Weak 2016 CX-5 Vents

[wlong01]

That definitely makes sense actually. But man, why is it not achieving the goal of warming up the car quickly? Or even after half an hour?

I will say of all the cars I've owned in the past the CX-5 does seem to have the weakest heating system. A/C seems adequate. Mine takes a good bit of time to warm the cabin and it's not even been that cold. Last few days daytime temps have been high 20s. Mine is also garage kept. I've also noticed that the foot setting is almost useless. I can feel a little air but not much. Now I contrast this with my wifes CR-V which will blow you right out of the cabin in no time.
I guess it's something we have to live with. Luckily I'm in a fairly mild climate but if I were in Minnesota it might be another thing.

 

[banjos-n-beer]

That definitely makes sense actually. But man, why is it not achieving the goal of warming up the car quickly? Or even after half an hour?

That does seem excessive. It hasn't dropped below 0F here yet, so this is my first winter with my CX5. Last year we had a morning of negative 29F, so I know brutal cold is coming at some point.

 

[Unobtanium]

You should always demand good value for your vehicles and shop accordingly. My point was that everyone has different needs and wants. Mazda chose to put more money into the technology that is embedded into the vehicle. The CX-5 is loaded with lots of amazing safety and reliability technology that cars like the Rav4 and CR-V don't have. The basic chassis is also more expensive to make. Mazda is not aimed at someone who wants all the bells/whistles at the expense of driving pleasure.

Modern cars are (thankfully) not your grandfathers Chevy or Ford. It's more necessary than ever to be an informed consumer with the cornucopia of features, options and technologies available in the various offerings.



There are no vehicles out there that check off every single quality and amenity available. The quietest car with the smoothest ride, most powerful engine and the most bells and whistles is never going to be the most reliable car available nor will it be the best driver's car or have the highest MPG. It's all depends on what you want.

I'm glad you don't regret your purchase (that shows that no other car out there offered a significantly better blend of value and features for you). I predict if you had chosen a car with a center/rear heat duct you would have been annoyed about other things.

I am convinced that if you spend the money, it CAN happen. Porsche is an example that comes super close to nailing all that you outlined.

Very reliable.
Very fast.
Very good chassis.
Very comfortable (in my opinion)
Very safe.
Very nice amenities.

See, when I called and asked people about things in the firearm industry (I want a 1x-6x optic, daylight illumination, lightweight, brick shithouse durable...) they told me "Sure. Pay for it. We can make anything."

Cars are the same way, I think.

You want all that? Okay. Pay for it.

Now, some things simply can't be broken (energy/mass, thermodynamics, etc.) but a great engineer with a sick budget can sure make you think they were bent...Daily driven Cadillac Escalades stomping GTR's and the like come to mind.

 

[Unobtanium]

That definitely makes sense actually. But man, why is it not achieving the goal of warming up the car quickly? Or even after half an hour?

I think the Mazda air system is terribly managed. I hear a TON of noise under the dash. yet the whole thing just leaks warm air. It doesn't come out of the vents you select. It comes out of ALL of the vents, and the one's you select...a little more. Also, cold air seeps in very readily from the floor area, I noticed today.

That said, it's only in the 20's here, and if I crank it up to "4" and drive for a half hour, it eventually does the job.

 

[Unobtanium]

Maybe some mice built a nest in there. They should blow strongly, this isn't normal.

Mine is the same way. I think it's a personal thing. I'm used to other brands than Mazda. Mazda has poor air management, IMO. I took it to the dealer for this EXACT issue, and they said it's a common complaint and that at first they thought the blend doors were jacked up on the cars, but they checked new one's on the lot, and that's "just the way Mazda is". Live with it or sell it, basically.

 

[frenchbiker]

I read that the CX-5 is full of "high tech" features, but I tell you what, I'll take a "lower tech"/more efficient heating/cooling system for me and my passengers any day. Same for the heated seats that are barely adequate. We're talking here about basic comfort, nothing else.
My car is parked in the garage and still, it needs a long time to warm up, much longer than all previous cars. I hate to think what it'd be if it was parked outside in 5F temp (plus windchill) as it was earlier this morning.

