NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
194 reports29,000 miles · Dec 27, 2014
Service Brakes
I STARTED HEARING A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE. I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS MY CAR THE FIRST FEW TIMES IT HAPPENED, THINKING WHAT COULD BE WRONG ON A CAR LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD!?! A FEW DAYS LATER, THE NOISE BECAME MORE REGULAR WHEN BRAKING, AND WAS GRINDING LOUDLY AT ALL STOPS! I TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE DEP…
Read full complaint
I STARTED HEARING A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE. I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS MY CAR THE FIRST FEW TIMES IT HAPPENED, THINKING WHAT COULD BE WRONG ON A CAR LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD!?! A FEW DAYS LATER, THE NOISE BECAME MORE REGULAR WHEN BRAKING, AND WAS GRINDING LOUDLY AT ALL STOPS! I TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE DEPT AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE ROTORS/BRAKE PADS, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AND OF COURSE NOT COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" DUE TO RUST BUILD UP WHICH LOCKED UP THE BRAKE PAD.... THIS DOES NOT SEEM "NORMAL" TO ME.... I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT NEEDED BRAKES THIS SOON! SOMETHING SEEMS DEFECTIVE, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10668435
27,400 miles · Dec 3, 2014
Visibility
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND I HEARD A SUDDEN SNAP LIKE SOUND ON THE WINDSCREEN, THEN I SAW A STAR SHAPED STONE CHIP APPEAR ON THE WINDSCREEN, ON THE RIGHT SIDE ABOUT AN 1 INCH FROM THE SIDE AND ABOUT 7 INCHES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSCREEN. I HAD DRIVEN NO MORE THAN ABOUT 100 FEET, WHEN A CRACK ABOUT 12 INCHES WAS ALREAD…
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND I HEARD A SUDDEN SNAP LIKE SOUND ON THE WINDSCREEN, THEN I SAW A STAR SHAPED STONE CHIP APPEAR ON THE WINDSCREEN, ON THE RIGHT SIDE ABOUT AN 1 INCH FROM THE SIDE AND ABOUT 7 INCHES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSCREEN. I HAD DRIVEN NO MORE THAN ABOUT 100 FEET, WHEN A CRACK ABOUT 12 INCHES WAS ALREADY THERE. MY WARRANTY COVERS STONE CHIPS AND CRACKS LESS THAN 6 INCHES. THERE SEEM TO BE A DEFECT WITH THE CX 5 WINDSCREENS, BECAUSE I HAVE SEEM SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BY OTHER OWNERS IN FORUMS. OTHER VEHICLES YOU GET A STONE CHIP AND IT DOES NOT SPREAD THAT QUICKLY, AT LEAST YOU GET A OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND GET IT REPAIRED. I DID NOT EVEN GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND THE STONE CHIP HAD ALREADY SPREAD IN EXCESS OF 12 INCHES. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10662052
2,000 miles · Nov 22, 2014
Visibility/wiper
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY, RENDERING IT VIRTUALLY USELESS. CARS ARE ALL BUT A BLUR AT AND ABOVE 55 MPH. THE DEALER SAID IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE (AND SAID HE SUBMITTED A TSB) AND DID NOTHING TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. WHEN PRESENTED WITH THE "REPAIR GUIDANCE" REFERENCE # R042/13A, THEY SAID IT WAS A F…
Read full complaint
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY, RENDERING IT VIRTUALLY USELESS. CARS ARE ALL BUT A BLUR AT AND ABOVE 55 MPH. THE DEALER SAID IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE (AND SAID HE SUBMITTED A TSB) AND DID NOTHING TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. WHEN PRESENTED WITH THE "REPAIR GUIDANCE" REFERENCE # R042/13A, THEY SAID IT WAS A FIX FOR THE "EUROPEAN CX-5, NOT THE US VERSION" AND WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10660200
7,000 miles · Nov 19, 2014
Visibility/wiper
DRIVING ON FREEWAY A SMALL PEBBLE HIT THE FAR RIGHT, MID LEVEL OF WINDSHIELD ABOUT 3 INCHES FROM EDGE. I HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND AND THEN A SMALL STAR-SHAPE DING APPEARED. WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE CRACK GREW TO ABOUT 2.5 FEET LONG. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10659355
Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2014
Seats
