THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK ON MY FRONT WINDSHIELD THAT SPANNED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN I WENT TO LOCATE THE POSSIBLE POINT OF THE CRACK I COULDN'T LOCATE ONE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO AN WINDSHIELD REPAIR SHOP TO GET IT REPLACED AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A STRESS CRACK THAT IS PRETTY COMMON IN MAZDA CX-5'S.
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
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.
Visibility/wiper complaints
42 reportsA SMALL CHIP WAS ON FOUND ON THE FRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD AND I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE DEALER THAT THE CHIP WAS SMALL AND THAT THEY THE REPAIR WOULD FIX IT WITH RESIN. THE NEXT DAY A CRACK AROUND 18 INCHES FORMED ALONG THE WINDSHIELD. . AFTER THE CRACK WAS FORMED THEY STATED THEY WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WINDSHIELD AFTER THE REPA…
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A SMALL CHIP WAS ON FOUND ON THE FRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD AND I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE DEALER THAT THE CHIP WAS SMALL AND THAT THEY THE REPAIR WOULD FIX IT WITH RESIN. THE NEXT DAY A CRACK AROUND 18 INCHES FORMED ALONG THE WINDSHIELD. . AFTER THE CRACK WAS FORMED THEY STATED THEY WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WINDSHIELD AFTER THE REPAIR. THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE QUALITY OF THE WINDSHIELD MAZDA WON'T HOLD THEMSELVES RESPONSIBLE FOR. THIS NEW WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN QUOTED FOR $500 TO REPLACE. *TR
MY ALLSTATE REP TOLD ME THAT I HAVE 4 RECALLS
FIRST OCCURRED ON 9/29/2017 AND MORE OFTEN AFTER 2/3/18 BATTERY DRAINS, NO START HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE BATTERY JUMPED 5-6 TIMES, REPLACED BATTERY SAME OCCURRENCES, HAVE TAKEN BATTERY TO BE CHARGED TWICE. FURTHER INSPECTION A WEEK LATER ON BATTERY AND A DRAW TEST 1, CAME BACK GOOD. COUPLE OF WEEKS BATTERY HAD DRAINED AGAIN. NO STA…
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FIRST OCCURRED ON 9/29/2017 AND MORE OFTEN AFTER 2/3/18 BATTERY DRAINS, NO START HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE BATTERY JUMPED 5-6 TIMES, REPLACED BATTERY SAME OCCURRENCES, HAVE TAKEN BATTERY TO BE CHARGED TWICE. FURTHER INSPECTION A WEEK LATER ON BATTERY AND A DRAW TEST 1, CAME BACK GOOD. COUPLE OF WEEKS BATTERY HAD DRAINED AGAIN. NO START NOTICEABLE SIGNS OF DRAIN. AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND OFF, HAVE HAD IT SERVICED PREVIOUSLY. HEAT AND A/C NOT PROJECTING LIKE NORMAL. STAINS ON WINDSHIELD. DESIGN ERROR THERE IS NO KEY ENTRY ON TRUNK WHEN CAR MALFUNCTIONS. DASHBOARD AND/OR DISPLAY SCREEN WILL OCCASIONALLY STAY ON WHEN CAR TURNS OFF. DRIVER WINDOW RATTLES. COMMAND SWITCHES FOR DISPLAY SCREEN REPLACED STILL STICKING. SEAT BELT HAS SCARED STOMACH.
LARGE FISH HOOK SHAPED CRACK ON WINDSHIELD OF MY 2016 MAZDA CX-5 WITH 23000 MLES. THE CRACK APPEARED ON A 55 DEGREE MORNING AFTER I PULLED MY VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE AND DROVE HALF A BLOCK TO A STOP SIGN AND I WATCHED THE CRACK APPEAR. THE CRACK STARTS AT THE TOP CENTER EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD GOES DOWN ABOUT 6 INCHES, THEN GO…
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LARGE FISH HOOK SHAPED CRACK ON WINDSHIELD OF MY 2016 MAZDA CX-5 WITH 23000 MLES. THE CRACK APPEARED ON A 55 DEGREE MORNING AFTER I PULLED MY VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE AND DROVE HALF A BLOCK TO A STOP SIGN AND I WATCHED THE CRACK APPEAR. THE CRACK STARTS AT THE TOP CENTER EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD GOES DOWN ABOUT 6 INCHES, THEN GOES INTO THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. IT WAS ABOUT 18 INCHES THAT MORNING AND HAS GROWN TO ABOUT 30 INCHES AND A HUGE FISH HOOK SHAPE IN THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS CAUSED BY A STONE IMPACT. IT WAS NOT AN IMPACT, I SHOULD KNOW, I WAS DRIVING. THE DEALER ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN IF IT IS A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD OR INSTALLATION AT THE FACTORY. WITH A LITTLE RESEARCH I AM SEEING A LOT OF CX-5 OWNERS ARE REPORTING SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE WINDSHIELDS CRACKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN THE NHTSA NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE.
