The Mazda CX-5 is a popular SUV that is fairly reliable overall. Some years have more issues than others, but Consumer Reports still recommend it. Buyers in the market for a new or used Mazda should know common issues to prepare for the cost of ownership.

Which Mazda CX-5 year has the most complaints?

According to Car Complaints, there are 366 complaints lodged over eight model years. For the 2014 CX-5, there were 96 complaints made. That went down for 2015 (11 complaints) but went back up to 133 complaints for 2016.

For that same year, Consumer Reports gave the reliability a four out of five. The owner satisfaction was three out of five. CR notes five recalls. The Daytime Running Lights failing, the light gate failing, and an issue with the steering system. The other two relate to the fuel filler pipe and a loose bracket on the windshield.

2017 shows only one complaint and 2018 shows three. Overall, that means the CX-5 is improving year over year. One of the biggest complaints in earlier years was about the windshield, which seems to have been remedied by Mazda.

Consumer Reports gave the 2017 and 2018 CX-5 a reliability score of five out of five. The overall owner satisfaction was four out of five. The 2018 model has two open recalls for the power train and airbags. For 2017, there is only a recall for the trailer wiring harness.

What are the biggest issues?

The number one issue noted across the board revolves around the windshield. Some drivers commented that the windshield cracked easily, which is a fairly significant issue. The typical repair cost is noted as $780 and usually requires a windshield replacement. 10 drivers complained about the cracked windshield.

The second most common issue is similar: that the windshield breaks easily. In order to repair (not replace) the windshield, it cost around $440. There were a total of 19 complaints about this. Some drivers noted that the windshield cracked out of nowhere, without any previous damage or cracks.

Another big issue was related to lights on the SUV. Drivers complained that the daytime running light LEDs went out prematurely. Other complaints noted that various blinkers and running lights went out. There were 41 noted complaints about the DRL failure.

The typical repair cost is about $1,130, which is a hefty price to pay. Since drivers need to replace the headlight assembly or headlamps, it is not a cheap fix.

That doesn’t mean you should avoid the CX-5

The CX-5 is popular for good reason. It is a reasonably priced SUV that comes with many standard safety features. When purchasing a used vehicle, it is a good idea to know about common problems before they happen.

Consumer Reports still recommends the 2016 Mazda CX-5. It scored a four out of five for reliability. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the various crash and rollover tests “good.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rated most crash and rollover tests four and five stars. The only category that received a three-star rating was the overall frontal-crash, passenger side.