Mazda CX-5 Reliability & Common Problems
The Mazda CX-5 is a compact SUV sold in three generations: 2013 to 2016, 2017 to 2025, and an all-new 2026. Its complaint picture changes a lot from one generation to the next: ignition and windshield complaints dominate the early years, headlight failures stand out in 2016, and oil leaks, cracked cylinder heads and screen glitches dominate the 2018 and 2019. Our method marks no year as one to avoid. It marks the 2013, 2014 and 2016 to check carefully, and the 2024, 2025 and 2026 have too few complaints to judge.
Model years researched
11
2013–2023
Owner complaints researched
2,362
filed with NHTSA through Oct 4, 2026
Recall campaigns
9
None with a park-outside or do-not-drive warning
Years to avoid
None
no year shows serious known problems
Counts are owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not failure rates: they depend on how many were sold and how long each year has been on the road.
Reliability
Is the Mazda CX-5 Reliable?
The CX-5 is best read in groups of years, because the problems owners report are different in each one. The first generation (2013 to 2016) is the group with the most distinctive complaints: an ignition that won't shut off in the 2013 and 2014, battery drain or no-start in the same two years, windshields that crack in the 2014, 2015 and 2016, and LED headlights or daytime running lights that fail in the 2016. The 2018 and 2019 stand apart for engine complaints, with cracked cylinder heads and oil leaks each making up around a third of their complaints. From the 2020 on, no single problem repeats as strongly, and the complaint counts get smaller.
Three years are marked check carefully: the 2013, 2014 and 2016. That label does not mean the whole year is bad. It means that, among owners who gave a mileage for a serious problem, an unusually large share had it early. For the 2013, 80% of those serious complaints came before 50,000 miles (typical: 38%). For the 2014 it was 77% (typical: 42%), and for the 2016 it was 79% (typical: 49%). A serious failure early in the life of a used car is the part a buyer can least plan for, which is why these years get a closer look.
The most serious complaint type across the whole model is sudden or unintended acceleration. It is only about 4% of all complaints, but a large share of those reports describe a crash, injury or a close call, and it appears in every year from the 2013 to the 2023, most often in the 2016 and 2018. No recall covers it, and the cause isn't established. Cracked cylinder heads and oil leaks are the other big engine pattern. Owners usually find them through oil smells, smoke or a low oil light, and they're reported at around 56,000 miles in the middle of the range. No recall covers them either. The 2018 and 2019 are still marked no pattern of serious problems: our verdict weighs safety-critical failures such as stalling or loss of drive, and those make up a small share of their complaints even though the oil and cylinder head complaints are common.
Recalls confirm only part of what owners describe. Recall 20V063000 covers LED daytime running lights that may fail while driving in the 2016. Recalls 19V497000 and 21V875000 cover the 2018 and 2019: a software error that may cause the engine to stall, and a low-pressure fuel pump impeller that may crack and deform. There is no recall for the ignition that won't shut off, the windshield cracking, the cylinder head cracks or the screen glitches.
Complaint counts have limits. They depend on how many vehicles were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not failure rates, and the newest years will always have fewer. One complaint can also describe several problems, and a complaint is an owner's account, not a confirmed diagnosis. Use these years as a guide to what to check, and look up the exact vehicle's recalls by VIN.
Common problems
Most Common Mazda CX-5 Problems
Across the 2013–2023 CX-5 (2,362 complaints researched). A complaint can describe more than one problem, so these counts overlap.
Ignition won't shut off
Serious220 complaints · 9% of all researchedmedian 68,000 mi
Owners describe a car that stays in accessory mode or keeps its electronics running after they try to turn it off in park. Some say it only shuts down if they move the shifter back and forth. It is almost entirely a first-generation problem: 53 complaints for the 2013 and 161 for the 2014, with only a handful in other years. It is listed as serious, and owners report it at a median of 68,000 miles. No recall covers it, and only one of the owners who said how it ended up reported a fix that worked. For a buyer of a 2013 or 2014, it is the first thing to ask the seller about.
Share of each year's complaints
- 2013 27%
- 2014 43%
- 2015 2%
- 2016 0.2%
- 2017 –
- 2018 0.3%
- 2019 –
- 2020 –
- 2021 0.7%
- 2022 2%
- 2023 –
Oil leaks or low oil
Serious211 complaints · 9% of all researchedmedian 56,900 mi
Owners describe oil escaping from the engine, often with a burning smell, smoke or a low oil warning. It is concentrated in the 2018 (99 complaints) and 2019 (92), with only a few in other years. The mileage in the middle of the range is about 57,000. Those who gave a repair cost reported a median near 5,550 dollars. No recall covers it. It matters because it overlaps with the cracked cylinder head complaints, and a leak is the sign owners most often noticed first.
