2021 Mazda CX-5 problems, complaints & recalls
NHTSA has received 143 owner complaints about the 2021 Mazda CX-5, or 25.2 per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.60, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 85 model-year 2021 vehicles we track, it ranks #48 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Mazda models its rate is 109% higher; against other Compact SUVs it is 59% lower.
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
Complaints filed between 2021-01-09 and 2026-08-12. Median delay from incident to filing: 7 days.
Analysis
The previous model year (2020) drew 15.9 complaints per year, fewer than this one. The following model year (2022) drew 13.5 per year, fewer than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2021 model collected 61 complaints, about the same than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Engine (55.2% of complaints), followed by Electrical (7.7%) and Driver-assist systems (7.7%). Engine complaints are 2.5 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Within Engine reports, owners most often mention “oil”, “low”, “quart”, “change” and “engine”. 9 reports (6.3%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 7 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 24 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was the second year (32% of incidents). In the last 12 months 25 new complaints were filed, versus 15 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for this model year.
Complaint index
- vs. all tracked vehicles0.6
- vs. other Mazda models2.09
- vs. other 2021 models0.66
- vs. other Compact SUVs0.41
- Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (61)1.0
- #48 of 85 · 2021Rankings ›
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road.
What owners complain about
vs. all vehicles: 1.00 = All-vehicle average
Engine · Common terms in reports
- oil67
- low38
- quart17
- change26
- engine51
- level20
Electrical · Common terms in reports
- infotainment3
- unit3
- camera3
- screen3
- hit3
- system4
Driver-assist systems · Common terms in reports
- blind spot3
- front6
- hitting3
- brake5
- interstate3
- control5
Problem areas: Engine · Electrical · Interior & equipment · Body & structure · Brakes · Transmission / powertrain · Driver-assist systems
When complaints were filed
- Crashes reported: 9
- Fires reported: 0
- Injuries: 7
- Deaths: 0
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 24 months
What owners report
While driving in the Interstate, a truck swerved towards my lane; I swerved into the next lane to avoid the truck hitting me and when I began to swerve my Lane Departure warning malfunctioned and caused my car to completely shut down.
..... On at least 5 seperate occasions our 2021 mazda cx5 suv accelerated to a high rate of speed (on it's own). It has done it to my wife and I both.
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…
My 2021 Mazda CX-5 has developed a persistent rattling/vibration noise from the A-pillar and upper corner of the windshield.
I was sitting at a traffic light with my foot on the brake waiting to turn left onto Lee Highway from Fairfax County Parkway. Car jerked forward TWO times in a row, both times hitting the car in front of me.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · 2021 · Compact SUVs
| Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Kia Sportage | 50 | 8.8 | 0.21 |
| 2021 Jeep Compass | 77 | 13.6 | 0.32 |
| 2021 Hyundai Tucson | 78 | 13.7 | 0.33 |
| 2021 Chevrolet Equinox | 91 | 16.0 | 0.38 |
| 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan | 136 | 24.0 | 0.57 |
| 2021 Mazda CX-5 | 143 | 25.2 | 0.6 |
| 2021 Jeep Cherokee | 154 | 27.1 | 0.64 |
| 2021 Subaru Forester | 207 | 36.5 | 0.87 |
| 2021 Nissan Rogue | 320 | 56.4 | 1.34 |
| 2021 Ford Escape | 365 | 64.3 | 1.53 |
| 2021 Honda CR-V | 427 | 75.3 | 1.79 |
| 2021 Toyota RAV4 | 502 | 88.5 | 2.1 |
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year.
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
Frequently asked questions
How many complaints were filed for the 2021 Mazda CX-5?
143 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Mazda CX-5, or about 25.2 per year on the road.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2021 Mazda CX-5?
The most common category is Engine, accounting for 55.2% of complaints.
Does the 2021 Mazda CX-5 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for this model year.
Is the 2021 Mazda CX-5 still generating complaints?
In the last 12 months 25 new complaints were filed, versus 15 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.
How does the 2021 Mazda CX-5 compare with similar vehicles?
NHTSA has received 143 owner complaints about the 2021 Mazda CX-5, or 25.2 per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.60, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 85 model-year 2021 vehicles we track, it ranks #48 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Mazda models its rate is 109% higher; against other Compact SUVs it is 59% lower.