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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
5,500 miles · Aug 7, 2020
Structure

I AM EXPERIENCING SUBSTANTIAL CHIPPING OF THE PAINT ON MY 2018 MAZDA CX-5. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR JUST UNDER 3 MONTHS AND UNDER 7000 MILES DRIVEN. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THE PAINT IS NOT BONDED WITH THE METAL UNDERNEATH THE PAINT. OR THAT THE LAYERS OF PAINT ARE NOT BONDED. I HAVE HEARD OF MANY OTHERS EXPERIENCING SAME OR VERY IS…

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I AM EXPERIENCING SUBSTANTIAL CHIPPING OF THE PAINT ON MY 2018 MAZDA CX-5. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR JUST UNDER 3 MONTHS AND UNDER 7000 MILES DRIVEN. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THE PAINT IS NOT BONDED WITH THE METAL UNDERNEATH THE PAINT. OR THAT THE LAYERS OF PAINT ARE NOT BONDED. I HAVE HEARD OF MANY OTHERS EXPERIENCING SAME OR VERY ISSUES WITH THE SOUL CRYSTAL RED PAINT MAZDA IS USING. IT NEEDS TO BE CLASSIFIED AS FAULTY PAINT AND HANDLED BY MAZDA ACCORDINGLY.

NHTSA ODI #11343828

40,500 miles · Aug 3, 2020
Engine

2018 MAZDA CX-5 GRAND TOURING. ALTERNATOR/AC SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER LEAKS OIL (ITS HYDRAULIC) AND IF FAILS COULD CAUSE BELT TO COME OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND LEAVE YOU STRANDED. DEALERSHIP INDICATES THIS IS NOT WARRANTED.

NHTSA ODI #11343040

10 miles · Jul 7, 2020
Service Brakes

ISSUE WAS A FROZEN CALIPER BRACKET ON THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE WHICH RESULTED IN CREATING EXCESSIVE HEAT AND PREMATURE WEAR OF THE PADS AND ROTORS

NHTSA ODI #11337844

20 miles · Jul 1, 2020
Service BrakesUnknown Or Other

REAR DRIVERS SIDE CALIPER BECOMES STUCK WHEN ELECTRIC BRAKE WHEN DISENGAGED CAUSING OVER HEATING OF ROTOR AND EXCESS HEAT TO THE WHEEL RESULTING IN PREMATURE WEAR OF ROTOR AND BRAKE PADS AND ALSO COULD LOSE BREAKING CAPABILITY I HAVE MADE AN APPT WITH DEALERSHIP TO RESOLVE ISSUE ON JULY 6TH

NHTSA ODI #11331990

33,000 miles · Jun 22, 2020
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE PARKING AT A VERY SLOW SPEED, THE MAZDA SUDDENLY AND ON ITS OWN ACCELERATED AND RAN INTO A FIXED OBJECT. THE VEHICLE WAS OFF THE ROAD IN A GRASSY PARKING AREA WHEN IT HAPPENED.. . *TR

NHTSA ODI #11330163

16,000 miles · May 9, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

ON MAY 9, 2020, OUR MAZDA CX5 LOST THRUST, STALLED AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY GOING 55 MPH ON A STRAIGHT 3 LANE ROAD. THIS OCCURRED DESPITE THE PCM PROGRAMMING WAS RE-CALIBRATED DUE TO A MANUFACTURER RECALL IN SEPTEMBER 2019 (NHTSA RECALL NO. 19V497000). THE CAR IS TOWED TO A MAZDA SERVICE CENTRE AN…

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ON MAY 9, 2020, OUR MAZDA CX5 LOST THRUST, STALLED AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY GOING 55 MPH ON A STRAIGHT 3 LANE ROAD. THIS OCCURRED DESPITE THE PCM PROGRAMMING WAS RE-CALIBRATED DUE TO A MANUFACTURER RECALL IN SEPTEMBER 2019 (NHTSA RECALL NO. 19V497000). THE CAR IS TOWED TO A MAZDA SERVICE CENTRE AND IS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11324001

11,700 miles · Mar 18, 2020
Engine

THE ENGINE IN MY MAZDA CX-5 WAS REQUIRED TO BE REPLACED RECENTLY DUE TO A KNOWN ISSUE IN THE CAR THAT CAUSES THE REAR HEAD TO LEAK. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 12,000 MILES ON IT SO THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE. MY DEALER EXPLAINED TO ME THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY MAZDA AND HE HAD SEEN 5-10 OTHER CARS JUST AT HIS DEALER. WE N…

