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2018 Mazda CX-5 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

348 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

14,700 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 83 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 177 of 348 complaints (50.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior5315.2%
Engine operation288.0%
Fuel system concerns133.7%
Transmission and shifting82.3%
Electrical and battery issues82.3%
Steering behavior61.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine
177
Unknown Or Other
58
Power Train
41
Service Brakes
32
Electrical System
29
Fuel/Propulsion System
20
Fuel System, Gasoline
18
Structure:Body
12
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine177
Unknown Or Other58
Power Train41
Service Brakes32
Electrical System29
Fuel/Propulsion System20
Fuel System, Gasoline18
Structure:Body12

Engine: 177; Unknown Or Other: 58; Power Train: 41; Service Brakes: 32; Electrical System: 29; Fuel/Propulsion System: 20; Fuel System, Gasoline: 18; Structure:Body: 12

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
51
25,000 to 49,999
14
50,000 to 74,999
8
75,000 to 99,999
6
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00051
25,000 to 49,99914
50,000 to 74,9998
75,000 to 99,9996
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 51; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (51). 265 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2018
14
2019
34
2020
14
2021
22
2022
51
2023
44
2024
73
2025
55
2026
41
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
201814
201934
202014
202122
202251
202344
202473
202555
202641

2018: 14; 2019: 34; 2020: 14; 2021: 22; 2022: 51; 2023: 44; 2024: 73; 2025: 55; 2026: 41

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 53 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 28 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 13 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 11067125 · 2018-02-05 (February 5, 2018)

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I ENTERED OFFICE PARKING BUILDING AS USUAL. PARKING SPOT WAS ON THE RIGHT. SLOWLY APPROACHING I STARTED TO TURN RIGHT WITH FOOT ON BRAKES. SUDDENLY CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF AND HIT A CONCRETE WALL BEFORE I EVEN REALIZED WHAT'S HAPPENED. STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DEPLOYED, I GOT SECURED BY THE SAFETY BELT. FRONT OF MY CAR IS DAMAGED. I'M TERRIFIED OF DRIVING THE CAR DUE TO THIS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ISSUE.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11067125 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11089977 · 2018-04-24 (April 24, 2018)

ON THE THIRD DAY AFTER LEASING THIS BRAND NEW CAR, I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, ON A NORMAL CITY STREET AND SLOWLY PRESSED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT ON A STANDARD CITY STREET. NO CARS WERE IN FRONT OF ME, THANKFULLY, BECAUSE AS I PRESSED THE BRAKE THE CAR ACCELERATED INSTEAD OF STOPPING; THE ENGINE AND PARKING WARNING LIGHTS (AND SEVERAL OTHER RANDOM LIGHTS) ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED; AND AT LEAST THREE TEXT MALFUNCTION WARNINGS APPEARED IN THE CONTROL PANEL INCLUDING SCBS MALFUNCTION. THE CAR WAS JERKING AND AC…

Owner-reported narrative. 140 miles reported. Look up ODI 11089977 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11256612 · 2019-09-19 (September 19, 2019)

2018-2019 MAZDA CX-5 SOFTWARE ERROR MAY CAUSE ENGINE STALL SAFETY AND EMISSION RECALL 3719F NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 19V-497. I RECEIVED MAIL SHOWING MY VIN NUMBER IS PART OF A RECALL. I WENT ONLINE TO CONTACT CLOSEST MAZDA DEALER WHICH 3 HOURS DRIVE ONE WAY, AND TRIED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THEM FIX THE RECALLED PART FREE OF CHARGE. WHEN I ENTERED THE VIN NUMBER , IT SHOWED ME THERE ARE NO ACTIVE RECALLS FOR THIS VIN NUMBER , WHICH IS NOT TRUE. I WAS RELIEVED FOR A MOMENT THINKING I DON'T HAVE TO MAKE THE LONG TRIP AFTER ALL, BUT THE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11256612 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11324001 · 2020-05-09 (May 9, 2020)

