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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.

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
4,800 miles · Sep 26, 2016
Unknown Or Other

ABOUT 10% OF THE TIME, THE "WALK AWAY" AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK FEATURE FAILS TO WORK AND THE VEHICLE REMAINS UNLOCKED. THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE THAT THE SENSORS DON'T DETECT THAT THE DOOR(S) HAS BEEN CLOSED, AND THE SYSTEM FAILS TO ENGAGE AS NORMALLY INDICATED BY AN AUDIBLE BEEP UPON DOOR CLOSURE. THIS IS NOT DUE TO THE DOORS NOT BEI…

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ABOUT 10% OF THE TIME, THE "WALK AWAY" AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK FEATURE FAILS TO WORK AND THE VEHICLE REMAINS UNLOCKED. THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE THAT THE SENSORS DON'T DETECT THAT THE DOOR(S) HAS BEEN CLOSED, AND THE SYSTEM FAILS TO ENGAGE AS NORMALLY INDICATED BY AN AUDIBLE BEEP UPON DOOR CLOSURE. THIS IS NOT DUE TO THE DOORS NOT BEING CLOSED FULLY. OPENING AND RECLOSING ANY DOOR (SOMETIMES TWICE) ACTIVATES THE SYSTEM. UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T ALWAYS REALIZE THAT THE SYSTEM DIDN'T FUNCTION CORRECTLY AND RETURN TO AN UNLOCKED CAR. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, BUT THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM UPON INSPECTION.

NHTSA ODI #10909853

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 2016
Electrical System

2016 MAZDA CX-5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER STEERING FAILURE, BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE AND OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPERIENCED CATASTROPHIC ELECTRICAL FAILURE TWICE WITHIN TWO MONTHS AND THE DEALER HAD NO IDEA HOW TO FIX IT. THE FAILURE CAUSED ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING, AND BR…

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2016 MAZDA CX-5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER STEERING FAILURE, BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE AND OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPERIENCED CATASTROPHIC ELECTRICAL FAILURE TWICE WITHIN TWO MONTHS AND THE DEALER HAD NO IDEA HOW TO FIX IT. THE FAILURE CAUSED ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING, AND BRAKES. ALSO, THE WARNING LIGHTS, INCLUDING THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB UPDATED 10/03/16.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10908994

1,500 miles · Sep 13, 2016
Visibility/wiper

2016 CX-5 IS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD AND ALREADY ON ITS THIRD WINDSHIELD. THE FILED COMPLAINT LIST FOR THIS CAR IS JUST ONE CRACKED WINDSHIELD AFTER ANOTHER AND DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER.

NHTSA ODI #10906204

524 miles · Sep 12, 2016
Fuel/propulsion SystemFire

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.

NHTSA ODI #10905772

4,800 miles · Sep 6, 2016
Visibility/wiper

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH NO IMMEDIATE TRAFFIC IN THE AREA. CRACK OCCURRED DURING MORNING TRANSITION FROM COOL TEMPERATURES TO ABOUT 20 DEGREE WARMER. HEARD A SMALL POP AND THEN SAW THE CRACK GROW UNTIL IT EXTENDED FROM THE FRAME TO ABOUT HALF WAY ACROSS THE PASSENGER SIDE. IF THE THE CRACK WAS CAUSED…

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WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH NO IMMEDIATE TRAFFIC IN THE AREA. CRACK OCCURRED DURING MORNING TRANSITION FROM COOL TEMPERATURES TO ABOUT 20 DEGREE WARMER. HEARD A SMALL POP AND THEN SAW THE CRACK GROW UNTIL IT EXTENDED FROM THE FRAME TO ABOUT HALF WAY ACROSS THE PASSENGER SIDE. IF THE THE CRACK WAS CAUSED BY AN IMPACT THE ROCK OR DEBRIS WAS INCREDIBLY SMALL AS THERE IS ONLY A SLIGHT DEPRESSION IN ONE PART OF THE CRACK.

NHTSA ODI #10903918

4,500 miles · Sep 4, 2016
Unknown Or Other

DRIVER SIDE WINDOW EXPLODED . I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A BANG LIKE A GUNSHOT AND MY WINDOW WENT TO,PIECES.

