← New search

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 →

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

What owners actually said

510 reports
68,000 miles · Jun 19, 2020
Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA CX5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO INFLATE THE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE, THE VALVE STEM FRACTURED. THE VALVE STEM WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WORLD CAR MAZDA NORTH (12115 INTERSTATE 35 NORTH BLDG. 2, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78233) WHERE THE REPAIR WAS PE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA CX5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO INFLATE THE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE, THE VALVE STEM FRACTURED. THE VALVE STEM WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WORLD CAR MAZDA NORTH (12115 INTERSTATE 35 NORTH BLDG. 2, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78233) WHERE THE REPAIR WAS PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *LN*JB

NHTSA ODI #11329721

47,000 miles · Jun 12, 2020
Visibility/wiper

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 REPA…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #11328460

102,000 miles · May 26, 2020
Exterior Lighting

MAZDA ISSUED A RECALL IN MARCH 2020 FOR THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON THIS CAR, THE PARTS REQUIRED TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION ARE BACKORDERED, AND HAVE BEEN BACKORDERED SINCE MARCH. AS OF TODAY, MAZDA IS STATING THAT THE PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR 4-5 MONTHS! DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE REQUIRED TO PASS THE ANNUAL VIRGINIAST…

Read full complaint

MAZDA ISSUED A RECALL IN MARCH 2020 FOR THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON THIS CAR, THE PARTS REQUIRED TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION ARE BACKORDERED, AND HAVE BEEN BACKORDERED SINCE MARCH. AS OF TODAY, MAZDA IS STATING THAT THE PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR 4-5 MONTHS! DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE REQUIRED TO PASS THE ANNUAL VIRGINIASTATE AUTO INSPECTION. MY INSPECTION IS DUE THIS MONTH, AND MAZDA HAS EFFECTIVELY RENDERED MY VEHICLE ILLEGAL TO OPERATE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA! *TR

NHTSA ODI #11326024

28,229 miles · May 25, 2020
Unknown Or Other

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SINCE PURCHASE SEPTEMBER 15, 2016, THE CAR WILL INTERMITTENTLY UPON APPLYING THE BRAKE TO STOP, ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. IF MY FOOT WASN'T ON THE BRAKE I WOULD BE PROPELLED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR POSSIBLY INTO A CROSSWALK. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND TOLD THEY COULD NOT REPROD…

Read full complaint

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SINCE PURCHASE SEPTEMBER 15, 2016, THE CAR WILL INTERMITTENTLY UPON APPLYING THE BRAKE TO STOP, ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. IF MY FOOT WASN'T ON THE BRAKE I WOULD BE PROPELLED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR POSSIBLY INTO A CROSSWALK. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND TOLD THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THIS EVENT AND ALL CHECKS OF THE CAR WERE NORMAL. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE LAST EVENT WAS YESTERDAY, MAY 24, 2020. I HAVE READ OF OTHER OWNERS OF THIS 2016 GRAND TOURING CX-5 MAZDA TO HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH NO ACTION ON THE PART OF MAZDA. THIS IS EVEN AFTER ACCIDENTS OCCURRED.

NHTSA ODI #11325834

12,000 miles · May 20, 2020
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA CX-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ODI #11325272

55,000 miles · May 15, 2020
Service Brakes

MY CAR WAS PARKED IN A LEVEL GARAGE OVERNIGHT AND THE NEXT DAY AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE (EPB) LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON BOTH THE DASHBOARD AND THE EPB CONTROL LEVER AND THE BRAKE LIGHT WARNING LIGHT WAS LIT. IT SEEMED TO BE DRIVING FINE, AND I NEVER ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE SO I THOUGHT I …

