Most common 2016 Mazda CX-5 problems
Share of the 510 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mazda CX-5 complaints by model year
Best CX-5 years: 2015, 2020, 2017. Years to avoid: 2016, 2014, 2018. Compare all years →
2016 Mazda CX-5 recalls (4)
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.
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.
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…
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.
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…
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.
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.
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.
What 2016 Mazda CX-5 owners say
Lights all 161 →
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that when the headlights were turned on, the passenger's side headlight failed to operate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with front passenger's headlight failure. The contact was informed that the passenger's side front headlight needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V063000 (Exterior Lighting) in 2020; however, only the front driver's side headlight was replaced at that time. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V063000 (Exterior Lighting) had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, the contact noticed through a store's glass window that the daytime running lights were not functioning. The contact checked the lights and noticed that the lights would not display or activate properly. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not associated with an unknown recall due to the date the vehicle was manufactured. The failure mileage was 47,000.
Brakes all 72 →
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, squeaking noises were heard. The brake warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed that both the rear brake pads were worn down to 20% and needed replacement. The mechanic informed the contact there was TSB 04-004/19 and 04-005/20 related to the failure and referred the contact to a dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that both the rear brake pads needed to be replaced from normal wear and tear; however, the vehicle was not under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to schedule an appointment with a dealer for diagnosis. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle, and the message "Smart Brake Malfunction" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with catastrophic brake caliper failure. The contact was unsure if the vehicle needed to be repaired. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the passenger's side inner CV joint had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle could not be driven due to the severe failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,385.
Electrical system all 71 →
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda CX5. The contact stated that on two separate occasions, the vehicle unintentionally accelerated without warning in an attempt to park the vehicle. On the first occasion, the vehicle drove in between two trees with the contact's foot on the brake pedal before the vehicle came to a stop. 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. On the second occasion, the vehicle crashed into a parked vehicle while again attempting to park the vehicle in a parking lot. The force of the collision caused the already hit vehicle to crash into yet another parked vehicle. The air bags did not deploy upon impact and no injuries were reported. …
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine. The contact pulled over to the side of the road before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who determined that the engine had failed due to a lack of maintenance. The contact stated that the vehicle was equipped with an automatic reminder regarding the oil change. The contact stated that the oil change reminder failed to illuminate to indicate that the oil level was extremely low. The check engine warning light also failed to illuminate. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. …
2016 Mazda CX-5 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 26 / 34 / 29 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 26 / 33 / 29 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 24 / 29 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Mazda CX-5 a good car?
Based on 510 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 CX-5 rates avoid: 2.9× as many complaints as a typical year of the CX-5 at the same age. It is one of the CX-5 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Mazda CX-5?
The lights — 161 complaints, 32% of all complaints for this model year, most often about headlights. Next are the brakes (72) and electrical system (71).
How many recalls does the 2016 Mazda CX-5 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2016 Mazda CX-5, the most recent from February 6, 2020 (headlights). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mazda CX-5?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2015, 2020 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2016, 2014 and 2018. See the full Mazda CX-5 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 Mazda CX-5 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 31,000 miles; 78% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.