 

[craigo]

I think the Mazda air system is terribly managed. I hear a TON of noise under the dash. yet the whole thing just leaks warm air. It doesn't come out of the vents you select. It comes out of ALL of the vents, and the one's you select...a little more. Also, cold air seeps in very readily from the floor area, I noticed today.

That said, it's only in the 20's here, and if I crank it up to "4" and drive for a half hour, it eventually does the job.

Mine makes zero noise from the dash and pours out more air than I can handle. Yall need to take it in for service...

 

[yrwei52]

Yeah, my 2015 Touring FWD 2.5L takes forever to warm up and never really does seem to put out a lot of heat. It does eventually warm up, but, it takes longer than past cars I've had.

To reiterate, my car is kept in a garage and I've never had this kind of issue with any car I've had in the past. This is majorly worrying to me. It's a 2016 car, dammit!!! Man - I really hope there is something my dealer can do. Otherwise, not sure what my options are. Can't drive like this to work for 3-4 months of the year.

I use manual mode all the time too and you should have enough hot air coming out the vents although the warm-up time is longer than other vehicles we have had. I believe every heating equipment on CX-5 is slow to warm up. Heated seat is weak and slow, heated air is slow coming out, and the heated outside rearview mirrors are so weak that makes me feel it's nonexistence at one time I had the chance to use it in this winter. I guess we're lucky that we live in Texas and these heating features are not that critical.

OP, your only choice right now is to take your CX-5 to Mazda dealer and hope they can find something wrong and fix it.

 

[bmninada]

I had read this prior to starting for work today. It took me 1.1 hrs to get to work and overall it was 18F with a big wind chill. I carefully timed the heating time. Set to Automatic, 70F. The car blasted hot air for 9 min after engine warmed up and then reduced to 2 points. After 45 min, it auto switched from only floor to floor and body for the remaining distance. I was quite comfortable after around 10 to 12 min of driving.
Summary: As far as I am concerned, the car's heating is quite adequate.

 

[yrwei52]

Mine makes zero noise from the dash and pours out more air than I can handle. Yall need to take it in for service...

In fairness, we're in Texas. 25~55F winter temperature here in Texas is totally different from -15~15F winter temperature in Canada. I even feel the heating equipment on CX-5 is weak and slow, especially the heated outside rearview mirrors. I drove for 20 minutes and the ice on the mirrors barely started melting at one time I was using it! We also have to keep the heated seats at the highest level almost all the time and are taking at least 10 minutes to feel the little warmth. These are totally slow and weak comparing to our other vehicles!

 

[MikeM.]

I had read this prior to starting for work today. It took me 1.1 hrs to get to work and overall it was 18F with a big wind chill. I carefully timed the heating time. Set to Automatic, 70F. The car blasted hot air for 9 min after engine warmed up and then reduced to 2 points. After 45 min, it auto switched from only floor to floor and body for the remaining distance. I was quite comfortable after around 10 to 12 min of driving.
Summary: As far as I am concerned, the car's heating is quite adequate.

I was thinking the complaints must be coming from people with the automatic climate controls because my manual heating system cranks out plenty of heat, even when frigid. But then I notice a number of people with the automatic climate control who report good operation as well.

The only time mine is slow to heat is if I leave the ski area with a cold engine. The first 9 miles or so is all downhill and I barely touch the accelerator pedal the entire descent. Obviously, when engine braking downhill, there isn't fuel being burnt. No fuel = no heat. If the beginning of my drive is a hill climb the heat output is impressively fast. If I'm only driving 35 mph on level surface streets and not doing any stop/go, it heats up not particularly fast or slow. Get on a freeway and it's toasty in no time! It should come as no surprise that heating time is inversely proportional to fuel consumed/minute!

