2018 Mazda CX-5 problems and recalls

81% of owner complaints on the 2018 Mazda CX-5 related to the Engine (95 of 117).

117
Complaints
3
Recalls
1
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
1
Injuries
33.6
Severity index

Severity index 33.6 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 33.6p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 107 of 122 by severity index among 2018 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 12% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2018 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 95 complaints (81.2%)95 81%Power TrainPower Train: 17 complaints (14.5%)17 15%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 9 complaints (7.7%)9 8%Engine And Engine Cooli…Engine And Engine Cooling: 3 complaints (2.6%)3 3%Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 3 complaints (2.6%)3 3%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 2 complaints (1.7%)2 2%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 2 complaints (1.7%)2 2%SteeringSteering: 1 complaints (0.9%)1 1%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE9581.2%
POWER TRAIN1714.5%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER97.7%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING32.6%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE32.6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM21.7%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM21.7%
STEERING10.9%

Complaints filed per year

020412023: 102024: 372025: 292026: 41 (partial year)2324252641
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
202310
202437
202529
2026 (year to date)41

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18V42600025/06/2018AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOWMazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda CX-5 vehicles. In the event of a side impact or rollover crash, the side curtain air bags may not properly unfold during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal M
19V49700027/06/2019ENGINEMazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.
21V87500012/11/2021FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPMazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.

Other Mazda CX-5 model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 14 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.