2023 Mazda CX-5 problems, complaints & recalls
NHTSA has received 64 owner complaints about the 2023 Mazda CX-5, or 16.9 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (complaint index 0.42, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 92 model-year 2023 vehicles we track, it ranks #36 of 92 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest). Against other Mazda models its rate is 47% higher; against other Compact SUVs it is 72% 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 2023-01-26 and 2026-10-05. Median delay from incident to filing: 15 days.
Analysis
The previous model year (2022) drew 13.6 complaints per year, fewer than this one. The following model year (2024) drew 16.1 per year, about the same. In its first two years on the road the 2023 model collected 24 complaints, 71% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Engine (18.8% of complaints), followed by Lighting (15.6%) and Unspecified or other (12.5%). 8 reports (12.5%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 5 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 24 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was the first year (27% of incidents). In the last 12 months 23 new complaints were filed, versus 20 in the 12 months before — up 15%.
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for this model year.
Complaint index
- vs. all tracked vehicles0.42
- vs. other Mazda models1.47
- vs. other 2023 models0.4
- vs. other Compact SUVs0.28
- Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (24)0.29
- #36 of 92 · 2023Rankings ›
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
Problem areas: Engine · Electrical · Unspecified or other · Body & structure · Brakes · Transmission / powertrain · Driver-assist systems · Lighting
When complaints were filed
- Crashes reported: 8
- Fires reported: 0
- Injuries: 5
- Deaths: 0
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 24 months
What owners report
On October 16, 2025, while slowly pulling into a parking space, my vehicle experienced sudden and unintended acceleration without driver input. I did not depress the accelerator. Despite attempting to stop the vehicle, I was unable to do so.
Sudden acceleration even. Date April 10, 2026, at around 2:30 PM on a clear sunny day. Car make and model Mazda CX5 bought on 7/4/2023 VIN [XXX] , mileage around 10,000, only one owner.
I began hearing a loud engine noise similar to a lawn mower whenever my headlights would come on which includes just when I unlock my car.
At 44,000 miles, a loud whirring noise started to occur that is due to the failing of the internal LED cooling fan in my left headlamp. I cannot use my headlights, which is a safety concern.
When my car starts up, engine rpm is around 1500 or above 1000. If I would switch to reverse, the car sudden jerks back stronger and quicker than I expected even though my foot isn’t on the accelerator pedal and have pressed the brake lightly.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · 2023 · Compact SUVs
| Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Jeep Cherokee | 3 | 0.8 | 0.02 |
| 2023 Jeep Compass | 46 | 12.1 | 0.3 |
| 2023 Mazda CX-5 | 64 | 16.9 | 0.42 |
| 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan | 69 | 18.2 | 0.45 |
| 2023 Subaru Forester | 74 | 19.5 | 0.48 |
| 2023 Chevrolet Equinox | 98 | 25.9 | 0.64 |
| 2023 Ford Escape | 137 | 36.2 | 0.9 |
| 2023 Hyundai Tucson | 180 | 47.5 | 1.18 |
| 2023 Toyota RAV4 | 231 | 61.0 | 1.51 |
| 2023 Kia Sportage | 306 | 80.8 | 2.0 |
| 2023 Honda CR-V | 632 | 166.8 | 4.13 |
| 2023 Nissan Rogue | 736 | 194.2 | 4.81 |
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year.
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.