NHTSA holds 2,212 owner complaints for the Mazda CX-5 across the 2013 to 2026 model years, and two years carry far more than the rest: the 2016 with 510 and the 2014 with 377, both at least twice the 148 median. The 2016's complaints are led by exterior lighting and the 2014's by the electrical system. For the 2018, 2019 and 2021, the engine is the top complaint category, and many of those complaints mention oil consumption or oil leaks. Nine recall campaigns cover the model, including 21V875000 for a fuel pump that may fail on 2018 and 2019 cars. NHTSA has opened no defect investigations.
Mazda CX-5 Common Problems and Years to Avoid (NHTSA Data)
By the founder of CarWorthItPublished
Short answer
Mazda CX-5 years to avoid, going by NHTSA owner complaints: 2016 (510 complaints) and 2014 (377), each at least twice the median model year (148). The components owners report most are engine (508), electrical system (431) and power train (258). NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2013 to 2026 model years.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls and defect investigations for the 2013 to 2026 Mazda CX-5, 2,212 complaints in all, pulled September 28, 2026.
Mazda CX-5 complaints and recalls by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation and distinct recall campaigns, for every model year with records, counted on September 28, 2026. The median model year up to 2021 drew 148 complaints; a year is marked to avoid when it is one of the three highest and drew at least twice that. Years after 2021 have had less time to collect complaints, so they are judged only if they already pass the same line.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Recalls | Crash / fire / injury reports | Most-reported components |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Too new to judge | 14 | 0 | 0 / 0 / 0 | Electrical system (5), Visibility/wiper (3), Exterior lighting (1) |
| 2025 | Too new to judge | 27 | 0 | 4 / 0 / 4 | Service brakes (10), Engine (6), Forward collision avoidance (6) |
| 2024 | Too new to judge | 44 | 0 | 4 / 1 / 2 | Service brakes (8), Engine (7), Forward collision avoidance (6) |
| 2023 | Too new to judge | 62 | 0 | 8 / 0 / 4 | Service brakes (11), Engine (10), Electrical system (9) |
| 2022 | Too new to judge | 63 | 0 | 5 / 2 / 1 | Exterior lighting (23), Engine (13), Electrical system (6) |
| 2021 | Typical | 146 | 0 | 9 / 0 / 5 | Engine (79), Power train (17), Electrical system (12) |
| 2020 | Typical | 106 | 0 | 9 / 0 / 6 | Electrical system (30), Engine (17), Service brakes (14) |
| 2019 | Above median | 270 | 2 | 7 / 2 / 4 | Engine (131), Electrical system (46), Power train (32) |
| 2018 | Typical | 118 | 3 | 1 / 0 / 1 | Engine (96), Power train (17), Engine and engine cooling (3) |
| 2017 | Typical | 148 | 1 | 5 / 0 / 3 | Electrical system (44), Engine (15), Service brakes (14) |
| 2016 | Year to avoid | 510 | 5 | 31 / 10 / 13 | Exterior lighting (161), Electrical system (71), Service brakes (69) |
| 2015 | Typical | 133 | 4 | 11 / 0 / 5 | Structure (27), Power train (19), Service brakes (14) |
| 2014 | Year to avoid | 377 | 4 | 7 / 0 / 4 | Electrical system (132), Visibility/wiper (61), Power train (50) |
| 2013 | Above median | 194 | 1 | 6 / 1 / 3 | Electrical system (58), Engine (42), Power train (38) |
Counts are raw totals and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so a big-selling year draws more complaints than a slow one. Crash, fire and injury columns count complaints that report one, as filed by the owner.