ON MAY 9, 2020, OUR MAZDA CX5 LOST THRUST, STALLED AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY GOING 55 MPH ON A STRAIGHT 3 LANE ROAD. THIS OCCURRED DESPITE THE PCM PROGRAMMING WAS RE-CALIBRATED DUE TO A MANUFACTURER RECALL IN SEPTEMBER 2019 (NHTSA RECALL NO. 19V497000). THE CAR IS TOWED TO A MAZDA SERVICE CENTRE AND IS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11324001 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11449398 · 2022-01-29 (January 29, 2022)

Neither you nor Mazda has notified me about the current recall with the Fuel Pump. I've heard about it months ago from web sites that aren't supposed to notify me. Both you and Mazda have never notified me. Mazda was supposed to send out notices to the car owners 3 weeks ago. Why aren't I hearing about this?

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11449398 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11450128 · 2022-02-03 (February 3, 2022)

The contact owns a 2018 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal failed to respond when depressed, and the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V875000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact contacted an independent mechanic who informed her that the fuel pump had failed. The contact notified the local dealer of the failure, but the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The co…

Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11450128 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11130477 · 2018-09-20 (September 20, 2018)

THE VEHICLE WANTS TO KEEP GOING WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT, YOU MUST KEEP YOU FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE AS THE CAR WANTS TO LURCH FORWARD. WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR ACTS LIKE THE TURBO IS KICKING IN AND WANTS TO LURCH FORWARD. VERY DANGEROUS. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE ENGINE, BUT SOMEONE TOLD ME IT IS THE TRANSMISSION.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 11130477 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11166772 · 2019-01-13 (January 13, 2019)

1509 MILES ON MY NEW MAZDA CX 5 PURCHASED AT MARIN MAZDA IN SAN RAFAEL CA. ON MAY 22, 2018 THIS VEHICLE KEEPS HAVING SOME KIND OF WHAT FEELS LIKE A WHEEL RESISTANCE ISSUE. NOT SURE IF IT IS SOMETHING HAPPENING IN THE DRIVE TRAIN OR TRANSMISSION. ALSO NOT SURE IF IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE WAY THE VEHICLE STARTS EVERYDAY - THIS CAR OVER REVS ITSELF WHEN STARTED FIRST THING TICKING VERY LOUDLY, RATTLING , PINGING ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT NOISES. IT IS TICKING SO LOUDLY BECAUSE IT IS OVER REVVING ITSELF AND THERE IS NO OIL THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11166772 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11114293 · 2018-07-28 (July 28, 2018)

CAR BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, UNKNOWN CAUSE, SUSPECT ELECTRICAL OR FUEL SYSTEM RELATED

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11114293 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11353214 · 2020-09-04 (September 4, 2020)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 MAZDA CX-5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS RESTARTED. WHILE THE PUSH-TO-START WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE REVVED UP HIGH, STALLED, AND RESTARTED. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE RADIO WAS ALSO INOPERABLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GUNTHER MAZDA (1800 S STATE RD 7, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33317, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY, A/C MOTOR AND AN UNKNOWN CONTROLLER NEEDED TO …

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11353214 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11378437 · 2020-12-08 (December 8, 2020)

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT WAS RAINING. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SPINNING UNCONTROLLABLY. I WAS ADVISED I MOST LIKELY HYDROPLANED. THE VEHICLE FINALLY SLOWED DOWN AND BACKED INTO A GUARDRAIL. ONLY THE RIM OF THE DRIVER SIDE BACK TIRE WAS DAMAGED. THE IMPACT FELT LIKE THE IMPACT FELT WHEN HITTING A CURB TOO HARD. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH A SHOULDER, SO AFTER THE TIRE HIT THE GUARDRAIL, I MOVED TO THE CAR TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD TO BE ON THE SHOULDER. ONCE I ARRIVED AT THE OTHER …

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11378437 at NHTSA ↗