Defect Summary: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016 CX-5 vehicles. The LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) may fail while driving.
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Executive Vehicle Verdict
The 2016 Mazda CX-5 is associated with 510 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 5 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.
The most frequently reported component area is EXTERIOR LIGHTING, accounting for 152 reports (30% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 3 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2l 4-cyl and 2.5l 4-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 26 to 29 MPG combined.
- • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 510 consumer reports filed
- • Safety Recall Campaigns: 5 official campaigns
- • Primary Defect Domain: EXTERIOR LIGHTING (152 / 30%)
- • Field Incident Signals: 31 crash / 10 fire / 13 injury reports
- • NCAP Crash Safety: 4 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
- • EPA Certified Range: 26–29 MPG across 3 powertrain trims
What is the fuel economy and range of the 2016 Mazda CX-5?
Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant
| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CX-5 2WD | 2L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 26 MPG | 34 MPG | 29 MPG | — | $2,100 / yr |
| CX-5 2WD | 2.5L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 26 MPG | 33 MPG | 29 MPG | — | $2,100 / yr |
| CX-5 4WD | 2.5L 4-Cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 24 MPG | 29 MPG | 26 MPG | — | $2,350 / yr |
What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2016 Mazda CX-5?
Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV FWD | 17.4% | ||||
| SUV AWD | 16.900000000000002% |
Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as No in official NHTSA records for tested 2016 Mazda CX-5 models.
What defect complaints are reported for the 2016 Mazda CX-5?
Summary of 510 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)
Top Reported Problem Categories
Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA
Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.
View all 2016 Mazda CX-5 problems & component breakdown (82 categories) →Are there open safety recalls on the 2016 Mazda CX-5?
Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA
Defect Summary: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 26, 2015, and 2013-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured December 15, 2011, to December 26, 2015. 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.
Defect Summary: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 2, 2015, 2013-2014 Mazda2 vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to August 8, 2014, 2014-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured January 19, 2013, to December 2, 2015, and 2013-2015 CX-9 vehicles manufactured December 6, 2012, to July 31, 2015. The lower mounting nuts and bolts that attach the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle may loosen, allowing the steering knuckle to separate.
Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2016 Mazda CX-5
Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2016 Mazda CX-5
How many safety recalls does the 2016 Mazda CX-5 have?
The 2016 Mazda CX-5 is associated with 5 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.
If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.
What are the most common problems reported for the 2016 Mazda CX-5?
NHTSA records list 510 consumer defect complaints for the 2016 Mazda CX-5. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is EXTERIOR LIGHTING, appearing in 152 filings (30% of submissions).
Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2016 Mazda CX-5?
Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2016 Mazda CX-5 earned an Overall Safety Rating of 4 out of 5 stars across 2 tested configuration(s).
Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.
What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2016 Mazda CX-5 get?
Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2016 Mazda CX-5 range from 26 to 29 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.
Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.
The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
- NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
- U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.
Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.