2016 Mazda CX-5 Suspension Problems

Rear subframe corrosion on this vehicle. I am in a winter road salt region, the materials used for this vehicle's subframe are not compatible with consistent driving in this region. Similar vehicles (not mine?) were subject to a recall for the front subframe, but nothing for the rear. This rear subframe issues caused multiple failures of virtually every component of the rear suspension - control arms, rear springs, etc. The repair cost for JUST the subframe was $3813. Not repairing it was not an option - the vehicle had failed mandatory State of Maine inspection (a safety thing, if I'm not mistaken). This should be a Mazda problem, not a me problem. I contacted Mazda USA about this issue and got no response.

NHTSA ID

11754892

Incident

Feb 2, 2026

Rear subframe corrosion on this vehicle. I am in a winter road salt region, the materials used for this vehicle's subframe are not compatible with consistent driving in this region. Similar vehicles (not mine?) were subject to a recall for the front subframe, but nothing for the rear. This rear subframe issues caused multiple failures of virtually every component of the rear suspension - control arms, rear springs, etc. The repair cost for JUST the subframe was $3813. Not repairing it was not an option - the vehicle had failed mandatory State of Maine inspection (a safety thing, if I'm not mistaken). This should be a Mazda problem, not a me problem. I contacted Mazda USA about this issue and got no response.

NHTSA ID

11754891

Incident

Feb 2, 2026

I was slowly turning left into an alley when I heard a loud noise, the front of my car dropped, and the car immediately stopped and was immovable. Upon getting out of the car, it appears some joint separated from the wheel.

NHTSA ID

11736286

Incident

May 7, 2026

With no prior warning, just after turning into driveway, my car got stuck and would not move. It gave clicking sounds and would not move no matter which gear it was in. The towing service person needed a dolly in order to safely lift the vehicle onto the towing bed because the front, driver’s side tire would not move and was pushing into the fender. So far, the control arm and axel are completely separated from the car. Further investigation is ongoing to determine the extent of the spontaneous injury. This all happened without warning.

NHTSA ID

11708612

Incident

Dec 29, 2025

Rear Shock mount deteriorated in 8 years, far quicker than industry standard. Mazda redesigned the part for 17' MY. Widely reported on Reddit. NHSTA service bulletin notice.

NHTSA ID

11689342

Incident

Sep 22, 2025

TSB issue with suspension steering gear assembly needs to be removed and have spacer kit installed. Issue caused the front lower ball joint to wear more than usual and crack. Due to TSB a joint kit needs to be installed and control arms replaced.

NHTSA ID

11497047

Incident

Dec 12, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, there was an abnormally loud chirping and squeaking noise coming from the driver’s side front wheel. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer to be inspected however, the dealer could not duplicate or diagnose the cause for the failure. The contact was concerned that the failure was related to the suspension. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

NHTSA ID

11442296

Incident

Apr 20, 2021

Mileage

45,000 mi

THERE WAS A THUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, AT SLOW SPEEDS ON A DIRT ROAD. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP I WAS TOLD THAT THE BUSHINGS, LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I KNOW THERE IS A RECALL ON SOME OF THE CARS LIKE MINE, BUT APPARENTLY MINE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HOWEVER, I DO NOT THINK IT IS A COINCIDENCE TO HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

11281249

Incident

Nov 19, 2019

Mileage

44,185 mi

I BROUGHT 2016 PRE OWNED CERTIFIED RUN 28K ONLY. I DROVE THIS CAR ONLY 7 K BUT CAR ALWAYS HAS ISSUE WITH SUSPENSION. I REPORTED THIS ISSUE WITH MY DEALER BUT ISSUE WAS NOT RESOLVED.

NHTSA ID

11229807

Incident

Mar 1, 2019

Mileage

23,000 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" ? IN MARCH 2018, I WAS TRAVELING WESTBOUND IN A MAZDA CX-5 ON AN EXPRESSWAY IN LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 9;45 PM AND THE EXPRESSWAY WAS FAIRLY EMPTY, ROADS WERE COMPLETELY CLEAR, NO RAIN, NO SNOW. OUT OF NOWHERE, A SPEEDING DRIVER SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF MY MAZDA AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. (SHE ADMITTED TO FOLLOWING ME TOO CLOSELY AND NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP IN TIME, SO MY CAR WAS HIT PRETTY HARD. ON POLICE REPORT, SHE WAS CITED FOR UNSAFE SPEED AMONG OTHER THINGS. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THE A POLICE OFFICER THAT SHE DID NOT HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE). MY CAR WAS THEN THRUST INTO THE DIVIDER (WHERE THE LEFT SIDE APPROXIMATE CORNER OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR HIT THE MEDIAN) IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXPRESSWAY AND SPUN QUITE A FEW TIMES. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS EVER DEPLOYED. I HIT MY HEAD AT LEAST TWO TIMES AND I STARTING HAVING NECK AND BACK PAINS AMONG OTHER INJURIES. THOUGH THE CAR HAD EXTENSIVE EXTENSIVE DAMAGES (13K WAS THE LAST TIME I HEARD AND THE CAR IS STILL NOT WORKING FULLY PROPERLY) MY INSURANCE PROGRESSIVE FORCED ME TO TAKE THE CAR BACK WHILE THE OTHER INSURANCE COMPANY DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE CAR WAS NOT TOTALED. I WAS GIVEN BACK THE CAR A LITTLE OVER TWO WHOLE MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND I WAS TOLD THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF GOD FORBID SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS (THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS BLINKING ALL THE TIME), THE HORN DOES NOT WORK, AND NOTHING ON THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS WORK ANYMORE. I WAS TOLD I HAVE TO BRING THIS TO MAZDA'S DEALERSHIP DIRECTLY FOR DIAGNOSTICS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MANY PEOPLE THAT THEY BELIEVE MY AIRBAGS MALFUNCTIONED INCLUDING MAXIMUM AUTO BODY IN BOHEMIA WHO FIXED THE CAR AND I AGREE CONSIDERING THE HARD HITS THE CAR TOOK AND MY INJURIES. I AM NOT SURE WHAT MY RIGHTS ARE IN THIS SITUATION BUT I FEEL THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE. I NOW HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL JUNE 4TH TO GET IT TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ID

11097343

Incident

Mar 6, 2018

Mileage

45,000 mi

THERE IS A RUBBING/GRINDING/VIBRATION FEEL ON THE PEDALS AND STEERING WHEEL, INCLUDING THE ENTIRE BODY VIBRATION THAT CAN BE ALSO SEEN IN THE SIDE MIRRORS. THESE PROBLEM ARE MORE NOTICEABLE AT HIGH SPEED. I SUSPECT EITHER THE TIRE, BRAKE, ROTORS, ALIGNMENT, SUSPENSION OR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR 6 TIMES TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP ALREADY WITH THE GUIDANCE FROM MAZDA CORPORATE COSTUMER SERVICE BUT THEY ARE DENYING MY CX-5 ISSUES. THIS IS PRETTY SCARY TO DRIVE, I ALWAYS FEEL THAT SOMETHING BAD GONNA HAPPEN ON MY CAR IN THE FREEWAY BECAUSE OF ROUGH AND BUMPY RIDE. THIS HAPPENED SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THIS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS CAR FOR 32K $. ALL MAZDA DEALERSHIP ARE NOT COOPERATING. VERY BAD EXPERIENCE.

NHTSA ID

11023733

Incident

Mar 30, 2016