AI Damage2016 Mazda CX-5: common problems
Owners of the 2016 Mazda CX-5 filed 511 complaints with NHTSA, most often about exterior lighting and electrical system. The maker issued 488 service bulletins for this year. We found 3 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 511
- involving a crash
- 31
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 488
- YouTube repair videos
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Exterior lighting 32% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 14% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 5 Visibility 9% of all complaints
- 6 Engine 8% of all complaints
- 7 Structure 4% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 4% of all complaints
- Exterior lighting: 161 complaints (32% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 20.
- Electrical system: 71 complaints (14% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 121.
- Service brakes: 69 complaints (14% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 32.
- Powertrain: 51 complaints (10% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 39.
- Visibility: 47 complaints (9% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 19.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: FWD, 4WD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 511 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 161 | 0 | 20 |
| Electrical system | 71 | 4 | 121 |
| Service brakes | 69 | 6 | 32 |
| Powertrain | 51 | 5 | 39 |
| Visibility | 47 | 0 | 19 |
| Engine | 39 | 6 | 41 |
| Structure | 19 | 2 | 35 |
| Air bags | 19 | 9 | 10 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 19 | 3 | 1 |
| Seats | 17 | 2 | 14 |
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | 7 | 2 |
| Suspension | 11 | 1 | 27 |
| Steering | 7 | 0 | 26 |
| Parking brake | 7 | 0 | 5 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
There was also a Tesla parked inside the garage that was knocked back about a foot and a half. The distance from the edge of driveway and street to the garage door is about 27 feet. This happened at 1:30 PM. The weather conditions were great, sunny and dry. Thankfully, no one was hurt.
The air bags did not deploy upon impact and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to an independent body shop where the vehicle was repaired for minor damage. The contact was also informed that no computer codes indicated any signs of a mechanical failure.
The contact hit his head against the front driver's side window and he became unconscious. The contact stated upon regaining consciousness, he noticed that he was laying flat on his back as the seat had fractured. The contact also noticed that the seat belt had fractured into two.
Nhtsa had problem with toyota unintended acceleration in 2010. Please help with unintended acceleration on mazda. People reported this problem before me back to 2015. This is my second complaint .
It was unintended acceleration. I moved the car off the grass from building, this time stopped normally. I am afraid to drive this car because I am concerned it will do this again and I could hurt or kill myself or someone else.
The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 mph, the vehicle crashed into a parked vehicle however, the air bags failed to deploy. Additionally the shoulder harness also failed to prevent forward motion in the vehicle. The contact sustained a chest injury due her chest striking the steering wheel.
I did not have my foot on the accelerator, I had my foot on the brake...but more than anything, I had no control, it was unintended acceleration. Then the car stopped after I hit the bushes. I was shaken, but no bags deployed. I then moved the car off of the grass, and pulled the car around to the same parking space.
I was given back the car a little over two whole months after the accident and I was told the airbags will not deploy if god forbid something else happens (the airbag light is blinking all the time), the horn does not work, and nothing on the steering wheel controls work anymore.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 102 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 5% most complained about).
On average one model year of the CX-5 has 126 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 511, above average.
What to check before buying
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...),…
If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal MGSS diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been…
- Some vehicles may require the replacement of a damaged VIN plate or vehicle certification label
To obtain a replacement VIN plate (bulkhead-mounted and visible through the lower-left area of the windshield), contact DAG (Dealer Assistance Group) using VIN Plate Request Form available on One Mazda. To obtain a…
- Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems
Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not…
- If an engine assembly is replaced after a catastrophic internal mechanical failure, clean the intake…
If an engine assembly is replaced after a catastrophic internal mechanical failure, clean the intake manifold internally before installing a replacement engine assembly. If the intake manifold is not cleaned properly…
- Some customers may experience one or more electrical malfunctions after a vehicle body repair
A newly painted fender stay (2) may be causing a poor front harness (1) ground connection. The front fender stay (2) newly painted surface at ground point (3), where attachment bolt (4) is seated, may create a poor…
- Some customers may complain about a tapping or knocking noise coming from the rear seat after fuel fill
The concern will likely occur if the fuel tank is overfilled (more fuel is added after the fuel pump nozzle shuts off automatically) or filled up normally in high ambient temperatures and the fuel expands. No repair is…
- Some vehicles may exhibit rattling noises from the engine compartment and oil leakage from the drive belt…
Some vehicles may exhibit rattling noises from the engine compartment and oil leakage from the drive belt auto tensioner. This may be caused by insufficient sealing at the drive belt auto tensioner damper when the auto…
- There are currently 2 methods for cutting a new auxiliary key blank
A. Auxiliary Key Trace Cut Method • B. Auxiliary Key Code Cut Method 2019 and newer models require a 10-digit key code to accurately cut keys • 5-digit codes CANNOT be provided for 2019 and newer vehicles (the…
- Some customers may report an odor or water in the HVAC system and upon inspection, the cabin air filter…
Some customers may report an odor or water in the HVAC system and upon inspection, the cabin air filter may be found to be wet.
- A musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system is operating
It is most noticeable when the A/C is first turned ON. This odor is the result of mold growth in the A/C evaporator/cooling unit which is caused by condensation, dust, and pollen within the cooling unit. This condition…
- Some vehicles exhibit brake related concerns such as brake noise, brake judder or brake dragging
If you encounter a customer complaint for any one of these symptoms, refer to the following information to understand why symptoms may occur, and to better assist the customer in resolving their specific brake concern…
- Some customer's might state that they notice fluid or oil leaking/dripping on the ground when the vehicle…
Some customer's might state that they notice fluid or oil leaking/dripping on the ground when the vehicle is parked. For this concern, inspect the vehicle for any trace of a fluid or oil leak and use the following…
NHTSA lists 488 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Mazda CX-5?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: exterior lighting, electrical system, service brakes. Total complaints: 511. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: headlights and tail lights (18%), warning lights, check engine (10%), rollaway, parking brake (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Mazda CX-5?
NHTSA lists 488 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2016 Mazda CX-5 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2016 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.