Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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
What owners actually said
348 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2024
Unknown Or Other
Mazda has a safety problem with the infotainment system in their CX-5 models 2014 - 2020 and refuses to recall or do anything about it. The infotainment system has a ghost in the machine that changes settings while driving and literally screams at you through the stereo system. The ghost turns the volume all the way up and sho…
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Mazda has a safety problem with the infotainment system in their CX-5 models 2014 - 2020 and refuses to recall or do anything about it. The infotainment system has a ghost in the machine that changes settings while driving and literally screams at you through the stereo system. The ghost turns the volume all the way up and shouts, "navigation will be at this volume" over and over again (10+ times in a row). I try turning down the volume, but the ghost continually changes the volume back to max and continues shouting. Most often, this occurs when facing the sun. The ghost also changes all sorts of system settings, some relating to safety features such as lane departure, and blind spot warnings. When this occurs, it is incredibly distracting, and many times I have had to pull off the side of the road, until the issue subsides, just to get back on the road and have the issue continue to persist. This safety issue surfaced shortly after my warranty expired. In having the vehicle serviced, I was told it was either the control knob or infotainment screen. In 2023, I opted to have the control knob replaced out of pocket as that was the less expensive option ($600+). The screen replacement was quoted at $1200+. Since that time, the issue has persisted and worsened. In doing my own research online, thousands of Mazda customers have this exact same issue in models spanning from 2014 - 2020. The ghost is attributed to the touch screen function and a faulty wire mechanism. Many consumers have taken apart their dashboards (a huge undertaking) to disconnect the touchscreen wire and resolved the ghost problem, leaving the touchscreen non-functional. I have tried contacting Mazda corporate to explain this is a major safety concern and that I am a person who has auditory/sensory sensitivities. They refuse to make this right and I refuse to spend more money to fix a known issue that spans over 7 years.
NHTSA ODI #11595313
Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2024
Unknown Or Other
My 2018 Mazda CX-5 has been having issues in which the infotainment system randomly starts scrolling across the screen and changing channels, hanging up on my phone calls, muting me during phone calls, changing my navigation screens, etc. while driving. This is a serious safety concern as the only way to make it stop happening …
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My 2018 Mazda CX-5 has been having issues in which the infotainment system randomly starts scrolling across the screen and changing channels, hanging up on my phone calls, muting me during phone calls, changing my navigation screens, etc. while driving. This is a serious safety concern as the only way to make it stop happening is to park the vehicle, turn the vehicle off, and then turn it back on. It is quite alarming when driving to have your navigation change on you without warning or to mute a call when Ohio is a hands free state by law now. This started randomly a couple of months ago and is now happening daily. I contacted Mazda customer service to see if any recalls, none have been issued for the CX5 yet, although the same problem had recalls for the Mazda 3 back in 2019. There are numerous reports all over about this same issue for CX5's all over the web. I do have an appointment with the dealership to have the car serviced, but ridiculous a known issue is not under a recall and charging owners to fix a known problem; especially considering the safety concerns.
NHTSA ODI #11593444
Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2024
EnginePower Train
2018 mazda started smoking from under hood and noticed a burning oil smell. Took to mechanic and was told engine head gasket has a huge Crack. Car only has 22k on it and never been in any accident. All appropriate preventative services are up to date. There was no indication light no warning light nothing to identify why the car…
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2018 mazda started smoking from under hood and noticed a burning oil smell. Took to mechanic and was told engine head gasket has a huge Crack. Car only has 22k on it and never been in any accident. All appropriate preventative services are up to date. There was no indication light no warning light nothing to identify why the car was leaking oil and smoking until it was looked at. This has multiple.complaints in regards to this specific year and model and needs to be addresses before someone's car catches fire or stalls in the middle of highway
NHTSA ODI #11592587
Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2024
Engine
Oil smell in cabin. Diagnosed by independent repair shop as hairline crack in back of cylinder head. Cylinder head replaced at 91000 miles.
