2016 Mazda CX-5 Complaints

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 04/19/2026

My wife was driving our 2016 Mazda CX-5, and was getting ready to pull into our daughters' driveway. My wife slowed down to a stop before entering the driveway. She gave the vehicle some gas to move forward. She stated that there was a pause, then the vehicle accelerated forward slamming into the garage door and the corner of the garage/house. There was also a Tesla parked inside the garage that was knocked back about a foot and a half. The distance from the edge of driveway and street to the garage door is about 27 feet. This happened at 1:30 PM. The weather conditions were great, sunny and dry. Thankfully, no one was hurt. If my wife was another foot to the right, she would have hit the support post for the upper balcony, and there would have been a good chance of the balcony falling on top of her. Or, if someone was standing in front of my wife when she entered the driveway, they could have seriously been hurt! There were no warning lights on prior to the accident. This happened last Sunday, April 19, 2026. We had the car towed to a local body shop on the same day as the accident. The vehicle was towed away the very next day to our insurance company's salvage lot in Bakersfield. I do have all the information, address and phone number, of the lot where our car was towed to. Hopefully, the car can still be inspected by the proper authorities. Thank you for your time!

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS — Filed 02/11/2026

I noticed smoke filling the inside of my car. I looked over at the passenger seat, and my coat was on fire. I poured my drink on it, pulled over, and threw the coat out of the car. I saw a large hole in the lumbar area of the passenger seat, and it was glowing red and putting out a lot of heat. The seat heater was on, so I immediately turned it off. It was obvious that the fire has started inside the seat, and there was no other fire source in car--ie. lit cigarette, lighter, etc. If someone had been sitting there, they would have serious burns. The seat will need to be replaced.

SEATS — Filed 01/31/2026

Leather heated seats .. safety put at risks because I suffered burns on my bottom (butt) from the driver seat getting too hot to the point where it burned the seat itself as well , and made a brown burn mark on the seat … Both of my cheeks got burned .. this can in the long run cause skin damage and worse case scenario cancer. No it hasn’t been inspected No warning lamps

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS — Filed 12/16/2025

I was driving down the road and started smelling smoke then looked over and my passenger seat was in flames.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS — Filed 10/29/2025

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEATING SYSTEM CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED THROUGH THE FABRIC AND MY DOG'S SEAT. THE FUMES MADE ME AND MY DOG NAUSEOUS.I HAD TO SWERVE ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND STOP ON THE SHOULDER TO EXTINGUISH THE SEAT FIRE/BURN. THE FUSE WAS PULLED FOR SAFETY. THE SEAT IS IN STORAGE FOR INSPECTION. MAZDA WILL BE CONTACTED.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 10/17/2025

UNKNOWN Slowly driving into garage when suddenly the engine revved up loudly and unattended accelerated forward, causing extensive damage to front of car, a piece of furniture and garage wall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 03/17/2025

We had another CX-5 in the back that we used to test whether or not it was either the throttle body or the BCM ( Body Control Module ) or the PCM ( Power Control Module ) not working that is causing your vehicle to not wanting to turn on The throttle body passed we transferred it over from vehicle A ( Being the donor ) to vehicle B (Being your vehicle ) and it was still doing the same thing which it would crank but not fully turn on and that is how we ruled that part out The BCM we also transferred over from vehicle A to vehicle B and same thing it would crank but not fully turn on This is what the mechanic at Mazda Collision Center of Irving stated: The PCM has power and is communicating with everything else in the vehicle. If it was the PCM then nothing would work and we wouldn't be able to even cycle the power as if we were going to turn on the vehicle We brought this over to our Mazda Foreman and we showed him the codes it was throwing and what was going on and explained everything and he did tell us that it could be the main harness that is causing all of this he is not for sure just because he is not the mechanic involved in this but he said that is a good start. I am uncertain exactly what is wrong with the vehicle. When I took it in to be serviced, it worked. The mechanic then said he couldn't work on it anymore after trying to fix the body work because the electrical system had failed. I then had it towed to Mazda to see if they could fix the issue. I had originally took it in because of a minor fender bender. I am unclear as to why it has taken four months and my car still doesn't work and I do not know how to afford buying a car to replace it when I cannot trade it in since we cannot resolve the electronic portion through insurance.

SEATS — Filed 02/21/2025

The front passenger seat warmer caught fire as i was driving the vehicle. No fuse tripped or anything when it over heated. The seat not just melted but actually caught fire and filled the vehicle with smoke.

