MODELYEARINDEX

Which Mazda CX-5 years to avoid

Across 9 scored model years, the 2016 and 2014 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

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 owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2014 D 287 reports · median 25,900 mi

  1. Lights & Visibility 85

    When driving noticed a stress crack forming below the vehicle review mirror and rake assist cluster on the windshield. This crack increased in size literally before my eyes. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Electrical 47

    Vehicle repeatedly failed to start after sitting un-driven for more than one day. Vehicle was taken to dealership on three occassions for repair. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Body & Interior 35

    The contact owns a 2014 mazda CX5. The contact stated that the driver's side-view mirror would vibrate excessively when driving at various speeds. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

6 crash · 11 injuries

2016 F 390 reports · median 27,500 mi

  1. Lights & Visibility 153

    Headlight clear lens is melting from inside. Clear lens that covers headlight has coating inside and outside. It is the inside coating that is flowing down. Looks like it was over-applied during manufacturing process. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Brakes 48

    While attempting to pull into a parking space with a 2016 mazda cx-5 (7000 miles) all of the warning lights on the dashboard lit up and the car started accelerating on its own (unintended acceleration). owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Drivetrain 41

    Automobile was almost brand new, didn't even have license plates on it yet, when I proceeded to back out of a parking spot. The vehicle backed out but would not go forward in drive. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

38 crash · 5 fire · 18 injuries

The best year for the CX-5

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2020 is the best-scoring CX-5 model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 87.3 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations. On complaint rate alone the lowest is 2017 at 0.48× this model’s median, against 0.51× for 2020.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2020 0.51× 74 A
2017 0.48× 80 A
2019 0.73× 127 B

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
16E002000 VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD 2014–2016 193

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2016 were reported at a median of 27,500 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Mazda CX-5 years should you avoid?
2016, 2014 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Mazda CX-5 model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Mazda CX-5?
2020 is the best-scoring Mazda CX-5 model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 87.3 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Mazda CX-5 have?
9 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Mazda CX-5 model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

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