2016 Mazda CX-5 reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2016 Mazda CX-5 — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 622
- 178 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- 156 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 4
- see below
- Reported harm
- 52 reported crashes · 27 injuries · 16 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#796
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Mazda median
+426
median 196 across 81 Mazda records
Vs 2014-2018
+325
median 298 complaints in 596 records
Top component share
25%
Exterior Lighting: 156 complaints
What owners report fails — 2016 Mazda CX-5
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING 156
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 69
- SERVICE BRAKES 65
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 56
- POWER TRAIN 50
4 recalls on record for the 2016 Mazda CX-5
- NHTSA 20V063000 · 2020 · 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.
- NHTSA 16V644000 · 2017 · STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
- NHTSA 16V064000 · 2016 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEM A rupture of the fuel filler pipe may result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
- NHTSA 16V203000 · 2016 · STEERING If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2016 Mazda CX-5
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2016 Mazda CX-5 units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Mazda CX-5 reliable?
NHTSA has 622 consumer complaints on record for the 2016 Mazda CX-5 and 4 recalls. The most-reported problem area is exterior lighting (156 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2016 Mazda CX-5 units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Mazda CX-5?
Owners most often report problems with: exterior lighting (156), electrical system (69), service brakes (65), unknown or other (56). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2016 Mazda CX-5?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.