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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.

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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

Suspension complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2023
Service BrakesSuspensionWheels

Certified Mazda cx5 sold with faulty wheel bearing and had to be back in service less than 24 hours from purchase. They failed to replace the piece of engine after 35.000 maintenance and another dealer found 5 areas that needed work 3 weeks later. Brake warning system went off took5 days to determine it was a dead switch and rep…

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Certified Mazda cx5 sold with faulty wheel bearing and had to be back in service less than 24 hours from purchase. They failed to replace the piece of engine after 35.000 maintenance and another dealer found 5 areas that needed work 3 weeks later. Brake warning system went off took5 days to determine it was a dead switch and replaced exactly one month later Brake system warning goes off after car was In park and off for 25 minutes at the airport. I was told that I was fine to drive it despite the manual clearly saying do not drive if Brake warning lights go on. And it was supposed to have been repaired. The dealership expected me to believe that a rubber mat set off the high tech Brake system this is ridiculous They bought back car did not return the 5000 down payment or 14000 trade in and refused to honor the store warranty of buy back for life KBB 125 of trade in value. They refused to do anything to cancel warranty but then [XXX] canceled all 3 and had no authority or permission by me to illegally cancel my warranty and refuse to provide the documentation that the warranty company insist the dealer has to provide. There is no record of my ownership of this vehicle when VIN is run ir the excessive amount of damage to the car by Koons Mazda silver spring INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #11526492

27,137 miles · Jan 18, 2022
Suspension

The contact owns a 2018 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while having a routine oil change, the mechanic noticed that the rear shocks were leaking oil and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not replaced. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact to bring the vehicle to a dealer for assistance. The f…

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The contact owns a 2018 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while having a routine oil change, the mechanic noticed that the rear shocks were leaking oil and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not replaced. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact to bring the vehicle to a dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 27,137.

NHTSA ODI #11447926

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2021
Suspension

Our 2018 CX5 has only 28K miles. During a recent oil change at our local auto repair facility I was informed that the driver's side rear shock was leaking oil and needed to be replaced. After some research I found there is a Mazda TSB (Bulletin No.: 02-001/21) stating that many 2017-2020 CX5s left the factory with defective rea…

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Our 2018 CX5 has only 28K miles. During a recent oil change at our local auto repair facility I was informed that the driver's side rear shock was leaking oil and needed to be replaced. After some research I found there is a Mazda TSB (Bulletin No.: 02-001/21) stating that many 2017-2020 CX5s left the factory with defective rear shocks. In my opinion, loss of shocks could affect stability of a vehicle and cause a crash. There should be a recall to replace these defective shocks!

NHTSA ODI #11442706

2,112 miles · Jan 13, 2019
Service BrakesSuspension

1550 MILES ON MY MAZDA CX 5. AFTER PICKING MY CAR UP FROM MARIN MAZDA FROM SUPPOSEDLY BEING REPAIRED I AM DRIVING HOME WHEN THE SAME RESISTANCE PROBLEM I TOOK IT IN FOR HAPPENS AGAIN. FEELS LIKE I AM TOWING A VERY LARGE TRACTOR ALL THE WAY HOME. I LOOK UNDER THE CAR WHEN I GET THERE AND NOTICE THAT THE BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD ENDS,…

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1550 MILES ON MY MAZDA CX 5. AFTER PICKING MY CAR UP FROM MARIN MAZDA FROM SUPPOSEDLY BEING REPAIRED I AM DRIVING HOME WHEN THE SAME RESISTANCE PROBLEM I TOOK IT IN FOR HAPPENS AGAIN. FEELS LIKE I AM TOWING A VERY LARGE TRACTOR ALL THE WAY HOME. I LOOK UNDER THE CAR WHEN I GET THERE AND NOTICE THAT THE BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD ENDS, SOME OF MY BRAKE PARTS AND MANY OTHER PARTS ARE RUSTED. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING TO ME BECAUSE MARIN MAZDA TOLD ME THEY TOOK MY BRAKES APART, CLEANED THEM BECAUSE THERE WAS A PIECE OF DIRT IN THERE. DIRT SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET IN THE BRAKES. ALSO THIS MEANS THAT THEY SAW THE RUSTED PARTS ON THE BRAKES AND SUSPENSION AND SAID NOTHING TO ME, DID NOTHING TO FIX THEM AND SENT ME ON MY WAY TELLING ME THIS CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I STARTED DOING SOME RESEARCH ON MAZDA'S VEHICLES AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAVE PREVIOUSLY HAD TO RECALL HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THEIR VEHICLES DUE TO THEM BEING UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO RUSTED SUSPENSION AND OTHER RUST ISSUES. MARIN MAZDA KNOWING SET ME AWAY WITH RUSTED SUSPENSION PARTS, BRAKE PARTS AND TOLD ME THIS CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE. IGNORING MY COMPLAINTS ABOUT HOW THE CAR IS NOT OPERATING RIGHT. AFTER SEEING THE RUST AND TAKING MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER MARIN MAZDA, ONE MORE TIME AND THEM REPAIRING NOTHING, I CONTACTED MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS. INFORMING THEM OF THE ISSUES THAT I HAVE BEEN HAVING MY CAR WAS ALSO DAMAGED WHILE IT WAS AT MARIN MAZDA FOR REPAIRS THIS LAST TIME. THERE WAS STILL WHITE GRIT FROM THEIR STUCCO WALL,FROM WHERE ONLY THEIR SERVICE TECHS CAN DRIVE THE CARS, EMBEDDED IN MY BUMPER/ PAINT. MAZDA CORPORATE HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT MY CAR NOT BEING REPAIRED EVEN THOU MY COMPLAINTS WERE DUPLICATED BY THE SERVICE TECH NOR ABOUT THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR THAT WAS PROVEN TO HAVE HAPPENED AT THEIR SHOP AND CONFIRMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER. I TOLD MAZDA CORPS REPRESENTATIVE DAVE ABOUT THE RUST AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #11166779

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