2018 Mazda CX-5 Problems
Compared with other Mazda CX-5 years
More complaints than typical for this model
77/100 1.9× a typical year · 50 = typical
- Complaint rate is 1.9× that of a typical Mazda CX-5 year, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, recalls and mileage, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints.
- 62 of its 352 complaints were filed by the end of 2020.
- Most reported problem: Oil leak and smoke from a cracked cylinder head (150 complaints, median 52,000 mi).
- 3 recall campaigns on record. A VIN search at nhtsa.gov/recalls shows open recalls for a specific vehicle.
Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2017, 2020
Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated
- Complaints
- 352filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 14,700miles, 83 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 3campaigns on record
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4–5 / 5stars overall, 4 rated versions
- EPA fuel economy
- 28 mpgcombined, 2.5L 4-cyl FWD · 25 city / 31 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2018 Mazda CX-5 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of the 2018 CX-5 most often report engine-related symptoms: oil leaks traced to a cracked or porous cylinder head, often with white smoke and a burning smell, plus occasional coolant and thermostat concerns. A second cluster of complaints involves the low-pressure fuel pump, where vehicles hesitate, lose power or stall and are tied to a fuel pump recall, with many owners noting parts were unavailable for a time. Paint chipping on Soul Red vehicles and abrupt automatic braking from the Smart City Brake system also come up repeatedly.
- Engine
Oil leak and smoke from a cracked cylinder head
- 150 complaints (43%)
- median 52,000 mi at 4.6 yrs old (18 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $5,350 (median of 27 quotes)
- filed 2018–2026
Owners describe oil leaking from the rear of the engine, a burning odor, and white smoke coming from under the hood, sometimes entering the cabin through the vents. Several say a dealer or independent shop diagnosed a cracked or porous cylinder head (or cylinder) and quoted replacement of the head, gasket or the whole engine. A few report the leak was found during routine service with no warning light beforehand. Reported from roughly 34,000 to 183,000 miles, with most examples between 60,000 and 125,000 miles.
What to check: Check for oil residue and staining around the rear of the engine and under the hood, and watch for a burning smell after a drive. Ask whether any cylinder head or gasket repair has been done and keep the oil level topped up.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The engine in my Mazda CX-5 was required to be replaced recently due to a known issue in the car that causes the rear head to leak. My car has less than 12,000 miles on it so the engine should not have this issue. My dealer explained to me this is a known issue by Mazda and he had seen 5-10 other cars just at his dealer. We noticed this issue when my son was driving the car and we saw fluid pouring out of the bottom. We had him stop the car immediately and not drive. …”
NHTSA complaint #11318595, filed 2020-03, 11,700 miles“When taking vehicle in for recommended 45k mile service, dealer discovered warped head cylinder and leaking oil. No check engine light warning ever came on! No warning. Mazda is replacing engine parts under vehicle warranty”
NHTSA complaint #11402855, filed 2021-03, 45,000 miles - Fuel system
Hesitation, loss of power or stalling from the fuel pump
- 82 complaints (23%)
- median 16,000 mi at 2.3 yrs old (27 state mileage)
- 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $947 (median of 5 quotes)
- filed 2018–2026
Complaints describe the engine hesitating or jerking under light throttle, especially after a cold start, and sometimes losing motive power or stalling while driving. Some owners link this to the low-pressure fuel pump recall and say dealers could not get parts for a time, or performed a software update without resolving the symptom. Others report the fuel gauge fluctuating or the engine running rough at low speeds. Mostly reported between 15,000 and 62,000 miles, and several owners mention cold starts.
What to check: Ask whether recall 21V875000 was completed and whether the low-pressure fuel pump was replaced. Note any hesitation, rough idle or fuel gauge fluctuation during a test drive.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The contact owns a 2018 Mazda CX5. The contact stated that after cold starts, the vehicle hesitated and jerked upon depression of the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on numerous occasions. The contact was repeatedly informed that no fault was found with the vehicle. The dealer later performed a software update on the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. …”
NHTSA complaint #11592142, filed 2024-06, 52,000 miles“The contact owns a 2018 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while in a parking lot, the vehicle failed to accelerate upon depression of the accelerator pedal. The fuel warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence; however, the fuel gauge was fluctuating. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V875000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. …”
NHTSA complaint #11490565, filed 2022-10, 33,000 miles - Brakes
Smart City Brake Support braking when the driver doesn't
- 13 complaints (4%)
- median 12,350 mi at 1.9 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
- 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2018–2025
Owners report the automatic braking system triggering when a car ahead is turning away or when there is still room to stop, sometimes stopping the vehicle abruptly. A few describe the warning lights for the camera and braking systems coming on at the same time. Complaints say dealers were unable to reproduce the behavior. Mostly reported under 15,000 miles, often in city or parking-lot driving.
