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2016 Mazda CX-5

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
D
Safety Signal
61 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls1 critical4
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA510
Crash ratingNHTSA overall4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA29 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2016 Mazda CX-5 is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the CX-5 2WD, is EPA-rated at 29 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 510 complaints, most often about the exterior lighting. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
CX-5 2WDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl263429$2,150
CX-5 2WDGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl263329$2,150
CX-5 4WDGas4WD2.5L 4-cyl242926$2,400

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 35988, 35989, 35993.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Mazda CX-5 is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Exterior Lighting

4320A
36,761 vehicles
ProblemMazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016 CX-5 vehicles. The LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) may fail while driving.RiskIf the DRL fails, the vehicle's visibility may be reduced to other drivers on the road, increasing the risk of a crash.FixMazda 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 campaign 20V063000reported Feb 6, 2020Mazda North American Operations
▲high

Structure

9916H
580,455 vehicles
ProblemMazda 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.RiskIf the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.FixMazda 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 campaign 16V644000reported Sep 6, 2016Mazda North American Operations
▲high

Steering

9316D
578 vehicles
ProblemMazda 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.RiskIf the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.FixMazda 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 campaign 16V203000reported Apr 11, 2016Mazda North American Operations
!critical

Fuel System, Gasoline

9216B
268,799 vehicles
ProblemMazda 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."RiskA rupture of the fuel filler pipe may result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.FixMazda 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.
NHTSA campaign 16V064000reported Feb 3, 2016Mazda North American Operations

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
510complaints filed

31 involved a crash · 10 a fire · 13 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2015: 26 · 2016: 50 · 2017: 50 · 2018: 61 · 2019: 119 · 2020: 51 · 2021: 39 · 2022: 22 · 2023: 23 · 2024: 27 · 2025: 22 · 2026: 20

Most-cited components

Exterior Lighting161
Electrical System71
Service Brakes66
Unspecified57
Power Train51
Visibility/Wiper42

What owners describe

“This is a follow up to NHTSA complaint ID Number 11442992: After doing a fair amount of research the problem was deemed to be the Front Body Control Module. A new replacement was ordered (about $250). It took about 1-1/2 to 2 weeks for the module to be received and about an hour for its installation. So far the wipers …”Jan 18, 2022 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“* The Emergency Brake Module failed and it is available for inspection upon request. * The system failed and randomly turned on the parking break while I was actively driving and paused to make a left of a highway exit ramp. The parking break remained on for ~40 mins while I caused a significant disturbance to the traf…”Jan 11, 2022 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report
“2016 Mazda CX-5 windshield wipers - Correctly operating windshield wipers have four modes: single wipe, intermittent wipe, slow continuous wipe, high speed continuous wipe. One morning (September, 2021) used the single wipe mode to clear overnight accumulated moisture (car parked outside) but wiper made five passes ins…”Dec 7, 2021 · Visibility/Wiper · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%
SUV FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other CX-5 model years

A

2026 Mazda CX-5

0 recalls · 14 complaints

A

2025 Mazda CX-5

0 recalls · 27 complaints

A

2024 Mazda CX-5

0 recalls · 43 complaints

A

2023 Mazda CX-5

0 recalls · 62 complaints

A

2022 Mazda CX-5

0 recalls · 63 complaints

A

2021 Mazda CX-5

0 recalls · 143 complaints

A

2020 Mazda CX-5

0 recalls · 106 complaints

B

2019 Mazda CX-5

2 recalls · 269 complaints

C

2018 Mazda CX-5

3 recalls · 348 complaints

A

2017 Mazda CX-5

1 recalls · 148 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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