Skip to content
CarCaseFile

Mazda · 1st gen (KE) · 2013–2016

Mazda CX-5 (2013–2016): Problems, Reliability & Repair Costs

The first-gen CX-5 is one of the more reliable compact crossovers of its decade. The Skyactiv-G 2.0L and 2.5L engines are durable, the 6-speed automatic is well-regarded, and there's no transmission landmine. The real annoyances are the MZD Connect infotainment that freezes and reboots, a windshield that chips and cracks far too easily, and on 2016 cars the daytime-running LED that burns out into a four-figure repair. Buy on condition; this is a sound used SUV, not a money pit.

8/10 CarCaseFile
reliability score

Engines

  • PE-VPS (Skyactiv-G 2.0) — 2.0L gasoline, 155 hp
  • PY-VPS (Skyactiv-G 2.5) — 2.5L gasoline, 184 hp

Transmissions

  • Skyactiv-Drive — automatic, 6-speed
  • manual , 6-speed

Drivetrain

FWD / AWD

Body

SUV / crossover

Should you buy a 2013–2016 Mazda CX-5?

Buy it. The 1st-gen CX-5 is a genuinely reliable, fun-to-drive compact crossover with no expensive mechanical landmine — the Skyactiv engines and the 6-speed automatic are the strong points, not the weak ones. The 2.5L (2014+) is the better all-rounder. What you're actually buying around is nuisance stuff: a glitchy MZD Connect screen, a windshield that's known to crack easily, and on 2016 cars an LED daytime running light that's expensive when it fails. None of those is a dealbreaker. Check it like any used SUV and you'll get a dependable car.

Best years

2015, 2014 (2.5L)

Years to avoid

2013 (oil-use reports, first-year MZD Connect bugs), 2016 (highest complaint volume — DRL/LED failures, Smart City Brake gripes)

Pre-purchase inspection checklist

  • ☐Check oil level on the dipstick — 2013–2014 2.0L cars sometimes burn oil. Low or dark oil on a car that was 'just serviced' is a flag.
  • ☐Inspect the windshield closely for chips, stars, and divots. CX-5 windshields are documented to crack easily, and replacement on Smart-City-Brake cars is pricier because of the camera bracket.
  • ☐Sit in the car and cycle the MZD Connect screen — navigation, Bluetooth pairing, audio. A unit that freezes or reboots is the known weak point, especially when cold.
  • ☐On 2016 cars, confirm both daytime running lights work. A dead LED module is an expensive fix on this year.
  • ☐Open and hold the liftgate — it should stay up. Sagging struts are a known corrosion recall (16V644000); confirm it was done.
  • ☐Verify open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov: fuel filler pipe (16V064000), steering knuckle bolts (16V203000), liftgate struts (16V644000).
  • ☐Test-drive for dashboard and door rattles, common on 2013–2015 cars; annoying but not mechanical.
  • ☐On AWD cars, listen for driveline noise and confirm regular fluid service if mileage is high.

Common Mazda CX-5 problems & repair costs

MZD Connect infotainment freezes and reboots

$0–$300
infotainment minor 2013–2016

Symptoms: Touchscreen freezes or goes black; Bluetooth drops or won't pair; maps fail to load; on some cars the system reboots repeatedly in cold weather until the cabin warms up.

Fix: Most cases clear with the manual reset (hold Mute + Nav + Back ~10 seconds) or a software update at the dealer. Persistent failures point to the connectivity master unit (CMU); a replacement is the worst case but rarely needed.

Sources: Mazda Enthusiast Forums — infotainment reboots when cold, Mazda Connect Owner's Manual — troubleshooting

Windshield cracks and chips too easily

$300–$900
body/glass moderate 2013–2016 ~20k–40k mi

Symptoms: Stress cracks and divots appear with little or no obvious impact. Early in the car's life this was common enough to cause a replacement-glass supply shortage.

Fix: Windshield replacement. On 2016 Smart-City-Brake cars the camera/LIDAR bracket must be transferred or replaced and the system recalibrated, which raises the cost — use OEM-spec glass.

Sources: CarComplaints — 2015 CX-5 windshield (divots/cracks), What Car? — used CX-5 reliability (windscreen vulnerability)

Daytime running LED failure (2016)

$500–$1,200
electrical/lighting moderate 2016 ~~45k mi

Symptoms: One or both LED daytime running lights stop working; warning may appear. This is the single most-reported issue on the 2016 model.

Fix: The DRL is an integrated LED module, not a bulb, so replacement is expensive — the headlight assembly or module is the part. Some owners pursue aftermarket LED repair to cut cost.

Sources: CarComplaints — Mazda CX-5 (2016 DRL/LED failure)

Smart City Brake Support unexpected activation (2016)

$0–$400
driver assist / brakes safety 2016

Symptoms: The low-speed automatic emergency braking applies the brakes for no apparent reason. Owners link it to a dirty front Mazda-logo sensor, a windshield-mounted toll transponder interfering with the unit, or oversensitive control logic; dealers often can't reproduce it.

Fix: Keep the front emblem sensor and windshield camera clean; relocate any toll transponder away from the sensor zone. Dealer software/diagnosis where it persists. Separately, NHTSA recall 16E002000 covered certain replacement windshields whose sensor bracket was attached with tape only.

Sources: Top Class Actions — Mazda smart-brake defect lawsuit, Mazda Enthusiast Forums — Smart City Brake malfunction, new 2016 CX-5

Safety recalls: fuel filler pipe, liftgate struts, steering knuckle

$0–$0
recalls safety 2013–2016 (varies by recall)

Symptoms: No driver symptom in most cases — these are inspect/replace recalls. Sagging or dropping liftgate is the one you may notice; corroded struts can break.

Fix: All performed free at a Mazda dealer. Fuel filler pipe (16V064000, 2014–2016, can rupture in a crash); liftgate support struts (16V644000, 2013–2016, corrode and break); front strut-to-knuckle bolts (16V203000, 2014–2016, can loosen). Verify completion by VIN before buying.

Sources: Cars.com — Mazda CX-5 recalls (campaign numbers), NHTSA — Mazda CX-5 recalls by VIN

Above-average oil consumption (early 2.0L)

$0–$200
engine moderate 2013–2014

Symptoms: Oil level drops noticeably between changes on some 2.0L cars; if ignored, low oil can damage the engine over time.

Fix: Mostly a maintenance-discipline issue: check oil monthly and top up. Confirm no leaks. Heavy consumers should be diagnosed, but most CX-5 engines are durable when oil is kept full.

Sources: Samarins — Mazda CX-5 2013–2016 problems, What Car? — used CX-5 reliability

The CX-5 is cheap to run for a crossover. The Skyactiv engines and 6-speed automatic are reliable and don't have a known catastrophic failure, so most spend is normal wear — brakes, tires, fluids, and the occasional battery. Budget separately for two things specific to this car: a windshield (they crack easily, and 2016 sensor cars cost more to reglaze), and, on a 2016, the possibility of an expensive LED daytime-running-light repair. Routine maintenance is simple and parts are widely available and reasonably priced.

DIY repairs & parts

Reset a frozen MZD Connect screen

easy 5 min saves ~$0–$150

Tools: None

  1. Put the ignition in ACC or ON (engine can be off).
  2. On the center commander/console, press and hold three buttons together: Volume/Mute, Nav (Entertainment), and Back.
  3. Keep holding about 10 seconds until the screen goes dark and the Mazda logo reappears.
  4. Release and let the system fully reboot before touching anything.
  5. If it keeps freezing, check for a free MZD Connect software update at a Mazda dealer.

Parts

  • No parts — software reset

Replace the engine air filter

easy 15 min saves ~$40–$90

Tools: Flat screwdriver (clips)

  1. Locate the black airbox on the driver's side of the engine bay.
  2. Release the clips on the airbox lid and lift it enough to reach the filter.
  3. Pull out the old panel filter, noting its orientation.
  4. Drop in the new filter the same way and re-seat the lid, snapping all clips down.

Parts

Replace cabin air filter

easy 20 min saves ~$50–$100

Tools: None (hand-release glovebox)

  1. Open the glovebox, then squeeze the side walls inward to release the stops and let it drop down fully.
  2. Unclip the filter cover behind the glovebox.
  3. Slide out the old filter; note the airflow arrow direction.
  4. Insert the new filter with the arrow pointing the same way, refit the cover, and re-seat the glovebox.

