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Mazda · NHTSA safety record

2015 Mazda CX-5

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 133 safety complaints about the 2015 Mazda CX-5 with the US government. Of those, 11 describe a crash, 7 people were injured and no death is recorded. 3 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the body structure, named in 27 complaints, 20% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 27,000 miles, the median across the 93 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers July 2014 to September 2025 · How this is counted

What is on file

133 complaints on file

133

Complaints

11

Describe a crash

0

Mention fire

7

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
STRUCTURE 27 · 20%
POWER TRAIN 19 · 14%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16 · 12%
ENGINE 14 · 11%
SERVICE BRAKES 14 · 11%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 12 · 9%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 10 · 8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8 · 6%
VISIBILITY 7 · 5%
AIR BAGS 5 · 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 5 · 4%
SEATS 5 · 4%
0 12 23

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 133.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2017 at 30.

32 24 16 8
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2014 to 2025.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2015 Mazda CX-5, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test SUV AWD SUV FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 16.9% 17.4%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

3 on file

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

16V644000 · September 6, 2016

The defect
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 26, 2015, and 2013-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured December 15, 2011, to December 26, 2015. On the affected vehicles, the lift gate support struts may corrode, possibly causing the struts to break and/or the lift gate to drop unexpectedly.
The risk
If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
The remedy
Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9916H.

Mazda North American Operations · up to 580,455 vehicles across all model years covered

STEERING

16V203000 · April 11, 2016

The defect
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 2, 2015, 2013-2014 Mazda2 vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to August 8, 2014, 2014-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured January 19, 2013, to December 2, 2015, and 2013-2015 CX-9 vehicles manufactured December 6, 2012, to July 31, 2015. The lower mounting nuts and bolts that attach the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle may loosen, allowing the steering knuckle to separate.
The risk
If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower mounting nuts and bolts that secure the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle. If the bolts are loose, they will be replaced and then correctly tightened, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 20, 2016. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9316D.

Mazda North American Operations · up to 578 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

16V064000 · February 3, 2016

The defect
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Mazda CX-5 vehicles manufactured June 27, 2013, to February 2, 2016. The affected vehicles have a fuel filler pipe that may rupture in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
The risk
A rupture of the fuel filler pipe may result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will alter the attachment between the fuel filler pipe and the left rear side of the bracket of the fuel filler pipe, free of charge. The recall began on February 25, 2016. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 9216B.

Mazda North American Operations · up to 268,799 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SEAT BELTS

2 injured · crash · towed · 31,652 miles

DURING HARD BREAKING (ABS ENGAGED) AT 30 MPH CITY TRAFFIC, FOLLOWED BY A FRONT END CRASH, BOTH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS FOR THE TWO FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS FAILED, FAILING TO KEEP THE PASSENGERS SECURED IN THEIR SEATS THE BELTS NEVER LOCKED AND COMPLETELY DESPOOLED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO USE THE STEERING WHEEL TO REMAIN SEATED, HOWEVER THE PASSENGER'S HEAD IMPACTED AND SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. THE PASSENGER ALSO HAD BAD BRUISING FROM THE FINAL RESTRAINT OF THE BELTS AFTER IT DESPOOLED AND STOPPED.

NHTSA complaint 11015170. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

2 injured · crash · towed · 149,200 miles

I was on my way home going down a windy back road going about 45 mph. there was a jeep in front of me and the mail truck was in front of them. the mail truck went to slow down and take a right onto a different road and as the jeep slowed down i applied my breaks and there was no response. this was not the first time this had happened in this vehicle but this time i panicked and i had to cut my wheel into the persons front yard to the right of us as i was continuously picking my foot up and slamming it down on the break and there was no response my car was just speeding up. i ended up going into the road that the mail truck was taking a right on and i hit the front of his truck and went

NHTSA complaint 11521446, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

1 injured · 42,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MAZDA CX-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE INDEPENDENTLY FELL AND STRUCK THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER IN THE HEAD. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V644000 (STRUCTURE). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA complaint 10981706. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY

1 injured · 103,000 miles

The contact called on behalf of his daughter who owns a 2015 Mazda CX5. The contact stated that while his daughter was loading groceries in the trunk, the liftgate dropped unexpectedly and the corner of the liftgate hit her in the head, causing a laceration. The contact's daughter was taken to urgent care where she was informed that she had sustained a laceration and three staples were put on the laceration. The dealer was notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V644000 (Structure); however, the recall remedy failed to resolve the safety

NHTSA complaint 11496770, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
With a heavy downpour of rain the bsm flashes off, then after sitting for a few hours the car battery dies and the key fob is not recognized in the vehicle. Took it to a dealership and it stopped doing it. Code that are thrown have to do with some computer communication failing. I have had the car die on me 4 times in the last year that I’ve had it.

NHTSA complaint 11686403. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

crash

I was near a red light and applied the brakes, but the car accelerated and ran into the truck stopped in front of me. This happened around May of 2024. I took the car to the Elk Grove Mazda dealer. They ran diagnostic and road tests but found nothing wrong. The car had the same problem again sometime later inside my garage. The car rammed into the drywall while I tried to stop by pressing the brake pedal. I took the car to the AAA repair shop in August 2024. They spent three days, and they told me they found a problem with the "steering angle sensor." It was 22 degrees off calibration. They reset the sensor, and the car ran better. However, the car acted again after some driving. It tries

NHTSA complaint 11674250, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
Air bags came out on own

NHTSA complaint 11637272. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
While driving on the freeway the check engine light came on. I was able to drive the car home the remaining 20 minutes but there was some noticeable difficulty accelerating. When I went to turn on the car later that day the engine would not turn over and there was an audible rattling/chugging sound and the car itself shook. I was unable to get the car to start and the check engine light remained on. I had AAA check the battery the next day and confirm it was not a battery issue and a diagnostic revealed the P0192 code. AAA towed it to their shop where it was confirmed by the manager mechanic that the issue was with the high pressure fuel pump and that it was causing an issue with the low

NHTSA complaint 11605868, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

25,000 miles

The contact owns a 2015 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while pressing the brake pedal the engine had experienced very high revving and the vehicle would lurch forward. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who performed a PCM and TCM program update and reset the KAM per the manufacturers TSB. The contact indicated that the failure was corrected for a while but recently the failure had reoccurred. The local dealer was contacted and a service appointment was scheduled. No further information was available. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 25,000.

NHTSA complaint 11572876. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

crash · towed

Was involved in accident on 8/12/23 with speed over 30mph at impact and not a single airbag deployed

NHTSA complaint 11570804. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Mazda CX-5

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2024 44 0 —
2023 63 0 —
2022 63 0 —
2021 147 0 —
2020 107 0 —
2019 270 2 —
2018 350 3 —
2017 148 1 —
2016 510 4 —
2014 377 3 —
2013 194 1 —

Other 2015 Mazda models

MAZDA3 130 MAZDA6 60 CX-9 35 MAZDA5 9

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Mazda on this site — 82 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst