10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
16,469 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Mazda CX-5 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2016 Mazda CX-5 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #57

Jul 022024

CX-5

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Ghost touch screen on multimedia. Causing detracting issues while driving.

- Va Beach, VA, USA

problem #56

Apr 222024

CX-5

  • miles
The used 2016 Mazda CX5 I just bought apparently has the "ghost touch screen" where the Infotainment system will randomly pick controls, place phone calls, change navigation. How can this not be a safety recall? I'm afraid to drive this car and not have full control of the navigation system or controls. This is DANGEROUS to have this happen when driving!! Mazda should be held accountable for this clear safety problem.

- Harrison, OH, USA

problem #55

Mar 282024

CX-5

  • miles
This vehicle has rear Electric Parking Brakes. Some time it's works sometimes it doesn't release the rear passenger side breaks. The rear passenger side brakes make to much noise and brakes pads destroy rotor earlier then others. Mazda dealers doesn't says to much on that and ask for above $1000 repair to change faulty EPB clipper. But my research says many people have same complaints with this model by mazda built-in around 2016. This is safety issue, if I replace brake pads every 4 or 5 months it cost me money. If I don't I cost me my safety.

- Levittown, NY, USA

problem #54

Feb 122023

CX-5

  • 70,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda CX5. The contact stated that on two separate occasions, the vehicle unintentionally accelerated without warning in an attempt to park the vehicle. On the first occasion, the vehicle drove in between two trees with the contact's foot on the brake pedal before the vehicle came to a stop. The air bags did not deploy upon impact and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to an independent body shop where the vehicle was repaired for minor damage. The contact was also informed that no computer codes indicated any signs of a mechanical failure. On the second occasion, the vehicle crashed into a parked vehicle while again attempting to park the vehicle in a parking lot. The force of the collision caused the already hit vehicle to crash into yet another parked vehicle. The air bags did not deploy upon impact and no injuries were reported. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed back to the same independent mechanic where the code reader indicated that the vehicle had a low battery; however, the battery did not need to be replaced. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle remained in the possession of the independent mechanic and had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000

- Novato, CA, USA

problem #53

Jul 012021

CX-5

  • miles
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request" - The infotainment system goes into a reboot loop and never starts. At times the backup camera will turn off when backing up. At other times the backup camera will not turn off and will be on while driving forward. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? When the backup camera turns off while utilizing it there is the possibility for an incident. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? - Yes, the dealer confirmed the reboot loop. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? - Only the dealer. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear" - No, they appears a few years ago. I believe the main CPU got corrupted by an HD radio channel.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #52

Apr 132021

CX-5

  • miles
I buy this car 2 years ago and 3 months later is starting having problem with rear passenger brakes I took the car to the mechanic and he change disc and brakes pads. A couple months later is starting having the same problem in the same area but this time is was smell burn coming through the wheel I'm stop the car to check was is going on when I check the brakes it was very very hot. I take the car to the mechanic and he told me the EPB is bad he changed everything disc, brakes pads, caliper and EPB motor. He said try to don't used the EPB too much or I'm going to see you again with same problem ???'... So I'm stop to use the EPB for long time. One day I put my car in the carwash one guy hit the EPB when he's done with the car Im get inside I turn on the car and the brake warning light is starting flashing I say fu** not again and yes EPB get stock. This is make me crazy the EPB need to be fix from the dealer please make this common problem a recalls to getting fix for those people got the same issue.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #51

Nov 202021

CX-5

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Front passenger seat caught fire when seat warmers were on. I was travelling in a rural area in Alaska when I had to stop because my passenger caught fire on her jacket.

- Glennallen , AK, USA

problem #50

Feb 232020

CX-5

  • miles
UNKNOWN cause for short battery life. The battery has been changed 4-5 times since 2020 with a brand new battery. The alternator has been checked and is fine. The dealership is going to check my vehicle again but this is an issue for multiple people with the same vehicle model.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #49

Jan 142022

CX-5

  • miles
The electronic emergency brake switch freezes in cold weather. The parking brake can not be released until the weather warms. This is safety issue, because the motorists is now stranded. I took my vehicle to the dealership, . but the would not address the problem. This happened 2 times on the following dates 13 February 2019 14 February 2022. I'm retired and very little. I only have about 23000.miles on my vehicle. I live ln New York City and do not feel safe driving in the winter, because my vehicle's electronic emergency brake switch freezes in the cold weather.