Parts

Some parts links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no cost to you. We only list parts that fit this generation.

The short version

The 2013–2016 Mazda CX-5 is one of the better-aged compact crossovers you can buy used. Mazda’s Skyactiv-G engines — the 2.0L and, from 2014, the stronger 2.5L — are durable, and the 6-speed Skyactiv-Drive automatic is a genuine plus: a normal torque-converter gearbox, not a CVT or dual-clutch, with no generational failure pattern. There’s no engine-grenade landmine here the way there is on some rivals.

What you’re actually buying around is nuisance-grade stuff. MZD Connect, the center screen, is known to freeze, drop Bluetooth, and reboot itself when it’s cold. The windshield is documented to crack and divot far too easily — common enough early on to cause a glass shortage. And on 2016 cars specifically, the daytime-running LED likes to burn out, and because it’s an integrated module rather than a bulb, the fix can run four figures.

What that means when you’re shopping

The 2014 (with the 2.5L) and 2015 cars are the sweet spot. The first-year 2013 had more oil-consumption reports on the 2.0L and the earliest infotainment bugs; the 2016 carries the most complaints, mostly from the LED light failures and the occasional Smart City Brake Support applying the brakes on its own.

Whatever year you look at, do three things: check the oil level (early 2.0L cars can use oil), study the windshield for chips and stress cracks, and cycle the MZD Connect screen through nav, audio, and Bluetooth to see if it stutters. Then run the VIN at nhtsa.gov — this generation has several free recalls (fuel filler pipe, liftgate struts, steering-knuckle bolts) and you want them already done.

Everything else is ordinary used-SUV maintenance. Keep the oil full and the recalls closed, and a clean CX-5 is a dependable, genuinely enjoyable car to own.

How this file is built: failure modes, recall campaign numbers, and cost ranges are compiled from NHTSA recall data, CarComplaints owner reports, owner forums, and used-car reliability reviews, then sanity-checked against shop-floor experience. Note: the widely-cited Mazda “melting/sticky dashboard” sun-glare lawsuit covers the 2009–2011 Mazda3 and Mazda6, not the CX-5 — so it is deliberately not listed above. Cost figures are independent-shop estimates and vary by region. Spot something off? Tell us.

Viral car myths, checked

Frequently asked questions

Is the first-gen Mazda CX-5 reliable?

Yes. The 2013–2016 CX-5 is one of the more dependable compact crossovers of its era. The Skyactiv 2.0L and 2.5L engines and the 6-speed automatic have no known catastrophic failure, and Consumer Reports rated reliability above average. The common complaints are nuisances — infotainment glitches, easily cracked windshields, and a 2016-specific LED light failure — not engine or transmission disasters.

Which Mazda CX-5 years should I avoid?

The 2016 collected the most complaints, driven largely by daytime-running LED failures and Smart City Brake gripes, so inspect a 2016 carefully. The first-year 2013 had more oil-consumption reports and early MZD Connect bugs. The 2014 (with the 2.5L) and 2015 are generally the sweet spot.

Does the CX-5 have transmission problems?

No widespread ones. The CX-5 uses a conventional Skyactiv-Drive 6-speed automatic — not a CVT or dual-clutch — and it's one of the car's strengths. Service the fluid on schedule and it's durable. A few owners report shift feel quirks, but there's no generational failure pattern.

Why do CX-5 windshields crack so easily?

It's a documented weak point on this generation — stress cracks and divots appear with little obvious impact, and replacement glass was briefly in short supply early on. Budget for a windshield as a likely ownership cost, and note that 2016 Smart-City-Brake cars cost more to reglaze because the sensor must be recalibrated.

What recalls affect the 2013–2016 CX-5?

Several: a fuel filler pipe that can rupture in a crash (16V064000, 2014–2016), liftgate support struts that corrode and break (16V644000, 2013–2016), and front strut-to-knuckle bolts that can loosen (16V203000, 2014–2016). There was also a replacement-windshield bracket recall on 2016 Smart-City-Brake cars (16E002000). Check any specific VIN at nhtsa.gov.