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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

Steering complaints

7 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 7, 2026
SteeringSuspension

I was slowly turning left into an alley when I heard a loud noise, the front of my car dropped, and the car immediately stopped and was immovable. Upon getting out of the car, it appears some joint separated from the wheel.

NHTSA ODI #11736286

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2022
SteeringSuspension

TSB issue with suspension steering gear assembly needs to be removed and have spacer kit installed. Issue caused the front lower ball joint to wear more than usual and crack. Due to TSB a joint kit needs to be installed and control arms replaced.

NHTSA ODI #11497047

38,000 miles · Jul 13, 2021
Steering

The contact owns a 2016 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while reversing the vehicle, the contact heard an abnormal loud clanking sound coming from underneath the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and it was diagnosed with the bolt torque needing to be replaced. The v…

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The contact owns a 2016 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while reversing the vehicle, the contact heard an abnormal loud clanking sound coming from underneath the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and it was diagnosed with the bolt torque needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 16V203000 (Steering). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

NHTSA ODI #11424686

34,980 miles · Apr 13, 2021
Exterior LightingSteeringVehicle Speed Control

THE FOLLOWING WARNING AND WARNING LIGHTS BEGAN AROUND 34,980 MILES ON MY 2016.5 MAZDA CX-5 GRAND TOURING 2.5L SKYACTIV-G WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE: MASTER WARNING LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, POWER STEERING, KEYLESS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, SMART CITY BRAKE SUPPORT MALFUNCTION, FORWARD SCBS DISABLED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TCS/DSC…

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THE FOLLOWING WARNING AND WARNING LIGHTS BEGAN AROUND 34,980 MILES ON MY 2016.5 MAZDA CX-5 GRAND TOURING 2.5L SKYACTIV-G WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE: MASTER WARNING LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, POWER STEERING, KEYLESS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, SMART CITY BRAKE SUPPORT MALFUNCTION, FORWARD SCBS DISABLED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TCS/DSC INDICATOR LIGHT, TCS OFF INDICATOR LIGHT, BLIND SPOT MONITORING (BSM) OFF INDICATION, BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT, ABS WARNING LIGHT, ELECTRIC BRAKE WARNING LIGHT, AIR BAG/FRONT SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT, TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT, LED HEADLIGHT WARNING LIGHT, AND THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO TURN OFF. USING THE LEFT BLINKER WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLES POWER TO RESTART AND YES, WHILE DRIVING! THIS STARTED NOVEMBER 14, 2020 AND WHEN I NOTIFIED MAZDA, THEY DID NOT SEEM CONCERNED AND A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE LIGHT WERE NO LONGER THERE. THIS OCCURRED AGAIN DECEMBER 15, 2020 AND MARCH 5, 2021 WHEN I DECIDED MAZDA NEEDS TO RUN A DIAGNOSIS BECAUSE CLEARLY SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT. MY DEALERSHIP INSISTED IT WAS MY BATTERY (BASICALLY THE ONLY WARNING LIGHT NOT ON) AND MY REAR BRAKE PADS. THEN WHEN THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE, THEY SAID CORROSION NEEDED TO BE CLEANED WHICH WAS NOT SHOWN IN THE VEHICLE INSPECTION VIDEO. ALSO, MY CAR WAS JUST SERVICED AT MY MAZDA DEALERSHIP JULY 2020 WITH 33,706 MILES. SEPTEMBER 2020 MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND I RETURNED TO A LARGE CRACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE. AROUND 25,000 THE TIRED NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, NOW AT 36,666 MILES TIRE THREAD DEPTH IS IN THE YELLOW' MY VEHICLE ALIGNMENT HAS ZERO ISSUES AND MY MAZDA DEALERSHIP IS THE ONLY ONE WHO ROTATES THE TIRES (OR SUPPOSE TO).

NHTSA ODI #11407988

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2019
Fuel/propulsion SystemSteeringVisibility/wiper

MY ALLSTATE REP TOLD ME THAT I HAVE 4 RECALLS

NHTSA ODI #11219377

Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2017
Power TrainSteeringSuspension

THERE IS A RUBBING/GRINDING/VIBRATION FEEL ON THE PEDALS AND STEERING WHEEL, INCLUDING THE ENTIRE BODY VIBRATION THAT CAN BE ALSO SEEN IN THE SIDE MIRRORS. THESE PROBLEM ARE MORE NOTICEABLE AT HIGH SPEED. I SUSPECT EITHER THE TIRE, BRAKE, ROTORS, ALIGNMENT, SUSPENSION OR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR 6 TIMES TO TH…

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THERE IS A RUBBING/GRINDING/VIBRATION FEEL ON THE PEDALS AND STEERING WHEEL, INCLUDING THE ENTIRE BODY VIBRATION THAT CAN BE ALSO SEEN IN THE SIDE MIRRORS. THESE PROBLEM ARE MORE NOTICEABLE AT HIGH SPEED. I SUSPECT EITHER THE TIRE, BRAKE, ROTORS, ALIGNMENT, SUSPENSION OR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR 6 TIMES TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP ALREADY WITH THE GUIDANCE FROM MAZDA CORPORATE COSTUMER SERVICE BUT THEY ARE DENYING MY CX-5 ISSUES. THIS IS PRETTY SCARY TO DRIVE, I ALWAYS FEEL THAT SOMETHING BAD GONNA HAPPEN ON MY CAR IN THE FREEWAY BECAUSE OF ROUGH AND BUMPY RIDE. THIS HAPPENED SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THIS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS CAR FOR 32K $. ALL MAZDA DEALERSHIP ARE NOT COOPERATING. VERY BAD EXPERIENCE.

NHTSA ODI #11023733

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