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY WHEN A BASKETBALL BOUNCED OFF THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND THEN HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE HOOD BUT WHEN THE BASKETBALL HIT THE WINDSHIELD IT SHATTERED THE RIGHT TOP SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD.
I RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED 2016 MAZDA CX-5. FIVE DAYS LATER, I WENT TO GET IN IT AFTER WORK (NOT A HOT DAY) AND FOUND A CRACK RUNNING FROM UNDER THE TOP SEAM STRAIGHT DOWN AND THEN FEATHERING OUT. NO IMPACT DAMAGE. PARKED IN A SECURED LOT. IT DIDN'T LOOK RIGHT, SO I LOOKED UP MAZDA WINDSHIELDS AND FOUND OUT OTHERS HAD THE SAME IS…
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I RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED 2016 MAZDA CX-5. FIVE DAYS LATER, I WENT TO GET IN IT AFTER WORK (NOT A HOT DAY) AND FOUND A CRACK RUNNING FROM UNDER THE TOP SEAM STRAIGHT DOWN AND THEN FEATHERING OUT. NO IMPACT DAMAGE. PARKED IN A SECURED LOT. IT DIDN'T LOOK RIGHT, SO I LOOKED UP MAZDA WINDSHIELDS AND FOUND OUT OTHERS HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I FOUND THE CRACK DISTRACTING AS I DROVE, ESPECIALLY IF I NEEDED TO LOOK OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE. TOOK MY CAR TO MAZDA THE FOLLOWING DAY. THEY AGREED IT LOOKED STRANGE, BUT SAID THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY WINDSHIELD ISSUES. AND YET I FOUND MANY OTHERS ON LINE HAD THE SAME ISSUE.
FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW COMPLETELY SHATTERED WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. NO APPARENT ROCK OR DEBRIS HIT THE WINDOW BEFORE THE GLASS COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED. A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD AS THE GLASS SHATTERED FROM THE CENTER. UNSURE AS TO LONGEVITY / DURABILITY OF THE MAZDA OEM GLASS WINDOWS AS CAR MODEL IS RELATIVELY NEW. SO FAR …
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FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW COMPLETELY SHATTERED WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. NO APPARENT ROCK OR DEBRIS HIT THE WINDOW BEFORE THE GLASS COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED. A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD AS THE GLASS SHATTERED FROM THE CENTER. UNSURE AS TO LONGEVITY / DURABILITY OF THE MAZDA OEM GLASS WINDOWS AS CAR MODEL IS RELATIVELY NEW. SO FAR HAVE NOT HAD ANY OTHER ISSUES WITH THE OTHER WINDOWS OF THE CAR. THE TEMPERED GLASS, HOWEVER, DID SHATTER AS CORRECTLY DESIGNED, NO INJURIES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA CX-5. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (JOHN HINE MAZDA, 1545 CAMINO DEL RIO SOUTH ST, SAN DIEGO, CA 92108) AND WAS INFORMED TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA CX-5. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (JOHN HINE MAZDA, 1545 CAMINO DEL RIO SOUTH ST, SAN DIEGO, CA 92108) AND WAS INFORMED TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000.
2016 CX5 DEVELOPED SPONTANEOUS STRESS FRACTURE IN WINDSHIELD RUNNING FROM TOP RIGHT EDGE OF SCREEN ACROSS TO MIDDLE OF GLASS. IT WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN AT THE TIME, NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD, IT JUST CRACKED.
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.
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