The Lemon Index2016 Mazda CX-5.
The 2016 Mazda CX-5 is one of the worst years by owner complaints: 306 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 273, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about lights, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 26 to 29 mpg combined. The best Mazda CX-5 year is 2022.
Lemon alert. 2.7× the average car's complaints.
Best year 2022
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 510 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Mazda CX-5 year. 2016 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 10K to 46K miles on the car (335 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- lights complaints mostly came at 31K–55K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 9K–50K miles
- brakes complaints mostly came at 13K–40K miles
Recalls 5
- lights 2020
The LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) may fail while driving.
- body structure 2016
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.
- steering 2016
The lower mounting nuts and bolts that attach the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle may loosen, allowing the steering knuckle to separate.
Show all 5 recalls
- fuel system, gasoline 2016
The affected vehicles have a fuel filler pipe that may rupture in the event of a crash.
- visibility 2016
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.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Mazda told dealers about
Mazda sent dealers 705 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Check engine light and automatic transaxle warning light on with one or more
- When performing service on the electric parking brake (epb) system, be aware that some epb…
- Rear brake dragging, resulting in brake noise and abnormal outer brake pad wear
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda CX-5 SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Mazda CX-5 SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2200–2450 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Car became stuck in a single gear and would not rev higher than 2000 rpm and would not shift gears. Would not engage for a few seconds, then would lurch forward.
2016 Mazda CX-5 owner · NHTSA complaint 10859837
More owner reports
Led day time running lights failed on driver's side of vehicle. Known issue with the CX-5 causing a safety concern since this is not a serviceable part of the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint 11111308
Running light on the driver side headlight is extremely dim and sometimes does not even come on.
NHTSA complaint 11163693
Quick answers
Is the 2016 Mazda CX-5 reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew 2.7× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 273; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Mazda CX-5 year by this measure is 2022.
What are the most common 2016 Mazda CX-5 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are lights (36%), transmission & drivetrain (13%) and brakes (12%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 Mazda CX-5 have?
5 safety recalls (latest: lights). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Mazda CX-5 get?
26 to 29 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2016 Mazda CX-5 safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2016 Mazda CX-5 problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 10,000 and 46,600 miles. The middle report was at 30,900 miles, from 335 complaints.
Does the 2016 Mazda CX-5 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 13% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2016 Mazda CX-5 cost in fuel a year?
About $2200 to $2450 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2016 Mazda CX-5 have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
What Mazda CX-5 year is better than the 2016?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2022, 2020 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works