My windshield wipers stopped working completely. I am unable to see out my front window properly while its raining. Yes the dealership said that my front body control module needs to be replaced which is the same issue that other Mazdas from the same era have had safety recalls for (the federal safety agency campaign 19v272000). No it hasn't been inspected by anyone other than a Mazda dealership. The front wipers slowly stopped working. First the highest setting didn't work at all, then the wipers would work sporadically, and now they don't work at all.
The worst 2016 Mazda CX-5 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Lights161
- Brakes72
- Electrical72
- Transmission51
- Visibility48
- Engine39
- Fuel system20
- Airbags19
- Body19
- Seats17
- Acceleration13
- Suspension11
- Steering7
- Driver assistance6
- Seat belts6
- Wheels3
- Tires2
- Locks1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2016 Mazda CX-5
Headlights 93Jerking 23Windshield crack 20Check engine light 19Overheating 13Sudden acceleration 13Wipers 13Fire or smoke 12Transmission failure 12Sunroof shattered 11Grinding brakes 10Stalling 10Engine failure 9Fuel pump 9Airbag light 8Won't shift 8Warning lights 7Ball joint 6Screen failure 6Backup camera 5Hesitation 5
Trouble codes owners of the 2016 Mazda CX-5 mention
P0192 3P011A 2P0171 2
Recalls 4
Exterior lighting: headlights
- What is wrong
- Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016 CX-5 vehicles. The LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) may fail while driving.
- Risk
- 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 may contact Mazda customer service at 1‑800‑222‑5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 4320A.
Recall number 20V063000 · Recall details
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate
- What is wrong
- 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 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.
- Risk
- 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 1‑800‑222‑5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9916H.
Recall number 16V644000 · Recall details
Steering
- What is wrong
- 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 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.
- Risk
- 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 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.
Recall number 16V203000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap
- What is wrong
- 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
- Risk
- 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 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.
Recall number 16V064000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2016 Mazda CX-5 706
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- CSP13 - customer service program - mazda connect infotainment system limited warranty extension
- CSP13 - customer service program - mazda connect infotainment system limited warranty extension.
- This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below
- Description
- This SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below
- This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below
- Description
- This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are noted in Red....
- This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued M-Tip(s) listed below
- This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued M-Tip(s) listed below
2016 Mazda CX-5 fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | FWD | 26 | 34 | 29 |
| 2.5L 4‑cyl | FWD | 26 | 33 | 29 |
| 2.5L 4‑cyl | 4WD | 24 | 29 | 26 |
What 2016 Mazda CX-5 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I own a 2016 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring and discovered two brown, burn-like marks on the lower seatback of a heated front seat. I suspect the seat heater overheated and damaged the upholstery. The discoloration is concentrated in the lower back/lumbar area, and I have photographs documenting it. I am concerned that continued use could cause further overheating, burns to an occupant, or a fire. I am reporting this as a seat-heater safety defect and requesting investigation.
Rear subframe corrosion on this vehicle. I am in a winter road salt region, the materials used for this vehicle's subframe are not compatible with consistent driving in this region. Similar vehicles (not mine?) were subject to a recall for the front subframe, but nothing for the rear. This rear subframe issues caused multiple failures of virtually every component of the rear suspension - control arms, rear springs, etc. The repair cost for JUST the subframe was $3813. Not repairing it was not an option - the vehicle had failed mandatory State of Maine inspection (a safety thing, if I'm not mistaken). This should be a Mazda problem, not a me problem. I contacted Mazda USA about this issue and got no response.
Rear subframe corrosion on this vehicle. I am in a winter road salt region, the materials used for this vehicle's subframe are not compatible with consistent driving in this region. Similar vehicles (not mine?) were subject to a recall for the front subframe, but nothing for the rear. This rear subframe issues caused multiple failures of virtually every component of the rear suspension - control arms, rear springs, etc. The repair cost for JUST the subframe was $3813. Not repairing it was not an option - the vehicle had failed mandatory State of Maine inspection (a safety thing, if I'm not mistaken). This should be a Mazda problem, not a me problem. I contacted Mazda USA about this issue and got no response.
