IllustrationI WAS DRIVING AND WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN SO I PRESSED BRAKE TO COME TO A STOP. WHILE I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE, THE CAR SUDDENLY REVVED UP AND LURCHED FORWARD. I HAD TO SWITCH THE CAR TO NEUTRAL GEAR TO STOP AND THEN BACK UP OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC.
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
Fuel/propulsion System complaints
19 reportsHIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. VEHICLE MILEAGE 30,020. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. REPLACEMENT COST 920.60.
FUEL FILLER PIPE MELTED CAUSING EXTENSIVE FIRE AND DAMAGE. I HAVEN'T HAD USE OF MY VEHICLE SINCE 5/14/19. MAZDA IS AWARD AND DOESN'T CARE. NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED JUST HAPPENED. LOST MY JOB BECAUSE OF NO VEHICLE AND AM BEHIND ON ALL PAYMENTS . CAR WAS TRAVELING ON EXPRESS WAY WHEN HAPPENED. PLEASE CALL MECHANIC AT EXCEL COLLISION …
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FUEL FILLER PIPE MELTED CAUSING EXTENSIVE FIRE AND DAMAGE. I HAVEN'T HAD USE OF MY VEHICLE SINCE 5/14/19. MAZDA IS AWARD AND DOESN'T CARE. NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED JUST HAPPENED. LOST MY JOB BECAUSE OF NO VEHICLE AND AM BEHIND ON ALL PAYMENTS . CAR WAS TRAVELING ON EXPRESS WAY WHEN HAPPENED. PLEASE CALL MECHANIC AT EXCEL COLLISION APACHE JUNCTION AZ FOR ALL DAMAGE AND DELAYS
MY ALLSTATE REP TOLD ME THAT I HAVE 4 RECALLS
WHEN I START THE CAR IN THE BEGINNING OF A COLD DAY, I SMELL GAS ALL AROUND THE CAR. I FOUND THAT THE CAR HAS AN INCOMPLETE RECALLS WHEN I ENTERED THE VIN NO., BUT I CALLED THE NO. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR HASN'T ANY RECALLS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA CX-5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V064000 (FUEL SYSTEM) AND 16V644000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA CX-5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V064000 (FUEL SYSTEM) AND 16V644000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE AND PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IT BROKE DOWN (IN MOTION) ON THE HIGHWAY, TOWED IT TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS WATER IN THE FUEL. AFTER A WEEK THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED, THIS TIME THE FUEL GAUGE WAS INOPERABLE AND IT CONTINUED TO SPUTTER, TOOK IT TO A SECOND DEALERSHIP WHO KEPT IT FOR ANOTH…
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WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IT BROKE DOWN (IN MOTION) ON THE HIGHWAY, TOWED IT TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS WATER IN THE FUEL. AFTER A WEEK THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED, THIS TIME THE FUEL GAUGE WAS INOPERABLE AND IT CONTINUED TO SPUTTER, TOOK IT TO A SECOND DEALERSHIP WHO KEPT IT FOR ANOTHER WEEK WHO APPARENTLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE SEEMED OK AND EXACTLY ONE WEEK LATER AFTER PARKING IT (STATIONARY) AND WALKING AWAY IT BURST INTO FLAMES, THE FLAMES INCINERATED THREE ADJACENT VEHICLES.
BRAND NEW MAZDA CX5 2DAYS AFTER FIRST USE VEHICLE STARTED BUCKING BADLY. FIRST REPORTED TO DEALER AND COMMENT WAS "IT IS THE DRIVER" NEXT DAY ON PARKWAY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS THE VEHICLE SLIPPED INTO WHAT APPEARED TO BE NEUTRAL NEARLY RESULTING IN LANE CHANGE ACCIDENT,. CAR CONTINUED TO BUCK SLIPPING GEARS IN ROUTINE DRIVI…
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BRAND NEW MAZDA CX5 2DAYS AFTER FIRST USE VEHICLE STARTED BUCKING BADLY. FIRST REPORTED TO DEALER AND COMMENT WAS "IT IS THE DRIVER" NEXT DAY ON PARKWAY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS THE VEHICLE SLIPPED INTO WHAT APPEARED TO BE NEUTRAL NEARLY RESULTING IN LANE CHANGE ACCIDENT,. CAR CONTINUED TO BUCK SLIPPING GEARS IN ROUTINE DRIVING . ON WAY TO RETURN CAR TO DEALERSHIP CAR STARTED TO MOVE AT RED LIGHT AND THEN STOPPED RESULTING IN MINOR REAR END COLLISION.
STOPPED ON HIGHWAY AT RED LIGHT. WENT TO PULL OUT ON GREEN, CAR HESITATED THEN IT FELT LIKE I WAS BEING HIT FROM BEHIND THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED WITH A BIG THUD BEFORE I COULD GET MOVING. FURTHER ON DOWN THE ROAD IT WOULD WITHOUT WARNING, DOWNSHIFT THEN UPSHIFT, GOING SOMETIMES FROM 6TH GEAR TO 3RD AND THROWING ME FORWARD. EVE…
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STOPPED ON HIGHWAY AT RED LIGHT. WENT TO PULL OUT ON GREEN, CAR HESITATED THEN IT FELT LIKE I WAS BEING HIT FROM BEHIND THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED WITH A BIG THUD BEFORE I COULD GET MOVING. FURTHER ON DOWN THE ROAD IT WOULD WITHOUT WARNING, DOWNSHIFT THEN UPSHIFT, GOING SOMETIMES FROM 6TH GEAR TO 3RD AND THROWING ME FORWARD. EVERYTIME I WOULD STOP AND TRY TO START THERE WAS HESITATION FROM THE TRANSMISSION THEN IT WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR. WHEN I WAS STOPPED ON A SLIGHT UPGRADE, THE CAR WOULD DRIFT BACKWARD A GOOD BIT, THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS TO GIVE IT MORE GAS AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD AGAIN SLAM INTO GEAR. DURING ALL THIS NO ENGINE OR WARNING LIGHTS OF ANY KIND CAME ON. THE MODEL I WAS DRIVING WAS LESS THAN 30 DAYS OLD WITH ONLY 3300 MILES ON IT. I AM CONCERNED, BECAUSE I TRADED IN A 2014 MAZDA CX 5 ( SAME MODEL) AND IT ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. MAZDA IS REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS 2016 UNIT.
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.