2016 Mazda CX-5 vs 2018 Mazda CX-5
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2016 Mazda CX-5 | 2018 Mazda CX-5 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 510 | 347 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 704 | 632 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 31 | 19 |
| Fire reports | 10 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–29 | 26–29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 32,000 mi | 15,577 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mazda CX-5 | Mazda CX-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 39 | 176 |
| Exterior Lighting | 161 | 5 |
| Electrical System | 71 | 29 |
| Service Brakes | 66 | 32 |
| Power Train | 51 | 41 |
| Visibility/wiper | 42 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 19 | 20 |
| Structure | 19 | 12 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 27 | 29 |
| Hesitation / surging | 15 | 10 |
| Check engine light | 12 | 18 |
| Overheating | 12 | 7 |
| Rust / corrosion | 9 | 6 |
| Airbag warning light | 7 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 6 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 5 | 0 |
2016 Mazda CX-5
2018 Mazda CX-5
Compare all Mazda CX-5 vs Mazda CX-5 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.