← New search

2020 Mazda CX-5

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2020 Mazda CX-5 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 133.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 23 of 106 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports0 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

106 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 2025
Unknown Or Other

The display screen in my CX-5 has been regularly glitching for several years now. This "ghost touch" presses random buttons, makes random phone calls, turns volume up and down, exits applications, etc. This persists (both driving and parked) until I unplug my device, restart the screen, or restart the vehicle. This happens year …

Read full complaint

The display screen in my CX-5 has been regularly glitching for several years now. This "ghost touch" presses random buttons, makes random phone calls, turns volume up and down, exits applications, etc. This persists (both driving and parked) until I unplug my device, restart the screen, or restart the vehicle. This happens year round regardless of outside temperature. I am unable to use certain aspects of the screen, such as navigation, when this is going on. It is extremely distracting and unsafe. My eyes are drawn to the screen instead of the road, which puts my safety and the safety of my passengers at risk. When I first reported this issue to the dealer, they explained that I was outside the "limited warranty" for the display unit and that it would cost me around $1000 to replace. I declined. About a month ago, I received a class action lawsuit notice in the mail. This notice described my exact issues. I immediately made an appointment with the dealer to get my vehicle inspected and the issue resolved under the settlement. Upon taking my vehicle to the dealer, they explained that the settlement only covers the issue if the CMU needs to be replaced- not if the problem lies with the display screen itself. They inspected my vehicle and said that my CMU does not have issues and that my screen is causing the glitches. They refused to cover the replacement of the screen, even though the Mazda Connect Infotainment Settlement describes my EXACT issues. Why isn't the settlement covering replacement of the screen if that's where 99% of consumer issues lie (according to the dealer)? I was instructed by the dealer to contact Mazda Corporate directly, who read me a scripted disclaimer saying Mazda is not providing assistance while the settlement is ongoing.

NHTSA ODI #11670597

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2025
Back Over Prevention

The vehicle reboots the screen/infotainment system while driving. The dealership has updated the software and replaced the screen (Screen was at my cost). They reset the codes and it comes back. This is a safety hazard as it could cause non compliance with the FMVSS in regards to rear-view cameras being required. There is curren…

Read full complaint

The vehicle reboots the screen/infotainment system while driving. The dealership has updated the software and replaced the screen (Screen was at my cost). They reset the codes and it comes back. This is a safety hazard as it could cause non compliance with the FMVSS in regards to rear-view cameras being required. There is currently a settlement in place under a class action.

NHTSA ODI #11669094

Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2025
Electrical System

*This is not part of the class action lawsuit* Per attorneys for the complaint, this issue is not part or covered by that lawsuit* This is concerning the infotainment system and what is known by Mazda as “ghosting”. Mazda for safety disables touch screen while car is out of park or driving. The ghosting issue ( which simulates t…

Read full complaint

*This is not part of the class action lawsuit* Per attorneys for the complaint, this issue is not part or covered by that lawsuit* This is concerning the infotainment system and what is known by Mazda as “ghosting”. Mazda for safety disables touch screen while car is out of park or driving. The ghosting issue ( which simulates touching of the screen) has overridden the safety lock out feature. While driving or in gear, the ghosting issue will increase radio volume to max, start beeping, changing different features, place calls etc. This sudden unexpected “ghosting” startled me and distracted me from safe driving. This can lead to accidents. Mazda is aware of this issue as they issued a warranty extension due to a previous complaint with the NHTSA in 2019. However, Mazda did not change the defective part/s in their vehicles and the issue continues on 2020 models. In my 2020 Mazda CX-5 this issue has been happening for approximately 2 years getting progressively worse.

NHTSA ODI #11668885

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2025
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

My car is experiencing extreme ghost screen. Also when this happens I get a lot of warning lights when nothing is truly experiencing fault. My screen will jump, change settings, reset settings,become dark on it own, not turn on at all, flip through the system causing major distractions. For instance I was driving in my car with …

Read full complaint

My car is experiencing extreme ghost screen. Also when this happens I get a lot of warning lights when nothing is truly experiencing fault. My screen will jump, change settings, reset settings,become dark on it own, not turn on at all, flip through the system causing major distractions. For instance I was driving in my car with quiet no noise then my screen jump and without warning blasted am and scared the living heck out of me while on the highway. It has called people and hung up on its own. Lights flicker and one side of my top lights don't work. My plugin have no electricity coming to them.There are times I have trouble connecting to Bluetooth.