What to check: Ask whether any camera or radar recalibration has been done, and try low-speed driving in traffic to see how the system reacts.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“While driving on a city street and there is a car stopped in front, I will start to brake lightly and then increase braking if needed. Three times the car has stopped itself with Mazda's smart city brake feature. I had space to stop in time, but the car's scb takes over and violently brakes the car to a stop an increases the chance of a rear end collision from a car following me. This has happened 3 times. …”
NHTSA complaint #11254694, filed 2019-09, 14,700 miles“The scbs (smart city brake support) system overreacts to other vehicles and forces my vehicle to stop suddenly (not slow down) when there is sufficient distance for me to stop or the vehicle in front is turning and no threat. This overreaction has nearly caused four accidents in which the scbs forced the car to brake and the vehicles behind me nearly hitting my car. Rather than avoiding an accident, the system will causes them if it weren't for the quick reactions of the drivers behind me.”
NHTSA complaint #11245201, filed 2019-08, 10,000 miles - Other or unknown
Paint chipping on Soul Red vehicles
- 13 complaints (4%)
- median 4,248 mi at 1.6 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $700 (median of 5 quotes)
- filed 2019–2021
Owners of Soul Red cars describe chips appearing on the hood, doors and side panels at low mileage, often looking like impact marks despite little debris on their routes. Some report the paint lifting or flaking in patches early in ownership. Complaints say dealers did not cover the repair. Reported from under 3,000 miles up to about 29,000 miles, generally within the first couple of years.
What to check: Inspect the hood leading edge, front bumper and door edges closely for chips or lifting paint and ask about any paint or warranty work done.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I am experiencing substantial chipping of the paint on my 2018 Mazda CX-5. I have only had the car just under 3 months and under 7000 miles driven. It appears as though the paint is not bonded with the metal underneath the paint. Or that the layers of paint are not bonded. I have heard of many others experiencing same or very issues with the soul crystal red paint Mazda is using. It needs to be classified as faulty paint and handled by Mazda accordingly.”
NHTSA complaint #11343828, filed 2020-08, 5,500 miles“The car color is soul red and the paint is flaking off. I drive the car short distances under 40mph and it looks like the paint is chipping more and more. It's almost like big rocks are hitting the paint but there is no debris where I drive.”
NHTSA complaint #11406034, filed 2021-04, 19,000 miles - Engine
Rattling and oil seepage at the belt tensioner
- 16 complaints (5%)
- median 1,500 mi at 0.8 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2018–2026
Complaints describe rattling from the engine bay and oil leaking from the hydraulic drive belt auto tensioner, with concern that the belt could come off and leave the car stranded. Owners say the dealer declined warranty coverage for the repair. Reported between about 40,000 and 45,000 miles.
What to check: Listen for a rattle from the accessory belt area at idle and look for oil residue around the tensioner; a service bulletin describes this symptom and the repair.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Engine makes loud noises after driving and acts like it's exhausted. This always happens when park the car and get out of it. There is a slight burning smell (which I was told would wear off after the first couple hundred miles), but it's still doing this. It's like the engine over heated (which no indicator) and it needs to cool off. The smell is the most concerning part.”
