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2019 Mazda CX-5

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most CX-5 years

Owner complaints for the 2019 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: 43 of 270 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 131 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. 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.

7 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports

Power Train complaints

32 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2024
EnginePower Train

Had the sudden onset of strong exhaust fumes in the cabin as others have described - especially when idling at a light. Returned to dealer after having it up on a rack to find oil dripping everywhere (shield underneath prevents from seeing drops when parked) - got word today it is indeed the cylinder head assembly. How is oil ru…

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Had the sudden onset of strong exhaust fumes in the cabin as others have described - especially when idling at a light. Returned to dealer after having it up on a rack to find oil dripping everywhere (shield underneath prevents from seeing drops when parked) - got word today it is indeed the cylinder head assembly. How is oil running on hot exhaust not a fire concern? I had to roll my windows down for fresh air in zero degree weather the fumes were so strong inside the vehicle. On top of that the P0126 (thermostat stuck open) diagnostic code is back for the second year in a row after having the “fix” installed under warranty last year.

NHTSA ODI #11569398

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2024
Power Train

Car will whine and jerk when accelerating. Car suddenly stopped engaging in gear after it was warm. Dealer states it has internal transmission malfunction at 64k miles. Prior to the car breaking down the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnostic on 12/27/23 and concerns with the whining and jerking when driving were expr…

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Car will whine and jerk when accelerating. Car suddenly stopped engaging in gear after it was warm. Dealer states it has internal transmission malfunction at 64k miles. Prior to the car breaking down the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnostic on 12/27/23 and concerns with the whining and jerking when driving were expressed. Dealer reports that the transmission was “operating as designed”.

NHTSA ODI #11563428

Mileage unknown · Dec 16, 2023
EnginePower Train

The 2019 CX-5 has approximately 31086 miles. It was discovered that the cylinder head is cracked and causing the car to leak oil.

NHTSA ODI #11560422

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2023
EnginePower Train

My 2019 Mazda CX-5 cylinder head cracked at only 60,000 miles. I noticed my breaks were smoking and stopped driving. I then noticed oil leaking from my engine which had blown into my breaks, causing the smoke. There was no check engine indicator on my dashboard, nor did it indicate that my engine had overheated. There was no ind…

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My 2019 Mazda CX-5 cylinder head cracked at only 60,000 miles. I noticed my breaks were smoking and stopped driving. I then noticed oil leaking from my engine which had blown into my breaks, causing the smoke. There was no check engine indicator on my dashboard, nor did it indicate that my engine had overheated. There was no indication that there was any issues with the vehicle until i noticed the smoke coming from my brakes. I towed the vehicle to the Captial Mazda Dealership in San Jose, CA. Per Mazda Dealership Repair Estimate: "cylinder head cracked by cylinders 2 and 3". When i asked the dealership service center why this happened, their only response was it was a engine failure and that "over time the cylinder can become warped and crack" and while it that doesn't happen often "it can happen" I asked if there was anything I did that caused this, their only response was "i can check with the technician again". Apparently I did not purchase the "extended warranty" so while the repairs are no fault of my own, I have to pay the $6,000 repair cost.

NHTSA ODI #11557478

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2023
EnginePower Train

Smoke coming out from hood, upon looking at it we found oil leak, took to nearest service shop and found cracks in engine head. Brought car to the dealer ship for further inspection and repairs.

NHTSA ODI #11555132

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2023
EnginePower Train

I drove my wife to work and noticed that the car was stuttering and had weak acceleration. I parked in my garage and a couple of hours later returned to see a massive oil leak on my driveway, I had to tow the car to the nearest dealership where a cracked cylinder was diagnosed. There was also a terrible burning smell. If the mas…

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I drove my wife to work and noticed that the car was stuttering and had weak acceleration. I parked in my garage and a couple of hours later returned to see a massive oil leak on my driveway, I had to tow the car to the nearest dealership where a cracked cylinder was diagnosed. There was also a terrible burning smell. If the massive leak happened on an acceleration ramp or on the highway there could have been an accident.

NHTSA ODI #11506345

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2022
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

After purchasing this vehicle I started noticing that as I accelerated from a stop the transmission would shift hard into 1st gear and 3rd gear. This is also occurring during deceleration as if the car brakes I'm stages due to the downshifting hard. The dealership has refused to look into the issue. They have refused to add the …

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After purchasing this vehicle I started noticing that as I accelerated from a stop the transmission would shift hard into 1st gear and 3rd gear. This is also occurring during deceleration as if the car brakes I'm stages due to the downshifting hard. The dealership has refused to look into the issue. They have refused to add the notes to my vehicle records in effort to avoid accountability.

NHTSA ODI #11494072

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2022
Power Train

My 2019 Mazda CX 5 with 25000 miles stopped moving on my way home. It was towed to John Kennedy Mazda in Conshohocken PA on 11/22/2021. It was diagnosed with a failed transmission and still awaiting replacement as of 1/3/22.

NHTSA ODI #11446069

Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2021
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

Driving on highway, cruise control ser to 82, no cars in front. The car suddenly jolted twice, engine light and battery light comes, lost of power. Pulled over to shoulder in the middle of nowhere in Nevada. Tried to start the car, engine won't turn on, starter just kept cycling. Veh temp was just below 210 with a 1/4 tank …

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Driving on highway, cruise control ser to 82, no cars in front. The car suddenly jolted twice, engine light and battery light comes, lost of power. Pulled over to shoulder in the middle of nowhere in Nevada. Tried to start the car, engine won't turn on, starter just kept cycling. Veh temp was just below 210 with a 1/4 tank of gas. Called dealership and service person asked is to use key to turn on car, no change and provided no other solution other than to take to dealership with the closest one being over 300 miles away. We decided to unhook and rebook the positive side of battery. Car restarted and currently driving it home as I write this complaint. 600 miles overdue for maintenance (by date due on July 26, 2021) and was scheduled upon return from trip which at the time should be approx 1000 miles over due.

NHTSA ODI #11421071

17,000 miles · May 4, 2021
EnginePower TrainStructure

BROUGHT IT IN NOV 2020 REGARDING SMELLS AND ENGINE ISSUES AS WELL AS ALIGNMENT. NEITHER WERE TAKEN CARE OF. THEN MARCH 2021,ENGINE WAS LEAKING FLUID AND SMOKING, AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 20K. DID NOT PROVIDE A RENTAL UNTIL LATER THAT WEEK. AFTER A MONTH, I GOT MY CAR BACK. AFTER LEAVING THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO SMO…

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BROUGHT IT IN NOV 2020 REGARDING SMELLS AND ENGINE ISSUES AS WELL AS ALIGNMENT. NEITHER WERE TAKEN CARE OF. THEN MARCH 2021,ENGINE WAS LEAKING FLUID AND SMOKING, AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 20K. DID NOT PROVIDE A RENTAL UNTIL LATER THAT WEEK. AFTER A MONTH, I GOT MY CAR BACK. AFTER LEAVING THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO SMOKE, BROUGHT IT BACK. GAVE NO RENTAL. DEALER SAID IT WAS LEFT OVER FLUID FROM WHEN THEY REPLACED IT. CAR IS STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE AND SMELLS. UNDER SHIELD FELL OFF AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TWICE.TIRE PRESSURE WAS GOING OFF AND BROUGHT IT IN TWICE FOR THEM TO SAY THEY CANT FIND WHERE THE SLOW LEAK IS OR WHY SO THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE MAZDA INSURANCE FOR TIRES.

NHTSA ODI #11415095

Official recalls

2

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.

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