Cracked cylinder head
Serious211 complaints · 9% of all researchedmedian 55,700 mi
Owners describe a crack in the engine's cylinder head, usually found through oil leaks and burning smells. It affects the 2018 (104 complaints) and the 2019 (100), and almost no other year. The middle of the range is about 56,000 miles, and owners who gave a cost reported a median near 5,600 dollars. It is a serious engine repair. No recall covers it, and the cause isn't established. If you're looking at a 2018 or 2019, ask for oil leak and engine repair history.
Screen or infotainment glitches
Minor205 complaints · 9% of all researchedmedian 35,700 mi
Owners describe a touchscreen that acts on its own, with ghost touches, changed settings or volume, rebooting while driving, or a system that stops working. It is listed as a minor problem, though a few reports involved a loss of the display or controls while driving. It runs from the 2016 through the 2021, with the most complaints in the 2019 (50) and the 2017 (47), and it is a large share of the 2017 and 2020 complaints. Owners who gave a repair cost reported a median near 864 dollars. No recall covers it.
Share of each year's complaints
- 2013 –
- 2014 0.5%
- 2015 –
- 2016 5%
- 2017 32%
- 2018 11%
- 2019 19%
- 2020 30%
- 2021 5%
- 2022 –
- 2023 –
LED headlight or daytime running light fails
Minor150 complaints · 6% of all researchedmedian 39,500 mi
Owners describe LED daytime running lights or headlights that flicker, dim or stop working, often on one side first. Almost every complaint is on the 2016, with 146 of them, at a median of about 39,500 miles. Recall 20V063000 covers the daytime running lights on the 2016 and calls for dealers to inspect the headlights and replace the sealing gasket or headlight assemblies. One owner said a dealer skipped the repair because of the production dates but marked it completed. Check that this recall was done on any 2016 you consider.
Share of each year's complaints
- 2013 –
- 2014 –
- 2015 –
- 2016 29%
- 2017 –
- 2018 –
- 2019 –
- 2020 –
- 2021 –
- 2022 6%
- 2023 –
Windshield cracks easily
Minor132 complaints · 6% of all researchedmedian 7,000 mi
Owners describe windshields that crack and spread, sometimes with no sign of a rock chip, and some had to wait months for a replacement. It is a first-generation problem: 71 complaints on the 2014, 34 on the 2016 and 13 on the 2015. It's listed as minor, and it happens early, at a median of about 7,000 miles. No recall covers it, and the cause isn't established. For a used 2014 to 2016, check that the windshield has no crack or has already been replaced.
Share of each year's complaints
- 2013 2%
- 2014 19%
- 2015 10%
- 2016 7%
- 2017 1%
- 2018 0.9%
- 2019 1%
- 2020 –
- 2021 –
- 2022 2%
- 2023 2%
Battery drain or no-start
Serious101 complaints · 4% of all researchedmedian 59,000 mi
Owners describe a battery that drains or dies, so the car won't start, in one case after sitting for just over a day. It is listed as serious and concentrated in the first generation, with 25 complaints for the 2013 and 51 for the 2014, at a median of about 59,000 miles overall. Other years have only a few. No recall covers it, and one owner said the dealer called it a known issue. A battery that fails when the car sits is worth testing before you buy.
Sudden or unintended acceleration
Critical100 complaints · 4% of all researchedmedian 16,000 mi
Owners describe a vehicle that speeds up or keeps moving forward without being asked, in some cases with warning lights lit and brakes that did not respond. It is the most serious type in the model, since 59 of the 100 complaints describe a severe outcome. It appears in every year from the 2013 to the 2023, most often in the 2016 (27 complaints) and the 2018 (16), with 9 in the 2023. Many are reported early, at a median of about 16,000 miles. No recall covers it and the cause isn't established. It is worth reading the complaints for the exact year before buying.
By year
Mazda CX-5 Reliability by Year
Each year is judged on its own complaints. Complaint counts are context, not a ranking: they depend on how many were sold and how long they've been on the road.
First generation: 2013–2016
Engines: 2.0L four-cylinder, 2.5L four-cylinder (from 2014). Refresh for 2016.
