2016 Mazda CX-5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other CX-5 years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 15 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 510 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Mazda CX-5. That is the most of any CX-5 model year in the database (15 years). The most reported problem area is exterior lighting (161 complaints, 32%), typically at around 40,000 miles. Complaints mention 31 crashes, 10 fires, 13 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.
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- 510owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 31complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2016 Mazda CX-5 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting problems | 161 | 32% | 40,000 | “daytime running” (57%) | $1,550 |
| Electrical System problems | 71 | 14% | 34,900 | “daytime running” (8%) | — |
| Service Brakes problems | 66 | 13% | 28,350 | “parking brake” (33%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 57 | 11% | 13,000 | — | — |
| Power Train problems | 51 | 10% | 5,411 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 42 | 8% | 6,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 39 | 8% | 28,175 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 19 | 4% | 44,065 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 19 | 4% | 30,020 | — | — |
| Structure | 19 | 4% | 10,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 16 | 3% | 42,700 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 | 3% | 18,168 | — | — |
| Suspension | 11 | 2% | 44,593 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 7 | 1% | 39,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 7 | 1% | 34,980 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 1% | 36,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 5 | 1% | 14,870 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 1% | 22,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 1% | 30,850 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 0% | 2,324 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 0% | 50,500 | — | — |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 0% | 131,860 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 | 0% | 66,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2016 Mazda CX-5 recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:headlights
Problem: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016 CX-5 vehicles. The LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) may fail while driving.
Risk: If the DRL fails, the vehicle's visibility may be reduced to other drivers on the road, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Steering
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:filler pipe and cap
Problem: 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."
Risk: A rupture of the fuel filler pipe may result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Rear subframe corrosion on this vehicle. I am in a winter road salt region, the materials used for this vehicle's subframe are not compatible with consistent driving in this region. Similar vehicles (not mine?) were subject to a recall for the front subframe, but nothing for the rear. This rear…
Rear subframe corrosion on this vehicle. I am in a winter road salt region, the materials used for this vehicle's subframe are not compatible with consistent driving in this region. Similar vehicles (not mine?) were subject to a recall for the front subframe, but nothing for the rear. This rear…
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the electric parking brake module warning light was illuminated and the "Brake failure. Vehicle unsafe to drive," message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken back to the residence…
Repeated Failure and Rebooting of Mazda Connect Infotainment System I am the owner of a 2016 Mazda CX-5. The factory Mazda Connect infotainment system has developed a recurring defect in which the system repeatedly reboots to the Mazda logo while driving. Prior to complete failure, the navigation…
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH with the cruise control activated, the cruise control cancellation switch failed to operate as intended after several attempts or while depressing the brake pedal. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, the…
Other Mazda CX-5 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 CX-5 | 16 | 0 |
| 2025 CX-5 | 28 | 0 |
| 2024 CX-5 | 45 | 0 |
| 2023 CX-5 | 64 | 0 |
| 2022 CX-5 | 65 | 0 |
| 2021 CX-5 | 148 | 0 |
| 2020 CX-5 | 107 | 0 |
| 2019 CX-5 | 270 | 2 |
| 2018 CX-5 | 351 | 3 |
| 2017 CX-5 | 150 | 1 |
| 2016 | 510 | 4 |
| 2015 CX-5 | 133 | 3 |
| 2014 CX-5 | 377 | 3 |
| 2013 CX-5 | 194 | 1 |
| 2012 CX-5 | 1 | 0 |
See all Mazda CX-5 problems by year, every Mazda model, or the Mazda VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Mazda CX-5?
Owners most often report exterior lighting, electrical system, service brakes problems. The top one, exterior lighting, accounts for 161 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Mazda CX-5?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2016 Mazda CX-5 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other CX-5 model years, the 2016 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.