Is the 2016 Mazda CX-5 a bad year?
511 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other CX-5 years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2016 Mazda CX-5 are in line with other CX-5 years. Exterior lighting and brakes stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2016 CX-5 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 40,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 161 (32%) | 31k–54k miles · around this mileage | — |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 69 (14%) | 14k–40k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Electrical system | 72 (14%) | 10k–48k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 39 (8%) | 15k–75k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Body structure | 19 (4%) | 6k–42k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 51 (10%) | 2k–24k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 48 (9%) | 3k–18k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 13 (3%) | 7k–38k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 20 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 19 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 17 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 10 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Parking brake | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 40,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 511 complaints: 31 mention a crash · 10 mention a fire · 13 report an injury · 28 say the car was towed.
24 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
When starting car and putting it into drive, then push the gas, the car hesitates to go into drive then jolts when it finally shifts into gear from park.
Put car into reverse and all was fine. When I tried to put it into drive it wouldn't engage in drive. After a while it engaged with a hard clunk.
The same story happened on my 2016 CX-5. I purchased my car on july 8th 2015. I only had 2000 miles on my vehicle when this happened.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 40,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2016 Mazda CX-5: 5
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.
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.
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.
The affected vehicles have a fuel filler pipe that may rupture in the event of a crash. A rupture of the fuel filler pipe may result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
The affected windshields have a bracket mounted on the inside to hold a laser sensor or LIDAR device for the Smart City Brake Support system. These brackets were improperly affixed with only tape instead of tape and urethane and therefore may loosen. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Mazda: 504
Repair instructions Mazda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2016 Mazda CX-5. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...)…
Some customer's might state that they notice fluid or oil leaking/dripping on the ground when the vehicle is parked
The new AWD rear differential DOES NOT come with a breather cap on the rear of the differential…
Some vehicles may exhibit oil leakage from the drive belt auto tensioner and rattling noises from the engine compartment
Neighbouring years
2015 CX-5: 133 complaints, keep it · 2017 CX-5: 150 complaints, keep it.
Every Mazda CX-5 year
2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All CX-5 years side by side
Other Mazda models: Mazda 626 · Mazda B-Series Truck · Mazda CX-30 · Mazda CX-50 · Mazda CX-7 · Mazda CX-9 · Mazda CX-90 · Mazda MPV · Mazda MX-5 · Mazda Mazda3 · Mazda Mazda5 · Mazda Mazda6 · Mazda Protege · Mazda RX-8 · Mazda Tribute. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2016 Mazda CX-5 a bad year?
511 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other CX-5 years. At 40,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Mazda CX-5?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: exterior lighting (161), brakes (69), electrical system (72), engine (39), body structure (19).
How many recalls does the 2016 Mazda CX-5 have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Exterior lighting (NHTSA 20V-063), Body structure (NHTSA 16V-644), Steering (NHTSA 16V-203), Fuel system (NHTSA 16V-064) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.