One of the better CX-5 years
Owners filed about 31% fewer complaints than a typical CX-5 year. The area owners reported most is the body, doors and structure, which half of owners reported by about 45,000 miles.
Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other CX-5 years from 2013 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
Owners have filed 133 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Mazda CX-5. The most reported problem area is the body, doors and structure (27, 20% of complaints), followed by the transmission and drivetrain and the lights, wipers and visibility. That ranks 8th of 12 CX-5 years from 2013 to 2024 for complaints. It has 4 recalls.
2 of these complaints came from Utah owners.
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Start my car searchMost reported problems
Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2015 Mazda CX-5 before you buy.
Body, doors and structure
27 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 45,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (22).
What to check before you buy
- Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
- Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
- Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact called on behalf of his daughter who owns a 2015 Mazda CX5. The contact stated that while his daughter was loading groceries in the trunk, the liftgate dropped unexpectedly and the corner of the liftgate hit her in the head, causing a laceration. The contact's daughter was taken to urgent care where she was informed that she…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 103,000 miles
My lift gate failed and slammed shut. Now, the lift gate is nearly impossible for me to open and I have to hold the lift gate open myself. Otherwise it slams shut. Luckily when this happened I was not directly underneath the lift gate, I had free hands and reacted quickly enough to catch it. I did have the lift gate supports replaced…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 75,000 miles
Transmission and drivetrain
19 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 60,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
- Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
- Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
- If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.
Tools that help
What owners said
Transmission failed, and vehicle is available for inspection. The incident occurred after exiting a highway and coming to halt at stop light. Vehicle wouldn't exceed above 5 mph after moving forward, it surged, downshifted, and come to a complete stop. This created an incident where other motorist nearly rear ended occupants in subject…Owner complaint, filed 2022
Car had 63,000 miles on it. Began making very loud noise. Brought to private mechanic, then dealer. Both agreed car had mechanical failure of rear differential. The full system needed replacing for safety. All agreed this should not occur with only 63,000 miles.Owner complaint, filed 2022
Lights, wipers and visibility
19 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 5,000 miles. Parts named most: Windshield (5).
What to check before you buy
- Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
- Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.
Tools that help
What owners said
Daytime running lights no longer operating. Changed the fuse, which was still in good condition, and the daytime running lights still don't work. May be same issue as the cx5 2016 problem?Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 77,800 miles
The contact owns a 2015 mazda cx-5. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the sunroof suddenly exploded. During the failure, the sunroof was closed and a loud explosion had occurred. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer (eldorado mazda located at 2150 n. Central express way mckinney tx) but the cause of the…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 77,000 miles
Engine and cooling
15 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 46,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
- Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
- Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
- Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.
Tools that help
What owners said
2015 mazda cx5 2.0 l, well maintained; recommended oil used at proper intervals, with 130,000 miles, mostly highway driven. With no warning lights and/or sounds, vehicle started loosing power at around 30 MPH in the city and engine completely stalled. Aaa was called to start the vehicle to no avail, battery checked out ok. Towed to mazda…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 130,000 miles
My vehicle heater core has pluged up after 48,000 miles. I cant drive in cool weather do to fog windshields. This is a hug problem with mazdas cx-5 between 2014 and 2016.Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 48,000 miles
Brakes and stability control
14 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 33,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
- The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
- Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.
Tools that help
What owners said
On Feb. 9, 2023, I started my vehicle and lots of warning indicators lit up the dash of my well-maintained vehicle. Check Engine, ABS, TPMS, SBCS to name some of the warning lights. When I took my car to the dealer, they told me the left front wheel speed sensor had mechanical failure and would need to be replaced. Said the car's…Owner complaint, filed 2023
After the rear brakes were replaced there was a terrible grinding noise when first driving until the car warmed up. It did not happen when first replaced in the summer but when it got colder it got worse. Turned out to be the same caliper issue that was recalled in previous models but no recall for the cx-5Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 73,696 miles
Cruise control and acceleration
12 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 28,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
- Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2015 mazda cx-5. While at a stop light, the vehicle began to accelerate without the contact depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle. The contact called lynchburg mazda who stated that they were unfamiliar with the failure. The contact also contacted the first team auto mall…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 27,000 miles
I have experienced intermittent problems with the steering wheel buttons, especially with regard to the cruise control (cc). Sometimes, the buttons appear to change functions with each other. Here is an example: 1.I am driving along on the highway, and I turn on cc ' the dash indicator appears in yellow. 2.I set the cc to my current…Owner complaint, filed 2016, at 28,000 miles
Electrical system
8 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 46,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
- Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
- Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2015 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the horn malfunctioned and there was no sound when the horn pad was pressed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 148,000 miles
3 weeks ago, the drivers side seat bottom quit working at the same time the seat back is running super hot (as I choose the lowest level selection button). It's so hot, it feels like it's 'burning'. So I turn it off. Even after 10 minutes of turning this off, it is still running hot to warm. It does not turn off or cool down immediately…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 54,400 miles
Fuel system
7 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
- On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
- Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
Occasionally have sudden unintended acceleration. Went to dealer, no codes shown. Replaced battery and did throttle service. Happens 1 or 2 times a month generally within first 5 minutes of trip when attempting to stop. While braking , rpm's go to 3k and brakes barely hold car stopped, so I throw it in neutral to stop...rpms eventually…Owner complaint, filed 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that fuel was leaking from the vehicle causing the vehicle to need refueling more often. The contact stated the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V064000 (Fuel…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 74,000 miles
Wheels and tires
7 complaintsTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 15,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
- Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
- The tire pressure light should go out after startup.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2015 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated the tires deflating abnormally. The contact stated that the tires needed to be inflated on a weekly basis. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the rims were improperly fitted to suit multiple tires, causing the tires to deflate.…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 110,000 miles
My car has hydroplaned twice in the past six months. The first time, I was coming around a curve in light rain and the back tires slipped. I felt as if they completely lost traction. I was able to correct and keep from causing an accident. I visually inspected my tires and they still looked brand new. This occurred at about 22,000 miles.…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 26,000 miles
Seats and seat belts
6 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 1,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
- Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact’s daughter owns a 2015 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that the front driver’s side seat was previously moved in a forward position; however, when her son attempted to move the seat backward to drive the vehicle, the seat remained seized in the forward position. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure.…Owner complaint, filed 2023
During hard breaking (ABS engaged) at 30 MPH city traffic, followed by a front end crash, both seat belt retractors for the two front seat passengers failed, failing to keep the passengers secured in their seats the belts never locked and completely despooled. The driver was able to use the steering wheel to remain seated, however the…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 31,652 miles
Suspension
5 complaintsClunks over bumps, broken springs, worn struts and uneven tire wear.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
- Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
- Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.
