Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | 25% | — |
| 2024 | 7 | 16% | 39,000 miles |
| 2023 | 12 | 18% | 4,000 miles |
| 2022 | 13 | 20% | 4,000 miles |
| 2021 | 82 | 55% | 46,000 miles |
| 2020 | 18 | 17% | 9,000 miles |
| 2019 | 134 | 49% | 31,000 miles |
| 2018 | 182 | 52% | 28,000 miles |
| 2017 | 17 | 11% | 66,000 miles |
| 2016 | 39 | 8% | 28,000 miles |
| 2015 | 15 | 11% | 48,000 miles |
| 2014 | 39 | 10% | 54,000 miles |
| 2013 | 43 | 22% | 49,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The vehicle exhibits a repeatable low-speed driveline-related problem consisting of pronounced clicking or clunking from the driver-front area, fore-and-aft jerking, and harsh engagement during deceleration and light on/off-throttle transitions, particularly around 15-17 mph; the behavior can become significantly worse over rough or uneven terrain. The exact failed component or system has not yet been identified. The vehicle is still essentially new, with fewer than 5,000 miles, and has not yet reached its first scheduled service interval, so it has not yet been formally inspected for this condition. No warning lamp or diagnostic message has appeared. …
The vehicle exhibits unintended acceleration behavior when the brake pedal is applied. Instead of slowing down, the engine revs and the vehicle does not decelerate as expected. On March 16, 2026, while merging onto a highway and applying the brakes, the engine suddenly revved to approximately 3,500 RPMs while the vehicle failed to slow down. There have been previous issues with the vehicle not slowing when breaks are being applied, nut this is the first instance when it was noticed that the RPMs increased while breaking. This issue has also been reported to the dealership, with service documentation noting that when applying the brakes, the engine revs and the vehicle does not slow or accelerate properly. This creates a dangerous condition where braking input does not result in expected deceleration and may instead cause acceleration-related behavior. The issue has not been resolved. …
This vehicle belongs to my friend, but I was the injured party. She was visiting me and realized she forgot her phone,.the vehicle wias at the top of my driveway and in park. She wanted to go back in the house to look and got out of the car & left the door open., I leaned into the car to press stop engine and immediately the car began to roll down the hill, dragging me 50'. Car still in park slammed into the stone wall of my garage.I had injuries to my right leg. aplit lip, frctured nasal bone, nerve damage to my thigh and torn meniscus. The Ambulance arrived, I was taken to the hospital and treated. Witnesses signed affadavits confirming vehicle still in Park. …
The contact owns a 2024 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, the check engine light illmiunated. The contact mention when depressing accelerator pedal, the RPM's get suck independently and the vehicle fails to respond as intended. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, however the dignanoses was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified on the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 39,381.
The contact owns a 2023 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while the temperature was 45 degrees or lower, the vehicle failed to start properly, and the engine failed to warm up properly. The coolant light was illuminated, and the engine temperature gauge failed to rise above COLD. The vehicle occasionally failed to start or while started and driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled while and engine temperature failed to reach the normal operating temperature. The check engine light was illuminated. The contact would shift to SPORT Mode to prevent the cylinder activation from occurring and causing the vehicle to stall. The contact stated that the failure persisted, and the vehicle was hesitating while driving in temperatures of 50 degrees or less. Additionally, the key fob intermittently failed to unlock the vehicle. …
Mazda CX-5 Premium Between May and September this year, the MyMazda app has alerted me two times that the oil level was low. I manually checked and it was indeed low. The first time I brought it to a Firestone service center to have it checked and they verified that the level was down considerably to the bottom dot on the stick. They said to bring it to the dealer. I brought it to the dealer and they said they could not find any leaks and to come back in 1000 miles. I did that and they only checked the dipstick to make sure the level was fine and sent me on my way. The same exact thing happened again a week ago and I topped off the oil then made an appointment. The dealer said that I should not have done that and now they could not verify for themselves that the oil was in fact low. …
The contact owns a 2022 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that moments after the vehicle stalled, the vehicle independently accelerated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that there was an abnormal fuel and burning odor inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 3,314.
The contact owns a 2022 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine revved loudly while the RPM fluctuated above 5,000 RPM. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the control valve body assembly and control valve were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, and the dealer replaced the transmission. The failure recurred, and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 3,963.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mazda CX-5 years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2018 (182), 2019 (134), 2021 (82), 2013 (43) and 2014 (39) model years. Engine complaints make up 52% of all complaints for the 2018.
Is there a recall for Mazda CX-5 engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling 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 engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 41,000 miles; 57% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the exhaust system › emission control › catalytic convertor (1 mentions), followed by the engine › oil/lubrication (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.