Passenger side seat heater overheated and burned upholstery.
2016 Mazda CX-5 electrical problems
severe 64 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
64
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
3crashes
5fires
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 64 electrical complaints filed for the 2016 Mazda CX-5, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 64 electrical complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 11 model years of Mazda CX-5 in our records for electrical problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
I was driving down the road and started smelling smoke then looked over and my passenger seat was in flames.
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Mazda cx-5. The contact stated that while attempting to stop at 20 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond. The contact stated that while the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle accelerated continuously. The vehicle was able to be stopped after the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed…
Ebrake would not disengage on the Mazda cx-5 2016 gt with city brake and electronic e-brake at 36,100 miles during various parking locations scenarios. Vehicle would start normally at push of start button but the e-brake light would stay on in the flashing mode. Turn engine off/restarting would resolve the problem temporarily just to return to the same issue at random parking locations.…
Had electrical trouble with your 2016 Mazda CX-5?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2016 Mazda CX-5?
It's a meaningful issue. 64 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 30 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 15,613 and 47,000 miles, with the median around 35,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 15,613; a quarter make it past 47,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Mazda/CX-5.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.