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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 · Nov 18, 2021
Equipment

While stopped at a pharmacy pick up window, I engaged the auto hold. I took my foot off the break and about 3 seconds later my car lurched forward about a whole car length. There was nothing in front of me, but had there been I would have hit it.

NHTSA ODI #11440961

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2021
Fuel System, Gasoline

The contact owns a 2018 Mazda CX-5. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V875000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The part was not available for repai…

Read full complaint

The contact owns a 2018 Mazda CX-5. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V875000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The part was not available for repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts are not available.

NHTSA ODI #11440899

Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2021
Engine

Engine turned off while making a k turn. This is the same issue I experienced in 2019. Mazda issued a recall for software malfunction shortly thereafter and my car was serviced as part of this recall (NHTSA campaign number: 19V497). But now the exact issue happened again last week.

NHTSA ODI #11436549

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2021
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

Will not accelerate at times no matter how far you press down on gas pedal and will stall right after. I will pull over shut off vehicle and restart. This sometimes corrects the problem right away. Other times it lasts longer. System malfunction light randomly comes on.

NHTSA ODI #11432642

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2021
Structure

Multiple paint chips on Ref Soul Mazda. Dealer did not want to address issue. I would have to pay out pocket. The hood and sides of car.

NHTSA ODI #11431549

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2021
TiresCrash

P225/65R17 GEOLANDAR G91A 100H tire was loosing air with 12k miles. mazda service dealer claimed many punctures due to driving in NYC but car was sold in NYC. (3) nails located in very soft rubber and tire failed at 15k miles casing emergency situation. (3) others tire have no single issue. after getting new tire and after remo…

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P225/65R17 GEOLANDAR G91A 100H tire was loosing air with 12k miles. mazda service dealer claimed many punctures due to driving in NYC but car was sold in NYC. (3) nails located in very soft rubber and tire failed at 15k miles casing emergency situation. (3) others tire have no single issue. after getting new tire and after removing damaged tire following picture is in side the bad tire: many layers of rubber chipping off the tire. please investigate this tire and after searching internet for this tire I realized that something is going wrong with this tire type.

NHTSA ODI #11426334

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 …

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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

Mileage unknown · Jul 4, 2021
SeatsCrashInjury

My husband (driver) and I (front passenger) were in my 2018 Mazda CX-5 Touring and were stopped in traffic on the interstate due to construction. While completely stopped, we were rear-ended by a car traveling at 55-60+ miles per hour (the car did not brake at all before hitting us). Both of our seat backs failed upon impact and…

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My husband (driver) and I (front passenger) were in my 2018 Mazda CX-5 Touring and were stopped in traffic on the interstate due to construction. While completely stopped, we were rear-ended by a car traveling at 55-60+ miles per hour (the car did not brake at all before hitting us). Both of our seat backs failed upon impact and went all the way back, with the headrests flying out of both seats. Thankfully no passengers or pets were in the back seat when this happened, but this is a serious safety concern. Attached are photos of the inside of the car in the state it was in after the crash.

NHTSA ODI #11423394

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2021
Electrical System

Mazda USA - There’s been over 5 failures of my AC since before the car even hit a 5,000 mile mark. Mazda North America has a D- rating w/the Better Business Bureau & it shows! My complaints have gone one deaf ears and there’s a HUGE lack of accountability. https://youtu.be/83lV-29xz8s

NHTSA ODI #11421500

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2021
Lane DepartureUnknown Or Other

hacker broke into my home network, laptops, cellphones and my vehicle. Settings keep being changed relating to Adas and bluetooth. poss using sql os sqlite

NHTSA ODI #11420779

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