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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

Visibility/wiper complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2025
Visibility/wiper

Monday I walked outside and my vehicles back windshield was broken. Oddly enough, there was a big hole on both ends, but the middle began to disintegrate. I got a new glass installed on Wednesday and Thursday morning. I went to get in my car and the new glass was broken. The tech told me that Honda had a recall for the defroster…

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Monday I walked outside and my vehicles back windshield was broken. Oddly enough, there was a big hole on both ends, but the middle began to disintegrate. I got a new glass installed on Wednesday and Thursday morning. I went to get in my car and the new glass was broken. The tech told me that Honda had a recall for the defroster wires Having the same issue, causing the back windshield to break. Although I had not been running my defroster for several months, he said the wires were getting hot even though they were turned off and shattering the windows. Since this is the second windshield that has busted in a week, I assume that Mazda is having the same issue however they have not yet issued a recall.

NHTSA ODI #11666526

Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2022
Visibility/wiper

The windshield defrost only works for the center part of the windshield given that there is only a single center defrost vent. Vision is severely impaired during rainy or snowy days (worse during nights) while driving and it makes the driving very dangerous. You can only see what is in front of you, but very limited side views…

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The windshield defrost only works for the center part of the windshield given that there is only a single center defrost vent. Vision is severely impaired during rainy or snowy days (worse during nights) while driving and it makes the driving very dangerous. You can only see what is in front of you, but very limited side views due to the fog on both sides of the windshield. Attached is a pic of the windshield when I came back from a 2 mile errand run while the defrost vent was at full scale constantly.

NHTSA ODI #11448193

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2022
Visibility/wiper

On this model of Mazda, they only manufactured it with 1 small center defrost vent on the windshield, and nothing on the sides. Therefore the windshield only gets defrosted in the center, not in front of the driver. I live in the Pacific Northwest and it rains a lot which results in foggy windows, I feel it is extremely unsafe d…

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On this model of Mazda, they only manufactured it with 1 small center defrost vent on the windshield, and nothing on the sides. Therefore the windshield only gets defrosted in the center, not in front of the driver. I live in the Pacific Northwest and it rains a lot which results in foggy windows, I feel it is extremely unsafe driving a car that doesn’t defrost the full windshield, more importantly in front of the drivers view. I have severely degraded visibility 80% of the time I’m driving because of how poorly designed defrost ducts are

NHTSA ODI #11446370

2,700 miles · Mar 22, 2021
Visibility/wiper

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65MPH AND HEARD A LOUD POP. I WAS UNSURE WHAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN, BUT KNEW IT CAME FROM THE ROOF AREA. I OPENED THE SLIDER TO THE SUNROOF. THE GLASS HAD EXPLODED!! I PULLED OVER TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE AND NOTICED THE GLASS EXPLODED OUTWARD. I HAVE PICTURES SHOWING THE HOLE IN THE GLASS AS WELL…

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65MPH AND HEARD A LOUD POP. I WAS UNSURE WHAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN, BUT KNEW IT CAME FROM THE ROOF AREA. I OPENED THE SLIDER TO THE SUNROOF. THE GLASS HAD EXPLODED!! I PULLED OVER TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE AND NOTICED THE GLASS EXPLODED OUTWARD. I HAVE PICTURES SHOWING THE HOLE IN THE GLASS AS WELL AS THE SHARDS (HELD TOGETHER BY SAFETY COATING) POINTING UP AND AWAY FROM THE CAR FROM HAVING EXPLODED OUT.

NHTSA ODI #11404270

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.

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