YearToAvoid

2015 Mazda CX-5 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

23/100

#11 most-complained of 14 CX-5 years

The 2015 Mazda CX-5 ranks 11th of 14 model years with a Complaint Index of 23, earning a "Best" verdict relative to other CX-5 years. It has 133 complaints, 3 recalls, and no fires, with Structure & Body as the top problem area.

Complaints
133
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
11 / 0
Injuries / deaths
7 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
27
25 city / 31 hwy

Top 2015 Mazda CX-5 problems

NHTSA owner 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%)

What owners report

  • Owners report unintended acceleration or sudden forward lurching while braking to park at low speed, sometimes accompanied by a loud engine revving sound.
  • Some drivers describe brakes that fail to respond or stop the vehicle when pressed, leading to collisions with fixed objects.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in low-speed frontal or side impacts despite visible vehicle damage.
  • One owner reported both tie rods fracturing and the steering rack failing, causing the vehicle to steer left and cross the median.
  • A seat belt retractor reportedly failed to lock during hard braking followed by a front-end crash, letting the passenger's head strike the windshield.
2015 Mazda CX-5 complaints: complaints filed per quarter112014 Q32015 Q42017 Q12018 Q22019 Q32020 Q42022 Q32024 Q1
162 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q3 to 2025 Q3; peak 2019 Q2 (11).

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
2013Good46194128
2014Avoid85377327
2015Best23133327
2016Avoid100510429
2017Best8148126.5

All Mazda CX-5 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Mazda CX-5 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2015 CX-5 ranks 11th out of 14 model years with a Complaint Index of 23 and a "Best" verdict relative to other CX-5 years.
What problems does the 2015 Mazda CX-5 have?
NHTSA lists 133 complaints for the 2015 CX-5, led by Structure & Body issues (24%, 32 complaints) and Engine issues (20%, 26 complaints), with a median failure mileage of 27,000 miles.
Does the 2015 Mazda CX-5 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2015 CX-5, covering Structure & Body, Steering, and Fuel System components, including a fuel filler pipe that may rupture in a crash.
How does the 2015 CX-5 compare to the 2016 CX-5?
The 2015 CX-5 has a Complaint Index of 23 versus 100 for the 2016 model, which NHTSA data flags as "Avoid" with 510 complaints and 4 recalls.
What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Mazda CX-5?
EPA rates the 2015 CX-5 at 27 mpg combined (25 city / 31 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,400.

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.