Mazda CX-5 problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 9 model years (2018–2026), NHTSA has logged 862 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls for the Mazda CX-5. That averages 18.6 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.46 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Compact SUVs segment it ranks #1 of 12 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 60.3.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 141% above the 2018 and 2019 models (24 early complaints per model year versus 10).
The 2019 model year has the highest rate (34.7 complaints per year) and the 2022 model year the lowest (13.6). The 2019 model year runs at least 50% above this model's average of 18.6 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (43.3% of complaints), followed by Electrical (11.7%) and Unspecified or other (9.6%). Engine complaints are 1.9 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 55 complaints (6.4%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 32 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 255 complaints versus 198 in the previous 12 months — up 29%. The 2019 model year generated the most recent reports (55). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 47 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 3 recall campaigns across the tracked model years. No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
It has fewer complaints per year than every other tracked model among Compact SUVs, including Kia Sportage, Volkswagen Tiguan, Jeep Compass and Subaru Forester.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 120 | 13.7 | 0.34 | 48 | 3 | Engine | View › |
| 2019 ▲50%+ | 270 | 34.7 | 0.86 | 55 | 2 | Engine | View › |
| 2020 | 107 | 15.8 | 0.39 | 17 | 0 | Electrical | View › |
| 2021 | 148 | 25.6 | 0.63 | 29 | 0 | Engine | View › |
| 2022 Fewest complaints | 65 | 13.6 | 0.34 | 23 | 0 | Lighting | View › |
| 2023 | 64 | 16.9 | 0.42 | 23 | 0 | Engine | View › |
| 2024 | 45 | 16.1 | 0.4 | 22 | 0 | Engine | View › |
| 2025 Too new to rank | 28 | 15.7 | 0.39 | 23 | 0 | Engine | View › |
| 2026 Too new to rank | 15 | 15.0 | 0.37 | 15 | 0 | Electrical | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 255 · Previous 12 months: 198 Within ±30% year on year
Problem areas
Engine ›
373 · 43.3% · 1.94 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Electrical ›
101 · 11.7% · 0.74 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Unspecified or other ›
83 · 9.6% · 1.07 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Body & structure ›
56 · 6.5% · 0.71 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Brakes ›
49 · 5.7% · 0.94 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Transmission / powertrain ›
47 · 5.5% · 0.47 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Driver-assist systems ›
41 · 4.8% · 0.83 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Lighting ›
41 · 4.8% · 3.07 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Airbags & seat belts
21 · 2.4% · 0.64 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
17 · 2.0% · 1.07 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Fuel system
16 · 1.9% · 0.43 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Wheels, tires & suspension
11 · 1.3% · 0.51 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
6 · 0.7% · 0.11 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 47 months
What owners report
The contact owns a 2021 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle was rear-ended by another vehicle driving approximately 40 - 50 MPH.
I purchased the card week ago, and by Sunday (09/04) it had only about 100 miles on it. I had just pulled out of my parking spot and came to a stop.
VEHICLE SAFETY COMPLETELY COMPROMISED BY UNEXPECTED ENGINE STALL IN TRAFFIC. For over one week, my 2024 Mazda CX-5 exhibited severe engine sputtering and erratic idle RPM fluctuations (RPMs surging high, then dropping dangerously low) while stopping.
the windshield would not defrost causing visibility issues that was extremely hazardous. mazda found the cause as a evaporator core temperature sensor mazda had a tsb(07004213830) NHTSA id number (10202689) regarding this known defect that they continued to…
Cracked cylinder head- factory defect, causing oil to leak onto exhaust manifold. Smoke fills engine bay and cab through air vents, very high concern of engine bay fire. 2018 Mazda cx5 non turbo 2.5 sky active engine.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Compact SUVs
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mazda CX-5 | 862 | 18.6 | 0.46 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 3 | Engine |
| 2 | Kia Sportage | 1,017 | 29.7 | 0.74 | Worsening | Rising | 12 | Engine |
| 3 | Volkswagen Tiguan | 1,267 | 29.7 | 0.74 | Improving | Rising | 28 | Engine |
| 4 | Jeep Compass | 1,853 | 31.4 | 0.78 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 12 | Engine |
| 5 | Subaru Forester | 2,453 | 45.0 | 1.11 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 14 | Body & structure |
| 6 | Jeep Cherokee | 2,906 | 55.5 | 1.38 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 25 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 7 | Chevrolet Equinox | 2,068 | 64.8 | 1.61 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 23 | Engine |
| 8 | Toyota RAV4 | 3,158 | 67.2 | 1.67 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 25 | Engine |
| 9 | Hyundai Tucson | 2,402 | 75.3 | 1.87 | Worsening | Rising | 15 | Engine |
| 10 | Nissan Rogue | 3,149 | 79.1 | 1.96 | Improving | Rising | 26 | Engine |
| 11 | Ford Escape | 5,254 | 87.3 | 2.16 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 50 | Engine |
| 12 | Honda CR-V | 6,037 | 139.4 | 3.46 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 25 | Steering |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 3
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (3) · 2019 (2) · 2020 (0) · 2021 (0) · 2022 (0) · 2023 (0) · 2024 (0) · 2025 (0) · 2026 (0)
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.