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Engine coolingPart report

2018 Mazda CX-5 Engine cooling Problems

Complaints
3about this part
Share
1%of 352 total for the year
Median mileage
100,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2018 Mazda CX-5, 1% of the 352 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 100,000 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“The contact owns a 2018 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle he could smell a burning odor, and added that he noticed a puddle of oil on his driveway. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed to have a cylinder crack causing the cylinder to leak oil all over the engine. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 104,000.”

NHTSA complaint #11742070, filed 2026-06, 104,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2018 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was smoke coming from under the hood. No warning light was illuminated. The contact's wife pulled over and discovered that there was oil leaking onto the ground. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that the #5 and #7 cylinder heads were cracked and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.”

NHTSA complaint #11752421, filed 2026-07, 100,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2018 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, there was smoke coming from the engine, and the contact smelled an oil-burning odor. No warning lights were illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the cylinder head was damaged, causing oil to leak into the cylinders, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and promised to open a case and give the contact a callback within 24 to 48 hours. The approximate failure mileage was 59,000.”

NHTSA complaint #11694487, filed 2025-10, 59,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine cooling: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202323%
202121%
202011%
201941%
201831%
201711%
201610%
201511%
201311%

Other parts of the 2018 Mazda CX-5

Engine
180 complaintsOther or unknown
59 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
42 complaintsFuel system
39 complaintsBrakes
33 complaintsElectrical system
29 complaintsForward collision avoidance
13 complaintsVehicle speed control
13 complaintsBody and structure
12 complaintsAir bags
9 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
6 complaintsExterior lighting
5 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2018 Mazda CX-5

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.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology