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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

270 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2025
Engine

While driving the vehicle, I started smelling a burning smell about 10 days ago (2/17). I also felt a slightly reduced engine performance and could see the car emitting smoke from the engine bay. I had no warning lights on my dash. For all I know, the engine could've blown while I was driving on the road. Upon taking the vehicle…

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While driving the vehicle, I started smelling a burning smell about 10 days ago (2/17). I also felt a slightly reduced engine performance and could see the car emitting smoke from the engine bay. I had no warning lights on my dash. For all I know, the engine could've blown while I was driving on the road. Upon taking the vehicle to the dealership 2 days ago (2/25), they informed that my car has a cracked cylinder head, and there was no apparent reason why this would happen. The vehicle has only been inspected by the dealership thus far and I was quoted $5,700 to fix the issue. Upon looking up the problem, I see this is a common issue, with many having experienced it before, but no TSBs issued for this. There is a CSP issued for vehicles of the same year, but limited to the Turbo version on the engine. Unfortunately, I do not have any warranty on the car currently.

NHTSA ODI #11645265

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2025
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

The infotainment system within the Mazda has a variety of issues. 1. Its CarPlay system is extremely slow to connect to the mobile device via a USB. 2. 'Mobile Device Error' message pops-up frequently and disconnects the infotainment system from the mobile device. 3. 'Ghost Touch' occurs when driving under 20 mph. The screen fr…

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The infotainment system within the Mazda has a variety of issues. 1. Its CarPlay system is extremely slow to connect to the mobile device via a USB. 2. 'Mobile Device Error' message pops-up frequently and disconnects the infotainment system from the mobile device. 3. 'Ghost Touch' occurs when driving under 20 mph. The screen fritz's out, will randomly press buttons, turn settings on and off, and there is no control over it. 4. Screen freezes. System and screen will either lag extremely slowly, or will freeze entirely. In sum, these issues are not only annoying but also a safety concern. It is extremely distracting for this to happen while you are operating the vehicle. Furthermore, it suddenly removes your mapping/navigation directions that you might be using.

NHTSA ODI #11644631

30,000 miles · Jan 31, 2025
Equipment

The contact's daughter owns a 2019 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at undisclosed speeds, the Mazda Connect Center Display touch screen was operating independently, causing vehicle functions to be engaged unintendedly. The contact was concerned for her daughter's safety because the center displ…

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The contact's daughter owns a 2019 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at undisclosed speeds, the Mazda Connect Center Display touch screen was operating independently, causing vehicle functions to be engaged unintendedly. The contact was concerned for her daughter's safety because the center display functions included safety lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, and traffic sign recognition safety functions. The contact related the failure to Mazda Special Service Program (SSP) Number: B6. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

NHTSA ODI #11639834

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2025
Unknown Or Other

Center multimedia display malfunctioning by ghost touching. Without using the commander switch, touch panel, or voice recognition, the screen will scroll through settings, apps, change radio stations, etc. Additionally, it will turn off maps in Apple Play when the program is in use. There are several complaints and examples of t…

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Center multimedia display malfunctioning by ghost touching. Without using the commander switch, touch panel, or voice recognition, the screen will scroll through settings, apps, change radio stations, etc. Additionally, it will turn off maps in Apple Play when the program is in use. There are several complaints and examples of this issue online: [XXX] This concern needs to be addressed because it is safety issue as it is a major distraction for the driver. Service appointment with Westcott Mazda on 2/10. Originally brought in 1/28 for appointment, but was advised by Mazda service representative to contact Mazda as car is out of warranty. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11639101

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2025
EngineUnknown Or Other

I hope this message finds you well. My name is [XXX] , and I am the owner of a 2019 Mazda CX-5 purchased as part of the Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program. I am writing to formally address two concerning issues related to my vehicle’s warranty coverage and its safety. 1. Warranty Coverage for Drive Belt Tensioner: During a rece…

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I hope this message finds you well. My name is [XXX] , and I am the owner of a 2019 Mazda CX-5 purchased as part of the Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program. I am writing to formally address two concerning issues related to my vehicle’s warranty coverage and its safety. 1. Warranty Coverage for Drive Belt Tensioner: During a recent visit to your dealership, I was informed that the drive belt tensioner on my vehicle is not covered under the warranty. This contradicts the coverage listed on your official Mazda CPO Warranty, which specifies that the Limited Powertrain Warranty includes the engine, timing chain, tensioner, and associated components. The drive belt tensioner is clearly referenced in this section, yet I was told it falls under wear and tear and is not covered. I kindly request a detailed explanation regarding this discrepancy. I believe the information I was given does not align with the warranty’s stated coverage, and I am concerned that the dealership is not honoring the terms of the warranty as outlined on your website. 2. Ongoing Noise Issue: Additionally, my vehicle has been making an unusual noise, which I reported during my visits to two separate Mazda dealerships. Unfortunately, despite multiple attempts to diagnose the issue, neither dealership has been able to identify the source of the noise. This situation has left me feeling unsafe while operating the vehicle, as I am unsure of its origin or potential impact on my vehicle’s performance or safety. I would appreciate it if you could escalate this matter and offer assistance in determining the cause of the noise, as well as ensure that all components of the vehicle are functioning properly. The lack of resolution is not only inconvenient but also concerning from a safety perspective. Request for Resolution: I trust that Mazda values its customers and will make every effort to resolve these issues in a timely manner. I respectfully request that the drive belt tensioner be covered und INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMA

NHTSA ODI #11638990

Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2025
Engine

Oil started leaking while car was idling causing smoke to enter the cabin as well as all under the hood. Car was undriveable at this point. She was lucky there was no traffic. Car had to be towed and cylinder head was cracked. Mazda has a known faulty cylinder head problem they have refused to fix and this caused a safety issue.…

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Oil started leaking while car was idling causing smoke to enter the cabin as well as all under the hood. Car was undriveable at this point. She was lucky there was no traffic. Car had to be towed and cylinder head was cracked. Mazda has a known faulty cylinder head problem they have refused to fix and this caused a safety issue. Vehicle will not be able to be inspected as we had it towed to get fixed immediately. The service center did confirm this is the issue and there were no prior issues before this.

NHTSA ODI #11637185

Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2025
Forward Collision AvoidanceVisibility/wiper

Car will slam on brakes even if car is in opposite lane farther away. We have received sooo many chips amd cracks on windshield with 2 weeks. We purchased used and was informed windshield was replaced once already.

NHTSA ODI #11636988

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2025
Engine

As I was driving, a burning smell emanated from the car. There were no check engine lights on. When I pulled over, I saw a lot of smoke coming from the engine. I checked the oil level and it was above the minimum line bit just barely, even though my husband had just done an oil change on it. I refilled the oil and continued on m…

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As I was driving, a burning smell emanated from the car. There were no check engine lights on. When I pulled over, I saw a lot of smoke coming from the engine. I checked the oil level and it was above the minimum line bit just barely, even though my husband had just done an oil change on it. I refilled the oil and continued on my trip. The problem repeated for several dqays until I got home and took it to the Mazda dealership. They reported the following: "Cylinder Head Assembly: oil leaking out of back of head, recommend replacing cylinder head and related gaskets. The cylinder head sits above the cylinders on top of the cylinder block. It closes in the top of the cylinder, forming the combustion chamber. This joint is sealed by a head gasket. In most engines, the head also provides space for the passages that feed air and fuel to the cylinder, and that allow the exhaust to escape." This service is $5600! My car only has 80K miles on it. This is a safety issue because there was no warning. No check engine light appeared and there was no warning.

NHTSA ODI #11635981

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2025
Engine

I own a 2019 Mazda cx 5 and it has 78,000 miles. I noticed smoke coming from the engine and a lot of oil leaking on the ground. I brought the car into my independent service center and they confirmed that there was a crack in the engine cylinder head. There is a TSA # SA-031-21 on this problem. I feel that my safety was at ri…

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I own a 2019 Mazda cx 5 and it has 78,000 miles. I noticed smoke coming from the engine and a lot of oil leaking on the ground. I brought the car into my independent service center and they confirmed that there was a crack in the engine cylinder head. There is a TSA # SA-031-21 on this problem. I feel that my safety was at risk, since the engine could have seized while driving. This vehicle is available for inspection upon request. No warning lamps or messages were displayed, however there was a strong odor of burning oil. This problem occurred on 1/9/25 and it has been in the service center since.

NHTSA ODI #11635920

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2025
Forward Collision AvoidanceService BrakesUnknown Or Other

Good afternoon. I am reporting an incident that occurred on December 29, 2024. I was driving my 2019 Mazda Cx-5 and I was about to make a left turn. However, as I was making the left turn, I received a notification on my dashboard about a "Forward Smart City Brake Support Malfunction" (a photo of the notification will be include…

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Good afternoon. I am reporting an incident that occurred on December 29, 2024. I was driving my 2019 Mazda Cx-5 and I was about to make a left turn. However, as I was making the left turn, I received a notification on my dashboard about a "Forward Smart City Brake Support Malfunction" (a photo of the notification will be included). My car instantly lost control and it did not stop until it collided with the street curb of the road I was attempting to turn on. Fortunately for those around me, my car did not collide with any other vehicles on the road. However, this collision caused damage to the right side of the vehicle, as the right airbag of the vehicle had deployed. I believe that this is a very significant problem that should be looked into as soon as possible. If my car were to hit other drivers on the road, it could have led to a very tragic incident. As far as repairs go, I wanted to wait and see how this complaint would carry out. I do not believe that it would be fair for me to pay repairs for an event that was out of my control. Thank you.

NHTSA ODI #11635658

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