COMPONENT SPOTLIGHT

Mazda CX-5 electrical problems

458 distinct owner reports with an electrical-system component in this snapshot.

Includes the electrical-system component and its detailed subcategories. Related recalls and investigations must also name this component; they are not linked by narrative keyword alone.

14 crash reports10 fire reports10 injury reports

Reports by model year

Recall and investigation columns show each year’s full history. A report naming several years can appear in more than one row.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

217 reports with mileage · 241 unknown

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 owners actually said

458 reports
2017 model year · Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2026
Electrical System

UNKNOWN The infotainment system started malfunctioning on its own. Changes channels on radio, goes into settings and makes changes. Calls phone numbers etc. Does it more in the cold weather

NHTSA ODI #11709977

2019 model year · Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2026
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

The vehicle is experiencing a “ghost touch” malfunction within the infotainment system, wherein the touchscreen registers unintended inputs. As a result, the system intermittently initiates phone calls, changes radio stations, and alters other settings without driver interaction. This erratic behavior is highly distracting and p…

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The vehicle is experiencing a “ghost touch” malfunction within the infotainment system, wherein the touchscreen registers unintended inputs. As a result, the system intermittently initiates phone calls, changes radio stations, and alters other settings without driver interaction. This erratic behavior is highly distracting and presents a potential safety concern while the vehicle is in operation.

NHTSA ODI #11708533

2016 model year · Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 2025
Electrical System

Passenger side seat heater overheated and burned upholstery.

NHTSA ODI #11707809

2017 model year · Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 2025
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

The infotainment system suffers from ghost touching. It has gotten out of control even after a “recall” fix at the dealership. Without being touched the volume changes, the stations change, the presets change, the car makes calls to my contacts. I am often unable to control the screen as it turns the car to max volume while dri…

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The infotainment system suffers from ghost touching. It has gotten out of control even after a “recall” fix at the dealership. Without being touched the volume changes, the stations change, the presets change, the car makes calls to my contacts. I am often unable to control the screen as it turns the car to max volume while driving. It is extremely unsafe, distracting and alarming.

NHTSA ODI #11707923

2016 model year · Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2025
Electrical SystemSeatsFire

I was driving down the road and started smelling smoke then looked over and my passenger seat was in flames.

NHTSA ODI #11707639

2023 model year · Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 2025
Electrical System

The battery died, the car wouldn't start one night. The battery which is the original that came with the car is only about 2 years old. I googled the code from the code reader, it said some mazda cx-5 have a starting problem but then I checked the recall website and there was none.

NHTSA ODI #11706797

2025 model year · 4,200 miles · Dec 12, 2025
Electrical System

The contact owns a 2025 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the passenger's side-view mirror blind spot detection system sensor was detecting vehicles intermittently. The contact stated that the passenger's side-view mirror blind spot detection system sensor detected vehicles 3 or 4 times in a row, bu…

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The contact owns a 2025 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the passenger's side-view mirror blind spot detection system sensor was detecting vehicles intermittently. The contact stated that the passenger's side-view mirror blind spot detection system sensor detected vehicles 3 or 4 times in a row, but then a truck drove by undetected. The contact stated that no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer several times. The dealer was able to replicate the failure, but the dealer was unable to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4,200.

NHTSA ODI #11704670

2014 model year · Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2025
Electrical System

The car's electrical system doesn't fully turn off after being put in park and turning the ignition off. The electrical system stays on, despite the engine and ignition turned off. It's a BIG problem that I've seen a lot of other people report. And yet Mazda refuses to address the issue.

NHTSA ODI #11704343

2017 model year · Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2025
Electrical SystemForward Collision AvoidanceLane Departure

Dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree. Multiple warning lights all at once. This issue has been reported on multiple Mazda vehicle years. Took to Delker Auto repairs. Is electrical problem. Stated that so far nothing wrong with components. Will have to hunt for. Mazda has known electrical issues. In addition, your file upload w…

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Dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree. Multiple warning lights all at once. This issue has been reported on multiple Mazda vehicle years. Took to Delker Auto repairs. Is electrical problem. Stated that so far nothing wrong with components. Will have to hunt for. Mazda has known electrical issues. In addition, your file upload will not let me upload picture even though it's in correct format. I can send separately.

NHTSA ODI #11702925

2019 model year · Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2025
Electrical System

Summary of Issue: The infotainment system in my 2019 Mazda CX-5 has been malfunctioning for a long period of time, and the issue has now escalated to the point where the system is unsafe and distracting while driving. Details: The infotainment screen intermittently “ghosts” and activates functions on its own—clicking through me…

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Summary of Issue: The infotainment system in my 2019 Mazda CX-5 has been malfunctioning for a long period of time, and the issue has now escalated to the point where the system is unsafe and distracting while driving. Details: The infotainment screen intermittently “ghosts” and activates functions on its own—clicking through menus, changing settings, and moving erratically without any driver input. The system has also frozen and rebooted while the vehicle is in motion. This creates a serious distraction and safety concern. I previously reported this issue to the dealership, where they attempted a reset and told me to come back if the problem returned. The issue persisted and worsened. I recently returned, and the dealership diagnosed a communication failure between the CMU and the infotainment screen. However, they cannot identify any cause, and the screen itself has no physical damage and has never been struck. Mazda has declined to cover this under warranty, even though this appears to be an internal failure of components that should not fail at this mileage. Additionally, infotainment failures in Mazda vehicles have been the subject of prior complaints and service bulletins. Safety Concern: The malfunction causes the screen to operate unpredictably while driving, which distracts from the road and creates a risk of an accident. Because the system controls access to vehicle settings, Bluetooth, audio, navigation, and backup camera interfaces, the failure presents a potential safety defect. Requested Action: I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether this infotainment / CMU communication failure is a broader defect affecting 2019 Mazda CX-5 vehicles, as dealerships cannot identify the cause and the failure poses a clear distraction hazard.

NHTSA ODI #11702990

Related Official recalls

1

17V744000 · Electrical System:wiring; Trailer Hitches

Nov 21, 2017

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2017 CX-5 vehicles equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness. This harness may be routed such that there is insufficient clearance between the harness and the exhaust muffler, allowing the wiring harness to contact the muffler.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Contact with the muffler may damage the trailer wiring harness, potentially resulting in the trailer lighting being inoperative, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the trailer hitch harness away from the muffler, replacing the harness if it is damaged, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1617K.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Trailer Hitches

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2017 CX-5 vehicles equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness. This harness may be routed such that there is insufficient clearance between the harness and the exhaust muffler, allowing the wiring harness to contact the muffler.

Consequence: Contact with the muffler may damage the trailer wiring harness, potentially resulting in the trailer lighting being inoperative, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the trailer hitch harness away from the muffler, replacing the harness if it is damaged, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1617K.

Electrical System:wiring

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2017 CX-5 vehicles equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness. This harness may be routed such that there is insufficient clearance between the harness and the exhaust muffler, allowing the wiring harness to contact the muffler.

Consequence: Contact with the muffler may damage the trailer wiring harness, potentially resulting in the trailer lighting being inoperative, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the trailer hitch harness away from the muffler, replacing the harness if it is damaged, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1617K.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Related NHTSA investigations

0

No component-matched exact-year investigations in this snapshot.