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Mazda CX-5 Problems by Year

Which Mazda CX-5 years have the most owner complaints, what goes wrong, and how many recalls each year has.

Mazda CX-5, 2017 to 2024 model years
Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0

Owners have filed 2,432 complaints with NHTSA about the Mazda CX-5 from 2013 to 2024. Across every year, the most reported problem areas are the engine and cooling, the electrical system and the lights, wipers and visibility. The years with the most complaints are 2016, 2014 and 2018.

Years to avoid

2016

The most complaints compared with other CX-5 years.

Safer bets

20152020

Clearly fewer complaints than a typical CX-5 year. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate.

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Complaints by year

Tap a year to see its most reported problems, its recalls and what to check before you buy. Newer years have had less time on the road, so they always look better here. Red marks the worst years, orange years worse than most, and green the better ones.

201319420143772015133201651220171502018355201927320201102021149202265202367202447

Every year at a glance

YearVs. other yearsComplaintsRecallsMost reported
2013 CX-5About average1941Electrical system
2014 CX-5Worse than most years3774Electrical system
2015 CX-5One of the better years1334Body, doors and structure
2016 CX-5Among the worst years5125Lights, wipers and visibility
2017 CX-5About average1501Electrical system
2018 CX-5Worse than most years3553Engine and cooling
2019 CX-5Worse than most years2732Engine and cooling
2020 CX-5One of the better years1100Electrical system
2021 CX-5About average1490Engine and cooling
2022 CX-5Too new to judge650Lights, wipers and visibility
2023 CX-5Too new to judge670Lights, wipers and visibility
2024 CX-5Too new to judge470Brakes and stability control

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Mazda CX-5 questions

What are the worst Mazda CX-5 years?

Compared with its other years, the CX-5 years with the most owner complaints to NHTSA are 2016. The most reported problem area across all years is the engine and cooling.

What are the best Mazda CX-5 years?

The CX-5 years with clearly fewer complaints than a typical year are 2015 and 2020. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly, since complaints keep coming in as cars age.

What are the most common Mazda CX-5 problems?

Across 2013 to 2024, owners report problems with the engine and cooling, the electrical system and the lights, wipers and visibility most often. Each model year has its own pattern, so check the year you are looking at.

How many recalls does the Mazda CX-5 have?

NHTSA lists 20 recalls across the 2013 to 2024 CX-5, counted per model year. A recall can cover several years.

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.

Decode its VINConfirm the year, trim and engine, and see recalls and safety ratings.Walk around and test drive itA step-by-step checklist you can use on your phone at the car.Read the history reportThe red flags in a Carfax or AutoCheck report, in plain English.

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Where these numbers come from. Complaints are reports that owners filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), counted from NHTSA’s complaint database as of November 5, 2026. Owners do not have to prove a problem to file one, so a complaint is a report, not a confirmed defect. Models that sell in big numbers get more complaints, and newer model years have had less time on the road, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Recalls come from NHTSA’s recall database and cover every vehicle of that model year, not one particular car. Quotes are trimmed, and anything that looks like a VIN is hidden.