Brake complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 13% | — |
| 2025 | 11 | 39% | 3,000 miles |
| 2024 | 8 | 18% | 24,000 miles |
| 2023 | 12 | 18% | — |
| 2022 | 4 | 6% | 0 miles |
| 2021 | 11 | 7% | 81,000 miles |
| 2020 | 14 | 13% | 0 miles |
| 2019 | 6 | 2% | 5,000 miles |
| 2018 | 33 | 9% | 3,000 miles |
| 2017 | 14 | 9% | 7,000 miles |
| 2016 | 72 | 14% | 29,000 miles |
| 2015 | 14 | 11% | 38,000 miles |
| 2014 | 23 | 6% | 35,000 miles |
| 2013 | 26 | 13% | 30,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2025 . The contact was in a parking lot of a shopping center, put the car in gear and the steering wheel became inoperable , vehicle would not stop while depressing the brakes. Four additional vehicles were damaged from the impact with one vehicle deemed a total loss. The right front end was impacted including the hood and the right wheel. No additional property damage. The vehicle came to a stop in the parking lot from impacting the vehicles. Both front driver and passenger side air bags deployed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was deemed as a total loss by the insurance company. The contact sustained injuries left broken clavicle, left arm, left and right knees received lacerations and lacerations and 3 broken ribs on the left side and hematoma and received medical treatment at the emergency room intensive care. …
I pulled the car into garage, and realized it's not inside enough. So I moved the car forward, but forgot to place the shift to P position. With the shift in D position, I shut off the engine, opened the door, ready to get out. I did not notice the car was moving backward, until the open door hit the garage frame. I file a claim with my insurance, had the front door replaced in a local body shop. I confirmed that in D position, with engine shut off, the car can move freely in my drive way. I did have this issue in my other two cars, I occasionally forgot put the shift from D position to P position, but the car did not move. This issue - a car can move freely without driver's awareness - is a serious and dangerous issue. If this happens in the street, a serious crash can occur. …
The contact leased a 2024 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that the yellow electronic emergency brake light was displayed. The cruise control and rear brakes were inoperable. The brake pedal was pulsating while depressed. There was smoke coming from the front brakes. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, who replaced the brakes, and the module was inoperable, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to three independent mechanics, who determined that the rear brakes were firm. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.
The most recent incident: Driving 35 MPH on a 4 lane divided boulevard, vehicle 5-6 car lengths in front of me indicates intention to turn right. No traffic in lane to my left should I need to change lanes. I continue to coast. At approximately 2-3 car lengths, the vehicle in front has nearly completed the right turn - there is no risk of collision - but my car BRAKES HARD. This is the 4th time my car has activated emegency braking in a situation it is not warranted. I have been dirving for 36 years with no accident. I do not need nor want this technology as it is more prone to causing accidents than preventing them. Additionally, the car throttle response is slow to recover in these situations, so while I mashed the acclerator to the floor to avoid being rear-ended - the car did not accelerate for 1-2 seconds (RPM went up, but the engine did not engage for several seconds). …
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - Smart Brake Support (SBS) & Forward Obstruction Warning system malfunctioned. Front radar sensor malfunctioned. Parking brake malfunctioned. I-activesense system malfunctioned. Emergency lane keep disabled. Dynamic stability control malfunctioned. Traction control system not operating correctly. Anti-lock brake system (ABS) malfunctioned. Brake system not responding. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? In total 10 malfunctions led to brake not responding and could not stop the car and resulted into a car accident. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? NO Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? …
At 2:00 on a clear afternoon I was slowly coasting into a right hand turn into a parking space, and lightly tapping the brake to finalize the stop, when the car accelerated HARD forward over a curb and a sidewalk into the brick wall of a building. Airbag was deployed. My injuries were a nasty wrist contusion and bloody gashes where the airbag "door" deployed and I also had complete seatbelt brusing on my throat, chest and across my abdomen. This after traveling a mere 7-8 feet. At the time I was very shaken up and incredulous that such a thing could have happened logically, and conceded that perhaps I had made a mistake somehow. As I settled down later I became dubious, especially when I got behind the wheel of my rental car and 100% when I sat in my actual car at the wrecking yard. I am crystal clear I was depressing just the brake. …
The contact owns a 2022 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph when another vehicle abruptly stopped causing the contact to need to suddenly stop however, the brake pedal failed. The contact stated that the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard then the emergency braking system began chiming. The vehicle failed to stop causing the contact the crash into the vehicle in front. The air bags did not deploy. There was no police report. There were no injuries reported. The contact had contacted the dealer however the vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 1,546.
On July 22, my sister and I were traveling on I-95 going south. We stopped at the Maryland House near Aberdeen, MD. I was looking for a parking place and was driving very slowly. I slowed further to turn into a place on the right, near the south end of the parking lot and was attempting to put the car in park when the car accelerated abruptly, lurched forward, crossed over the concrete curb at the end of the parking space, and was heading right for I-95 which was straight ahead. I had never taken my foot off the brake. I tried to brake harder but that did not stop the car. I therefore turned right onto a service road to avoid crashing onto I-95. I then noticed a car coming toward me and swerved to the right back toward the parking lot, crossing over the curb at that parking spot, and slamming into a parked car and side swiping a truck. …
Frequently asked questions
Which Mazda CX-5 years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2016 (72), 2018 (33), 2013 (26), 2014 (23) and 2015 (14) model years. Brake complaints make up 14% of all complaints for the 2016.
Is there a recall for Mazda CX-5 brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for any Mazda CX-5 model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Mazda CX-5 brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 26,000 miles; 85% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the foundation components › disc › caliper (3 mentions), followed by the foundation components › disc › rotor (1).
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.