Check the value and recall status of a specific Mazda CX-5
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2016: headlights and daytime running lights
The 2016 CX-5 has 510 complaints, the most of any year, and the largest group, 161, is filed under exterior lighting. Of the 143 complaints across the model that mention headlights, 93 are for the 2016, and recall 20V063000 covers that year because the LED Daytime Running Lights may fail while driving. The 2016 also has 90 of the 348 complaints that mention brakes and the most crash (31), fire (10) and injury (13) reports of any year. These are raw counts, not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
2013 and 2014: electrical faults and the infotainment screen
Of the 2014's 377 complaints, 132 are filed under the electrical system. Complaints that mention electrical faults or battery drain total 118 for the whole model, with 43 for the 2014 and 30 for the 2013, and the 2014 also leads the complaints describing the infotainment screen, radio or backup camera, with 51 of 253. The 2013 sits above the median too, with 194 complaints.
2018 to 2021: engine complaints, oil and burning smells
The engine is the top complaint category for the 2018 (96 of 118 complaints), 2019 (131 of 270) and 2021 (79 of 146). Complaints that mention oil consumption or oil leaks number 173, led by the 2019 (63), 2018 (49) and 2021 (48). The 2019 and 2018 also lead the 163 complaints describing fire, smoke or a burning smell, with 67 and 59, yet only 2 complaints for the 2019 and none for the 2018 report an actual fire. The 2018 and 2019 share two recalls: 21V875000, because the impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, and 19V497000, because a software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.
Four recalls on the 2014 to 2016 models
Campaign 16V203000 covers the lower nuts and bolts attaching the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle, which may loosen and allow the knuckle to separate. 16V064000 covers a fuel filler pipe that may rupture in a crash. 16V644000, which also includes the 2013, covers liftgate support struts that may corrode and let the liftgate drop unexpectedly. 16E002000 covers certain Pilkington replacement windshields for cars with the Smart City Brake Support system.
What to check on a used Mazda CX-5
- Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup, which lists any recall not yet repaired on that car (see what else a free VIN check shows), and confirm the work is done: 16V203000, 16V064000 and 16V644000 on a 2014 to 2016, and 21V875000 and 19V497000 on a 2018 or 2019.
- On a 2016, check the LED daytime running lights and headlights on both sides before the test drive, and ask whether 20V063000 was completed.
- On a 2018, 2019 or 2021, check the oil level, look under the car for leaks, ask how often the owner adds oil between changes, and note any burning smell once the engine is hot.
- On a 2013 or 2014, try every function of the infotainment screen, radio and backup camera, and ask whether the battery has ever gone flat.
- If a 2014 to 2016 car with Smart City Brake Support has had a new windshield, ask which glass was fitted, since 16E002000 covers Pilkington model FW04026 GTY replacements.
- Before you settle on a price, check the seller's asking price against the Mazda CX-5s for sale near you with the used car price check.
Before you make an offer, check what a specific CX-5 is worth by VIN. The valuation, from $2.99, prices that VIN at its mileage near your ZIP code against cars for sale.
What Mazda CX-5 owners report most
NHTSA files each complaint under one or more component categories. Across all 2,212 Mazda CX-5 complaints, these are the most common:
| NHTSA component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 508 | 23.0% |
| Electrical system | 431 | 19.5% |
| Power train | 258 | 11.7% |
| Exterior lighting | 217 | 9.8% |
| Service brakes | 212 | 9.6% |
| Visibility/wiper | 161 | 7.3% |
| Structure | 129 | 5.8% |
| Vehicle speed control | 103 | 4.7% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 90 | 4.1% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 70 | 3.2% |
The categories are broad, so the owners' own descriptions were also searched for specific symptoms. These are counts of complaints whose text mentions each one, not diagnoses, and one complaint can mention several.
| What the complaint describes | Complaints | Share | Model years with the most |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 348 | 15.7% | 2016 (90), 2013 (41), 2014 (41) |
| Infotainment screen, radio or backup camera | 253 | 11.4% | 2014 (51), 2019 (47), 2017 (45) |
| Oil consumption or oil leaks | 173 | 7.8% | 2019 (63), 2018 (49), 2021 (48) |
| Fire, smoke or a burning smell | 163 | 7.4% | 2019 (67), 2018 (59), 2016 (15) |
| Headlights | 143 | 6.5% | 2016 (93), 2022 (23), 2023 (9) |
| Check-engine light | 128 | 5.8% | 2013 (29), 2019 (19), 2016 (18) |
| Electrical faults or battery drain | 118 | 5.3% | 2014 (43), 2013 (30), 2016 (14) |
| Transmission problems | 108 | 4.9% | 2016 (29), 2014 (24), 2013 (17) |
| Stalling or loss of power while driving | 100 | 4.5% | 2019 (25), 2013 (16), 2017 (14) |
| Hesitation, jerking or surging | 96 | 4.3% | 2016 (28), 2013 (12), 2019 (11) |
Mazda CX-5 recalls (9 campaigns)
Every recall campaign NHTSA lists for the Mazda CX-5, newest first, with the model years it covers and NHTSA's own description of the defect, shortened. A recall on the model is not proof a given car was affected or left unrepaired: check a specific car by entering its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or in the free CarWorthIt VIN report.
| Campaign | Reported | Model years | Component | The defect, in NHTSA's words |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21V875000 | November 12, 2021 | 2018 to 2019 | Fuel system, gasoline | The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail. Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 20V063000 | February 6, 2020 | 2016 | Exterior lighting | The LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) may fail while driving. If the DRL fails, the vehicle's visibility may be reduced to other drivers on the road, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 19V497000 | June 27, 2019 | 2018 to 2019 | Engine | A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall. An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash. |
| 18V426000 | June 25, 2018 | 2018 | Air bags | In the event of a side impact or rollover crash, the side curtain air bags may not properly unfold during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation." |
| 17V744000 | November 21, 2017 | 2017 | Trailer hitches | This harness may be routed such that there is insufficient clearance between the harness and the exhaust muffler, allowing the wiring harness to contact the muffler. |
| 16V644000 | September 6, 2016 | 2013 to 2016 | Structure | 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. If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury. |
| 16V203000 | April 11, 2016 | 2014 to 2016 | Steering | The lower mounting nuts and bolts that attach the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle may loosen, allowing the steering knuckle to separate. If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 16V064000 | February 3, 2016 | 2014 to 2016 | Fuel system, gasoline | 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." |
| 16E002000 | January 19, 2016 | 2014 to 2016 | Visibility | 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. These brackets were improperly affixed with only tape instead of tape and urethane and therefore may loosen. |
NHTSA defect investigations
NHTSA's investigation file lists no defect investigations covering these Mazda CX-5 model years.
How these numbers were counted
Complaints: NHTSA's complaints API for NHTSA model names CX-5, each complaint counted once per model year; hybrid and plug-in versions, which NHTSA files separately, are not included. Recalls: distinct campaign numbers from NHTSA's recalls databasefor the same names and years. Investigations: NHTSA's defect investigation file. All pulled September 28, 2026. These are counts of reports, not failure rates, and they say nothing about any individual car. For that, check the VIN.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Mazda CX-5?
NHTSA files the most CX-5 complaints under the engine (508), the electrical system (431) and the power train (258), with exterior lighting (217) and service brakes (212) next. Of the 2,212 complaints on file, 348 mention brakes, 253 describe the infotainment screen, radio or backup camera, and 173 mention oil consumption or oil leaks.
What Mazda CX-5 years should I avoid?
The 2016 and 2014 model years. The 2016 has 510 complaints, led by exterior lighting, and the 2014 has 377, led by the electrical system; both are at least twice the 148 median for years up to 2021, and no 2022 or newer year has reached that level.
How many recalls does the Mazda CX-5 have?
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2013 to 2026 CX-5. The 2016 is covered by the most, 5, including 20V063000 for LED daytime running lights that may fail while driving, and the 2018 and 2019 share 21V875000 for a low-pressure fuel pump that may fail.
Does the 2019 Mazda CX-5 have engine problems?
The 2019 has 270 complaints, the third highest of any year, and 131 are filed under the engine. It leads the complaints that mention oil consumption or oil leaks (63), fire, smoke or a burning smell (67) and stalling or loss of power (25), although only 2 of its complaints report an actual fire. Recall 19V497000 covers a PCM software error on the 2018 and 2019 that may cause the engine to stall.