List of Years to Avoid in the Mazda Cx5 (+7 Reliable Models)

This blog will list out the production years of the Mazda CX-5 that you should avoid and answer the following questions: what are the common problems in the Mazda CX-5? Which years of Mazda CX-5 are safe to buy? What are the specifications of the latest Mazda CX-5?

Mazda Cx5- Which years should you avoid?

The Mazda CX-5 manufactured in the following years must be avoided because of the number of problems reported by the customers.

• 2014 Mazda CX-5
• 2016 Mazda CX-5

Let’s take a look at the problem present in the above-mentioned models:

2014 Mazda CX-5

The 2014 model is the first generation of the Mazda CX-5, it replaced the Tribute in the international market. Petrol and diesel engines are available in the first generation. Despite having reliable drivetrains and good build quality, customers of the 2014 CX-5 reported more than 100 problems.

The most common problem in the 2014 model was imperative daytime running lamps in the headlights. Front left or front right daytime running lamp inoperative message came in the instrument cluster.

There is a separate LED control module in the lamp unit which controls the daytime running LED. This control module is not properly sealed and due to moisture penetration, the control unit circuit board corrodes.

The only remedy is to replace the LED actuation control unit and code the new LED control unit. In some cases, complete lamp units are also replaced because of damage due to condensation. Mazda provided additional rubber gaskets for the lamp housing and the control unit to rectify the concern.

Another common problem was with the support struts for the tailgate. The CX-5 is a compact SUV with a heavy tailgate. The stock support strut used to hold the tailgate in the open position is not strong and the tailgate falls on the head of the driver due to its weight.

Even after replacing the support struts with modified parts, many customers reported the problem still occurs. There are no electric motors in the strut to automatically open and close the tailgate.

2016 Mazda Cx-5

The 2016 Mazda CX-5 is also the first generation but Mazda rectified and used many updated parts in the production of the vehicle in order to make it more reliable. However, the number of problems reported by the customer was still very high.

One of the most critical issues was the built quality of the windshield glass. The windshield glass is made from automotive safety glass and it should be compatible with the use of advanced driver assistance systems like automatic wipers or adaptive brakes.

The windshield glass on the CX-5 develops cracks on the top or the bottom sides. These cracks form due to structural stress. The windshield is bolded to the vehicle body with a special paste that not only seals the vehicle cabin but also increases the structural integrity.

If the CX-5 is driven in the rain with a cracked windshield, water can easily enter the inside of the car. There are critical electrical components on the floor of the car and if the water reaches these comments; the repair cost can be very expensive.

The more serious problem in the CX-5 is the brake system. The material of the brake disc and caliper is known to get rust which causes premature wear of the brake pads. The 2016 CX-5 came with an electronic parking brake that uses electric motors mounted on the back of the brake calipers to apply brakes. 

Due to rust and corrosion, the electronic motor does not disengage the parking brake completely. Brake pads remain in contact with the brake disc and completely overheat the brakes.

The brake disc, caliper, and parking brake motor need replacement to solve this problem. In some cases, the parking brake control unit also gets damaged due to the internal short in one of the parking brake motors.

What are the common problems in the Mazda CX-5?

The following common problems are present in the first as well as second generation Mazda CX-5. These problems cannot be pinpointed to a particular year and usually depends on the age and mileage of the vehicle.

• Engine-related problems 

The Mazda CX-5 engine does not turn off even after pressing the engine start-stop switch. This issue is present in petrol as well as diesel engines. The engine control unit uses the input from the shift lever to recognize the P pr parking gear in the transmission.

If this signal is not received from the engine control unit, it prevents the engine from turning off. The sensor is located in the shifter. Many customers operate the shifter quickly so that the sensor can recognize the transmission is in P.

The remedy is to replace the faulty shift lever position sensor with a modified one. It costs less than 60 USD and does not require major disassembly. Mazda also issued repair instructions to all the authorized dealerships. 

• Media system-related problems

Many customers have reported problems with the media system in the Mazda CX-5. The software is not properly optimized and at times it is very sluggish. There are ghost touches on the media display screen.

Due to the ghosts’ touches, the radio stations can change on their own. It is very difficult to use the dial pad to call someone. The systems also constantly reboot or get stuck in bootloader mode. 

This problem does not cause any breakdown but the media system is used by the driver for navigation and it becomes impossible to use it due to the ghost touches.

The only solution is to replace the media display because there is a problem with the digitizer of the touchscreen. It is not a cheap fix as the cost of the new touchscreen is more than 1000 USD. 

Replacing the touchscreen is also expensive because it is installed in the dashboard and needs removal.

Which years of Mazda CX-5 are safe to buy?

The Mazda CX-5 produced in the following years are safe to buy:

2013 Mazda CX-5

2015 Mazda CX-5

2017 Mazda CX-5

2018 Mazda CX-5

2019 Mazda CX-5

2020 Mazda CX-5

2021 Mazda CX-5

What are the specifications of the latest Mazda CX-5?

The specifications of the latest Mazda CX-5 are given in the table below

Conclusion

This blog listed the reasons for avoiding the Mazda CX-5 manufactured in 2014 & 2016. The Mazda CX-5 is assembled globally and it is one of the highest-selling models manufactured by Mazda. Only two generations have been launched until now and the problems are certainly less than its predecessor model.