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THE ENGINE IN MY MAZDA CX-5 WAS REQUIRED TO BE REPLACED RECENTLY DUE TO A KNOWN ISSUE IN THE CAR THAT CAUSES THE REAR HEAD TO LEAK. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 12,000 MILES ON IT SO THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE. MY DEALER EXPLAINED TO ME THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY MAZDA AND HE HAD SEEN 5-10 OTHER CARS JUST AT HIS DEALER. WE NOTICED THIS ISSUE WHEN MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND WE SAW FLUID POURING OUT OF THE BOTTOM. WE HAD HIM STOP THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AND NOT DRIVE. I TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO GET MAZDA TO ENGAGE TO PROVIDE A BETTER WARRANTY GIVEN IT IS A NEW CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE A BLOWN ENGINE WITH ONLY 12,000 MILES AND IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY SUPPORT. I ASKED ABOUT WHY NO RECALL AND THEY JUST STATED THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, ALTHOUGH THE DEALER HIGHLIGHTED MAZDA IS AWARE OF A FLAW IN THE CAR THAT CAUSED THE REAR HEAD TO LEAK. I WOULD LIKE TO SEEK SOME ACTION WITH MAZDA TO MAKE THEM DEAL WITH THIS VERY CONCERNING ISSUE

NHTSA ODI #11318595

9,563 miles · Feb 3, 2020
Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash

MADE A SLOW RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING PLACE TO PICK UP MY DOGS AT THE GROOMER, WHEN I APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP, THE CAR ACCELERATED LURCHING FORWARD. I THEN TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND REAPPLIED INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN THE CAR SPED UP AND WAS ONLY STOPPED WHEN I HIT A BRICK BUILDING. I HAD TWO DASH WARNINGS "FRONT CAMERA SENS…

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MADE A SLOW RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING PLACE TO PICK UP MY DOGS AT THE GROOMER, WHEN I APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP, THE CAR ACCELERATED LURCHING FORWARD. I THEN TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND REAPPLIED INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN THE CAR SPED UP AND WAS ONLY STOPPED WHEN I HIT A BRICK BUILDING. I HAD TWO DASH WARNINGS "FRONT CAMERA SENSOR SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" AND "FORWARD SMART CITY BREAD SUPPORT MALFUNCTION" I AM NOT CERTAIN HOW FAST THE CAR WAS MOVING WHEN I HIT THE BUILDING BUT THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR IS SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED. FURTHER THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE PHOTOS OF BOTH THE COLLISION DAMAGE AND THE WARNING LIGHTS. THE DEALERSHIP REQUESTED THEY RUN DIAGNOSTICS AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG CLAIMING THE ACCIDENT WAS MY FAULT AS I MUST HAVE PUT MY FOOT ON BOTH THE BRAKE AND GAS AT THE SAME TIME. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. THE ALSO STATED THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT NOT THE CAUSE. I AM ONLY GRATEFUL I WAS NOT PULLING INTO A SPACE CLOSER TO THE DOOR AS I WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH A PLATE GLASS WINDOW AND MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE CAUSE A SERIOUS INJURY TO ANYONE STANDING IN THE LOBBY.

NHTSA ODI #11306813

19,600 miles · Feb 3, 2020
Unknown Or Other

SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. NO SIGN THAT IT WAS HIT BY AN OBJECT. WEATHER CLEAR AND ABOUT 45F. SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT, VERY LOUD POW, AND NOT SOUND OF AN IMPACT. EDGES OF REMAINING GLASS FLIPPED UPWARD. NO MARKS ON ROOF AND NO OBJECTS OTHER THAN SOME GLASS PIECES ON SLIDING SHADE PANEL UNDER SUNROOF.

NHTSA ODI #11306753

1,000 miles · Jan 2, 2020
Visibility/wiper

WINDOWS KEEP FREEZING SHUT. NEVER HAVE OWNED A VEHICLE THAT HAS HAD THIS ISSUE. THIS IS NOT ONLY AN INCONVENIENCE TRYING TO SWIPE A RFID CARD TO GET INTO A SECURE PARKING FACILITY BUT A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD THERE BE AN EMERGENCY THAT REQUIRES THE WINDOW TO BE ROLLED DOWN (I.E. TO ESCAPE SINKING CAR, MAKE CONTACT WITH LEO, E…

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WINDOWS KEEP FREEZING SHUT. NEVER HAVE OWNED A VEHICLE THAT HAS HAD THIS ISSUE. THIS IS NOT ONLY AN INCONVENIENCE TRYING TO SWIPE A RFID CARD TO GET INTO A SECURE PARKING FACILITY BUT A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD THERE BE AN EMERGENCY THAT REQUIRES THE WINDOW TO BE ROLLED DOWN (I.E. TO ESCAPE SINKING CAR, MAKE CONTACT WITH LEO, ETC). THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALER AND THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ITS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW.

NHTSA ODI #11292547

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