NHTSA ODI #11668196

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2025
Forward Collision AvoidanceUnknown Or Other

Forward Smart city brake support malfunction Camera Sensors Screen Ghost

NHTSA ODI #11665018

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2025
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

Car “died” while idling at a traffic light. It started but would not start several hours later and car was towed to mechanic. Diagnostics “determined “after several days that car needed an ECM. ECM was ordered and replaced, along with the battery. This took several weeks, in the meantime, I had to rent a vehicle. Vehicle picke…

Read full complaint

Car “died” while idling at a traffic light. It started but would not start several hours later and car was towed to mechanic. Diagnostics “determined “after several days that car needed an ECM. ECM was ordered and replaced, along with the battery. This took several weeks, in the meantime, I had to rent a vehicle. Vehicle picked up on May 29th and driven 250 miles and car sputtered, hesitated, slowing down in heavy traffic at high speeds on highway, putting other drivers and myself in a very unsafe situation. Several days later this happened again while traveling back home, again, at highway speed putting other drivers and myself in high risk situation. (This happened several times during both trips.) As I was focused on the road, I did not see if any messages were displayed. After returning home, the mechanic was informed via voice mail and again via telephone. The following morning (June 2), the car sputtered, hesitated to accelerate at low speeds and died while driving to repair shop (battery indicator illuminated as I was pulling over). Car has been towed again to repair shop.

NHTSA ODI #11664532

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2025
Air Bags

-Passenger side air bags deployed for no reason on May 19, 2025 at 1945h. -Driver safety compromised due to shock, momentary loss of hearing, disorientation while driving. -Other drivers safety compromised due to driver having to react, re-orient themselves and drive to safety. -Culver City Mazda dealership ran diagnostic. Concl…

Read full complaint

-Passenger side air bags deployed for no reason on May 19, 2025 at 1945h. -Driver safety compromised due to shock, momentary loss of hearing, disorientation while driving. -Other drivers safety compromised due to driver having to react, re-orient themselves and drive to safety. -Culver City Mazda dealership ran diagnostic. Conclusion: air bags deployed due to pressure. NO OTHER conclusions regarding system error, software error, ignitor, sensors or vehicle impact. -Police inspected vehicle at time of incident. No damage was observed or reported. -NO warning lamps or messages appeared prior to passenger air bag deployment.

NHTSA ODI #11662241

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2025
Forward Collision Avoidance

My car has started braking when objects arnt there almost causing a crash Mazda denies this

NHTSA ODI #11662071

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2025
Electrical SystemEquipment

The contact owns a 2020 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated the infotainment Connect Center was unintendedly switching to different functions, with the volume increasing independently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacte…

Read full complaint

The contact owns a 2020 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated the infotainment Connect Center was unintendedly switching to different functions, with the volume increasing independently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI #11652744

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2025
Electrical SystemService Brakes

I bought this 2020 Mazda CX-5 Sport 2.5L all wheel drive from a big dealership on July 31, 2023. I started having issues with EPB (electronic parking brakes) in February 2024. When I put the e-brakes on, the yellow parking brake light and the red brake light would come on. Seems like they would engage and disengage just fine exc…

Read full complaint

I bought this 2020 Mazda CX-5 Sport 2.5L all wheel drive from a big dealership on July 31, 2023. I started having issues with EPB (electronic parking brakes) in February 2024. When I put the e-brakes on, the yellow parking brake light and the red brake light would come on. Seems like they would engage and disengage just fine except those 2 lights would stay on no matter how many times I tried turning the e-brakes off. I put a new battery in because of some research I did to no avail. Tried putting it in service mode then taking it off service mode......which did work for a couple of months. Then the problem reappeared and the two lights came back on. Sometimes you hear the e-brakes retracting on the rear right side only. And you can smell the brakes from heating up. On 2/26/2025 after getting out of work, I got in my car, turned it on and boom the brake lights are on again. I tried to drive and noticed the e-brakes were engaged. I didn't do it because I don't use the e-brakes at all for fear it would get stuck on and leave me stranded. I have been dealing with this for months and I am so frustrated. This car is only 5 years old. It shouldn't be having e-brakes issues. I've been doing a lot of research and found out that a lot of Mazda owners are having this very same problem. Mazda is very aware of this issue and has known about it for some time, but refuses to do a recall. I’m afraid to drive the car for fear that the e-brakes would engage while I'm driving in the highway and cause me to have an accident. This is a safety issue that needs to be addressed. I don't know what else to do. One thing I do know...... if Mazda doesn't fix this issue, I will never buy a Mazda again and make sure my kids never buy a Mazda either.

NHTSA ODI #11645203

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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