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2021 Mazda CX-5

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2021 Mazda CX-5 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 133.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 18 of 144 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 77 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 12 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 reports5 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

17 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2026
Unknown Or Other

Twice while making left turns from a stop into faster cross traffic, the accelerator was pressed but the vehicle barely moved (coasting) for roughly 2 - 3 seconds, then suddenly accelerated normally, creating a near-collision risk as cross traffic quickly approached. No warning lights were observed on the dash.

NHTSA ODI #11763398

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2026
Unknown Or Other

My CX-5 has 25,000 miles and recently the a/c failed culminating in a distinct chemical smell in the cabin. The issue was identified as a leaking/failed evaporator which apparently is located behind the dashboard and in turn “dump” the leaking refrigerant into the cabin! The total cost of repair due to the location of the evapor…

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My CX-5 has 25,000 miles and recently the a/c failed culminating in a distinct chemical smell in the cabin. The issue was identified as a leaking/failed evaporator which apparently is located behind the dashboard and in turn “dump” the leaking refrigerant into the cabin! The total cost of repair due to the location of the evaporator is between $3000-$4500 in my area, seems a high cost to be poisoned by a vehicle that only has 25,000 miles on the clock!

NHTSA ODI #11756577

Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2026
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

My 2021 Mazda CX-5 has developed a persistent rattling/vibration noise from the A-pillar and upper corner of the windshield. The noise appears to originate from the windshield/A-pillar attachment area and may be related to improper adhesion, mounting, weatherstripping, or other components near the top of the windshield. I have …

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My 2021 Mazda CX-5 has developed a persistent rattling/vibration noise from the A-pillar and upper corner of the windshield. The noise appears to originate from the windshield/A-pillar attachment area and may be related to improper adhesion, mounting, weatherstripping, or other components near the top of the windshield. I have found numerous similar owner reports involving Mazda CX-5 and other fourth-generation Mazda models describing rattling, clicking, or vibration from the same windshield/A-pillar area. Because this issue appears to affect a significant number of vehicles, I believe NHTSA should investigate whether there is a common manufacturing or assembly defect and determine whether a manufacturer repair campaign or recall is warranted.

NHTSA ODI #11755858

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 2025
EngineUnknown Or Other

LOW ENGINE OIL LEVEL light on about 1000 miles from last oil changed. Dealer fixed the Mazda recall code: P250F on July 30, 2025. Now is same issue of LOW ENGINE OIL LEVEL light on again on November 19, 2025.

NHTSA ODI #11700495

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2025
Power TrainSuspensionUnknown Or Other

the “trailing link shaft” broke/split/tore apart at the right rear wheel. my car only has 16,500 miles. the vehicle was inspected by auto manufacturing dealer (mazda). mazda refused to admit it’s realting to manufacturing defect(s). i did not report it to police or my auto insurance carrier at that moment because i did not know …

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the “trailing link shaft” broke/split/tore apart at the right rear wheel. my car only has 16,500 miles. the vehicle was inspected by auto manufacturing dealer (mazda). mazda refused to admit it’s realting to manufacturing defect(s). i did not report it to police or my auto insurance carrier at that moment because i did not know what the issues were not until i dropped it off to my local dealer

NHTSA ODI #11677457

Mileage unknown · Nov 11, 2024
Unknown Or Other

I have a 2021 Mazda CX-5 touring with just a little under 26,000 miles. A couple of weeks ago, I started hearing an indescribable, quiet but noticeable sound on the passenger side of the vehicle that started at 15 mph. While attempting to get an appointment at two different booked up Mazda dealerships I noticed the sound getting…

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I have a 2021 Mazda CX-5 touring with just a little under 26,000 miles. A couple of weeks ago, I started hearing an indescribable, quiet but noticeable sound on the passenger side of the vehicle that started at 15 mph. While attempting to get an appointment at two different booked up Mazda dealerships I noticed the sound getting worse and louder. I was able to get the vehicle into a local shop (not a dealership) close to my home. The technician there stated that my rear differential was leaking and needed to be replaced. He advised me not to drive the car because he said that I could lose total control of the vehicle. I was surprised to hear this as I was planning on picking up my son from school but also because my car has low miles on it. Luckily the repair was covered under my powertrain warranty but I felt the need to share with others. To me, this is a safety issue that Mazda owners should be aware of.

