7.4

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,050
Average Mileage:
45,100 miles
Total Complaints:
56 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace headlight assembly (25 reports)
  2. replace headlamp (15 reports)
  3. not sure (14 reports)
  4. official recall (2 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Mazda dealer.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #36

Aug 052019

CX-5 Grand Touring

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

Just realize one of the daytime running lights is no longer working. Report back to Mazda, and their reply is listed below... Not what I wanted to hear. Will wait until the light is totally out before changing it. Seems like it will be over $1,000 per light.

"I am sorry to hear that one of your daytime running lights (DRL) is not working on your 2016 CX-5. I can definitely understand the frustration of needing to replace one of the headlamp assemblies on your vehicle. Upon further research into this issue, I can confirm that there are currently no safety recalls in relation to the DRL on your CX-5, or any otherwise known concerns around this within the Mazda database. We appreciate you taking the time to notify us of this concern; please be advised that I have documented it under internal file number 1-228XXXXXX.

I do see that the applicable warranty on your 2016 CX-5 for this concern has been exceeded by about a year and roughly 15k miles (expired 09-06-2018 or at 36,000 miles, whichever comes first). This will make repairs an out of pocket expense. I apologize for any inconvenience in this. Please let me know if you would like any assistance scheduling a repair appointment with your local Mazda dealer."

- Chi L., San Leandro, US

problem #35

Sep 082018

CX-5 Grand Touring

  • Automatic transmission
  • 44,000 miles

Passenger side daytime running light went out. Dealership said they have not heard of this happening before. Obvious lie. Wanted $1000+ to fix. I declined. Reached out to Mazda North America via letter to explain the issue. No response still, 3 months later.

- Joe C., Alexandria, VA, US

problem #34

Aug 292019

CX-5 SGT 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,146 miles

So the car is over the 3 years and the daylight on the passenger side start failing. I went to Mazda cause I have extended the warranty and not even with the extended warranty they will accept to change it for free. It's so expensive cause you to have to change the entire headlight, not just the LED. I can't believe they haven't put a recall on it. Thousands of complaints against this same issue, for the passenger light, has been submitted and people actually are paying themselves for something that needs to be fixed by Mazda.

- Yuli S., MONTERREY, Mexico

problem #33

Aug 012019

CX-5 Grand Touring

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

I am the owner of two Mazda cars right now model 3 and CX5. I value their cars for reliability and customer service until now. The passenger LED day time light on passenger side of my Mazda CX5 burned out and is not covered by the Mazda due to warranty expiration. We paid an extra for the Grand Touring trim to have that nice LED light option. The technology of LED should be outlasting Halogen lights by years. Typical LED light used for about 10h a day will last 10 years. My car is 4 years old and obviously I am not even driving half that time and it is already gone. What a technological fail !!! Hopefully they get a recall to the customers or tell dealers not to charge $1000 per light assembly---outrageous!!

- Marcin1979 .., Hoffman Estates, IL, US

problem #32

Jul 012019

CX-5 GT 2,3

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,032 miles

Unacceptable engineering design. 3 years and LED out!

- David G., Leland, NC, US

problem #31

Aug 012019

CX-5 Grand Touring

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,000 miles

Wow everything else about this car has been good for us, but this light failure is pretty crazy. And it sucks because it sounds like it's going to cost me a lot. I don't NEED it since we don't have inspections my state, so it will be hard to justify the expense, but it will really bother me knowing it looks stupid. Potentially it's been like this for a few thousand miles.

Mazda needs to figure this one out.

- Peat F., Saint Paul, MN, US

problem #30

Aug 152019

CX-5 Grand Touring 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,000 miles

The Daylight Running Light on passenger side is flickering non-stop in just 39K miles (out of warranty). Learned about this yesterday while driving on a major business route and at the traffic light stop, the adjacent car driver pointed out (nice guy, thank you). Came home and upon looking, couldn't believe how other drivers might be annoyed when looking thru their rear view mirror. This is really a defect on Mazda's end and they should fix it at no cost because I only drove 39K miles.

Update from Aug 20, 2019: The Daylight Running Light on passenger side is flickering non-stop in just 39K miles (out of warranty). Learned about this yesterday while driving on a major business route and at the traffic light, adjacent car driver pointed out (nice guy, thank you). Came home and upon looking at it, I couldn't believe how other drivers might have been annoyed when looking thru their rear view mirror. It is absolutely a safety hazard and Mazda should fix this issue ASAP no cost to car owners. Searching online, hundreds if not thousands of drivers have reported this issue.

- Sanjay D., East Brunswick, US

problem #29

Jul 012018

CX-5 GT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

My LED daytime running lights on the passenger side went out. The dealer wants $1800 to fix. I haven't fixed it yet, but this caused it not to pass inspection. This was already out last year, but that time it was not caught on inspection.

I may just get it inspected elsewhere. This bothers me because it is a safety issue, although not all cars have this feature.

Also, I bought an extra cost technology package that came with these fancy LED headlights. I don't understand why the bulbs cannot be replaced. Replacing the whole assembly for $1800 seems ridiculous.

- gsquared, Needham, US

problem #28

Aug 122019

CX-5 Grand Touring 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

This is the second time I've had to deal with this problem. First was the Passenger side at 50k miles. Now at 55k miles I'm having to replace the Driver side. It's completely unacceptable that Mazda refuses to correct this with a recall. This is a safety concern and is a widespread problem. An owner should not have to pay $3,000+ to fix issues with a headlight.

- Matthew W., Fort Thomas, KY, US

problem #27

Apr 092019

CX-5 GT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 31,000 miles

Cannot believe there is are this many people having the same issue and Mazda will not address it. Just over three years and 30k miles and I was made aware of the issue. Who knows how long I've been driving with the driver side DRL out.