- 2013Check carefullyIgnition won't shut off (27%); Battery drain or no-start (13%); Brake noise and early wear (10%)194 complaints · 1 recall
- 2014Check carefullyIgnition won't shut off (43%); Windshield cracks easily (19%); Battery drain or no-start (14%)377 complaints · 4 recalls
- 2015No patternWindshield cracks easily (10%); Sudden or unintended acceleration (8%); Drops into neutral or loses drive while moving (5%)133 complaints · 4 recalls
- 2016Check carefullyLED headlight or daytime running light fails (29%); Windshield cracks easily (7%); Electronic parking brake engages on its own (6%)510 complaints · 5 recalls
Second generation: 2017–2025
Engines: 2.5L four-cylinder, 2.5L turbo four-cylinder (from 2019), 2.2L turbo-diesel (2019). Update for 2022.
- 2017No patternScreen or infotainment glitches (32%); Stalling or shutting off while driving (10%); Sunroof glass shatters (8%)148 complaints · 1 recall
- 2018No patternCracked cylinder head (30%); Oil leaks or low oil (28%); Screen or infotainment glitches (11%)350 complaints · 3 recalls
- 2019No patternCracked cylinder head (37%); Oil leaks or low oil (34%); Screen or infotainment glitches (19%)270 complaints · 2 recalls
- 2020No patternScreen or infotainment glitches (30%); Automatic emergency braking activates for no reason (7%); Oil leaks or low oil (5%)107 complaints · no recalls
- 2021No patternOil consumption (43%); Oil leaks or low oil (6%); Screen or infotainment glitches (5%)147 complaints · no recalls
- 2022No patternNoisy headlight cooling fan (29%); Sunroof glass shatters (11%); Sudden or unintended acceleration (8%)63 complaints · no recalls
- 2023No patternSudden or unintended acceleration (14%); Noisy headlight cooling fan (14%); Brake pedal sinks or brakes fail (8%)63 complaints · no recalls
- 2024Too fewToo few complaints to name a problem44 complaints · no recalls
- 2025Too fewToo few complaints to name a problem28 complaints · no recalls
Third generation: 2026 on
Engines: 2.5L four-cylinder.
- 2026Too fewToo few complaints to name a problem14 complaints · no recalls
Years to avoid
Mazda CX-5 Years to Avoid
Our method marks no CX-5 year as one to avoid. The 2013, 2014 and 2016 are marked check carefully, because a large share of their serious complaints that list mileage came before 50,000 miles. The 2015 and the 2017 to 2023 show no pattern of serious problems in their own complaints, although the 2018 and 2019 still have many engine complaints. The 2024, 2025 and 2026 have too few complaints to judge yet.
- Check carefully
- 201320142016
- Too few complaints to judge
- 202420252026
Recalls
Mazda CX-5 Recalls
No CX-5 recall is a do-not-drive or park-outside recall. The ones tied to the main problems are 20V063000, for LED daytime running lights that may fail while driving in the 2016, and 19V497000 and 21V875000, for a software error that may cause the engine to stall and a fuel pump impeller that may crack, both on the 2018 and 2019. Recall 16V203000 covers loose front strut mounting bolts that could let the steering knuckle separate on the 2014 to 2016. Check any CX-5's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy, since dealers do recall repairs for free.
All 9 CX-5 recalls, by model yearCheck a VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls ↗
Model years
Explore Mazda CX-5 Model Years
FAQ
Mazda CX-5 Questions
Is the Mazda CX-5 reliable?
It depends on the model year. Our method marks no year to avoid, but the 2013, 2014 and 2016 are marked check carefully because serious problems came early in their lives. The 2015 and the 2017 to 2023 show no pattern of serious problems, and the 2024, 2025 and 2026 have too few complaints to judge.
What are the most common Mazda CX-5 problems?
It varies by generation. The first generation draws ignition, windshield, battery and LED headlight complaints. The second draws cracked cylinder heads, oil leaks and screen glitches, mostly in the 2018 and 2019. Sudden acceleration is reported across almost every year.
Which Mazda CX-5 years have a cracked cylinder head problem?
Almost all of these complaints are on the 2018 (104) and the 2019 (100). The 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 have only a few each, and earlier years have none.
Is there a recall for the CX-5 ignition that won't shut off?
No recall covers it. The complaints are almost all on the 2013 and 2014. Ask the seller whether it has happened, and check the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is the 2026 Mazda CX-5 a good buy?
It's too early to say. The 2026 is the start of a new generation with a 2.5L four-cylinder, and it has only 14 complaints so far, too few to judge.
Built from 2,362 NHTSA owner complaints, every one researched, and NHTSA's recall records. Updated Oct 12, 2026. How we make these pages.