NHTSA complaint #11085069, filed 2018-04, 1,200 miles“1509 miles on my new Mazda cx 5 purchased at marin Mazda in san rafael ca. On may 22, 2018 this vehicle keeps having some kind of what feels like a wheel resistance issue. Not sure if it is something happening in the drive train or transmission. Also not sure if it has anything to do with the way the vehicle starts everyday - this car over revs itself when started first thing ticking very loudly, rattling , pinging all kinds of different noises. …”
NHTSA complaint #11166772, filed 2019-01, 1,500 miles
Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on oil leaks at the rear of the engine and around the belt tensioner, and confirm the fuel pump recall work was completed. Service history showing cylinder head attention or a current oil-level check is worth asking about given how often owners mention these.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 352 consumer complaints for the 2018 Mazda CX-5. 83 of the complaints include a mileage, and 78% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 14,700 miles. Of all complaints, 19 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 634 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 10 Mazda CX-5 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 77 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine180 51%
- Other or unknown59 17%
- Fuel system39 11%
- Brakes33 9.4%
- Electrical system29 8.2%
- Forward collision avoidance13 3.7%
- Vehicle speed control13 3.7%
- Body and structure12 3.4%
- Air bags9 2.6%
Also reported: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (6), Exterior lighting (5), Lane departure (5), Back-over prevention (rear camera) (4), Suspension (4), Engine cooling (3), Equipment (3), Seat belts (3), Steering (3), Electronic stability control (2), Wheels (2), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Seats (1), Tires (1).
Example complaints
Engine: “Situation: driving uphill on hwy 120 on new priest road, big oak flat, ca, two lane mountain road. Slow car in front of me and a delivery truck tailgating. Slow car eventually moves aside in a turnout and I accelerate to open up space between myself and what I thought would be the truck but somehow the slow car returned to the driving lane ahead of the truck. …”
NHTSA complaint #11416469, filed 2021-05, 38,650 milesOther or unknown: “I was entering the parking garage of my apartment building. The car was not moving as I had my foot on the brake as I was waiting for the garage door to open. The car just suddenly accelerated before the garage door was fully up. My car went straight ahead and hit a parked vehicle. The airbags did deploy. The parked car had both front and back end damage. There was also damage to the garage door. The police were called. Photos do not include the parked vehicle damage to protect the person's identity.”
NHTSA complaint #11267323, filed 2019-10, 8,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “The vehicle wants to keep going when the brakes are applied. When at a stop light, you must keep you foot firmly on the brake as the car wants to lurch forward. When you slow down while driving, the car acts like the turbo is kicking in and wants to lurch forward. Very dangerous. I thought it was the engine, but someone told me it is the transmission.”
NHTSA complaint #11130477, filed 2018-09, 3,250 milesFuel system: “2018 Mazda CX-5 when I check the oil it is extremely over full and strong odor of gas when the dipstick is pulled out to be wiped off. It is like 4 inches above the max mark/ oil is very thin. This is an excessive amounts of gas in there.I warm up my car before leaving and drive it regularly everyday. This is very bad I read that gas is not a lubricant and washes the oil out of where it needs to be lubricating engine. It continues to happen. Checked manual to make sure I am checking it correctly. Says to get to operating temp. Wait 5 min to let oil settle back into engine then check it. …”
NHTSA complaint #11166784, filed 2019-01, 5,100 milesMileage when problems were reported
78% of the 83 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 3,000 and 40,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2018 Mazda CX-5. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CX-5 · SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 5 / 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 16.9% risk |
| CX-5 · SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | 5 / 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 17.4% risk |
| CX-5 · SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | 5 / 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 17.4% risk |
| CX-5 · SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | 5 / 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 16.9% risk |
Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2018 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning not available, automatic emergency braking not available.
Neighbouring years: 2017: 4 stars overall; 2019: 5 stars overall. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2018 Mazda CX-5 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CX-5 2WD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 25 | 31 | 28 | $2,400 |
| CX-5 4WD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 24 | 30 | 26 | $2,600 |
| CX-5 2WD | 2.2L 4-cyl · diesel | 6-speed automatic | 28 | 31 | 29 | $3,300 |
| CX-5 4WD | 2.2L 4-cyl · diesel | 6-speed automatic | 27 | 30 | 28 | $3,400 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 21V875000Nov 12, 2021Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pumpCovers: Mazda CX-5 2018–2019, CX-9 2018–2019, MX-5 2018–2019 +4 more
Mazda 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…
- 19V497000Jun 27, 2019EngineCovers: Mazda CX-5 2018–2019, MAZDA6 2018–2019, MAZDA3 2019
Mazda 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.
