2020 Mazda CX-5 Problems & Complaints

Better than average48% fewer complaints than a typical year of the CX-5 at the same age

Owners have filed 107 complaints about the 2020 Mazda CX-5 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is 48% fewer than a typical CX-5 model year at the same age, making the 2020 one of the better CX-5 years. The most reported problem area is the electrical system (30 complaints, typically around 3,000 miles).

107complaints
0recalls
10crashes
0fires
6injuries
0deaths

Most common 2020 Mazda CX-5 problems

  • Electrical system~3,000 miles
    3028%
  • Other / not specified~4,000 miles
    2523%
  • Engine & cooling~9,000 miles
    1817%
  • Driver assistance~10,000 miles
    1817%
  • Brakes~0 miles
    1413%
  • Transmission & drivetrain~140,000 miles
    87%
  • Speed control & acceleration~32,000 miles
    66%
  • Body & structure~2,000 miles
    66%
  • Air bags~3,000 miles
    55%
  • Lights~3,000 miles
    44%
  • Fuel & propulsion system~6,000 miles
    44%
  • Windows, wipers & sunroof~7,000 miles
    44%
  • Wheels & tires~3,000 miles
    22%
  • Seats
    11%
  • Equipment & accessories
    11%
  • Steering
    11%
  • Seat belts
    11%

Share of the 107 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Mazda CX-5 complaints by model year

201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024202520261943771335101503512711071486566452816
Owner complaints per model year, Mazda CX-5. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best CX-5 years: 2015, 2020, 2017. Years to avoid: 2016, 2014, 2018. Compare all years →

What 2020 Mazda CX-5 owners say

Electrical system all 30 →

The contact owns a 2020 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered and lost automotive power and failed to exceed 15 MPH. The vehicle failed to return to normal operation. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The contact stated that the infotainment system was inoperative. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the ignition coils needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the CPU system needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Ignition › Coil · 80,000 miles · Jan 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Mazda CX-5. The contact noticed that while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the passenger blind spot monitoring light and sound failed to operate. The contact mentioned that the vehicle failed to let her know when a vehicle was nearby her. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they reset the monitor however, the failure recurred days later. The contact mentioned that the failure recurred several times. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000.

ADAS › Blindspot › Warning › Chime · 10,000 miles · Sep 2021

Engine & cooling

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 not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 32,000.

32,000 miles · Sep 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while the brake pedal was depressed stopped at a light, he noticed that the vehicle moved forward and the RPM was fluctuating from 600-1,000. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was duplicated; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 9,000.

9,000 miles · Oct 2022

Driver assistance

The contact owns a 2020 Mazda CX-5. The contact noticed that while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the passenger blind spot monitoring light and sound failed to operate. The contact mentioned that the vehicle failed to let her know when a vehicle was nearby her. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they reset the monitor however, the failure recurred days later. The contact mentioned that the failure recurred several times. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000.

Blind spot detection · 10,000 miles · Sep 2021

While driving on the highway in traffic, I was applying the brakes (slowly and smoothly) and moving with the flow of traffic when the SBS system activated the brakes harshly and slammed me to a stop without reason. In addition to throwing me forward against my seatbelt, it also resulted in the car behind me rear-ending me. I did not hit the car ahead of me, since I was far enough behind them BEFORE the smart brake support engaged, but the feature caused an accident that could have been avoided.

Automatic emergency braking · Jan 2026 · crash

2020 Mazda CX-5 engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
2.5L 4-cyl6-speed automaticFWD25 / 31 / 28
2.5L 4-cyl6-speed automatic4WD24 / 30 / 26
2.5L 4-cyl turbo6-speed automatic4WD22 / 27 / 24

EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Mazda CX-5 a good car?

Based on 107 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2020 CX-5 rates better than average: 48% fewer complaints than a typical year of the CX-5 at the same age. It is one of the best CX-5 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2020 Mazda CX-5?

The electrical system — 30 complaints, 28% of all complaints for this model year, most often about adas › blindspot › warning › chime. Next are the engine & cooling (18) and driver assistance (18).

How many recalls does the 2020 Mazda CX-5 have?

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2020 Mazda CX-5. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Mazda CX-5?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2015, 2020 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2016, 2014 and 2018. See the full Mazda CX-5 years comparison.

At what mileage do 2020 Mazda CX-5 problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 3,000 miles; 87% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.