THE FRONT-SEAT HEADRESTS IN MY VEHICLE ARE TILTED FORWARD IN A WAY THAT FORCES AN UNNATURAL SEATING POSITION. A DRIVER MUST SLOUCH FORWARD TO AVOID THE HEADREST, OR BE FORCED TO TILT HIS/HER HEAD DOWNWARDS. BOTH OPTIONS RESULT IN THE HEADREST HAVING SIGNIFICANT LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES FOR THE HEALTH OF THE OCCUPANT'S NECK AND S…
Read full complaint
THE FRONT-SEAT HEADRESTS IN MY VEHICLE ARE TILTED FORWARD IN A WAY THAT FORCES AN UNNATURAL SEATING POSITION. A DRIVER MUST SLOUCH FORWARD TO AVOID THE HEADREST, OR BE FORCED TO TILT HIS/HER HEAD DOWNWARDS. BOTH OPTIONS RESULT IN THE HEADREST HAVING SIGNIFICANT LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES FOR THE HEALTH OF THE OCCUPANT'S NECK AND SPINE, WHICH IRONICALLY ARE THE INJURIES HEADRESTS SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO PREVENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10630885
28,000 miles · Aug 20, 2014
Service Brakes
I STARTED HEARING A METAL GRINDING SOUND ON THE READ DRIVER SIDE OF MY MAZDA CX5. I WAS TOLD THE ROTORS AND PAD WERE GONE AND NEEDED REPLACED. THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND I WAS DRIVING ON USED PADS FOR ABOUT 1 MONTH AND THEY STARTED TO MAKE THE SAME GRINDING SOUND. I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR WITH THE BRAKES IN THE…
Read full complaint
I STARTED HEARING A METAL GRINDING SOUND ON THE READ DRIVER SIDE OF MY MAZDA CX5. I WAS TOLD THE ROTORS AND PAD WERE GONE AND NEEDED REPLACED. THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND I WAS DRIVING ON USED PADS FOR ABOUT 1 MONTH AND THEY STARTED TO MAKE THE SAME GRINDING SOUND. I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR WITH THE BRAKES IN THE CONDITION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10626877
31,000 miles · Aug 19, 2014
Service Brakes
A WEEK AGO I STARTED HEARING A METAL GRINDING SOUND ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF MY MAZDA CX-5. MY CAR IS ONLY A YEAR AN A HALF OLD. I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THE ROTOR IS COMPLETELY GONE AND I NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS BECAUSE OF IT. HOWEVER, HE COULDN'T LOCATE MY PARTS ANYWHERE. IT SEEMS THAT ALL THE LOCAL MAZD…
Read full complaint
A WEEK AGO I STARTED HEARING A METAL GRINDING SOUND ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF MY MAZDA CX-5. MY CAR IS ONLY A YEAR AN A HALF OLD. I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THE ROTOR IS COMPLETELY GONE AND I NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS BECAUSE OF IT. HOWEVER, HE COULDN'T LOCATE MY PARTS ANYWHERE. IT SEEMS THAT ALL THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIPS DIDN'T HAVE THEM AND ALL THE AFTERMARKET PLACES CLAIMED THAT MAZDA COMPANY HAD BOUGHT THEM ALL BACK. MY MECHANIC ALSO SAID IT WAS ODD THAT IT WAS ONLY ONE SIDE. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OUT THERE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM! SO DANGEROUS! THE REASON MY HUSBAND BOUGHT ME THIS CAR WAS BECAUSE IT WAS SAFE AND I WOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. THERE IS NO REASON A NEW CAR SHOULD NEED NEW ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS! TO SEE MORE COMPLAINTS GO TO THIS WEBSITE, REPAIRPAL.COM/PREMATURE-REAR-BRAKE-FAILURE-705. I HOPE THEY RECALL THIS SOON! IN THE MEANTIME MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN FIXED BECAUSE THERE IS A NATION WIDE BACK ORDER ON THE PART! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10626348
15,000 miles · Aug 11, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineSteering
WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE APPEARS TO STALL AND THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. THE CAR FEELS AS THOUGH IT HAS SHUT OFF, AND NO ACCELERATION IS POSSIBLE. I AM FORCED TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER, AT WHICH POINT I MUST TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO BE DRIVABLE. WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING, SEVERAL INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE I…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE APPEARS TO STALL AND THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. THE CAR FEELS AS THOUGH IT HAS SHUT OFF, AND NO ACCELERATION IS POSSIBLE. I AM FORCED TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER, AT WHICH POINT I MUST TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO BE DRIVABLE. WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING, SEVERAL INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED, INCLUDING THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR, CHECK ENGINE, AT, AND TRACTION CONTROL INDICATORS. UPON RESTART, THE CHECK ENGINE REMAINS ILLUMINATED. THIS SAME INCIDENT HAS RECURRED 3X SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN APRIL 2012, INCLUDING MAY 2013, MAY 2014 AND AUGUST 2014. EACH TIME IT HAS BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE JUST FILED A COMPLAINT WITH MAZDA. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10621497
16,600 miles · Aug 5, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control
TRAVELING RESIDENTIAL STREET APPROX 40MPH. PREPARED TO SLOW FOR UPCOMING LIGHT AND TRAFFIC APPLIED LIGHT PRESSURE TO BRAKE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW FELT WHAT THOUGHT WAS A DOWNSHIFT EXCEPT ACCELERATOR WENT TO FLOOR AND CAR ACCELERATED BRAKE FIGHTING ACCELERATION VEHICLE NOT SLOWING THOUGHT TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL ENGINE RAC…
Read full complaint
TRAVELING RESIDENTIAL STREET APPROX 40MPH. PREPARED TO SLOW FOR UPCOMING LIGHT AND TRAFFIC APPLIED LIGHT PRESSURE TO BRAKE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW FELT WHAT THOUGHT WAS A DOWNSHIFT EXCEPT ACCELERATOR WENT TO FLOOR AND CAR ACCELERATED BRAKE FIGHTING ACCELERATION VEHICLE NOT SLOWING THOUGHT TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL ENGINE RACED WILDLY, VEHICLE CAME TO STOP MOTOR RACING, HIT OFF BUTTON AND MOTOR FINALLY STOPPED. RESTARTED AND VEHICLE BACK TO NORMAL CALLED DEALER TOOK FOR CHECK NEXT DAY MAZDA AND INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR SUPPOSEDLY INSPECTED FOUND NO PROBLEM CHECKED THEIR BLACK BOX NO SUPPORTING DATA. CONCLUDED I WAS USING 2 FEET TO DRIVE I HAVE DRIVEN FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER USED 2 FEET TO DRIVE I TAUGHT MY CHILDREN AND HELPED TEACH MY GRANDCHILDREN AND NEVER ALLOWED 2 FEET TO BE USED IN DRIVING. MAZDAS SOLUTION WAS TO INSTALL A NEW DATA BOX TO COLLECT MORE DATA IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN WITH NO CONCERN FOR MY FAMILY AND THEIR SAFETY OR THAT OF OTHERS ON THE ROADS PLUS MY INSURANCE WOULD BE PUT AT RISK ALONG WITH POTENTIAL LAWSUITS AGAINST ME PERSONALLY AS I KNOW MAZDA DID NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO FIGURE WHAT PARTS MIGHT CAUSE THIS PROBLEM A GOOD COMPANY WOULD TROUBLESHOOT THE PROBLEM ASSESS WHICH PARTS COULD CAUSE THE PROBLEM REPLACE THE MOST LOGICAL PARTS AND TRY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. MAZDA JUST WANTS TO PUT THE PROBLEM BACK ON THE ROAD WITH NO TROUBLESHOOTING ATTEMPTS OR SKILLS. I KNOW ONE OTHER PERSON WHO'S TEENAGE DAUGHTER HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN TWICE AND THEY SAY THEY CAN FIND NO PROBLEM ONE OF HERS RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. MY CASE # [XXX] WITH MAZDA TODAY I TRADED IN THIS VEHICLE. MAZDA SAYS THE VEHICLE IS SAFE ALTHOUGH THEY DECLINED TO SEND ME AN EMAIL CONFIRMING THIS SORRY TO SAY IT WILL PROBABLY BE SOLD TO SOME OTHER UNSUSPECTING PERSON. HOPE NO ONE GETS HURT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10619112
25,780 miles · Aug 4, 2014
Visibility
I WAS TRAVELING AT 70MPH ON FREEWAY WITH NO OTHER CARS AROUND ME WHEN SUNROOF IMPLODED/EXPLODED. GLASS FLEW ALL AROUND INSIDE THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS OUTSIDE ONTO THE ROADWAY. CLEAR DAY AND 60 DEGREES OUTSIDE. MOST PEOPLE WOULD JUST CONTINUE TO DRIVE AS I DID, BUT I COULD SEE HOW A PERSON COULD EASILY LOST CONTROL AND CAUSE AN…
Read full complaint
I WAS TRAVELING AT 70MPH ON FREEWAY WITH NO OTHER CARS AROUND ME WHEN SUNROOF IMPLODED/EXPLODED. GLASS FLEW ALL AROUND INSIDE THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS OUTSIDE ONTO THE ROADWAY. CLEAR DAY AND 60 DEGREES OUTSIDE. MOST PEOPLE WOULD JUST CONTINUE TO DRIVE AS I DID, BUT I COULD SEE HOW A PERSON COULD EASILY LOST CONTROL AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10618857
Official recalls
1Sep 6, 2016
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