- 18V426000Jun 25, 2018Air bags › Side/windowCovers: Mazda CX-5 2018
Mazda 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…
Recall details for the 2018 Mazda CX-5 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 634 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11037899Sep 11, 2026Electrical system. DESCRIPTION If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal MGSS diagnosis by asking if…
- 11036688Aug 10, 2026Engine. This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. 01-012/22 10/06/22 DESCRIPTION Some vehicles may exhibit accumulation of dried coolant (1)…
- 11034447Jun 19, 2026Electrical system, Engine. This SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. SA-061/25 12/17/25 DESCRIPTION If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine…
- 11032003May 1, 2026Transmission and drivetrain. This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. 01-008/23 06/05/23 Some vehicles may exhibit rattling noises from the engine compartment and…
- 11032104Apr 30, 2026Body and structure, Other or unknown. DESCRIPTION Some vehicles may require the replacement of a damaged VIN plate or vehicle certification label. To obtain a replacement VIN plate (bulkhead-mounted and visible through the lower-left…
- 11032103Apr 21, 2026Engine, Brakes, Other or unknown, Transmission and…. This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are noted in Red. SA-011/24 02/12/24, 06/06/24, 07/29/24 DESCRIPTION Mazda has developed factory recommended…
- 11032101Apr 16, 2026Engine. This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued M-Tip(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. MT-002/19 09/30/19 and 12/19/19 DESCRIPTION If an engine assembly is replaced after a…
- 11032019Apr 11, 2026Fuel system. This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued M-Tip(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. MT-003/22 03/02/22 DESCRIPTION Some customers may complain about a tapping or knocking…
- 11032100Apr 4, 2026Body and structure, Electrical system. This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SAs and bulletin(s) listed below: The changes are noted below in red. SA-010/23 02/09/23 DESCRIPTION Some customers may experience one or more…
- 11030636Mar 11, 2026Engine. This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA(s) and TSB(s) listed below: The changes are noted in Red. SA-035/24 05/31/24 DESCRIPTION There is a concern that some water pumps are being…
Other model years of the Mazda CX-5
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 17 | 615 | 0 | — | 26 | — | Too new |
| 2025 | 29 | 3,518 | 0 | 5 | 25 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2024 | 46 | 20,828 | 0 | 5 | 25 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 67 | 10,064 | 0 | 5 | 26 | 22 · Fewer | Too new |
| 2022 | 65 | 20,482 | 0 | 5 | 26 | 12 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2021 | 148 | 26,450 | 0 | 5 | 28 | 50 · Typical | Stable |
| 2020 | 108 | 3,200 | 0 | 5 | 28 | 30 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2019 | 272 | 17,000 | 2 | 5 | 28 | 57 · Typical | Rising |
| 2018 | 352 | 14,700 | 3 | 4–5 | 28 | 77 · More | Rising |
| 2017 | 150 | 19,000 | 1 | 4 | 27 | 26 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2016 | 511 | 30,939 | 4 | 4 | 29 | 100 · More | Falling |
| 2015 | 133 | 27,000 | 3 | 5 | 28 | 60 · Typical | Falling |
| 2014 | 377 | 42,200 | 3 | 5 | 28 | 78 · More | Falling |
| 2013 | 194 | 39,000 | 1 | 4 | 29 | 34 · Fewer | Falling |
All Mazda CX-5 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Mazda CX-5?
Owners of the 2018 CX-5 most often report engine-related symptoms: oil leaks traced to a cracked or porous cylinder head, often with white smoke and a burning smell, plus occasional coolant and thermostat concerns. The issues reported most often: Oil leak and smoke from a cracked cylinder head; Hesitation, loss of power or stalling from the fuel pump; Smart City Brake Support braking when the driver doesn't.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2018 Mazda CX-5 have?
NHTSA recorded 352 consumer complaints for the 2018 Mazda CX-5 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2018 Mazda CX-5 is reported most often?
Engine is named most often, in 180 complaints (51% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 59.
Has the 2018 Mazda CX-5 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How did the 2018 Mazda CX-5 do in NHTSA crash tests?
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2018 Mazda CX-5 4–5 out of 5 stars overall, across 4 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Mazda CX-5 get?
The EPA rates the 2018 Mazda CX-5 (CX-5 2WD, 2.5L 4-cyl) at 28 mpg combined, 25 city and 31 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,400 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2018 Mazda CX-5 reported?
Among the 83 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 14,700 miles and the middle half falls between 3,000 and 40,000 miles; 78% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.