NHTSA ODI #10903514

4,000 miles · Sep 1, 2016
Unknown Or Other

I PARKED MY 2 MONTH OLD CX-5 IN THE GARAGE, CAME OUT THE NEXT MORNING AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED, BY THE TIME I GOT TO WORK THE CRACK HAD SPREAD, WITHIN 3 DAYS IT WAS HALF WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. I TOOK IT TO 2 DIFFERENT GLASS REPLACEMENT COMPANIES AND 1 BODY SHOP AND ALL 3 PLACES SAID THE CRACK WAS BODY FRAME RELATED, I.…

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I PARKED MY 2 MONTH OLD CX-5 IN THE GARAGE, CAME OUT THE NEXT MORNING AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED, BY THE TIME I GOT TO WORK THE CRACK HAD SPREAD, WITHIN 3 DAYS IT WAS HALF WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. I TOOK IT TO 2 DIFFERENT GLASS REPLACEMENT COMPANIES AND 1 BODY SHOP AND ALL 3 PLACES SAID THE CRACK WAS BODY FRAME RELATED, I.E. NOT MY FAULT. I TOOK IT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM AND THEY SAID IT WAS MY PROBLEM AND THAT IT WOULD BE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR IT WOULD COST $750 TO REPLACE. TO MAKE IT MORE OF AN INCONVIENCE THERE ARE ONLY 3 OR 4 PLACES YOU CAN GET HE FACTORY WINDSHIELDS FROM AND THEY ARE ON THE EAST COAST ON BACK ORDER (MIGHT HAVE A PROBLEM THERE) FOR A MONTH.

NHTSA ODI #10903087

6,000 miles · Aug 25, 2016
Visibility/wiper

MY 2016 CX-5 WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF MY WINDSHIELD STARTING AT THE BOTTOM UNDER THE SEAL AND GOING UP AND TO THE LEFT.THERE WAS NO CRACK WHEN I PARKED IT.I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND HAD THE WARRANTY MECHANIC AND A SALESMAN LOOK AT IT,THEY FOUND NOT SIGN OF IMPACT.THEY A…

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MY 2016 CX-5 WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF MY WINDSHIELD STARTING AT THE BOTTOM UNDER THE SEAL AND GOING UP AND TO THE LEFT.THERE WAS NO CRACK WHEN I PARKED IT.I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND HAD THE WARRANTY MECHANIC AND A SALESMAN LOOK AT IT,THEY FOUND NOT SIGN OF IMPACT.THEY ADVISED ME TO TAKE TO THE MAZDA DEALER FOR THE FACTORY WARRANTY.I TOOK IT TO THE MAZDA DEALER AND AFTER NUMEROUS GOUGES WITH A FINE POINT PEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CRACK THE SERVICE MANAGER SAYS NO LOOK THERE IS A ROCK CHIP SO IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY. I ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS AN AIR BUBBLE IN ANOTHER PART OF THE WINDSHIELD WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A FACTORY DEFECT AND HE SAID THAT IT DIDN'T MATTER BECAUSE THERE WAS A SIGN OF IMPACT NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THE CRACK THE FACTORY WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT

NHTSA ODI #10898508

6,873 miles · Aug 13, 2016
Visibility/wiper

SECOND TIME WINDSHIELD CRACKED (MORE THAN DOLLAR SIZE) AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT IN LESS THAN SIX MONTHS OF OWNING VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY/PARKED ON DRIVEWAY FIRST TIME AND WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET SECOND TIME. NONE WERE CAUSED BY CAR ACCIDENTS OR OBJECTS,SUCH AS ROCKS, HITTING THE WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ODI #10895565

1,820 miles · Aug 4, 2016
Engine

ON 8/4/2016 IN MIAMI FL AT 3:45 PM. I WAS WAITING AT A STOP MY FOOT ON THE BREAKS WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED SELF ACCELERATING. IT STOPPED ONCE I PUT MY CAR ON NEUTRAL

NHTSA ODI #10893321

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