- New York City, NY, USA

problem #48

Sep 152022

CX-5

  • miles
smart key. during driving all the lights on the dashboard come on and the siren goes off and unable to have it turn off. After a period of time, its wears down the battery and it is no longer drivable. First time, it was towed to the AAA auto repair and they could not find anything wrong with it. The 2nd and 3rd time, AAA towed it back to Maita Mazda where we purchased it in good faith less than two months ago, and their service department could not find anything wrong with the electrical system. They replaced the battery the seond time, and the issue still occurred again when I turned it off. Then turned it back on as I needed to close the driver side window, and it would not turn on. No one seems to believe me, and we cannot get Maita to take it back and give us another vehicle in its place. It is extemely dangerous to drive in traffic, and we only bought it because it has a big enough trunk for my spouse's walker, and later a wheel chair. It is paid for in full,

- Citrus Heights, CA, USA

problem #47

Aug 012022

CX-5

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Last month, my vehicle suddenly applied the electronic parking brake (EPB) while I was driving. The EPB & related warning lights illuminated & would not release until the vehicle was turned off. After turning off the vehicle, the EPB motor could be heard applying the brake to the rear wheels. When the car was restarted, the EPB would remain off for a period of time but would then suddenly reapply. I took my vehicle to a Mazda dealer & they determined the calipers & EPB motor had failed due to my vehicle not being placed in service mode by the brake servicer. This explanation makes no sense because the brakes were replaced over a year ago (& not since) with thousands of miles being driven since then without this issue arising. I also conducted my own research & found that Mazda has issued at least 3 separate technical service bulletins (TSB) on this issue. The first two recommended replacement of the EPB switch & the third determined that defective calipers were the cause and should be replaced. I asked the dealer to save my calipers & confirmed that they are part of the defective batch noted in this TSB. I have contacted Mazda (including their legal counsel) & they are unwilling to provide any explanation or engage in any sort of investigation. As former legal counsel for an automotive company, I believe this presents a serious safety issue for consumers based upon the fact that a parking brake could randomly engage while driving & cause sudden loss of speed/control. Thankfully, this did not result in harm to my family, myself or others. I am certain that this issue is affecting others based on chatboard discussions I have found online related to this topic (which helped me find the TSB). I am concerned that Mazda may have attempted to undertake a silent recall via this TSB where in warranty customers are covered & out of warranty customers are given the 'service mode' explanation to justify their responsibility. This should have been handled as a recall by Mazda.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #46

Jul 152017

CX-5

  • miles
Parked by the curb at the Ft. Lauderdale International Airport. I put the car in Park and left the car idling with the air-conditioning running.as it was 95 degrees and about 100 at around 8:00 AM. There was a shuttle van parked by the curb about 11 feet in front of me. I had to exit my car to talk to the driver in the car behind me. I walked to the car behind me and started talking to the driver. I glanced back at my Mazda CX5 and it started rolling forward. I ran up to the car and got the door open and stepped on the brake. The brakes did not engage. I repeated stepping on the brake several times and the car would not stop. I got in the drivers seat to shift the car into reverse and keep my foot on the brake pedal. The car would not shift into reverse. and by this time the Mazda had pinned to the shuttle van a lady who was trying to unload her luggage. On the sixth attempt to shift into reverse the shifter finally moved into reverse and by standers came to the aid of the lady that had been pinned to the shuttle van. Airport security and the Broward County police took the statements. The lady retrieving her baggage declined medical attention. When I checked to see what the police were reporting they did not acknowledge that I was attempting to stop a runaway vehicle. The report said that I failed to put the car in park and left it in drive. It is not possible to get out of a car that is idling and in gear without the car moving forward or backward before you can even get all the way out of the car. This incident happened about mid July in 2017. Near the end of June this year while in my driveway I left the car idling and in park, exited the car walking to the rear of the car and it dropped into reverse. Got back in the car and shut off the engine. July 2017 the local Mazda dealer inspected the vehicle and could not find as problem. Not unlikely with an intermittent electrical anomaly. There were no prior warning lamps in either incident.

