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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

161 reports
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76,000 miles · Jan 26, 2020
Exterior Lighting

AT 76,000 THE DRIVER'S DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. BEFORE IT WENT COMPLETELY OUT I NOTICED IT FLICKERED.

NHTSA ODI #11302078

71,300 miles · Dec 16, 2019
Exterior Lighting

MANY COMPLAINTS ON GOOGLE OF FLICKERING DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON HEADLIGHTS THAT ARE A HAZARD AND DISTRACTION TO ONCOMING DRIVERS, MAY CAUSE SEIZURES FOR SOME. MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR 3 YEARS AND MAZDA WILL NOT RESPOND TO THIS OR ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEED FOR THIS RECALL, TO HAVE THIS FIXED IS A MINIMUM …

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MANY COMPLAINTS ON GOOGLE OF FLICKERING DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON HEADLIGHTS THAT ARE A HAZARD AND DISTRACTION TO ONCOMING DRIVERS, MAY CAUSE SEIZURES FOR SOME. MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR 3 YEARS AND MAZDA WILL NOT RESPOND TO THIS OR ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEED FOR THIS RECALL, TO HAVE THIS FIXED IS A MINIMUM OF $1200. LIGHTING IS NECESSARY AND IF IT IS FAULTY, IT BECOMES DANGEROU.S THIS NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED AND MAZDA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPINSIBILITY. TOO MANY VEHICLE OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11289357

30,000 miles · Dec 15, 2019
Exterior Lighting

AT 30,000 MILES, BUT OUT OF WARRANTY THE DRIVER'S DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING AND AT TIMES WAS COMPLETELY OUT. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE ENTIRE LIGHT MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE PART WAS$1000.00. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT FLICKERING OCCURS WHILE DRIVING & WHEN CAR IS PARKED WITH MOTOR RUNNING.

NHTSA ODI #11289176

29,936 miles · Dec 13, 2019
Exterior Lighting

NOTICED PASSENGER SIDE LED HEADLIGHT FLICKERING WHILE STOPPED BEHIND ANOTHER CAR AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. INSPECTED THE LIGHT ONCE I GET HOME AND FOUND THE DAY TIME RUNNING PORTION OF THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS THE PROBLEM. IT NOW FLICKERS AT ALL TIMES SINCE THIS COMES ONE DURING THE DAY AUTOMATICALLY. SERVICE DEPARTMENT FROM DEALER TH…

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NOTICED PASSENGER SIDE LED HEADLIGHT FLICKERING WHILE STOPPED BEHIND ANOTHER CAR AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. INSPECTED THE LIGHT ONCE I GET HOME AND FOUND THE DAY TIME RUNNING PORTION OF THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS THE PROBLEM. IT NOW FLICKERS AT ALL TIMES SINCE THIS COMES ONE DURING THE DAY AUTOMATICALLY. SERVICE DEPARTMENT FROM DEALER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED SAID THIS IS NOT COVERED BY MAZDA AND IT WOULD BE OUT POCKET REPAIR ($1,200).

NHTSA ODI #11288920

64,000 miles · Dec 8, 2019
Exterior Lighting

THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT ON MY 2016 MAZDA CX-5 GRAND TOURING STARTED FLICKERING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE A FEW WEEKS AGO. I'VE HAD OTHER DRIVERS HONK OR FLASH THEIR LIGHTS AT ME DURING THE DAY (ONCOMING TRAFFIC) MOST CERTAINLY DUE TO THE ANNOYANCE OF THE FLICKERING LED. THIS SEEMS TO POSE A SAFETY HAZARD TO OTHERS AND MYSELF. THE O…

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THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT ON MY 2016 MAZDA CX-5 GRAND TOURING STARTED FLICKERING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE A FEW WEEKS AGO. I'VE HAD OTHER DRIVERS HONK OR FLASH THEIR LIGHTS AT ME DURING THE DAY (ONCOMING TRAFFIC) MOST CERTAINLY DUE TO THE ANNOYANCE OF THE FLICKERING LED. THIS SEEMS TO POSE A SAFETY HAZARD TO OTHERS AND MYSELF. THE ONLY SOLUTION MAZDA CURRENTLY HAS IS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $1,200. I CANNOT AFFORD THIS FIX ESPECIALLY WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE LED LIGHT LIKELY TO FAIL AT ANY TIME BRINGING THE COST TO $2,400. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN TO OTHER DRIVERS ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE AN ADVERSE REACTION TO THE STROBE-EFFECT NATURE OF THE FLICKERING LIGHT THAT CAN TRIGGER SEIZURES. IT IS ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN TO ME IF I'M LESS VISIBLE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE VIEWED 100'S OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS ONLY APPROPRIATE FOR MAZDA TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS POORLY DESIGNED/MANUFACTURED COMPONENT.

