Your vehicle report
2016 Mazda CX-5
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 512
- Received Jun 2015 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Headlights dim or fail at night125 complaints · 24% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Glass shatters or cracks without impact50 complaints · 9.8% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Unintended acceleration despite braking22 complaints · 4.3% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #20V063000Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016 CX-5 vehicles. The LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) may fail while driving.
- Recall #16V644000Mazda 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Heated seat overheats and burns occupantsFirst signal: Dec 2025
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 31 crashes, 10 fires, 13 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
- Headlights dim or fail at night
- Infotainment screen ghost-touches and changes on its own
- Ignition key sticks or will not turn
1 more problem
Airbags, belts & seats
- Seat belt fails to latch or retract
- Airbags fail to deploy in crashes
- Heated seat overheats and burns occupants
1 more problem
Steering, suspension & tires
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 26 |
| 2016 | 50 |
| 2017 | 50 |
| 2018 | 61 |
| 2019 | 119 |
| 2020 | 51 |
| 2021 | 39 |
| 2022 | 22 |
| 2023 | 23 |
| 2024 | 27 |
| 2025 | 22 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 22 |
| Total | 512 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 125 | 24% | – | NHTSA recall #20V063000 |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 50 | 9.8% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 22 | 4.3% | 4.1× | |
| Parking brake fails to hold or release | 18 | 3.5% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 17 | 3.3% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 16 | 3.1% | – | |
| Infotainment screen ghost-touches and changes on its own | 13 | 2.5% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 10 | 1.9% | – | |
| Transmission will not engage reverse gear | 10 | 1.9% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 9 | 1.8% | – | |
| Heated seat overheats and burns occupants | 9 | 1.8% | 140.3× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Dec 2025 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.6% |
| Windshield wipers work intermittently or fail | 8 | 1.6% | – | |
| Ignition key sticks or will not turn | 8 | 1.6% | – | |
| Fuel pump fails and engine stalls | 8 | 1.6% | – | |
| Vehicle rolls backward out of park | 8 | 1.6% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 6 | 1.2% | – | |
| Airbag warning light stays on | 5 | 1.0% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 5 | 1.0% | – | |
| Rearview backup camera fails or goes black | 4 | 0.8% | – | |
| Serpentine belt breaks or slips off | 4 | 0.8% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #20V063000February 6, 202036,761 vehicles affected
exterior lighting: headlights
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016 CX-5 vehicles. The LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) may fail while driving.
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.
NHTSA recall #16V644000September 6, 2016580,455 vehicles affected
structure: body: hatchback/liftgate
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #16V203000April 11, 2016578 vehicles affected
steering
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #16V064000February 3, 2016268,799 vehicles affected
fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap
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."
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2016 Mazda CX-5.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN