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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.

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

What owners actually said

348 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2024
Engine

Cracked cylinder head at 75000 miles causing oil to leak, Mazda dealership called it a fire risk

NHTSA ODI #11579663

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2024
Engine

Head cracked at just under 49,000. Oil dripping on exhaust entering cabin continuously. This issue was identified by Mazda to dealers in 2021 via Mazda TSB SA-031/21. Despite having our vehicle serviced multiple times at the Puyallup Mazda dealership after that date, no mention was made of this noted defect. We drove for ab…

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Head cracked at just under 49,000. Oil dripping on exhaust entering cabin continuously. This issue was identified by Mazda to dealers in 2021 via Mazda TSB SA-031/21. Despite having our vehicle serviced multiple times at the Puyallup Mazda dealership after that date, no mention was made of this noted defect. We drove for about a month inhaling the petroleum fumes often thinking it was from trucks ahead of us on road. Dealership replaced the head assembly but since car was 4 months out of warranty (we are the original owners having purchased it new from this dealership) the dealership insisted on charging us for repairs. We've been breathing fumes from a known issue and others may be as well due to faulty manufacturing the manufacturer and dealer refuse to take full responsibility for.what is clearly a defect.

NHTSA ODI #11579338

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2024
EnginePower Train

2018 Mazda CX-5 with roughly 52,000 miles on it was emitting a burnt rubber smell and white smoke from the engine. Repair shop thought it was a bad timing lock. Replaced that and car continued to emit white smoke and smell like burnt rubber. Engine then began leaking oil. Took the car back to the repair shop and it was confirmed…

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2018 Mazda CX-5 with roughly 52,000 miles on it was emitting a burnt rubber smell and white smoke from the engine. Repair shop thought it was a bad timing lock. Replaced that and car continued to emit white smoke and smell like burnt rubber. Engine then began leaking oil. Took the car back to the repair shop and it was confirmed that the engine had a cracked cylinder head. The repair shop said this is a known issue with 2018-2019 Mazdas. In three days time, the engine leaked roughly 1 quart of oil and was deemed not safe to drive by the repair shop.

NHTSA ODI #11578862

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2024
Engine

My 2018 Mazda CX-5 had a rubber burning smell and smoke leaked into the cabin. I noticed the next morning, oil leaked onto my driveway. I brought the car to the dealership and they mentioned it was a cracked cylinder head. My car has approximately 49,200 miles on it and it about 5.5 years old. It is under the mileage limit for p…

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My 2018 Mazda CX-5 had a rubber burning smell and smoke leaked into the cabin. I noticed the next morning, oil leaked onto my driveway. I brought the car to the dealership and they mentioned it was a cracked cylinder head. My car has approximately 49,200 miles on it and it about 5.5 years old. It is under the mileage limit for powertrain warranty but slightly over on the age limit for powertrain warranty. Mazda informed me that they would cover roughly 37% of the repair costs that the dealership quoted me. I've read online on various Mazda forums that many owners are dealing with the same issue and Mazda admitted that a batch of heads have a manufacturing defect. Owners on this forum mentioned Mazda covered 100% of the repair costs for cars that were out of warranty due to this being a known manufacturing issue. I think the proposed coverage that Mazda provided me is insufficient.

NHTSA ODI #11578031

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2024
Engine

There a oil leak either engine cylinder crack or head gasket leak and the car only has 53000 miles when warranty just expires. After searching on the internet, there seems to be many similar cases. Mazda should recall this issue.

NHTSA ODI #11577101

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2024
Engine

We own a 2018 Mazda CX-5 which developed a cracked cylinder head after slightly over 53,000 miles. We had oil leaking in our driveway and our dealership advised us not to drive it as this would be an extreme safety issue. I was advised to contact you as this seems to be an ongoing issue with Mazda CX-5's from 2018-2021. There…

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We own a 2018 Mazda CX-5 which developed a cracked cylinder head after slightly over 53,000 miles. We had oil leaking in our driveway and our dealership advised us not to drive it as this would be an extreme safety issue. I was advised to contact you as this seems to be an ongoing issue with Mazda CX-5's from 2018-2021. There is a safety bulletin TSB #SA-031-21. I am hoping this will help with resolving this with Mazda costumer service.

NHTSA ODI #11575385

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2024
Engine

There was a TSB #[xxx] for the repair of Cracked Cylinder Head(s). Our 2018 CX-5 incurred a Cracked Cylinder Head at 5,418 miles. This was under the 60,000-mile power train warranty, but after the 5-year term had expired ([XXX]). Our issue started in late January '24. The car had been serviced at the Mazda Dealership in Hyannis,…

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There was a TSB #[xxx] for the repair of Cracked Cylinder Head(s). Our 2018 CX-5 incurred a Cracked Cylinder Head at 5,418 miles. This was under the 60,000-mile power train warranty, but after the 5-year term had expired ([XXX]). Our issue started in late January '24. The car had been serviced at the Mazda Dealership in Hyannis, MA until my wife bought a '21 CX-5 model and gave the '18 model to our college son in FL. The TSB was for '18 - '20 models - which has now been increased to the '23 CX-5s. Mazda US would not help us in any way with the engine replacement that the Mazda dealership in Tampa replaced with a '23, 4,000-mile engine. $ 7,462.89 'new' engine that has a '23 engine that could incur the same issue! Also, my wife's newer model, '21, could also be a lemon for the TSB. We're looking for Mazda to step up for it's (loyal) clients! The work was completed and paid for on [XXX]. Mazda reviewed our case ([XXX]) and declined to assist. A reliable vehicle, Mazda, with an engine at 54,000 miles should be cared for by the manufacturer. The reason the time expired and the mileage was low was due to the lack of driving during the Covid era. We have researched online the number of cases for Mazda and the CX-5's issues with the cylinder heads. We are looking for a government interaction to assist consumers like us. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11575365

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2024
Engine

ENGINE HEAD HAS CRACK ON IT, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK OUT AND BURN AND SMOKE. IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE ENGINE/CRACK, MANIFOLD NEED TO BE REMOVED. LEAKAGE IS IN THE BACK OF THE ENGINE. THIS MUST BE MANUFACTURED DEFECT. MY MAZDA HAS LESS THAN 45000 MILE ON IT. UNFORTUNATELY WARRANTLY IS NO LONGER VALID. UNLESS A RECALLED IS ISSUE, A…

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ENGINE HEAD HAS CRACK ON IT, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK OUT AND BURN AND SMOKE. IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE ENGINE/CRACK, MANIFOLD NEED TO BE REMOVED. LEAKAGE IS IN THE BACK OF THE ENGINE. THIS MUST BE MANUFACTURED DEFECT. MY MAZDA HAS LESS THAN 45000 MILE ON IT. UNFORTUNATELY WARRANTLY IS NO LONGER VALID. UNLESS A RECALLED IS ISSUE, A REPAIR WILL BE FREE OF CHARGE TO CURRENT OWNER. OTHER WISE OPERATOR HAS TO CONSTANTLY KEEP ADDING OIL.

NHTSA ODI #11574311

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2024
Exterior Lighting

The lighting system on the 2018 Mazda cx-5 base sport model has it so that during the daytime, the low beams continuously run. This and the continuously lighted dashboard make it hard to tell when you need to turn on the headlight/tail lights, since the headlights are always on. These arent even side drls, they are full low-beam…

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The lighting system on the 2018 Mazda cx-5 base sport model has it so that during the daytime, the low beams continuously run. This and the continuously lighted dashboard make it hard to tell when you need to turn on the headlight/tail lights, since the headlights are always on. These arent even side drls, they are full low-beam lights. I've seen many Mazda cx-5 base models that do not have auto headlights drive around with there without any taillight and makes it dangerous for traffic behind to see the vehicle. Additionally, when others borrow the car, they always never turn on the headlight because there is no indication that anything needed to be turned on unlike older cars where the dashboard is fully black when the headlight/taillight is off.

NHTSA ODI #11574125

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2024
Engine

Hydraulic lift adjuster failure causing loud engine knocking. Vehicle cannot be driven and costs thousands of dollars in repairs. The engine is only at 42,000 miles.

NHTSA ODI #11573711

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