FaultScore

Worst years for a Mazda CX-5

Owners have filed 3,269 complaints about the Mazda CX-5 with NHTSA across model years 2012 to 2026. More of them are about the engine & cooling than anything else.

Avoid

2016 Mazda CX-5

628 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly lights.

Cleanest on record

2026 Mazda CX-5

20 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Mazda CX-5 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2026 A 20 0 0 Electrical System
2025 C 57 9 0 Brakes
2024 C 63 7 1 24,000 Other & Unspecified
2023 C 85 13 0 Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
2022 C 83 10 5 3,638 Lights
2021 D 199 22 0 33,900 Engine & Cooling
2020 D 153 16 0 2,900 Electrical System
2019 D 359 11 4 17,000 Engine & Cooling
2018 F 475 30 3 9,563 Engine & Cooling
2017 C 195 11 0 14,890 Electrical System
2016 F 628 52 16 30,000 Lights
2015 D 167 20 0 27,775 Body & Structure
2014 D 492 10 0 44,000 Electrical System
2013 C 292 8 1 38,000 Electrical System
2012 1 0 0 Acceleration & Cruise Control

What breaks on a Mazda CX-5

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Engine & Cooling 599 18.3%

Worst in 2018

Electrical System 457 14.0%

Worst in 2014

Worst in 2014

Worst in 2016

Brakes 250 7.6%

Worst in 2016

Worst in 2014

Lights 222 6.8%

Worst in 2016

Worst in 2018

Body & Structure 139 4.3%

Worst in 2014

Worst in 2018

Worst in 2013

Airbags 69 2.1%

Worst in 2016

Seats 55 1.7%

Worst in 2016

Steering 37 1.1%

Worst in 2014

Exactly what failed on a Mazda CX-5

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Body 126 40.3%
Automatic Emergency Braking 56 17.9%
Warnings 31 9.9%
Windshield 31 9.9%
Blind Spot Detection 21 6.7%
Adaptive Cruise Control 15 4.8%
Sun/Moon Roof Assembly 11 3.5%
Camera 8 2.6%
Warning 7 2.2%
Warnings 7 2.2%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Mazda CX-5, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Jul 2012 peak 66 Aug 2026

Mazda CX-5 problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Mazda CX-5

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.