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the electric parking brake module warning light was illuminated and the "Brake failure. Vehicle unsafe to drive," message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. The failure occurred on several different occasions. The contact expressed concern that the brakes could engage while the vehicle was in motion. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
Repeated Failure and Rebooting of Mazda Connect Infotainment System I am the owner of a 2016 Mazda CX-5. The factory Mazda Connect infotainment system has developed a recurring defect in which the system repeatedly reboots to the Mazda logo while driving. Prior to complete failure, the navigation system became intermittent and Bluetooth connectivity frequently disconnected, requiring repeated attempts to reconnect devices. The system now continuously cycles through the startup screen, making navigation, hands-free phone functions, and system settings inaccessible. These repeated reboots occur while the vehicle is in motion and are distracting to the driver. The flashing and rebooting screen repeatedly draws the driver's attention away from the road and interferes with the use of navigation and hands-free communication features that are intended to promote safe driving. After researching this issue, I found numerous reports from other Mazda owners experiencing the same symptoms involving the Mazda Connect system, navigation SD card, and Connectivity Master Unit (CMU). The frequency and similarity of these reports suggest that this is a widespread and well-known defect rather than an isolated incident. Because this defect affects driver attention and the safe operation of the vehicle's communication and navigation functions, I respectfully request that Mazda and the federal safety agency investigate this matter and require Mazda to issue a recall or establish a repair program for affected vehicles. Vehicle: 2016 Mazda CX-5 Mileage: 70k
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH with the cruise control activated, the cruise control cancellation switch failed to operate as intended after several attempts or while depressing the brake pedal. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact was able to deactivate the cruise control using the main cruise control power switch. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.
In 2024 I started having problems with my battery replaced it 3 times last time with a Mazda battery per Mazda advice. The car started to jerk while driving took it back to Mazda said it could be fuel injectors. They cleaned them and problem persists. Took it back they cleaned purve valve and then I broke down while leaving on [XXX] . Called service dept called police since it was in the middle of the blvd. And in traffic. We were lucky no one hit us. They took my car gave me a loaner had it for 10 days. Couldn’t find any problems. Then in 4/2025 it completely died at my home I called Mazda they were able to jump the battery and had it for a month. Couldn’t find any problem. And now we are in 5/2026 my car was in my drive without out being driven for 3 days and now is dead once again. But it is so dead that I cannot open with fob and dash board is black. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that the engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic diagnosed with a sensor failure and needing to replace a catalytic converter. The oxygen sensors were repalced.r was replaced by an independent mechanic. The vehicle stalled while reversing. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 131,860.
(I am the owner of the car and am filling this out for my daughter who was driving it at the time, I was not with her during the incident) While driving down the road in the rain the wipers just stopped working. I have not had any dealers ID the specific problem yet. We replaced the wiper 20amp fuse and it did not fix the problem. There were no warning lamps and there are still no warning lamps. My safety was put into danger when I could not see out the window. I was nearly at work so I waited for the rain to slow down some was able to make it to work. The rain cleared while I was at work and it has not rained since. It is available for inspection upon request.
Compare the 2016 Mazda CX-5
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Other model years
201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
Questions about the 2016 Mazda CX-5
Is the 2016 Mazda CX-5 reliable?
Owners have filed 512 complaints about the 2016 Mazda CX-5, 3.4 times a typical CX-5 model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the 2016 Mazda CX-5 year score?
The 2016 Mazda CX-5 scores 27 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the Mazda CX-5: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Mazda CX-5?
Lights, with 161 complaints, typically around 40,000 miles. Next is brakes (72).
How many recalls does the 2016 Mazda CX-5 have?
4 recalls, covering exterior lighting, structure and steering.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Mazda CX-5 lights?
Yes, 1 recall: 20V063000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Mazda CX-5 have the most lights problems?
The Mazda CX-5 model years with the most lights complaints are 2016 (161 complaints), 2022 (23 complaints) and 2023 (11 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2016 Mazda CX-5 get?
Official estimates for the 2016 Mazda CX-5 range from 26 to 29 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 26 city and 34 highway.
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