2018 Mazda CX-5: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 177 of 348 complaints (50.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 53 | 15.2% |
| Engine operation | 28 | 8.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 13 | 3.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 2.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 2.3% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 1.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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: 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 34 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 22 |
| 2022 | 51 |
| 2023 | 44 |
| 2024 | 73 |
| 2025 | 55 |
| 2026 | 41 |
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.
Examples from the source records
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 11073954 · 2018-02-20 (February 20, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 MAZDA CX-5. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS CHIPPED. THERE WAS NO OTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (NAPLETON'S SCHAUMBURG MAZDA, 110 W GOLF RD, SCHAUMBURG, IL 60195) AND DETERMINED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS COSMETIC AND NOT COVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND OFFERED THE CONTACT A $500.00 GIFT CARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130.
Owner-reported narrative. 130 miles reported. Look up ODI 11073954 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11085069 · 2018-04-14 (April 14, 2018)
ENGINE MAKES LOUD NOISES AFTER DRIVING AND ACTS LIKE IT'S EXHAUSTED. THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN PARK THE CAR AND GET OUT OF IT. THERE IS A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL (WHICH I WAS TOLD WOULD WEAR OFF AFTER THE FIRST COUPLE HUNDRED MILES), BUT IT'S STILL DOING THIS. IT'S LIKE THE ENGINE OVER HEATED (WHICH NO INDICATOR) AND IT NEEDS TO COOL OFF. THE SMELL IS THE MOST CONCERNING PART.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11085069 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 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 11122060 · 2018-08-24 (August 24, 2018)
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN THE LAST MONTH, DURING KEY ON/STARTUP/INITIALIZATION, I WILL GET AN ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL/AEB/LANE KEEPING SYSTEM FAILURE. THIS IS DUE TO A FAULT IN THE CAMERA MODULE. ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL STILL WORKS ABOVE 20 MPH INDICATING THAT THE FAILURE IS IN THE CAMERA MODULE. FAILURE IS LATCHED FOR THE KEY CYCLE AND BUT WILL RECOVER AFTER A LONG KEY CYCLE. 1ST TIME THE FAILURE SET, IT WAS VERY WARM OUT SO I BELIEVED THIS WAS DUE TO AN OVERHEAT. THE SECOND TIME THE FAILURE SET THE TEMPERATURE WAS IN A NORMAL RANGE SO…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11122060 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11128214 · 2018-09-08 (September 8, 2018)
ATTEMPT TO STOP AT LIGHT. BRAKES WERE ENGAGED FULLY ENGINE KEPT REVVING UP. CAR KEPT GOING FORWARD. IN MOTION IN CITY STREET. STRAIGHT AND BRAKING. CAR HAS 496 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 493 miles reported. Look up ODI 11128214 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 ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
18V426000 · Air Bags:Side/Window
Reported: 2018-06-25 (June 25, 2018)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda CX-5 vehicles. In the event of a side impact or rollover crash, the side curtain air bags may not properly unfold during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
Consequence: If the air bags do not deploy properly in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2718F.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V497000 · Engine | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
Reported: 2019-06-27 (June 27, 2019)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.
Consequence: An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3719F.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V875000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2021-11-12 (November 12, 2021)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.
Consequence: Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5321K.
NHTSA campaign record ↗