- Newark, DE, USA

problem #45

May 232022

CX-5

  • miles
The Infotainment system engages in "ghost touch, " where the screen scrolls through and clicks random buttons on its own. This occurs both while I am driving and while I am parked. It will change radio stations, exit out of the navigation, and click other random buttons so that I then have to turn off the display in order to get it to stop. For example, yesterday, it kept clicking the repeat button on the Bluetooth display so I was forced to listen to the same 1 second of a song until I could finally shut the Infotainment off. When this occurs while driving it is a hazardous distraction. Mazda had the same issue with its Infotainment system in the 2016 CX-3 and issued a recall. I reached out to Mazda to explain I am having the same problem but they will not fix it.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #44

Apr 042022

CX-5

  • miles
When the vehicle is running, but not moving the touch screen display randomly jumps/changes the display. This malfunction has changed the current radio station, navigation map screen, and/or the maintenance warnings/alerts. I believe this "ghost touch" poses a safety hazard not only due to the distracting beeps and screen changes but also the random change/reset of important maintenance alerts such as oil change and tire rotations. My Mazda dealer has updated the software but did not correct the malfunction. They now say I need to pay for a replacement of the touch screen display component to correct the "ghost touch" defect.

- Winter Springs, FL, USA

problem #43

Sep 072021

CX-5

  • miles
This is a follow up to NHTSA complaint ID Number 11442992: After doing a fair amount of research the problem was deemed to be the Front Body Control Module. A new replacement was ordered (about $250). It took about 1-1/2 to 2 weeks for the module to be received and about an hour for its installation. So far the wipers seem to be working correctly although they have yet been 'used', only tested. Googling "mazda wiper problem" you will find others reporting similar problems with the Body Control Module. I found this (https://www.mazda3revolution.com/threads/for-those-suffering-wiper-motor-issues-here-is-the-fix.232623/) forum entry when I did the aforementioned google search. And finally, post replacement I have visually inspected the original module and can easily see one of the components marked "2741" with corrosion around its mounting.

- Petersburg, IL, USA

problem #42

Nov 192021

CX-5

  • miles
While driving on a remote highway the seat heating was on on both the driver and passenger seat. After a while it felt way ti hot and smelled like something burning and found the passenger jacket (that was taken off and left behind his back to be extensively burnt. We stopped and checked the seat. We found a big hole and the seat was damaged as well as the 300 dls coat. Plus the risk of having burns I. The passenger back, which was only protected by the cost and other layers of clothing

- Anchorge , AK, USA

problem #41

Jul 302021

CX-5

  • miles
My problem is with the keyless start system. The problem is that if I forget to push the start button to shut down the vehicle and open the door and leave the automobile and shut the door with the key in my possession the auto will keep running until it runs out of fuel. Wouldn't it make more sense for the vehicle to shut down after 3 minutes if the key is not present. As you know people have died from carbon monoxide poisoning by parking in their garage and forgetting to shut down the vehicle and the vehicle keeps running and filling their homes with carbon monoxide. This happened to a older couple in Sarasota Florida with a new car that they just purchased and were not familiar with the starting system. Just wanted to know just how many people have to die before something is done about this problem. I asked my Mazda dealer and they told me that the vehicle will run until out of fuel and basically said that I was stupid for being concerned.

- Sarasota , FL, USA

problem #40

Jul 182021

CX-5

  • miles
The component that failed was the CMU unit in my screen. I was unable to use Bluetooth and hands free driving which put my safety at risk and when driving at night the screen would light up, reboot, shut down, light up which was very distracting. I took it to the dealership which they said this is happening in cars and they will not cover it. They fixed it at a cost of $864.34. I contacted Mazda and explained how distracting this is to drive and they explained there is nothing they could do but give me a $250 credit.

- South Glastonbury , CT, USA

problem #39

Apr 192021

CX-5

  • 51,650 miles
Infotainment system continuously rebooting / cmu goes bad. Cannot reboot with removing nav card, etc. This disables bluetooth, navigation, affects the camera. There are numerous reports online that this is an issue across the board.

- Algonquin, IL, USA

problem #38

Mar 252021

CX-5

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Cx-5. the contact stated while driving at various speeds, the seat belt warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that there was short in the wiring harness and the module needed to be replaced. Additionally, while the mechanic was working on vehicle, the side curtain air bags inadvertently deployed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000. Invalid VIN.

- North Pole, AK, USA

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