NHTSA ODI #11624603

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2024
Forward Collision AvoidanceUnknown Or OtherCrashInjury

2021 Mazda CX-5. On 8/6/24, I turned right into a parking space between 2 parked vehicles at the DMV parking lot. I turned right and eased into the parking space facing a large Ford F 150 white pickup truck. I was approximately 1-1.5 feet from the front of the white truck. I had my foot on the brake, suddenly the vehicle accel…

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2021 Mazda CX-5. On 8/6/24, I turned right into a parking space between 2 parked vehicles at the DMV parking lot. I turned right and eased into the parking space facing a large Ford F 150 white pickup truck. I was approximately 1-1.5 feet from the front of the white truck. I had my foot on the brake, suddenly the vehicle accelerated by itself and I heard the car revving at a very high rpm and the car took off. My sister was a passenger and she heard it as well. None of the collision or brake notification avoidance features came on the screen or were implemented as a safety measure or accident prevention. I had my foot on the brake and I had no control over the vehicle. The car lurched forward hitting the right side near the headlight of the car on my left and the pickup that was in front of me. My car hit the white pickup so hard that it pushed it out of the parking space in front of me and perpendicular to the parked cars in the row. We both were injured, my sister in ICU and had to have emergency cervical surgery for fractures impinging her cervical spinal cord. The Mazda was totaled. It is impossible for a Mazda to push the Ford F 150 pickup truck, that was facing me , out of the parking space and perpendicular to the row of parked cars with just 12- 14 inches between the pickup truck and my vehicle unless it was revved up to a very high rpm. The police report has some inaccuracies, it states I was turning left into the space but was actually turning right and says I possibly passed out but that is not true. I was in shock when the police questioned me. I have also relived every second of this accident in slow motion many times since. I am a 5 foot women and would have had to floor the gas peddle and even then would not be able to push a large pickup truck out of the space in front of me, and continue out of the parking space landing sideways in a 12-14 inch space between the front of the 2 vehicles.

NHTSA ODI #11612399

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2023
Unknown Or Other

Purchasers of Mazda Vehicles are not being notified that tow eye bolts do not come with the vehicle. That is in some fine print somewhere in the owners manual which is as dense as an encyclopedia. When there is a need to be towed with a rope or strap it is impossible without damaging the vehicle. There are no accessible frame ar…

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Purchasers of Mazda Vehicles are not being notified that tow eye bolts do not come with the vehicle. That is in some fine print somewhere in the owners manual which is as dense as an encyclopedia. When there is a need to be towed with a rope or strap it is impossible without damaging the vehicle. There are no accessible frame areas that can be reached to strap a hook, rope or strap to safely tow a vehicle without damaging it. Out in the desert in a wilderness area, I got stuck in some mud in a potentially dangerous situation, possibly life threatening. Finally, upon a miracle I was able to find someone with an electric wench but we were unable to attach it to the vehicle because THERE WAS NO TOW EYE HOOK where it was supposed to be. Mazda intentionally did not include it. It's equivalent to NOT providing a jack and socket to change a flat tire to a spare tire! I had to abandon the vehicle overnight and eventually had to tow it out of the mud using the rear frame and damaging the plastic bumper. This is bewilderingly negligent and UNSAFE and Dangerous! It is beyond the realm of common sense.

NHTSA ODI #11550291

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2023
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

Our 2021 Mazda CX-5 infotainment/backup screen went black/blank. I could still hear radio, but when vehicle put in reverse, backup camera not working. Tried a recommended “fix” which was putting vehicle in reverse and pushing down volume knob for 3 seconds which did not work. Turned vehicle off, waited a minute and then restarte…

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Our 2021 Mazda CX-5 infotainment/backup screen went black/blank. I could still hear radio, but when vehicle put in reverse, backup camera not working. Tried a recommended “fix” which was putting vehicle in reverse and pushing down volume knob for 3 seconds which did not work. Turned vehicle off, waited a minute and then restarted but screen still black and backup camera not working. After vehicle sat for approximately 15 minutes, restarted vehicle and system back to normal. Contacted decker and they had no fix. This is the third time this type of incident has occurred since purchasing vehicle in March 2021.

NHTSA ODI #11528937

Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 2022
Unknown Or Other

The car has a key fob which is supposed to automatically lock the car when you walk away (and unlock when you press a button on the door handle when the fob is in close proximity). My car sometimes does not lock when I walk away. They encourage relying on this method, and so sometimes I return to my car, and it is unlocked. I co…

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The car has a key fob which is supposed to automatically lock the car when you walk away (and unlock when you press a button on the door handle when the fob is in close proximity). My car sometimes does not lock when I walk away. They encourage relying on this method, and so sometimes I return to my car, and it is unlocked. I consider this a safety issue both from a personal safety standpoint and from a car theft/ interior item theft standpoint. I have tried discussing this with the dealership repair department, but they mansplain to me that you have to walk FAR away for the lock to activate (which is actually directly contrary to the owner's manual for this model, as well as my personal experience).

NHTSA ODI #11497926

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