2020 Mazda CX-5 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
106 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
3,200 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 28 of 106 complaints (26.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 23 | 21.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 6.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 4.7% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 4.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.9% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 28 |
| Unknown Or Other | 25 |
| Engine | 17 |
| Service Brakes | 13 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 8 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 5 |
Electrical System: 28; Unknown Or Other: 25; Engine: 17; Service Brakes: 13; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 8; Power Train: 7; Air Bags: 5; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 19 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 83 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 19 |
| 2025 | 31 |
| 2026 | 13 |
2020: 14; 2021: 10; 2022: 6; 2023: 13; 2024: 19; 2025: 31; 2026: 13
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 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 11325432 · 2020-05-21 (May 21, 2020)
DRIVING IN THE CITY IN THE RIGHT HAND TURN LANE. THIS LANE PASSES 2 PLACES FOR A RIGHT HAND TURN. THE CAR IN FRONT MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN. THEIR TURN WAS ALMOST COMPLETE WHEN THE CAR MADE A SUDDEN HARD BRAKE. NO OTHER CAR WAS IN FRONT OF ME. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR BEHIND ALMOST SLAMMED IN THE BACK OF ME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 165 miles reported. Look up ODI 11325432 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11353304 · 2020-09-05 (September 5, 2020)
SUDDEN BRAKING CAUSED BY AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM. ON SEPT 1, 2020, I WAS DRIVING DOWN A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET, GOING ABOUT 30 MPH, AND A CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS TURNING. I WAS IN NO DANGER OF HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME; HOWEVER, MY 2020 MAZDA CX-5 SUDDENLY BRAKED AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. GRANTED, THIS CAR WAS NEW TO ME AND I HADN'T EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE, BUT I WAS COMPLETELY SURPRISED GIVEN AN ACCIDENT WAS NOT IMMINENT. THIS SUDDEN BRAKING CAUSED MY HEAD TO SWING FORWARD AND BACK RESULTING IN NECK, SHOULDER, AND BACK PAIN. ALSO, IT RESULTED I…
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 11353304 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11342959 · 2020-08-03 (August 3, 2020)
THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITHOUT A SOLUTION FROM MAZDA ' 2020 CX-5 HAS INTERMITTENT BATTERY DRAIN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO POWER OFF OR NOT START. HAPPENED TO ME 2X WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND RUNNING.
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11342959 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11366933 · 2020-10-28 (October 28, 2020)
PURCHASED BRAND NEW 2020 MAZDA CX-5 ON SEPT 25, 2020. ON SEPT. 29, 2020 WITH < 500MI: WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON COUNTY ROAD, PRESSED BRAKE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL DID NOT MOVE. SEVERAL MALFUNCTION LIGHTS FLASHED INCLUDING "POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION", "SMART CITY BRAKE SUPPORT MALFUNCTION". REPEATEDLY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT DID NOT MOVE AT ALL. TRIED TO SWERVE TO AVOID A VEHICLE BUT THE STEERING WAS UNRESPONSIVE. IMPACTED A VEHICLE AT A RED LIGHT. MAZDA SERVICE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE BRAKE WAS ENGA…
Owner-reported narrative. 412 miles reported. Look up ODI 11366933 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11594094 · 2024-06-13 (June 13, 2024)
Defective transmission causes metal fragments to break off and over time damage transmission
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11594094 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11642604 · 2025-02-13 (February 13, 2025)
Forward Braking Safety Sensor Was on transmission after braking check engine light . Was driving car from work it lost all power . And those warning ⚠️ light indicators where on . Car wouldn't go over 15mph . Took vehicle to mazda and dropped it off as my husband requested information do so . Mazda called say diagnostic saying it needed plugs ,coil packs serpentine belt and adjuster pulleys replacement. I called my husband he's a mechanical engineer he said no way it needs a tune up that early. He requested information go get the car as he fl…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11642604 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11309973 · 2020-02-18 (February 18, 2020)
AFTER PICKING-UP A BRAND NEW CAR FROM MAZDA DEALERSHIP, I WAS RETURNING HOME USING A 3-LANE I-75 HIGHWAY, AS ALWAYS EXTREMELY BUSY. TO STAY IN THIS TRAFFIC I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE AT 70 MPH, WHICH IS THE LOCAL SPEED LIMIT. IT TURNS OUT THAT FROM THE SPEED OF 60 MPH UP, THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE ON ITS OWN AND REQUIRED CONTINUOUS STEERING WHEEL CORRECTIONS. THIS CREATED A HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITION CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT THE ADJACENT LANES WERE PACKED-UP WITH THE OTHER VEHICLES. UPON ARRIVAL I EXAMINED THE TIRES INSTA…
Owner-reported narrative. 27 miles reported. Look up ODI 11309973 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11351838 · 2020-08-28 (August 28, 2020)
DUE TO THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS NOT BEING ILLUMINATED I ACCIDENTALLY INCREASED THE SPEED RATHER THAN DECREASING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT.
Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11351838 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11683539 · 2025-08-27 (August 27, 2025)
While driving my vehicle the systems sensors are affected by nearby drivers which cause the car to stall in the middle of traffic going between 40 and 75 miles per hour.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11683539 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11689633 · 2025-09-25 (September 25, 2025)
The contact owns a 2020 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while the cruise control was activated and driving 65 MPH in the middle lane of a busy six-lane highway, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle was suddenly stalled and coasted to a complete stop in the middle of the highway. The contact was able to restart the vehicle to continue driving. The vehicle was later taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure and was unable to confirm that the failure had occurred. The vehicle was no…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11689633 at NHTSA ↗