Tools that help
What owners said
Rear Shock broke away from vehicle chassis. SAFETY Issue Mazda Technical Service Bulletin 02-016/18 " ....breakage can occur. ......the material and the shape of the bracket has been modified" THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART $675 to replace two DEFECTIVE shocksOwner complaint, filed 2022
The contact owns a 2015 mazda cx-5. While driving 15 MPH, the vehicle steered left and the contact crossed the median, sideswiping another vehicle. A police report was not filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer (colonial mazda, 100 federal road, danbury, ct 06810) where it was diagnosed that both tie rods…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 32,000 miles
Air bags
5 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
- Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owned a 2015 mazda cx5. The contact stated that the vehicle was at stand still at a stop sign, when she started to move forward when another vehicle impacted the front driver side. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated no one injured or in need to seek medical…Owner complaint, filed 2020
The contact owns a 2015 mazda cx-5. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 16v644000 (air bags). The contact stated that the parts needed for the recall remedy were still not available and that the [VIN] exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin…Owner complaint, filed 2017
Steering
2 complaintsLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
- On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
- A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2015 mazda cx-5. While driving 15 MPH, the vehicle steered left and the contact crossed the median, sideswiping another vehicle. A police report was not filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer (colonial mazda, 100 federal road, danbury, ct 06810) where it was diagnosed that both tie rods…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 32,000 miles
This is the second occurrence of the same issue, but while driving the vehicle at highway speeds, all dash lights illuminated (check engine, turn signals, temp warnings, etc) simultaneously and the information screen displayed an alert "engine inspection required". The incident also resulted in a loss of power…Owner complaint, filed 2014, at 2,200 miles
Driver assist systems
2 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
- Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
- Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.
Tools that help
What owners said
With a heavy downpour of rain the bsm flashes off, then after sitting for a few hours the car battery dies and the key fob is not recognized in the vehicle. Took it to a dealership and it stopped doing it. Code that are thrown have to do with some computer communication failing. I have had the car die on me 4 times in the last year that…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Mazda CX-5 complaints by year
Compare the 2015 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2015 compact SUVs
Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.
| Car | Vs. its other years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Mazda CX-5 | One of the better years | 4 |
| 2015 Toyota RAV4 | About average | 4 |
| 2015 Honda CR-V | Worse than most years | 3 |
| 2015 Subaru Forester | Worse than most years | 3 |
2015 Mazda CX-5 recalls
Body and structure Hatchback / liftgate
- Risk
- If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
- Fix
- Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available.
Full recall 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.
Steering
- Risk
- If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower mounting nuts and bolts that secure the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle.
Full recall 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.
Fuel system Filler pipe and cap
- 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.
Full recall summary
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."
Windows, mirrors and wipers Windshield
- Risk
- If the bracket loosens or detaches from the windshield, the safety features of the Smart City Brake Support system may be disabled and therefore increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Pilkington will contact the wholesalers and retailers that purchased the windshields to try to identify the affected customers.
Full recall summary
Pilkington North America, Inc. (Pilkington) is recalling certain replacement windshields, model FW04026 GTY, manufactured November 23, 2015, to December 16, 2015 for use in Mazda CX-5 vehicles that are equipped with the Smart City Brake Support system. The affected windshields have a bracket mounted on the inside to hold a laser sensor or LIDAR device for the Smart City Brake Support system. These brackets were improperly affixed with only tape instead of tape and urethane and therefore may loosen.
2015 Mazda CX-5 questions
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Mazda CX-5?
The most reported problem areas on the 2015 Mazda CX-5 are the body, doors and structure (27 complaints), the transmission and drivetrain (19 complaints) and the lights, wipers and visibility (19 complaints). Within the body, doors and structure, owners most often name the body.
Is the 2015 Mazda CX-5 a good year to buy?
One of the better CX-5 years. Owners filed about 31% fewer complaints than a typical CX-5 year. The area owners reported most is the body, doors and structure, which half of owners reported by about 45,000 miles. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other CX-5 years from 2013 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
How many recalls does the 2015 Mazda CX-5 have?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2015 Mazda CX-5. The most recent, from Sep 2016, covers the hatchback / liftgate. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
At what mileage do 2015 Mazda CX-5 problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the body, doors and structure gave a mileage of about 45,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the transmission and drivetrain gave a mileage of about 60,000 miles or less. Plenty of cars have these problems later or never, so ask for service records.
Which Mazda CX-5 years should I avoid?
The CX-5 years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2016. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2015 and 2020. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.
Check the exact car
These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
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