YearToAvoid

2015 Mazda CX-5 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2015 Mazda CX-5 ranks 10th of 14 model years with a complaint index of 31 and earns a Good verdict. It has 133 complaints and 3 recalls, well below the worst years like 2016 (index 100) and 2014 (index 77).

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
31/100
#10 of 14 CX-5 years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
133
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
3
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
11
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
7
Top issue
Structure & Body
Best nearby year
2017
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
27
25 city / 31 hwy
Injuries / deaths
7 / 0

Top 2015 Mazda CX-5 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Structure & Body32 (24%)
  2. Engine26 (20%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain19 (14%)
  4. Other17 (13%)
  5. Visibility & Wipers16 (12%)
  6. Brakes14 (11%)
  7. Electrical System11 (8%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (8%)
  9. Fuel System7 (5%)
  10. Airbags5 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden unintended acceleration or engine surge while braking at low speed in parking lots, sometimes striking curbs or posts.
  • Some describe brakes failing to respond during normal driving, including one case at highway speed on a winding road.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in front and side-impact crashes, even at speeds over 30 mph.
  • One owner reported both tie rods fracturing and the steering rack failing, causing the vehicle to cross the median.
  • A seat belt retractor reportedly failed to lock during a front-end crash, letting a passenger's head strike the windshield.
2015 Mazda CX-5 complaints: complaints filed per quarter92014 Q32015 Q42017 Q12018 Q22019 Q32020 Q42022 Q32024 Q1
133 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q3 to 2025 Q3; peak 2017 Q2 (9).

2015 Mazda CX-5 recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 16V644000Sep 6, 2016Structure & Body580,455 vehicles

    Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate

    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.

    Risk: If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.

    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.

  2. NHTSA 16V203000Apr 11, 2016Steering578 vehicles

    Steering

    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.

    Risk: If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    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.

  3. NHTSA 16V064000Feb 3, 2016Fuel System268,799 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:filler pipe and cap

    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."

    Risk: A rupture of the fuel filler pipe may result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

    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.

2015 Mazda CX-5 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25 MPG
Highway
31 MPG
Combined
27 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,400
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2015 compared with other CX-5 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Good38194128
2014Avoid77377327
2015Good31133327
2016Avoid100510429
2017Best15148126.5

All Mazda CX-5 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Mazda CX-5 reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2015 CX-5 has a complaint index of 31 and ranks 10th out of 14 model years, earning a Good verdict relative to other CX-5 years.
What problems does the 2015 Mazda CX-5 have?
NHTSA complaints center on Structure & Body issues (24% of complaints), Engine (20%), and Transmission & Powertrain (14%), with a median mileage at failure of 27,000 miles overall.
Does the 2015 Mazda CX-5 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2015 CX-5, covering structure/body lift gate supports, steering strut mounting hardware, and a fuel filler pipe that could rupture.
How does the 2015 CX-5 compare to the 2016 CX-5?
The 2015 model has far fewer complaints (133 vs 510) and a much lower complaint index (31 vs 100); the 2016 CX-5 is rated Avoid while the 2015 is rated Good.
What is the worst year for the Mazda CX-5?
Based on this data, the 2016 CX-5 has the highest complaint index at 100 and is rated Avoid, followed by 2014, 2018, and 2019.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.