2016 Mazda CX-5 Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 5 NHTSA recalls and 510 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

20/100

Very High Reported Activity — 2016 Mazda CX-5

The 2016 Mazda CX-5 shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.

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NHTSA Recalls

5 recalls on record

510

Owner Complaints

Filed with NHTSA

Crash Reports

10 fire reports

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NHTSA Recalls — 2016 Mazda CX-5 (5)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Mazda dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Structure: Body: Hatchback/Liftgate

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…

NHTSA #16V644000

🔧 Steering

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…

NHTSA #16V203000

🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Storage: Tank Assembly: Filler Pipe And Cap

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…

NHTSA #16V064000

🔧 Visibility: Windshield

If the bracket loosens or detaches from the windshield, the safety features of the Smart City Brake Support system may be disabled and therefore increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Pilkington will contact the wholesalers and retailers that purchased the windshields to try to identify the affected customers. The affected windshields will be replaced, free of charge. This recall began…

NHTSA #16E002000

🔧 Exterior Lighting: Headlights

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…

NHTSA #20V063000

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Most Common Problems — 2016 Mazda CX-5

Based on 510 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Exterior Lighting

154

Electrical System

Service Brakes

Power Train

Unknown Or Other

Visibility/wiper

Engine

Structure

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Mazda CX-5 — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2016 model year is highlighted.

→ Recently checked Mazda CX-5 VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2014, 2016 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2020 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2016 Mazda CX-5

Is the 2016 Mazda CX-5 reliable?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 Mazda CX-5 has 5 recall campaigns and 510 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How many recalls does the 2016 Mazda CX-5 have?

The 2016 Mazda CX-5 has 5 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Mazda CX-5?

The most commonly reported problems for the 2016 Mazda CX-5 are: Exterior Lighting, Electrical System, Service Brakes, Power Train. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.

Is the 2016 Mazda CX-5 safe to buy?

The 2016 Mazda CX-5 has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 5 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.

What year Mazda CX-5 should I buy?

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Mazda CX-5 are: 2020. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2014, 2016.

How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.

Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.