2023 Mazda CX-5 problems, complaints & recalls
NHTSA has received 61 owner complaints about the 2023 Mazda CX-5, or 16.6 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.39, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 92 model-year 2023 vehicles we track, it ranks #38 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Mazda models its rate is 37% higher; against other Compact SUVs it is 73% 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 2026-09-02. Median delay from incident to filing: 14 days.
Analysis
The previous model year (2022) drew 13.5 complaints per year, fewer than this one. The following model year (2024) drew 15.7 per year, fewer than this one. 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 (18.0% of complaints), followed by Lighting (13.1%) and Interior & equipment (13.1%). Within Engine reports, owners most often mention “bring”, “intermittently”, “engine”, “checked” and “brought”. 8 reports (13.1%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 5 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 23 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was the first year (28% of incidents). In the last 12 months 24 new complaints were filed, versus 16 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for this model year.
Complaint index
- vs. all tracked vehicles0.39
- vs. other Mazda models1.37
- vs. other 2023 models0.39
- vs. other Compact SUVs0.27
- Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (24)0.29
- #38 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
Engine · Common terms in reports
- bring3
- intermittently3
- engine7
- checked3
- brought3
- high3
Lighting · Common terms in reports
- headlight6
- fan4
- headlamp3
- noise6
- assembly4
- led3
Interior & equipment · Common terms in reports
- someone3
- damage3
Problem areas: Engine · Electrical · Interior & equipment · Body & structure · Brakes · Transmission / powertrain · Driver-assist systems
When complaints were filed
- Crashes reported: 8
- Fires reported: 0
- Injuries: 5
- Deaths: 0
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 23 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.
On 09/01/2026 at approximately 55 mph, I was driving with adaptive cruise control engaged. The vehicle ahead decelerated abruptly. My vehicle began braking hard with no input from me for a fraction of a second.
We purchased a certified pre-owned Mazda CX-5 from Wellesley Mazda in [XXX] on XXX. As soon as we got home and tried to exit the vehicle, we noticed that the driver's seatbelt was not releasing.
The vehicle experienced a sudden and complete engine stall while idling immediately after fueling the gas tank to capacity on a day with high ambient temperatures (over 100°F).
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 | 45 | 12.2 | 0.29 |
| 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan | 60 | 16.3 | 0.39 |
| 2023 Mazda CX-5 | 61 | 16.6 | 0.39 |
| 2023 Subaru Forester | 73 | 19.9 | 0.47 |
| 2023 Chevrolet Equinox | 94 | 25.6 | 0.61 |
| 2023 Ford Escape | 129 | 35.1 | 0.83 |
| 2023 Hyundai Tucson | 174 | 47.4 | 1.13 |
| 2023 Toyota RAV4 | 221 | 60.1 | 1.43 |
| 2023 Kia Sportage | 297 | 80.8 | 1.92 |
| 2023 Honda CR-V | 626 | 170.4 | 4.05 |
| 2023 Nissan Rogue | 698 | 190.0 | 4.52 |
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 2023 Mazda CX-5?
61 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2023 Mazda CX-5, or about 16.6 per year on the road.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2023 Mazda CX-5?
The most common category is Engine, accounting for 18.0% of complaints.
Does the 2023 Mazda CX-5 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for this model year.
Is the 2023 Mazda CX-5 still generating complaints?
In the last 12 months 24 new complaints were filed, versus 16 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.
How does the 2023 Mazda CX-5 compare with similar vehicles?
NHTSA has received 61 owner complaints about the 2023 Mazda CX-5, or 16.6 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.39, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 92 model-year 2023 vehicles we track, it ranks #38 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Mazda models its rate is 37% higher; against other Compact SUVs it is 73% lower.