FLICKED THEN FAILED AROUND 16K MILE SOMETIME IN 2019. THE VEHICLE MILEAGE RIGHT NOW IS ONLY ABOUT 20K MILES !! ( WE ARE RETIREES AND HAVE 2 VEHICLES)
THE "AUTO" FOR HEADLIGHTS / DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING IN RAINING DAYS OR IN DIMMED LIGHTING CONDITION IN THE EVENING, ON LOCAL ROAD AND HIGHWAY.
DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT DAY TIME LED LIGHT FLICKERS AND IT HAS HALF OF THE INTENSITY COMPARED WITH THE OTHER HEADLIGHT IF DRIVEN OR STATIONARY. THIS CONDITION STARTED TO BECOME NOTICEABLE TWO MONTHS AGO AND IT IS GETTING WORSE AND CLOSE TO THE POINT THAT THE DTL LED IS NOT VISIBLE ANYMORE AND THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT UNIT MUST BE REPL…
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DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT DAY TIME LED LIGHT FLICKERS AND IT HAS HALF OF THE INTENSITY COMPARED WITH THE OTHER HEADLIGHT IF DRIVEN OR STATIONARY. THIS CONDITION STARTED TO BECOME NOTICEABLE TWO MONTHS AGO AND IT IS GETTING WORSE AND CLOSE TO THE POINT THAT THE DTL LED IS NOT VISIBLE ANYMORE AND THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT UNIT MUST BE REPLACED. MAZDA KNOWS ABOUT THE CONDITION AND CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND REFUSES TO REPLACE IT.
ONE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT IS NOW FLICKERING. IT IS NOT SERVICEABLE AND THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT CAPSULE MUST BE REPLACED AT ABOUT $1300 PER SIDE. I AM SURE THE OTHER ONE WILL FAIL SOON ALSO! CAR HAS 61000 MILES AND IS 4 YEARS OLD. AS DRL`S ARE OEM, IT MUST BE FIXED TO PASS NYS INSPECTION. OF COURSE IT IS ALSO A PROVEN SAFETY FEATURE…
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ONE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT IS NOW FLICKERING. IT IS NOT SERVICEABLE AND THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT CAPSULE MUST BE REPLACED AT ABOUT $1300 PER SIDE. I AM SURE THE OTHER ONE WILL FAIL SOON ALSO! CAR HAS 61000 MILES AND IS 4 YEARS OLD. AS DRL`S ARE OEM, IT MUST BE FIXED TO PASS NYS INSPECTION. OF COURSE IT IS ALSO A PROVEN SAFETY FEATURE!
MY 2016 CX-5 GT IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY BASED ON MODEL YEAR, ALTHOUGH IT ONLY HAS 21000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS ALMOST EVERY OTHER OWNER OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL, WHICH IS THAT THE LED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON ONE SIDE (SO FAR) HAVE STOPPED WORKING. LED'S DO NOT BURN OUT IN JUST A FEW YEARS, SO THE PROBLEM IS IN …
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MY 2016 CX-5 GT IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY BASED ON MODEL YEAR, ALTHOUGH IT ONLY HAS 21000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS ALMOST EVERY OTHER OWNER OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL, WHICH IS THAT THE LED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON ONE SIDE (SO FAR) HAVE STOPPED WORKING. LED'S DO NOT BURN OUT IN JUST A FEW YEARS, SO THE PROBLEM IS IN THE WIRING INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. IT IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT MAZDA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE. REPAIR COST CAN BE $1200 TO $1500 PER HEADLIGHT TO THE OWNER.
LED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DO NOT WORK CAUSING MY VEHICLE NOT TO BE AS VISIBLE AS IT SHOULD BE ON THE ROAD DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS . ALL THE OTHER LIGHTS ARE ALSO LED . I AM WORRIED ABOUT FUTURE PERFORMANCE . JUST PURCHASED VEHICLE 2/3/2020 , DO NOT KNOW WHEN LIGHTS FIRST MALFUNCTIONED .
LED RUNNING LIGHTS FLICKERING ONLY 29000 MILES, PAST THE 36 MONTH WARRANTY. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF$1000+.MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.MAZDA SHOULD EXTEND WARRANTY TO 100,000. NOT SAFE AND TO COSTLY TO REPAIR
THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FAILED. THE PROCESS TO REPAIR THE LIGHTS IS EXORBITANTLY EXPENSIVE AND I BELIEVE WILL DISSUADE CONSUMERS FROM GETTING THEM REPAIRED DUE TO THE HIGH COST. DISSUADING CUSTOMERS FROM GETTING THIS REPAIRED IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. TO REPAIR THE LIGHT BULBS COSTS MORE THAN $1…
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THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FAILED. THE PROCESS TO REPAIR THE LIGHTS IS EXORBITANTLY EXPENSIVE AND I BELIEVE WILL DISSUADE CONSUMERS FROM GETTING THEM REPAIRED DUE TO THE HIGH COST. DISSUADING CUSTOMERS FROM GETTING THIS REPAIRED IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. TO REPAIR THE LIGHT BULBS COSTS MORE THAN $1000. THE REPAIR REQUIRES THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT TO BE REPLACED, AND ALSO REQUIRES REMOVING AND REINSTALLING THE FRONT BUMPER ASSEMBLY. THIS IS JUST TO REPLACE A LIGHT! THIS IS A VERY POOR DESIGN AND WILL IMPACT OWNER SAFETY IN MY OPINION.
PASSENGER SIDE DAY TIME RUNNING LED LIGHT STOPPED WORKING JUST AFTER 3 YR WARRANTY EXPIRED. COST TO REPLACE OVER $1000. THERE IS A LOT OF REPORTS OF SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE 2016 MODEL.
Official recalls
420V063000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.