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 12/27/2024

I was driving on a city street and slowed to turn right onto a driveway at at a private residence. As my car entered the driveway and near the end of the right turn, my car had a sudden unintended uncontrolled acceleration, continued the turn, went over a low hedge of shrubs on the right side of the driveway, continued down a short rocky incline, and landed on a large rock where the car stopped.

SEATS — Filed 10/26/2019

Vehicle was t-boned by another vehicle that was traveling 40mph. Both front seats are now loose, and have been for some time. Insurance refused to cover seat replacement during repairs in fear of going above the “totaled” threshold and it being a total loss. Now we are concerned about the safety of our vehicle, and we are scared to drive it on major highways where the risk of accidents are higher.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 02/12/2023

The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda CX5. The contact stated that on two separate occasions, the vehicle unintentionally accelerated without warning in an attempt to park the vehicle. On the first occasion, the vehicle drove in between two trees with the contact's foot on the brake pedal before the vehicle came to a stop. The air bags did not deploy upon impact and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to an independent body shop where the vehicle was repaired for minor damage. The contact was also informed that no computer codes indicated any signs of a mechanical failure. On the second occasion, the vehicle crashed into a parked vehicle while again attempting to park the vehicle in a parking lot. The force of the collision caused the already hit vehicle to crash into yet another parked vehicle. The air bags did not deploy upon impact and no injuries were reported. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed back to the same independent mechanic where the code reader indicated that the vehicle had a low battery; however, the battery did not need to be replaced. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle remained in the possession of the independent mechanic and had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS — Filed 11/20/2021

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CAUGHT FIRE WHEN SEAT WARMERS WERE ON. I WAS TRAVELLING IN A RURAL AREA IN ALASKA WHEN I HAD TO STOP BECAUSE MY PASSENGER CAUGHT FIRE ON HER JACKET.

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SEATS — Filed 12/08/2021

The contact owned a 2016 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, another vehicle going 110 MPH crashed into the rear of the vehicle. The air bags failed to de[ploy. The contact hit his head against the front driver's side window and he became unconscious. The contact stated upon regaining consciousness, he noticed that he was laying flat on his back as the seat had fractured. The contact also noticed that the seat belt had fractured into two. The front of the other vehicle caught on fire and the fire expanded to the rear of the contact's vehicle. The emergency units and State police patrol assisted the contact out of the vehicle through the driver's side door. The emergency units transported the contact to the hospital, where he was informed that he had sustained head, neck, and back injuries. Additionally, the contact was informed that he had sustained a stroke on the left side of his body. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000. The VIN was unavailable.

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 07/15/2017

Parked by the curb at the Ft. Lauderdale International Airport. I put the car in Park and left the car idling with the air-conditioning running.as it was 95 degrees and about 100 at around 8:00 AM. There was a shuttle van parked by the curb about 11 feet in front of me. I had to exit my car to talk to the driver in the car behind me. I walked to the car behind me and started talking to the driver. I glanced back at my Mazda CX5 and it started rolling forward. I ran up to the car and got the door open and stepped on the brake. The brakes did not engage. I repeated stepping on the brake several times and the car would not stop. I got in the drivers seat to shift the car into reverse and keep my foot on the brake pedal. The car would not shift into reverse. and by this time the Mazda had pinned to the shuttle van a lady who was trying to unload her luggage. On the sixth attempt to shift into reverse the shifter finally moved into reverse and by standers came to the aid of the lady that had been pinned to the shuttle van. Airport security and the Broward County police took the statements. The lady retrieving her baggage declined medical attention. When I checked to see what the police were reporting they did not acknowledge that I was attempting to stop a runaway vehicle. The report said that I failed to put the car in park and left it in drive. It is not possible to get out of a car that is idling and in gear without the car moving forward or backward before you can even get all the way out of the car. This incident happened about mid July in 2017. Near the end of June this year while in my driveway I left the car idling and in park, exited the car walking to the rear of the car and it dropped into reverse. Got back in the car and shut off the engine. July 2017 the local Mazda dealer inspected the vehicle and could not find as problem. Not unlikely with an intermittent electrical anomaly. There were no prior warning lamps in either incident.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 08/11/2022

KEYLESS IGNITION -- THE PANIC BUTTON WENT OFF INADVENTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AND THE SOUND SYSTEM WENT OFF AND THE CAR STOPPED WORKING. THE KEYLESS IGNITION WAS LOCATED IN THE CUP HOLDER. iT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND CALLED AAA.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS — Filed 11/19/2021

While driving on a remote highway the seat heating was on on both the driver and passenger seat. After a while it felt way ti hot and smelled like something burning and found the passenger jacket (that was taken off and left behind his back to be extensively burnt. We stopped and checked the seat. We found a big hole and the seat was damaged as well as the 300 dls coat. Plus the risk of having burns I. The passenger back, which was only protected by the cost and other layers of clothing

