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2016 Mazda CX-5 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2016 Mazda CX-5. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 30% of relevant complaints.
Better than 70% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 180 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 19%).
Does the 2016 Mazda CX-5 have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 99 of 330 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Mazda CX-5 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (30%). For comparison, the 2015 scores 27% and the 2017 scores 23%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other Mazda CX-5 years
Of the 11 Mazda CX-5 years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the 6th-best on engine and transmission share (30%). The worst is the 2018 (93%), the best the 2017 (23%). By volume, the 2016 drew 510 complaints (99 drivetrain), against 133 for the 2015 and 148 for the 2017.
Mazda CX-5 years to avoid and best years →
2013 CX-5 problems · 2014 CX-5 problems · 2015 CX-5 problems · 2016 · 2017 CX-5 problems · 2018 CX-5 problems · 2019 CX-5 problems · 2020 CX-5 problems · 2021 CX-5 problems · 2022 CX-5 problems · 2023 CX-5 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Mazda CX-5
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2016 Mazda CX-5 said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 99 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Mazda CX-5 fuel system recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Mazda CX-5 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Mazda CX-5 vehicles manufactured June 27, 2013, to February 2, 2016. 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."
Risk: A rupture of the fuel filler pipe may result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will alter the attachment between the fuel filler pipe and the left rear side of the bracket of the fuel filler pipe, free of charge. The recall began on February 25, 2016. Owners…
4 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 Mazda CX-5? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2016 Mazda CX-5 have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 99 of 330 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Mazda CX-5 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (30%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Mazda CX-5?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Mazda CX-5 is exterior lighting: 161 of 510 complaints (32%) name it, followed by electrical system (71) and service brakes (69). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 30% of the relevant total.
Is the 2016 Mazda CX-5 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 30% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 70% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 11 Mazda CX-5 years we score, it ranks 6th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Mazda CX-5?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Mazda CX-5 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total: 16V064000 (fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Mazda CX-5 years are better?
Among the Mazda CX-5 years we track, the 2014 (23%), the 2017 (23%) and the 2023 (23%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (30%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/mazda-cx-5
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.