2020 Mazda CX-5: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 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 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 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 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 11360368 · 2020-09-22 (September 22, 2020)
BOUGHT A MAZDA CX5 JUNE 2020 AND IT WAS INVOLVE IN A ACCIDENT SEPT 17TH 2020 DO TO BRAKE FAILURE. MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED PARKING IN A APARTMENT COMPLEX WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND COLLIDED WITH THE FACILITY 20FT IN FRONT OF THE PARKING SPACE. AT THE INCIDENT, I THE OWNER, FOUND 3 DAMAGE ROTORS WERE THE FLAW CAME FROM HEAVY GRINDING AT THE CALIBER (SEE ATTACH PHOTOS). WITHIN THE CALIBER'S ALLOY YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE CHIPPED ALLOY PRODUCED FROM A FLAW & THE ALIGNMENT OF WHERE IT GRINDS THE ROTOR (SEE ATTACHED PHOTO…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11360368 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11363219 · 2020-10-07 (October 7, 2020)
ON OCT. 6, 2020, WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON I-95 IN VIRGINIA, NEARING EXIT 133, OUR SUN ROOF SUDDENLY AND SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED OUTWARD. WE WERE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 50-60 MPH AND SLOWING TO LEAVE THE HIGHWAY AT EXIT 133. OUR CAR IS A 2020 MAZDA CX-5, PURCHASED IN JULY 2020. WE HAVE LESS THAN 4,000 MILES ON THE CAR. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT OUR CAR WAS STRUCK BY ANY OBJECT THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE SUN ROOF TO EXPLODE OUTWARD. THERE ARE NO OTHER SCRATCHES OR DENTS ON OUR VIRTUALLY BRAND NEW CAR. BECAUSE THE SUN SHADE WAS CLOSED, NO SHATTERED…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11363219 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11366904 · 2020-10-28 (October 28, 2020)
THE AUTO LIFT GATE OPENS ON ITS OWN. WE JUST BOUGHT THIS IN JULY AND HAVE FOUND IT OPENED ON AT LEAST 4 OCCASIONS. ONCE OUTSIDE AND THE OTHER TIMES IN THE GARAGE. IT OPENED IN THE GARAGE AND DID NOT REALIZE IT WHEN I PUSHED THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER. IT WAS ABUTTED AGAINST THE DOOR AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE LIFT GATE. IT IS NOT THE FOB, BECAUSE WE TRIED IT INSIDE WITH THE DOOR SHUT AND THE LIFT GATE DOES NOT OPEN.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11366904 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.