Read full complaint

MY CAR WAS PARKED IN A LEVEL GARAGE OVERNIGHT AND THE NEXT DAY AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE (EPB) LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON BOTH THE DASHBOARD AND THE EPB CONTROL LEVER AND THE BRAKE LIGHT WARNING LIGHT WAS LIT. IT SEEMED TO BE DRIVING FINE, AND I NEVER ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE SO I THOUGHT I MAY HAVE DONE SO ACCIDENTALLY. I PULLED OVER, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO DISENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE BUT IT JUST KEPT FLASHING. I TOOK IT TO MY GARDEN CITY MAZDA DEALERSHIP TO SERVICE IT FOR THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS RECALL, SO I TOLD THEM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AS WELL. WHILE WAITING FOR THE APPOINTMENT, SOME DAYS THE LIGHTS STAYED OFF AND SOME DAYS CAME ON. AT THE DEALERSHIP, I PAID $140 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARKING BRAKE MODULE SHORTED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF OVER $900. I ASKED IF THERE WAS A CHANCE MY BRAKES WOULD MALFUNCTION OR IF I COULD DRIVE THE CAR SAFELY AND WAS TOLD THE BRAKES WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED, SO DUE TO THE COST I OPTED TO NOT HAVE IT REPAIRED. THIS CAR IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS SAFETY DEFECT. MY ODOMETER READS APPROXIMATELY 55,000. NOW I HAVE TO DRIVE AROUND WITH A VERY DISTRACTING RED PARKING BRAKE WARNING LIGHT FLASHING ON AND OFF CONSTANTLY AND MY BRAKE WARNING LIGHT LIT. THIS DISTRACTION IS AN ADDITIONAL SAFETY CONCERN. I'M NOT SURE IF GARDEN CITY MAZDA REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO THE MANUFACTURER, BUT APPARENTLY MAZDA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BUT NO SAFETY RECALL HAS BEEN MADE. WHY? I FEEL AT THE VERY LEAST, EVEN IF NO SAFETY RECALL, THAT CUSTOMERS SHOULD HAVE THIS ISSUE REPAIRED AT NO COST AS SOON AS THEY REPORT IT TO MAZDA. PERHAPS ABC'S 7 ON YOUR SIDE, PIX 11'S [XXX] /WHAT A SHAME, NBC'S BETTER GET [XXX], OR ANY CONSUMER INVESTIGATIVE UNIT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN FEATURING THIS PROBLEM - BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED! PLEASE HELP! TY INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11324625

45,591 miles · May 4, 2020
Engine

I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE HYDRAULIC BELT TENSIONER WAS LEAKING. THEY QUOTED ME $400 FOR REPAIR AND STATED THIS IS A WEAR ITEM YET THE MANUAL AND USER GUIDE PROVIDED BY MAZDA DO NOT STATE THAT THIS IS REQUIRED TO BE REPLACED ONLY INSPECTED. MY CAR HAS LESS THEN 46,000 MILES AND THIS PART WAS NEARL…

Read full complaint

I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE HYDRAULIC BELT TENSIONER WAS LEAKING. THEY QUOTED ME $400 FOR REPAIR AND STATED THIS IS A WEAR ITEM YET THE MANUAL AND USER GUIDE PROVIDED BY MAZDA DO NOT STATE THAT THIS IS REQUIRED TO BE REPLACED ONLY INSPECTED. MY CAR HAS LESS THEN 46,000 MILES AND THIS PART WAS NEARLY AT THE POINT OF FAILURE. IF THIS PART FAILS AND THE BELT GETS TOO LOOSE OR SNAPS, YOUR CAR WILL SHUT DOWN. ESSENTIALLY, IF THAT BELT BREAKS, YOUR ALTERNATOR WILL STOP CHARGING THE BATTERY, THE DASH WILL LIGHT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE, AND THE CAR WILL SPUTTER TO A COMPLETE STOP. NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT THE BELT ALSO TURNS THE WATER PUMP. SO WHILE THE CAR COULD SHUT DOWN IN ORDER TO AVOID OVERHEATING. MAZDA HAS STATED THEY WILL NOT COVER THIS AS IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY FOR A WHAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A DEFECTIVE PART. IF YOU HEAR KNOCKING SOUNDS FROM YOUR ENGINE GET YOUR VEHICLE INSPECTED ASAP!

NHTSA ODI #11323177

20,000 miles · Apr 17, 2020
Power Train

WHILE BACKING OUT FROM A DRIVEWAY INTO A CITY STREET, I SHIFTED THE VEHICLE FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATED THAT THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL BACKWARD AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE THEN STOPPED, AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE PUSHED FROM THE STREET OUT OF THE TRAVEL LANES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11321459

33,000 miles · Apr 10, 2020
Parking BrakeService Brakes

THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE (EPB) HAS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A LEVEL GARAGE OVERNIGHT, WITHOUT THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED ON THE EPB LIGHT CAME ON AND IS FLASHING, AS WELL AS THE BRAKE LIGHT WARNING. THE WARNING LIGHTS REMAIN ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH EVEN AFTER MULTIPLE RESTARTS. THE EMERGENC…

Read full complaint

THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE (EPB) HAS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A LEVEL GARAGE OVERNIGHT, WITHOUT THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED ON THE EPB LIGHT CAME ON AND IS FLASHING, AS WELL AS THE BRAKE LIGHT WARNING. THE WARNING LIGHTS REMAIN ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH EVEN AFTER MULTIPLE RESTARTS. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NOT ENGAGED AND THE CAR SEEMS TO DRIVE FINE. HOWEVER I HAVE NO EMERGENCY BRAKE NOW, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11320780

70,100 miles · Apr 6, 2020
Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHING ON DASH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11320357

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