NHTSA ODI #11592566
52,000 miles · Jun 3, 2024
Fuel System, Gasoline
The contact owns a 2018 Mazda CX5. The contact stated that after cold starts, the vehicle hesitated and jerked upon depression of the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on numerous occasions. The contact was repeatedly informed that no fault was found with the vehicle. Th…
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The contact owns a 2018 Mazda CX5. The contact stated that after cold starts, the vehicle hesitated and jerked upon depression of the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on numerous occasions. The contact was repeatedly informed that no fault was found with the vehicle. The dealer later performed a software update on the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V875000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) which was linked to the failure. The manufacturer was notified about the recall, but the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.
NHTSA ODI #11592142
Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2024
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
Constant ticking sound coming from engine, most apparent while idling but continues even after oil change and engine warm up. Goes away for short periods of time. Always comes back and is very loud. Sometimes engine block shakes and can be felt through the steering wheel.
NHTSA ODI #11591921
Mileage unknown · May 30, 2024
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System
This car that I financed on [XXX] 2024 has been back to the dealership over 6 times. My car loses power on the freeway and all main roads. I push the gas pedal and nothing happens so I am forced to pull over and turn the car off and restart it again. It's very dangerous when I'm merging on the freeway and I cannot accelerate and…
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This car that I financed on [XXX] 2024 has been back to the dealership over 6 times. My car loses power on the freeway and all main roads. I push the gas pedal and nothing happens so I am forced to pull over and turn the car off and restart it again. It's very dangerous when I'm merging on the freeway and I cannot accelerate and have to pull over in traffic. Sports cars International in Lynnwood Washington is well aware of the issues I've been having and they have not fixed them. They have allowed me to drive off the lot knowing I am in a car that is dangerous and unsafe, a car that could kill another family or myself. They are unresponsive to call of my phone calls and emails. This car has had nothing but problems since then day I drove it of the lot. Come to find out from their Yelp and BBB reviews thus happens to a lot of people that buy cars from them. They are rude to me and I feel like I'm on danger every time I drive this car. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI #11591610
Mileage unknown · May 28, 2024
Engine
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to report a serious issue with the 2018 Mazda CX-5, specifically regarding the structural integrity of the cylinder head. This defect leads to significant oil leakage, toxic smoke entering the vehicle, and substantial repair costs for owners. Despite these problems, it appears Mazda has not …
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To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to report a serious issue with the 2018 Mazda CX-5, specifically regarding the structural integrity of the cylinder head. This defect leads to significant oil leakage, toxic smoke entering the vehicle, and substantial repair costs for owners. Despite these problems, it appears Mazda has not initiated a recall, despite being aware of the issue. My wife owns a 2018 Mazda CX-5 with approximately 80,000-90,000 miles. Recently, after she returned home from work, we noticed gray, billowing smoke emanating from the hood. The smell of burning oil and rubber permeated our garage and home, making it difficult to breathe. We took the car to an independent technician at AAMCO, who, after a thorough evaluation, concluded that the cylinder head was cracked. Given the car's mileage and overall condition, they were extremely surprised and double-checked all other possibilities before reaching this conclusion. They informed us that this issue seems widespread, as evidenced by their online research (links provided below). For further verification, I drove the car to a Mazda dealership, which took about an hour due to avoiding the highway. During the drive, I continuously smelled burning oil, which raises significant health concerns, especially for my pregnant wife. The dealership acknowledged that this issue occurs with the CX-5 and quoted us $5,350 before tax for repairs. While my wife and I are fortunate enough to afford this repair, many consumers may not have $5,500 readily available to fix a manufacturing defect. This situation underscores the urgent need for Mazda to address this problem through a recall. Sincerely, [XXX] A few links below: [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI #11591065
Mileage unknown · May 28, 2024
Unknown Or Other
Moon roof exploded
NHTSA ODI #11591010
62,000 miles · May 21, 2024
Fuel System, Gasoline
The contact owns a 2018 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle independently decelerated and lost motive power. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle wa…
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The contact owns a 2018 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle independently decelerated and lost motive power. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with fuel pump failure. The contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised to have the vehicle towed to the dealer. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with fuel pump failure and fuel pump rail failure. The contact was informed that the fuel pump and the fuel rail needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V875000 (Fuel system, Gasoline) however the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.
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.
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.
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 ↗