2016 Mazda CX-5 Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 51about this part
- Share
- 10%of 512 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 5,411miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 51 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2016 Mazda CX-5, 10% of the 512 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 5,411 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“When starting car and putting it into drive, then push the gas, the car hesitates to go into drive then jolts when it finally shifts into gear from park. My concern is that it takes long to go into drive from park, and the engine revs and jolts violently when it finally reads the drive gear which is not normal and is a safety concern for me.”
NHTSA complaint #11255734, filed 2019-09, 23,700 miles“When the vehicle is parked, then I move gear from park to drive, or reverse to drive, the vehicle stalls to go into to drive for a couple of seconds, the engine revs then there is a forceful jolt when it finally kicks in to drive. Also, when I'm at a stop for a while, then press on the gas pedal to drive, it takes a couple of seconds for the car to drive. This is a big concern for me because there seems to be a delay with the drive gear.”
NHTSA complaint #11255874, filed 2019-09, 23,700 miles“Put car into reverse and all was fine. When I tried to put it into drive it wouldn't engage in drive. After a while it engaged with a hard clunk. When I drove it and would try to accelerate it was the same thing. As if the car was not shifting. This happened on both neighborhood streets and on the highway.”
NHTSA complaint #10852558, filed 2016-03, 4,700 miles“Stopped on highway at red light. Went to pull out on green, car hesitated then it felt like I was being hit from behind the transmission engaged with a big thud before I could get moving. Further on down the road it would without warning, downshift then upshift, going sometimes from 6th gear to 3rd and throwing me forward. Everytime I would stop and try to start there was hesitation from the transmission then it would slam into gear. …”
NHTSA complaint #10760020, filed 2015-08, 3,300 miles“Coasting. Driving to a stop sign or stop light or stopping point at a declining speed from 30mph to 25/20/15mph intervals are where the 'tugging'/'stutter' happens. Dealership says it is normal operation for the car to shift into gear when declining in speeds. Even corporate agreed with them. The only thing that is not normal is how come awd variation doesn't have this issue? My older Mazda 3 from 2009 I drove didn't have this issue. Tested a Mazda 3 new 2018 and they had this issue. Also tested a sales department 2016 fwd cx 5, similar issue. …”
NHTSA complaint #11080279, filed 2018-03, 36,500 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11032003May 1, 2026This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. 01-008/23 06/05/23 Some vehicles may exhibit rattling noises from the…
- 11032103Apr 21, 2026This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are noted in Red. SA-011/24 02/12/24, 06/06/24, 07/29/24 DESCRIPTION Mazda has developed factory…
- 11026350Nov 8, 2025Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Diagnostic Guidelines Diagnostic Guidelines When diagnosing NVH concerns, it is essential to first classify the issue into one of three…
- 11026351Nov 6, 2025Some customer's might state that they notice fluid or oil leaking/dripping on the ground when the vehicle is parked. For this concern, inspect the vehicle for any trace of a…
- 11009654Oct 24, 2024The SKYACTIV-DRIVE FW6A-EL AT uses “Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) Type: FZ”. Only use “ATF-FZ” to fill or top off the fluid level. ATF-FZ is specially designed for use in…
- 11007010Aug 7, 2024Some customer's might state that they notice fluid or oil leaking/dripping on the ground when the vehicle is parked. For this concern, inspect the vehicle for any trace of a…
- 10252507Mar 6, 2024Due to limitations, certain vehicles from 2016 to current models might display an inaccurate transmission part number in the Global Electronic Parts Catalog (GEPC). To provide…
- 10251387Feb 12, 2024Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as…
- 10237199May 17, 2023Some vehicles may experience the check engine light and automatic transaxle warning light ON with one or more of these DTCs stored in the TCM memory (P0842, P0847, P0872, P0877…
- 10225767Oct 17, 2022The new SKYACTIV-DRIVE FW6A-EL AT uses "Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) Type: FZ". Only use "ATF-FZ" to fill or top off the fluid level. ATF-FZ is specially designed for use…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 6% |
| 2025 | 3 | 10% |
| 2024 | 3 | 6% |
| 2023 | 3 | 4% |
| 2022 | 5 | 8% |
| 2021 | 17 | 11% |
| 2020 | 8 | 7% |
| 2019 | 32 | 12% |
| 2018 | 42 | 12% |
| 2017 | 11 | 7% |
| 2016 | 51 | 10% |
| 2015 | 19 | 14% |
| 2014 | 50 | 13% |
| 2013 | 38 | 20% |
Other parts of the 2016 Mazda CX-5
161 complaintsBrakes
72 complaintsElectrical system
72 complaintsOther or unknown
58 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
48 complaintsEngine
39 complaintsFuel system
20 complaintsAir bags
19 complaintsBody and structure
19 complaintsSeats
17 complaintsVehicle speed control
13 complaintsSuspension
11 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2016 Mazda CX-5
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology