← New search

2018 Mazda CX-5

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most CX-5 years

Owner complaints for the 2018 Mazda CX-5 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 133.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 83 of 348 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 177 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

19 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

32 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2022
Service Brakes

Brakes failed when at complete stop car lurched forward about 2 car lengths

NHTSA ODI #11451423

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2021
Electrical SystemService BrakesUnknown Or Other

On 11/28/2021, my vehicle suddenly showing five warnings 1, front camera sensor malfunction, 2, smart brake system malfunction, 3, forward smart city brake support malfunction, 4, HBC/LAS system malfunction, and 5, SCBC malfunction. I have no idea which part was go wrong, but this is not the first time my vehicle shows the same …

Read full complaint

On 11/28/2021, my vehicle suddenly showing five warnings 1, front camera sensor malfunction, 2, smart brake system malfunction, 3, forward smart city brake support malfunction, 4, HBC/LAS system malfunction, and 5, SCBC malfunction. I have no idea which part was go wrong, but this is not the first time my vehicle shows the same warning. Back to 12/20/2019, my vehicle has a same warning showed, I bring my vehicle to dealer to check but after they check, they told me nothing wrong. After two year the same problem come out again, I am very concern about the safety of my vehicle. The first time having a issue was my vehicle just a year old, and today the same issue come out again. Please help me to look up my vehicle is it any part has to recall and need to fix it. Thank you

NHTSA ODI #11442066

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2021
Back Over PreventionPower TrainService Brakes

I find I have to put my foot down on the gas pedal to the floor to make it literally go at times. Ive heard this cloaking noise several times like its getting ready to conk out. The brakes seems to me don't stop as they should at times I have to go in hard on the brake pedal. The air conditioner does not blow cold an see where …

Read full complaint

I find I have to put my foot down on the gas pedal to the floor to make it literally go at times. Ive heard this cloaking noise several times like its getting ready to conk out. The brakes seems to me don't stop as they should at times I have to go in hard on the brake pedal. The air conditioner does not blow cold an see where previous owner had same issue 2 yrs straight from looking the the service invoices that was left in the truck. The sensor detection does not always work to let me know car/person is around. Coleman Taylor Transmission informed me that this thing does have a issue, the rpm are not as they should be. When I took it back to Kia Gossett about the brakes the used mgr drove it made it seems there were no issues as well as Norcross Mazda. Previous owner invoice show brakes were a concern as well. Had I known there was a prior recall on the PCM I would never bought this JUNK!

NHTSA ODI #11425333

10 miles · Jul 7, 2020
Service Brakes

ISSUE WAS A FROZEN CALIPER BRACKET ON THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE WHICH RESULTED IN CREATING EXCESSIVE HEAT AND PREMATURE WEAR OF THE PADS AND ROTORS

NHTSA ODI #11337844

20 miles · Jul 1, 2020
Service BrakesUnknown Or Other

REAR DRIVERS SIDE CALIPER BECOMES STUCK WHEN ELECTRIC BRAKE WHEN DISENGAGED CAUSING OVER HEATING OF ROTOR AND EXCESS HEAT TO THE WHEEL RESULTING IN PREMATURE WEAR OF ROTOR AND BRAKE PADS AND ALSO COULD LOSE BREAKING CAPABILITY I HAVE MADE AN APPT WITH DEALERSHIP TO RESOLVE ISSUE ON JULY 6TH

NHTSA ODI #11331990

9,563 miles · Feb 3, 2020
Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash

MADE A SLOW RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING PLACE TO PICK UP MY DOGS AT THE GROOMER, WHEN I APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP, THE CAR ACCELERATED LURCHING FORWARD. I THEN TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND REAPPLIED INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN THE CAR SPED UP AND WAS ONLY STOPPED WHEN I HIT A BRICK BUILDING. I HAD TWO DASH WARNINGS "FRONT CAMERA SENS…

Read full complaint

MADE A SLOW RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING PLACE TO PICK UP MY DOGS AT THE GROOMER, WHEN I APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP, THE CAR ACCELERATED LURCHING FORWARD. I THEN TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND REAPPLIED INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN THE CAR SPED UP AND WAS ONLY STOPPED WHEN I HIT A BRICK BUILDING. I HAD TWO DASH WARNINGS "FRONT CAMERA SENSOR SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" AND "FORWARD SMART CITY BREAD SUPPORT MALFUNCTION" I AM NOT CERTAIN HOW FAST THE CAR WAS MOVING WHEN I HIT THE BUILDING BUT THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR IS SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED. FURTHER THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE PHOTOS OF BOTH THE COLLISION DAMAGE AND THE WARNING LIGHTS. THE DEALERSHIP REQUESTED THEY RUN DIAGNOSTICS AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG CLAIMING THE ACCIDENT WAS MY FAULT AS I MUST HAVE PUT MY FOOT ON BOTH THE BRAKE AND GAS AT THE SAME TIME. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. THE ALSO STATED THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT NOT THE CAUSE. I AM ONLY GRATEFUL I WAS NOT PULLING INTO A SPACE CLOSER TO THE DOOR AS I WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH A PLATE GLASS WINDOW AND MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE CAUSE A SERIOUS INJURY TO ANYONE STANDING IN THE LOBBY.

