2016 Mazda CX-5 transmission and drivetrain problems
51 of the 510 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Mazda CX-5 name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 62 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database5 of the 51 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2015: 11 · 2016: 16 · 2017: 5 · 2018: 3 · 2019: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 2
Half of the 41 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 2,000 and 24,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
510 complaints in all about the 2016 Mazda CX-5, 2 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Mazda CX-5 transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Bought 2016 Cx-5 mid-sept, then started experiencing 5-second lags after shifting into drive in late dec (approx 4,000 miles on vehicle). The car would hesitate and jerk, as if it had been in neutral, despite pressing down accelerator gently or fully.
I have a 2016 Mazda Cx-5 grand touring automatic transmission. I bought it 9/28/15. Yesterday (12/9/15) with only 4500 miles on it, I started having problems with the transmission. Reverse was ok, but it was having difficulty engaging in drive. It felt like it was in neutral and wouldn't move.
I have a fully loaded Cx-5 grand touring 2016 ---which after driving 500 miles, the transmission failed. When putting the gear in drive, the car did not move--and acted as if it was in neutral. After a bit, it would lurch forward into drive--which was scary and dangerous.
Had fully loaded Cx-5 touring 4 months. Suddenly today, when I press on accelerator, car would jerk as it was attempting to drive forward. After I made it to work, left work early to go to dealership. Car would start and go into reverse, but it would not go forward in drive.
First experienced the problem two days ago, shift the gear from parked position to reverse but the gear failed to engage immediately; then shift the gear to drive again gear failed to engage immediately for 3 or 4 seconds then sudden jerk when gear engaged vehicle starts to move forward (luckily did not step hard on the accelerator and…
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications62 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 01-008-26 Service bulletinMay 1, 2026
- This 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 engine compartment and oil leakage from the drive belt auto tensioner. This may be caused by insufficient sealing at the drive belt auto tensioner damper when the auto tensioner fully operates under both high ambient temperat
- SA-029-26 Service bulletinApr 21, 2026
- This 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 recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Servic
The 2 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0780 P0842 P0847 P0872 P0877 P1738
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Mazda CX-5 names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Mazda CX-5
Source: the same files- exterior lighting problems 161 complaints
- electrical problems 71 complaints
- brake problems 69 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2016 Mazda CX-5?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 51 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (10% of everything owners filed about it), and 62 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2016 Mazda CX-5?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 4 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2016 Mazda CX-5?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 5,411 miles; half of them between 2,000 and 24,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.