2016 Mazda CX-5 Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 161 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the 2016 Mazda CX-5, 32% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 40,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “daytime running” (57% of reports).
- 161exterior lighting complaints
- 40,000median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,550typical repair cost reported by owners
- 21%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Daytime running: mentioned in 91 of 161 complaints (57%)
- Headlight assembly: mentioned in 22 of 161 complaints (14%)
- Side LED: mentioned in 17 of 161 complaints (11%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical exterior lighting repair on the 2016 Mazda CX-5 at $1,550, and half of them between $1,300 and $1,650.
Based on 56 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2017–2025), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 120 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
None of the 161 complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Mazda CX-5 exterior lighting complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Mazda issued a safety recall (Mazda safety recall 4320A, NHTSA campaign number 20V-063) to address daytime running light flickering/failure. At the time, only the passenger side daytime running light was replaced under the recall by Mazda, with a gasket/gas absorption sheet being installed on the…
Only one headlight was addressed by dealer in repair for 4320A | NHTSA #20V-063 and they're refusing to cover the other side. The other DRL led light is now out from seemingly the same cause. They stated they did not fully follow the procedure in the documents I found regarding this recall when…
The controls on the Windshield Wiper/Headlight Control Stalk are not visible when driving at night. The setting markings on the Control Stalk are completely dark at night. This creates a safety hazard when driving at night in the rain and turning on your windshield wipers or changing your headlight…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2016 Mazda CX-5s have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 161 owner complaints about exterior lighting for the 2016 Mazda CX-5 (32% of the 510 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Mazda CX-5 exterior lighting?
Yes: 1 safety recall list exterior lighting. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems start?
The median reported mileage is 40,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix exterior lighting problems on the 2016 Mazda CX-5?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,550 (half paid between $1,300 and $1,650), from 56 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the 2016 Mazda CX-5?
The most frequent phrase is “daytime running”, in 91 of 161 complaints, followed by “headlight assembly” (22).
Other 2016 Mazda CX-5 problems
See all 2016 Mazda CX-5 problems or exterior lighting problems across all CX-5 years.