- Rick B., Columbus, OH, US

problem #26

May 012019

CX-5

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,000 miles

Very disappointed with Mazda on this one. I just can’t believe how bad the component design is on the headlight assembly. To require complete replacement of the unit at such a high cost to the consumer is ridiculous. I just can’t swallow the cost to replace but not only is it a safety issue and I can be pulled over for it in my state, Its embarrassing to have people flagging me down to tell me my lights out. I’m sure I will have to do something by the end of the year when inspection is due, but hopefully by then, there will be an aftermarket available to purchase.

- Valerie F., Spencer, US

problem #25

Jan 012019

CX-5

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,000 miles

Within 3 years of owning this new car the running lights stopped working on the passenger side. Mazda said the entire head light assembly needs to be replaced costing $1,800. That is ridiculous! An LED light should last longer than 3 years or be able to be replaced. Mazda knows about this issue and should be offering a recall!

- bates-atlanta, Atlanta, US

problem #24

Jul 062019

CX-5 Grand Touring

  • Automatic transmission
  • 44,750 miles

Noticed that the driver's side daytime running lamps have been much dimmer than the passenger side. Upon further inspection the light either is completely off, or the entire assembly is flickering. Very noticeable when comparing to the passenger side DRL. No other lights seem to be impacted.

- Erik H., Portland, OR, US

problem #23

Jun 102019

CX-5 Grand Touring Dohc In-Line 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 43,000 miles

I just purchased this 2016 CX-5 used from a friend last summer. I thought I got a great deal. After less than a year the passenger side daytime runner light goes out. No problem I will just run it to Mazda and have them throw in a new on after all it is just a headlamp. Wrong it is a $835 part! I don’t think in my 54 years of life I have ever in all my cars spent half of that for lights. This was my first and last Mazda. The idiot who designed this POS system should be fired. Unfortunately I just put on new tires and will keep this until the next big problem arises. I haven’t checked maybe it is a two thousand dollar air filter?

- Mike M., Gretna, NE, US

problem #22

Jun 012019

CX-5 Grand Touring FWD 2.5L Dohc 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,500 miles

Driver's side daytime LED running light is out and is a very costly fix.

- Kathy S., Louisville, US

problem #21

May 022019

CX-5 Grand Touring 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 29,460 miles

I'm now part of the CX-5 faulty LED DRL club...I didn't ask to join, but here I am. I purchased my CX-5 used in late April 2018 with 23k miles. The car was/is in pristine condition, and I'm a low mileage driver. Just before I rolled over 30k, I noticed that my driver side daytime running lights were out. I'm not sure how long it had been out, but I noticed because of my car's reflection as I pulled into a parking spot adjacent from a glass window.

I was under the impression that LED's were a great choice because of their extended life span. This is an upgrade after all. I took it into my local Mazda mechanic who confirmed that the entire assembly had to be replaced and that only a dealership could do the work at this time. So I took it to the dealership, where I was told ~20% of CX-5's have this issue yet there is not recall and that I'm "unlucky." "Mazda hopes that the problem arises within the 3 year warranty period." What? Ok, still...my car is under 30k miles. $1500 (at my dealership) is completely unacceptable for a car this young. I was told by another dealership that LED "strips" don't actually last that long...so then what is the point if you have to replace your entire headlamp??? Call 5 different Mazda dealerships, and you'll get 5 different versions of total BS.

I read online that the dealership can change the programming so that the DRLs are off by default so I requested this becase I'm not planning to get this fixed anytime soon and it looks totally dorky to have one side out. I was told, "No, we can't do this, but luckily you're not in any viloations and won't get a ticket." Oh boy! Great news!

First Mazda, last Mazda. Looking forward to when the passenger side goes out...probably tomorrow.

- Kristin B., Boulder, CO, US

problem #20

May 182019

CX-5 Grand Touring 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 42,000 miles

An LED Daytime Running Light should not burn out in 3 years. An aftermarket OEM headlight assembly is $600. I can replace it myself so I am not paying a dealer double to replace it. This is very common on these vehicles so there is a defect in the assembly however Mazda refuses to acknowledge that there is a problem since they do not want to incur the cost of recall.

- Elliot M., Downingtown, PA, US

problem #19

Jun 152019

CX-5 GT 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 17,650 miles

Noticed DRL flicker on passenger side. I have not visited the dealer yet, but, on-line discussion indicate the issue is a reported issue.

- darwinh, BRIDGMAN, US

problem #18

May 032019

CX-5 Gran Touring

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,211 miles

My led front right running lights stopped working. I'm not sure exactly when but someone brought it to my attention at 39,000 miles. Definitely a faulty part or design. Mazda should replace!

- Bob H., Thousand Oaks, US

problem #17

Apr 182019

CX-5 Grand Touring 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,260 miles

I purchased this Mazda CX5 Touring edition as a "Certified used vehicle" seven months ago and now the drivers led lights are out and the headlight is flickering also. I took it to a Mazda dealer and was told it would cost $1,200 to fix it. After I picked myself off the floor, I asked if this was covered since I just purchased it 7 months ago. I was then told NO it's not covered. In my efforts to get to the bottom of this, I declined the repair and was then charged $60 for a "diagnostic" test on the vehicle. Diagnostic test...A 5 year old could have told them the light was out. I digress, this is unacceptable when a headlight cost $1,200 to fix? and Mazda knew about the issue and has done NOTHING to address it... Hello it's time for a RECALL. I love the vehicle but, this is my last.

- Manny C., Westford, MA, US

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