NHTSA ODI #11287734

39,500 miles · Dec 5, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE LED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES OF MY 2016 MAZDA CX-5 HAVE BURNED OUT/STOPPED LIGHTING AFTER 39K MILES AND OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THE REPAIR REQUIRES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1200 PER ASSEMBLY. ($2400 TOTAL). BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND ONE APPARENTLY K…

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THE LED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES OF MY 2016 MAZDA CX-5 HAVE BURNED OUT/STOPPED LIGHTING AFTER 39K MILES AND OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THE REPAIR REQUIRES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1200 PER ASSEMBLY. ($2400 TOTAL). BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND ONE APPARENTLY KNOWN TO MAZDA, THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11287118

39,000 miles · Nov 29, 2019
Exterior Lighting

LED DRL HALO STARTED DIM FLICKERING AT 39,000 MILES ON PASSENGER SIDE. BURNT OUT COMPLETELY. A SHORT TIME LATER. A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT SHOULD BE COVERED WITH A FACTORY RECALL. THIS IS MY SECOND CX-5 AND MY EIGHTH OVERALL MAZDA. MY PLAN WAS TO PURCHASE MY 3RD CX-5 IN JAN 2020. AFTER THIS I WILL PROBABLY LOOK AT AT A V…

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LED DRL HALO STARTED DIM FLICKERING AT 39,000 MILES ON PASSENGER SIDE. BURNT OUT COMPLETELY. A SHORT TIME LATER. A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT SHOULD BE COVERED WITH A FACTORY RECALL. THIS IS MY SECOND CX-5 AND MY EIGHTH OVERALL MAZDA. MY PLAN WAS TO PURCHASE MY 3RD CX-5 IN JAN 2020. AFTER THIS I WILL PROBABLY LOOK AT AT A VEHICLE THAT HAS A 4 YR/50,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY

NHTSA ODI #11282869

40,000 miles · Nov 26, 2019
Exterior Lighting

PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT FAILED AT 40K MILES, JUST OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY PERIOD. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND REQUIRED $1200 TO FIX/REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. UNACCEPTABLE TO PAY FOR THE TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE FOR LED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ONLY FOR THEM TO DIE AT JUST OVER 3 YEARS…

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PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT FAILED AT 40K MILES, JUST OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY PERIOD. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND REQUIRED $1200 TO FIX/REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. UNACCEPTABLE TO PAY FOR THE TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE FOR LED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ONLY FOR THEM TO DIE AT JUST OVER 3 YEARS. WROTE A LETTER TO MAZDA NORTH AMERICA CORPORATE OFFICE 4 MONTHS AGO BUT NO RESPONSE.

NHTSA ODI #11282478

54,000 miles · Nov 22, 2019
Exterior Lighting

THE LED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT IN BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAVE FAILED. ON ONE SIDE THE ENTIRE LED STRIP HAS FAILED AND ON THE OTHER SIDE THE LED STRIP IS FLASHING. THIS LENDS ITSELF TO MY CAR BEING LESS VISIBLE: AS WELL AS' BEING A DISTRACTION TO OTHER DRIVERS SEEING THE FLASHING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THESE …

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THE LED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT IN BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAVE FAILED. ON ONE SIDE THE ENTIRE LED STRIP HAS FAILED AND ON THE OTHER SIDE THE LED STRIP IS FLASHING. THIS LENDS ITSELF TO MY CAR BEING LESS VISIBLE: AS WELL AS' BEING A DISTRACTION TO OTHER DRIVERS SEEING THE FLASHING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THESE PROBLEMS WERE NOT THE RESULT OF ANY INCIDENT, THE LED STRIPS JUST FAILED FROM NORMAL USE IN A MUCH SHORTER SPAN THAN APPROPRIATE.

NHTSA ODI #11281821

25,000 miles · Nov 17, 2019
Exterior Lighting

DRIVERS SIDE LED HEADLIGHT NOT WORKING AFTER 3 YEARS AND ~25K MILES. I SEE SO MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON ONLINE FORUMS AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE BY MAZDA OVER THIS ISSUE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED VIA A RECALL AND NOT CHARGE CUSTOMERS FOR AN EXPENSIVE FULL HEADLIGHT CONSOLE REPL…

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DRIVERS SIDE LED HEADLIGHT NOT WORKING AFTER 3 YEARS AND ~25K MILES. I SEE SO MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON ONLINE FORUMS AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE BY MAZDA OVER THIS ISSUE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED VIA A RECALL AND NOT CHARGE CUSTOMERS FOR AN EXPENSIVE FULL HEADLIGHT CONSOLE REPLACEMENT. WHAT IS THE USE OF GETTING A MORE EXPENSIVE TECH PACKAGE FOR THESE LIGHTS AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE WHEN THEY DON'T EVEN WORK FOR 3 YEARS.

NHTSA ODI #11280639

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