My 2010 F-150 with a V-8 guzzles gas, even at idle and yet the CX-5 heats up more quickly. Go figure! I think the Mazda designers paid a little more attention to detail in terms of getting it warm fast while not wasting fuel.

 

[bbtfastback]

I was thinking the complaints must be coming from people with the automatic climate controls because my manual heating system cranks out plenty of heat, even when frigid. But then I notice a number of people with the automatic climate control who report good operation as well.

Nope - poor on both automatic and manual for me. Thinking of taking a new CX5 for a test drive and see if it reacts the same. I've got a 2026 and if it's as bad as mine, I'm s*** out of luck.

 

[mazdadude]

Yes if you have a GT, then you have the AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM.
All of the other CX-5 models have the MANUAL system.

Also if you are hearing a lot of air noise, but weak output, please check to be sure that the cabin filter door is closed.

 

[bbtfastback]

Yes if you have a GT, then you have the AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM.
All of the other CX-5 models have the MANUAL system.

Also if you are hearing a lot of air noise, but weak output, please check to be sure that the cabin filter door is closed.

Good call. Let me check. Thank you.

 

[mazdadude]

Good call. Let me check. Thank you.

Calling it a "door" is wrong on my part, but the filter has to be inserted in there snugly.

Here is a video on how to change the filter. So that you can see how to get to it and inspect.

 

[bbtfastback]

Calling it a "door" is wrong on my part, but the filter has to be inserted in there snugly.

Here is a video on how to change the filter. So that you can see how to get to it and inspect.

Just googled the same. Thanks for posting this. It will help out others in the future.

 

[jjp735i]

I've never been thrilled with auto climate controls in any car I have owned. I find my 2016 GT heats up nicely set at 73, floor and def. on. It was 5 degrees outside today and I was fine after 5 minutes of driving. I never let my car sit and warm up, takes longer and no need unless windows are frosted over. I think the heating and cooling are fine.

 

[bbtfastback]

I've never been thrilled with auto climate controls in any car I have owned. I find my 2016 GT heats up nicely set at 73, floor and def. on. It was 5 degrees outside today and I was fine after 5 minutes of driving. I never let my car sit and warm up, takes longer and no need unless windows are frosted over. I think the heating and cooling are fine.

If it's 5 degrees or warmer outside, I don't have issues. The heating and cooling system don't need the juice that it needs when it's -25.

Again, for those who don't live in frigid conditions (I would say -10 and below), you won't be able to speak to this like the rest of us.

 

[Unobtanium]

I was thinking the complaints must be coming from people with the automatic climate controls because my manual heating system cranks out plenty of heat, even when frigid. But then I notice a number of people with the automatic climate control who report good operation as well.

The only time mine is slow to heat is if I leave the ski area with a cold engine. The first 9 miles or so is all downhill and I barely touch the accelerator pedal the entire descent. Obviously, when engine braking downhill, there isn't fuel being burnt. No fuel = no heat. If the beginning of my drive is a hill climb the heat output is impressively fast. If I'm only driving 35 mph on level surface streets and not doing any stop/go, it heats up not particularly fast or slow. Get on a freeway and it's toasty in no time! It should come as no surprise that heating time is inversely proportional to fuel consumed/minute!

My 2010 F-150 with a V-8 guzzles gas, even at idle and yet the CX-5 heats up more quickly. Go figure! I think the Mazda designers paid a little more attention to detail in terms of getting it warm fast while not wasting fuel.

Mine is the Racing edition version. Manual controls.

 

[Woodys2718]

To reiterate, my car is kept in a garage and I've never had this kind of issue with any car I've had in the past. This is majorly worrying to me. It's a 2016 car, dammit!!! Man - I really hope there is something my dealer can do. Otherwise, not sure what my options are. Can't drive like this to work for 3-4 months of the year.

You should definitely visit a dealer. -4 F (-20C) here again this morning with plenty of heat rolling out of the bottom vents. With Auto set at 68F by the time I reached work my fan was only on the 3rd bar.