Mazda CX-5

Where it stands out against its peers

• Exterior lighting: more complaints than 97% of 2016 cars — 32% of its 510 complaints, where an ordinary 2016 car has 4%.
• Visibility/wiper: more complaints than 92% of 2016 cars — 8% of its 510 complaints, where an ordinary 2016 car has 3%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• EXTERIOR LIGHTING — 152 owners reported this
• SERVICE BRAKES — 47 owners reported this, 3 involving a crash
• VISIBILITY/WIPER — 35 owners reported this
• POWER TRAIN — 34 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 32 owners reported this, 2 involving a crash
• ENGINE — 18 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash, 1 involving a fire
• STRUCTURE — 13 owners reported this
• FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 9 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash, 2 involving a fire
• SEATS — 8 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash, 1 involving a fire

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

54% of 2019 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 16E002000

  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.

  Pilkington will contact the wholesalers and retailers that purchased the windshields to try to identify the affected customers. The affected windshields will be replaced, free of charge. This recall began on February 15, 2016. Owners may contact Pilkington at 1-844-278-7230.

• 16V064000

  A rupture of the fuel filler pipe may result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

  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.

• 16V203000

  If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

  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.

• 16V644000

  If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.

  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.

• 17V744000

  Contact with the muffler may damage the trailer wiring harness, potentially resulting in the trailer lighting being inoperative, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

  Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the trailer hitch harness away from the muffler, replacing the harness if it is damaged, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1617K.

• 18V426000

  If the air bags do not deploy properly in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

  Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2718F.

• 19V497000

  An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.

  Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3719F.

• 20V063000

  If the DRL fails, the vehicle's visibility may be reduced to other drivers on the road, increasing the risk of a crash.

  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.

1 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Mazda filed 63 bulletins about the 2026 CX-5.

• Electrical system: 41
• Engine: 2
• Power train: 2
• Service brakes: 2
• Structure: 2
• Fuel/propulsion system: 1
• Seats: 1
• Wheels: 1
• Other: 11

• Subject: Announcement of Special Service Program (SSPE2) Ethernet Communication – Over The Air (OTA) Update Concerns and Manufacturer Service Program (MSP67 ) – Battery Depletion - 2026MY CX-5… · August 2026
• Subject: Announcement of Special Service Program (SSPE2) Ethernet Communication – Over The Air (OTA) Update Concerns and Manufacturer Service Program (MSP67 ) – Battery Depletion - 2026MY CX-5… · August 2026
• Subject: Announcement of Special Service Program (SSPE2) Ethernet Communication – Over The Air (OTA) Update Concerns and Manufacturer Service Program (MSP67 ) – Battery Depletion - 2026MY CX-5… · August 2026
• Subject: Announcement of Special Service Program (SSPE2) Ethernet Communication – Over The Air (OTA) Update Concerns and Manufacturer Service Program (MSP67 ) – Battery Depletion - 2026MY CX-5… · August 2026
• Subject: Announcement of Special Service Program (SSPE2) Ethernet Communication – Over The Air (OTA) Update Concerns and Manufacturer Service Program (MSP67 ) – Battery Depletion - 2026MY CX-5… · August 2026
• DESCRIPTION If a BCM failure occurs due to laptop rebooting/crashing during a BCM software update with MDARS II, keep the vehicle ignition ON and refer to the Recovery Procedure below. NOTE: When the… · August 2026
• This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. SA-018/26 05/20/26 and 03/17/26 DESCRIPTION Some customers may experience Apple CarPlay/Android… · August 2026
• DESCRIPTION UPDATED SOFTWARE RELEASE FOR COCKPIT DOMAIN CONTROLLER (CDC) AND DATA COMMUNICATION MODULE (DCM). This TSB has been superceded by SSPE2 AND MSP67. · August 2026

55 more.

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.