MODELYEARINDEX

Mazda CX-5

1,857 complaints across 9 scored model years and 9 recall campaigns.

Which years to avoid

Ownership label · Mazda CX-5 Full report
F
Grade 2013–2021
2016 vs model median 2.3×
Model median3× median
Lights & Visibility 153
Brakes 48
Drivetrain 41
Avoid

2014 · 2016

Best

2017 · 2020

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2013
1.07× 163 B
2014
1.73× 287 D
2015
0.68× 111 B
2016
2.35× 390 F
2017
0.48× 80 A
2018
1.33× 185 C
2019
0.73× 127 B
2020
0.51× 74 A
2021
1.00× 158 B
2022 P
0.58× 83 A
2023 P
0.59× 84 A
2024 P
0.39× 63 A
2025 P
0.42× 51 A

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What it costs to run

EPA figures for the most recent model year on record.

Combined MPG25
City / Highway23 / 29
Engine2.5L, 4 cyl
Drive4-Wheel Drive
Annual fuel cost$2,450

Recalls

9 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
16V644000 STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE 2013–2016 580,455
16V064000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP 2014–2016 268,799
19V497000 ENGINE 2018, 2019 262,220
21V875000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2018, 2019 121,038
20V063000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS 2016 36,761
17V744000 TRAILER HITCHES 2017 1,076
18V426000 AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW 2018 682
16V203000 STEERING 2014–2016 578

+ 1 further campaigns

Others in Compact SUVs

Same body and size class. Each grade describes that model against its own history — these are not ranked against each other.

Model Years to avoid Grade
Acura RDX
20192020
C
Audi Q5
20182021
C
Audi SQ5
none flagged
C
BMW X3
20132019
C
Buick Envision
2017
C
Cadillac SRX
2013
C
Cadillac XT5
2017
C
Chevrolet Blazer
none flagged
C

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2016 CX-5
Complaints in window
390
Severity-weighted
558
Model median (weighted)
238
vs model median
2.35×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
5
Open investigations
0
Score 28.8 F