The 2016 Mazda CX-5 has 508 NHTSA complaints, more than any other CX-5 model year from 2013 through 2026, ahead of the 2014's 374. Complaint counts aren't a verdict on any model year; they're a count of owner reports, nothing more. What follows is that same count for every CX-5 model year on file, alongside the CX-30 and CX-50 over the years all three overlap in RideTruth's catalog. The Mazda CX-3's complaint and recall record has its own post.
How does each CX-5 year compare with Mazda's other crossovers?
2023 through 2026 is the span where the CX-5, CX-30 and CX-50 all have model years on file. Across those four years, the CX-5 and CX-50 swap the higher two spots while the CX-30 stays lowest.
| Model year | CX-5 | CX-30 | CX-50 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 62 | 24 | 63 |
| 2024 | 43 | 31 | 33 |
| 2025 | 27 | 26 | 38 |
| 2026 | 14 | 4 | 12 |
The CX-50 has the single highest count in the table, 63 in 2023, just ahead of the CX-5's 62 that same year. The CX-5 leads in 2024 and 2026; the CX-50 leads in 2025. The CX-30 has the lowest count of the three in every one of the four years, from 24 in 2023 down to 4 in 2026. Mazda's sales of each model aren't factored in, so the CX-30's lower totals don't show it is the sturdier crossover.
The placard in this NHTSA crash test identifies the vehicle as a 2023 Mazda CX-50; 2023 is also the year of its highest complaint count in the table above.
What does the CX-5's 2013-2026 complaint record look like?
Across the 2013-2026 CX-5 years on file, the 2016's 508 complaints (as of September 23, 2026) sit well above the rest. The 2014 is next at 374. Every other year is under 350.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 194 |
| 2014 | 374 |
| 2015 | 132 |
| 2016 | 508 |
| 2017 | 148 |
| 2018 | 347 |
| 2019 | 270 |
| 2020 | 105 |
| 2021 | 145 |
| 2022 | 63 |
| 2023 | 62 |
| 2024 | 43 |
| 2025 | 27 |
| 2026 | 14 |
The 2016 CX-5 page carries that full 508-complaint record.
Which single complaint area dominates the 2016 CX-5's record?
Visibility & Lighting shows up in 207 of the 2016 CX-5's 508 complaints (40.7%). The next two areas, Brakes at 73 (14.4%) and Electrical at 71 (14%), are far smaller.
| Area | Complaints | Share of 508 |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility & Lighting | 207 | 40.7% |
| Brakes | 73 | 14.4% |
| Electrical | 71 | 14% |
| Other | 56 | 11% |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 51 | 10% |
| Engine | 38 | 7.5% |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 36 | 7.1% |
| Airbags & Restraints | 23 | 4.5% |
| Fuel System | 19 | 3.7% |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 17 | 3.3% |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 16 | 3.1% |
| Steering | 7 | 1.4% |
One complaint can name several areas, so the rows total more than 508.
Visibility & Lighting's 40.7% share is worth naming, not treating as a confirmed defect. Owners pick components from a fixed list on NHTSA's complaint form, and RideTruth groups the visibility, wiper and exterior-lighting components into this one category. A headlight bulb and a windshield wiper can land in the same row.
Does Mazda sell a CX-6 in the US?
Not as far as RideTruth's catalog shows. RideTruth's database, built on NHTSA and EPA records, carries no CX-6 model year for Mazda at all. That's what the catalog contains, not a statement about what Mazda has announced or plans to sell; if a US CX-6 exists, it isn't in the data this page draws from.
What does this tell a CX-5 buyer?
Not which year to avoid. The 2016's complaints lean on Visibility & Lighting, which gives a 2016 shopper one system to ask a pre-purchase inspector about.
If you already own a CX-5, CX-30 or CX-50, your garage can store it and check it against each new NHTSA recall campaign.