AIR BAGS — Filed 08/09/2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA CX5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BRUISED SHOULDER AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD, AND WAS TAKEN OVER BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR AN EVALUATION. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,129. *BF*JB

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 07/25/2019

ON JULY 25 I SLOWED DOWN IN GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT. SLOWLY APPROACHING PARKING SPACE AND APPLYING THE BRAKE TO STOP CAR. THEN SUDDENLY WITH NO REASON THE CAR ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB.THEN CAR STOPPED AFTER I HIT BUILDING FORTUNATELY NO HUMANS. I WAS SHAKEN BUT NO BAGS DEPLOYED. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED IT WILL DO THIS AGAIN AND I WILL BE IN TRAFFIC OR NEAR PEOPLE AND I COULD HURT OR KILL MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF ANY PROBLEMS. CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY TO 8/12/2019. NHTSA HAD PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN 2010. PLEASE HELP WITH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ON MAZDA. PEOPLE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ME BACK TO 2015. THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT . NOBODY CALLED ME BACK AND CALLED AGENCY BEEN TOLD YOUR EMPLOYEE HE CANNOT GIVE ME INFORMATION I HAVE TO WRITE LETTER AND ASK. YOU ARE GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND YOUR MOTTO IS PEOPLE SAVING PEOPLE. PLEASE DO.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 07/25/2019

I SLOWED DOWN IN GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT. SLOWLY APPROACHING PARKING SPACE AND APPLYING THE BRAKE TO STOP CAR. THEN SUDDENLY WITH NO REASON THE CAR ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB AND HIT BUILDING. THE WHOLE RIGHT SIDE WAS HEAVY DAMAGED.I HAD NO CONTROL. IT WAS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I MOVED THE CAR OFF THE GRASS FROM BUILDING, THIS TIME STOPPED NORMALLY. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED IT WILL DO THIS AGAIN AND I COULD HURT OR KILL MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY TO 8/12/2019.PLEASE VISIT WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/MAZDA/CX-5/SERVICE-BRAKES-PROBLEM AND YOU WILL SEE SO MANY CX-5 OWNERS HAVE REPORTED PROBLEMS RELATED TO BRAKES. SOME EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION TWICE. THIS IS BIG SAFETY PROBLEM.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 05/14/2019

FUEL FILLER PIPE MELTED CAUSING EXTENSIVE FIRE AND DAMAGE. I HAVEN'T HAD USE OF MY VEHICLE SINCE 5/14/19. MAZDA IS AWARD AND DOESN'T CARE. NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED JUST HAPPENED. LOST MY JOB BECAUSE OF NO VEHICLE AND AM BEHIND ON ALL PAYMENTS . CAR WAS TRAVELING ON EXPRESS WAY WHEN HAPPENED. PLEASE CALL MECHANIC AT EXCEL COLLISION APACHE JUNCTION AZ FOR ALL DAMAGE AND DELAYS

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS — Filed 05/21/2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA CX-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ADDITIONALLY THE SHOULDER HARNESS ALSO FAILED TO PREVENT FORWARD MOTION IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CHEST INJURY DUE HER CHEST STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT YET SOUGHT. A CARDIOLOGIST WAS CONTACTED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

AIR BAGS — Filed 04/10/2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 MAZDA CX-5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A YIELD SIGN. DURING THE CRASH, THE YIELD SIGN CAME THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG DID NOT IMMEDIATELY DEPLOY. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED MOMENTS AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A LEFT ARM LACERATION THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

AIR BAGS — Filed 04/08/2019

I WAS INVOLVED IN THE CLASSIC TEE BONE SITUATION. I HIT THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS DAMAGED. I WAS ON A CITY STREET GOING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE CAR LENGTH BEFORE THE COLLISION HAPPENED. THEIR AIR BAGS INFLATED MINE DID NOT.

ENGINE — Filed 10/20/2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA CX-5. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE AND BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HEARD ANOTHER POPPING NOISE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE HIMSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CAPITOL MAZDA (LOCATED AT 980 CAPITOL EXPRESSWAY AUTO MALL, SAN JOSE, CA 95136, (408) 763-4018) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK FAILED AND THE ENGINE ROD WAS FRACTURED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1-1844061638. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 01/07/2019

I WAS STOPPED BUT DID NOT HAVE THE CAR IN PARK WHEN VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AT HIGH SPEED. I WAS IN A DRIVEWAY AND HIT SOMEONE'S GARAGE.