repaired · 2021 Q2
Exterior lighting: headlights
Risk. If the DRL fails, the vehicle's visibility may be reduced to other drivers on the road, increasing the risk of a crash.
2016 Mazda CX-5Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 512 owner complaints about the 2016 Mazda CX-5, most often about the exterior lighting. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 20V-063 the manufacturer reports only 64% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 27, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: DestinationFearFan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 Mazda CX-5 has problems
512 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
161Exterior lighting
72Electrical system10 crash/fire/injury
66Service brakes7 crash/fire/injury
51Power train6 crash/fire/injury
43Visibility/wiper
39Engine8 crash/fire/injury
19Air bags
19Fuel/propulsion system
19Structure
8417 other systems20 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 161 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 72 | 10 |
| Service brakes | 66 | 7 |
| Power train | 51 | 6 |
| Visibility/wiper | 43 | 0 |
| Engine | 39 | 8 |
| Air bags | 19 | 9 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 19 | 5 |
| Structure | 19 | 2 |
| 17 other systems | 84 | 20 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2016 Mazda CX-5 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2018 Q3
Body: hatchback/liftgate
Risk. If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
repaired · 2017 Q3
Steering
Risk. If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2017 Q2
Tank assembly: filler pipe and cap
Risk. A rupture of the fuel filler pipe may result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mazda.
Mileage at failure
When do exterior lighting problems start?
40kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 120 exterior lighting complaints. 97% were reported before 100,000 miles.
25under 30k miles116under 100k miles4100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Exterior lighting
59 owners mentioned a cost$1,200median
Middle half: $1,000 – $1,383
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2016 vs. every other CX-5 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the CX-5 median. How we score
'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2016 Mazda CX-5 safety ratings
2016 Mazda CX-5 SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (16.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What CX-5 owners report
Recent exterior lighting complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Mazda issued a safety recall (Mazda safety recall 4320A, NHTSA campaign number 20V-063) to address daytime running light flickering/failure. At the time, only the passenger side daytime running light was replaced under the recall by Mazda, with a gasket/gas absorption sheet being installed on the…
Only one headlight was addressed by dealer in repair for 4320A | NHTSA #20V-063 and they're refusing to cover the other side. The other DRL led light is now out from seemingly the same cause. They stated they did not fully follow the procedure in the documents I found regarding this recall when…
The controls on the Windshield Wiper/Headlight Control Stalk are not visible when driving at night. The setting markings on the Control Stalk are completely dark at night. This creates a safety hazard when driving at night in the rain and turning on your windshield wipers or changing your headlight…
Own a 2016 CX-5?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.