2018 Mazda CX-5

I just had my vehicle in for routine maintenance and oil change and three days later it started leaking oil, staining my driveway, with the leak getting progressively worse then my check oil light went on, and the day I brought it in, and it was smoking under the hood. My safety and the safety of others on the road was at risk. At the routine maintenance visit they found no issues with the vehicle. After bringing it into the dealership they diagnosed it as a cylinder head crack needing replacement. We had another dealership look at the diagnostic video and explain that this is poor manufacturing. It’s just over 60,000 miles but is still within our warranty from a timeline aspect. Upon research we found this is happening to many people with a Mazda’s from year, 18 to 21. There are many forums about this. Upon an online search we found this problem documented as tsb SA-031/21. I am disappointed that the Mazda company is aware of the faulty cylinder heads in this vehicle, and now I am responsible for the maintenance charge.

I own a Mazda that I purchased new in 2018. I have kept up with the maintenance to a “T”. I have never abused it. About a month ago I started smelling a strange smell. Like smoke or burnt oil. A couple of weeks later, the engine oil level light came on and the engine was low on oil and that’s when I started seeing that the motor was leaking oil, and I just found out that the engine head cylinder has a crack. I found out that these vehicles have a defect from the factory on this part that cracked, “Engine Head cylinder”. And now to repair it, it is going to cost me around $6,000. The warranty has run out.

Many incidents have occurred with this vehicle. First occurrence happened 11/25/21. Attempting to pass another vehicle and the car began slowing down and various warnings came on. Pulled off to the side of the road, turned off the vehicle and restarted without any further incident. This same thing happened 2 times in 12/2021 both time attempting to pass another vehicle. 2nd time in December the check engine light came on. Scheduled to be seen by a mechanic with the earliest appointment on 12/31/21. Mechanic recommended taking to a licensed Mazda mechanic. Appointment was on 01/07/22. They looked at the car and fixed the issue. Can't remember the issue at that time. By 05/2022, check engine light came back on and car would start slowing down and shutting off when attempting to pass another vehicle. If RPMs would go to high, car would do this. Check engine light came back on. Took to Mazda mechanic on 06/17/22. After several troubleshooting fixes, it was determined I needed a new engine as there were parts broken missing or broken. Did not have my car for 13 weeks. Most recently, on 08/13/23, car shut off in a drive through. Towed to mechanic and needed a new camshaft. Picked up my car on 08/21/23 and within 45 minutes, car shut off while driving up a hill. Towed back to mechanic. This time there are electical issues and an ill fiitting pin. Have to take it to a licensed Mazda mechanic. Having to tow it due to how unsafe it is to drive. Reached out to Mazda with my concerns over saftey and waiting to hear back. Very concerned that this will never be resolved and that this is a very unsafe vehicle to drive.

On 7/30/23, I was driving home from church, and was driving on the freeway in the fast lane when my 2018 Mazda Cx-5, that was only 5 years old, with only over 33.2K miles on it, started to stall. Thankfully, it didn't come to a complete stop, but slowed down tremendously, and had at least 5 malfunctioning lights come on all at once. The car wouldn't go over 25 miles afterwards. I was very thankful to make it home safely, but this was very alarming, since I never had any issues with that car, and always kept it very well maintained. For a car that was only 5 years old and had only 33.2K miles on it, to experience such a drastic problem, is very confusing. It was very concerning that the car almost came to a complete stop unexpectedly without any warning ahead of time, especially while driving in the fast lane on a freeway. I also took pictures of the malfunctioning lights that came on right after the incident took place. I had the car towed into the dealer the next day, and they told me that it was unusual that my engine would do that. They said that it needed a tune up earlier than expected. I was told that the 3rd cylinder was misfiring, and also when the engine isn't working properly, everything else in the car would shut down. Now, why would a car that's been very well maintained, with only 33.2k miles on it need a tune-up? And I always kept up with the oil changes on time. I found out that there was an engine recall on these particular models, but I was told by Mazda that my VIN # did not qualify; however, what I experienced, did fit the description of the recall. I've since then, decided to trade in the car, because I was just too afraid to continue driving it after this experience. I am however, very upset that I had to give up a car that I invested a lot of money in and took very good care of, and only had 33.2k Miles on it.

The contact owns a 2018 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the contact became aware of smoke coming from underneath the hood. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the cylinder head was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,400. The contact stated the cylinder head is porous and oil leaks out of it. Also, 6 hydraulic lash adjusters were failing and needed to be replaced.

Driving down the freeway smoke started coming out of the hood of the car and into the cabin, no warnings or warning lights of any kind, got the car to the Mazda dealer to be inspected. The dealer told me it was 5 months out of warranty and would not be covered its a cracked cylinder head and oil had dripped/leaked onto the manifold causing the smoke. No smoke was coming from the exhaust so the crack only leaked oil to the outside of the cylinder head. There is no oil in my driveway so it happened that day on the road. This is a manufacturing error that Mazda won't take responsibility for.

When driving I started to smell a burning oil or rubber smell inside the cabin of the car. When I stopped I could see smoke coming from under the hood. When I was able to park, I opened the hood and could see smoke coming from the engine. There were no warning lights displaying on the dash, no leaking fluid from under the car. I did not feel safe continuing to drive the car without having it seen, so I took it to the closest Mazda dealer service. After inspecting the issue I was told there is a cracked cylinder head that is leaking fluid into the engine and the exhaust and I would need a brand new engine. The service manager said this is a known issue with the 2018-2021 Mazda CX-5. Unfortunately, the warranty that would cover this expired in April 2023 (at the time of writing this, it's May 1, 2023). It should be noted that my CX-5 is only 5 years old with ~37,000 miles on it. I was told by the Mazda service manager that the car is not safe to be driven in this condition and would have to stay in their possession on their lot until I decide if I want to have it fixed.