NHTSA ODI #11306813

3,332 miles · Oct 3, 2019
Service BrakesUnknown Or Other

WHILE LIGHT BRAKING, CAR BRAKES JAM... CAUSING UNINTENDED STOP. DANGEROUS. AT NO TIME WAS A CODE FLAGGED. MENTIONED TO GIRL AT DESK WHEN IN FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES. WHEN CAR WHEN IN FOR SERVICE. LADT SERVICE I BELIEVE CAR WAS PUT ON DIAGNOSTICS. WAS TOLD NOTHING FOUND. BECAUSE IT HAPPENS SO OFTEN, & DEALERSHIP TELLS ME C…

Read full complaint

WHILE LIGHT BRAKING, CAR BRAKES JAM... CAUSING UNINTENDED STOP. DANGEROUS. AT NO TIME WAS A CODE FLAGGED. MENTIONED TO GIRL AT DESK WHEN IN FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES. WHEN CAR WHEN IN FOR SERVICE. LADT SERVICE I BELIEVE CAR WAS PUT ON DIAGNOSTICS. WAS TOLD NOTHING FOUND. BECAUSE IT HAPPENS SO OFTEN, & DEALERSHIP TELLS ME CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEM...I CALLED A MECHANIC OUTSIDE OF MAZDA. SPOKE ON PHONE WITH MASTER MECHANIC. & DESCRIBED PROBLEM..HE INFORMED ME PROBLEM WAS A SENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION. CAR SHUTS DOWN & LOCKS. BECAUSE IT HAPPENS SO FAST NO CODE IS GENERATED. SAID IS SERIOUS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11265896

14,700 miles · Sep 11, 2019
Service Brakes

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND THERE IS A CAR STOPPED IN FRONT, I WILL START TO BRAKE LIGHTLY AND THEN INCREASE BRAKING IF NEEDED. THREE TIMES THE CAR HAS STOPPED ITSELF WITH MAZDA'S "SMART CITY BRAKE" FEATURE. I HAD SPACE TO STOP IN TIME, BUT THE CAR'S SCB TAKES OVER AND VIOLENTLY BRAKES THE CAR TO A STOP AN INCREASES THE C…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND THERE IS A CAR STOPPED IN FRONT, I WILL START TO BRAKE LIGHTLY AND THEN INCREASE BRAKING IF NEEDED. THREE TIMES THE CAR HAS STOPPED ITSELF WITH MAZDA'S "SMART CITY BRAKE" FEATURE. I HAD SPACE TO STOP IN TIME, BUT THE CAR'S SCB TAKES OVER AND VIOLENTLY BRAKES THE CAR TO A STOP AN INCREASES THE CHANCE OF A REAR END COLLISION FROM A CAR FOLLOWING ME. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. EVERY TIME I HAD CONTROL AND COULD STOP IN TIME AND THE VEHICLE'S ALGORITHM SAYS TOO CLOSE AND STOPS THE CAR VIOLENTLY, EVEN IF I AM APPLYING THE BRAKES ALREADY. UNACCEPTABLE TO HAVE THE SCB FEATURE THIS SENSITIVE, AND SHOULD NOT BRAKE MORE IF THE DRIVER IS ALREADY APPLYING THE BRAKES.

NHTSA ODI #11254694

14,700 miles · Sep 11, 2019
Service Brakes

DRIVING IN THE CITY WHILE A CAR IN FRONT IS TURNING RIGHT AND WELL OUT OF THE CARS FUTURE PATH, THE SMART CITY BRAKE FEATURE WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE DASH TO BRAKE. THERE IS NO NEED TO BRAKE AS THE CAR IN FRONT IS TURNING OUT OF THE WAY. VERY ANNOYING AND UPSETS MY WIFE AS A PASSENGER. RADAR NEEDS REFLASHED AND THE BEAM WIDTH BE …

Read full complaint

DRIVING IN THE CITY WHILE A CAR IN FRONT IS TURNING RIGHT AND WELL OUT OF THE CARS FUTURE PATH, THE SMART CITY BRAKE FEATURE WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE DASH TO BRAKE. THERE IS NO NEED TO BRAKE AS THE CAR IN FRONT IS TURNING OUT OF THE WAY. VERY ANNOYING AND UPSETS MY WIFE AS A PASSENGER. RADAR NEEDS REFLASHED AND THE BEAM WIDTH BE SMALLER. CAR SHOULD SEE THAT THE CAR IS LEAVING THE RADAR PATH AND SHOULD NOT START BEEP. THIS HAPPENS ALOT.

NHTSA ODI #11254691

50,000 miles · Sep 2, 2019
Service BrakesCrash

MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR WITH SPEED 20 AND HIS DAD WAS SITTING NEXT TO HIM. HE TURNED TO NEIGHBORHOOD GATE. HE PRESSED THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN LIKE CRAZY. IN SHORT DISTANCE FROM SPEED 20 WENT TO A SPEED THAT FLIPPED OVER AT THE GATE. INSTEAD OF BRAKE CAR ACCELERATED SO FAST THAT WAS UNBELIEVABLY. HOPEFULLY…

Read full complaint

MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR WITH SPEED 20 AND HIS DAD WAS SITTING NEXT TO HIM. HE TURNED TO NEIGHBORHOOD GATE. HE PRESSED THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN LIKE CRAZY. IN SHORT DISTANCE FROM SPEED 20 WENT TO A SPEED THAT FLIPPED OVER AT THE GATE. INSTEAD OF BRAKE CAR ACCELERATED SO FAST THAT WAS UNBELIEVABLY. HOPEFULLY NO INJURY HAPPENED. BUT THE CAR IS TOTAL LOST.

NHTSA ODI #11252831

Official recalls

3

21V875000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Nov 12, 2021

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5321K.

19V497000 · Engine; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Jun 27, 2019

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3719F.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Engine

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.

Consequence: An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3719F.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.

Consequence: An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3719F.

18V426000 · Air Bags:side/window

Jun 25, 2018

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda CX-5 vehicles. In the event of a side impact or rollover crash, the side curtain air bags may not properly unfold during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the air bags do not deploy properly in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2718F.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Mazda CX-5 problems