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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

Wheels complaints

2 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

Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 2018
Seat BeltsService BrakesWheels

I PURCHASED A 2018 MAZADA CX5 IN APRIL. IN MAY I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE HESITANT TO STOP AND THAT THEY ALSO MAKE GRINDING NOISE. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MAZADA. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NEW IT WOULD MAKE GRINDING NOISE AND THAT THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY EASE UP. IT IS NOW N…

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I PURCHASED A 2018 MAZADA CX5 IN APRIL. IN MAY I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE HESITANT TO STOP AND THAT THEY ALSO MAKE GRINDING NOISE. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MAZADA. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NEW IT WOULD MAKE GRINDING NOISE AND THAT THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY EASE UP. IT IS NOW NOVEMBER AND THE ISSUE STILL EXIST. IN JUNE MY PASSENGERS SEAT BELT BEGAN HAVING DIFFICULTY LATCHING CAUSING THE CENSOR TO GO OFF. THIS HAPPENS DAILY. IN OCTOBER MY TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON STATING THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS LOW. I PLACED AIR IN MY TIRES AND THE CENSOR LIGHT NEVER WENT OFF. ON OCTOBER 18, 2018, I WENT TO THE MAZADA DEALERSHIP FOR A SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, INFORMED THE SERVICE ADVISOR OF MY CONCERNS AND THEY STATED EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND THE CENSOR WAS RESET. TODAY IS NOVEMBER 2, 2018 AND MY TIRE CENSOR IS BACK ON. MY BRAKES ARE STILL GRINDING AND NOW THEY SLIDE BEFORE STOPPING AND MY PASSENGER SEAT BELT STILL IS NOT LATCHING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO MYSELF AND PASSENGERS.

NHTSA ODI #11144890

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