The best and worst Mazda CX5 years, by the numbers
Short answer: among Mazda CX5s old enough to judge (2012–2022), the 2012 and 2020–2022 have the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold. The 2013–2014, 2016 and 2018 have the most.
We counted every owner complaint filed with the federal government (NHTSA) for each model year and divided by how many were sold that year, so a year that sold more doesn’t look worse just for being popular. Years newer than 2022 are shown but not ranked — they haven’t been on the road long enough. How this is calculated.
Years with the most complaints
2013 Mazda CX5 · 24.4 per 10,000 sold (2.1× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Body control and other modules, typically around 69,000 miles; then harsh, delayed or erratic shifting.
2014 Mazda CX5 · 38.0 per 10,000 sold (3.2× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Body control and other modules, typically around 60,000 miles; then water leaks and seals.
2016 Mazda CX5 · 45.4 per 10,000 sold (3.8× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Wiring harness, grounds and connectors, typically around 40,000 miles; then body control and other modules.
2018 Mazda CX5 · 23.1 per 10,000 sold (1.9× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Head gasket and cylinder head, typically around 82,500 miles; then infotainment, screen and software.
Years with the fewest complaints
2012 Mazda CX5 · 0.2 per 10,000 sold (0.0× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Stalling and no-start, typically around 2,000 miles.
2020 Mazda CX5 · 7.2 per 10,000 sold (0.6× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Infotainment, screen and software, typically around 700 miles.
2021 Mazda CX5 · 8.7 per 10,000 sold (0.7× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Oil consumption and leaks, typically around 33,900 miles.
2022 Mazda CX5 · 4.2 per 10,000 sold (0.4× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Body control and other modules, typically around 46,000 miles.
Every year: complaints per 10,000 sold
Typical Mazda CX5 year: 11.9 per 10,000 sold.
Complaints are counted once each, even when an owner lists several parts. Sales are US units sold in the calendar year, a close stand-in for the model year.
Common questions
What is the worst year for the Mazda CX5?
Among Mazda CX5s old enough to judge (2012–2022), the 2016 has the most owner complaints per 10,000 sold: 45.4, about 3.8× a typical Mazda CX5 year. The 2013–2014 and 2018 also stand out.
What is the best year for the Mazda CX5?
The 2012 has the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold among Mazda CX5s from 2012–2022: 0.2, against 11.9 for a typical year. The 2020–2022 are also well below typical.
What goes wrong on the 2016 Mazda CX5?
The most-reported problem on the 2016 Mazda CX5 is wiring harness, grounds and connectors, typically around 40,000 miles.
Why aren't the newest Mazda CX5 years ranked?
The 2023–2026 haven't been on the road long enough. Newer cars have fewer complaints mainly because they're newer, so ranking them would flatter them.
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Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; US sales from public industry figures. Complaints are self-reported and not independently verified. This is not an inspection and not a recommendation to buy or avoid any vehicle.