2019 Mazda CX-5 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2019 CX-5 most often report engine oil leaks described as coming from a cracked cylinder head, usually noticed as a burning smell, visible smoke, or oil spots rather than a warning light. A second recurring theme is the infotainment screen operating on its own, reported across a wide mileage range. Many complaints arrive at low mileage, and a large share concern non-turbo vehicles that owners say fall outside the turbo-only warranty extension.

1. 1
   Engine

   Cracked cylinder head oil leak (non-turbo 2.5L)

   • 115 complaints (42%)
   • median 62,250 mi at 5.1 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $5,600 (median of 35 quotes)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Complaints describe oil leaking from the rear of the cylinder head, often first noticed as a burning smell, smoke from under the hood, or oil on the driveway. Several owners report no warning light, or only a brief low-oil message. According to complaints, dealers and independent shops diagnosed a cracked or porous cylinder head and quoted replacement, with some owners saying Mazda covered only part of the cost or declined assistance on non-turbo vehicles while citing an extended warranty program for turbo models. Reported from roughly 17,000 to 130,000 miles, with many appearing between about 25,000 and 50,000 miles.

   Recall 19V4970002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the cylinder head has been inspected or replaced and request service records for oil leaks. On a test drive, check for a burning oil smell after the engine is warm and look for fresh oil residue near the rear of the engine and on the exhaust shielding.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Brought it in nov 2020 regarding smells and engine issues as well as alignment. Neither were taken care of. Then march 2021,engine was leaking fluid and smoking, and the engine needed to be replaced at 20k. Did not provide a rental until later that week. After a month, I got my car back. After leaving the engine continued to smoke, brought it back. Gave no rental. Dealer said it was left over fluid from when they replaced it. Car is still having issues with the engine and smells. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11415095, filed 2021-05, 17,000 miles

   “My 2019 Mazda CX-5 has 61,500 miles on it and has a cracked cylinder head and has a massive oil leak. I took it to the dealer and they are aware of this issue but told me Mazda hasn't so far made a recall. No warning lights went off and i lost 1 quart of oil over a 30 mile drive. Upon Acceleration the engine could seize and could cause a crash. A fire is also not out of the question as the parts in the engine area are hot and oil can catch fire. Mazda declined to pay for the total cost of the repair but did partially pay for some of it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11519310, filed 2023-04, 61,500 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Infotainment screen responds on its own (ghost touch)

   • 65 complaints (24%)
   • median 30,000 mi at 2.9 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $550 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe the Mazda Connect screen registering touches nobody made, changing settings, changing radio stations, placing calls, adjusting following distance, and in some cases affecting driver-assist settings. Complaints also mention the screen going blank or restarting, and the display surface peeling. According to complaints, dealers sometimes updated software, sometimes replaced parts without resolving it, and some owners were told it was a known condition; other owners report being charged a diagnostic fee or declined a warranty repair. Reported from a few hundred miles up to about 45,000 miles, without a clear mileage pattern.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the car running, leave the screen on and watch whether menus, calls, or settings change without input. Ask whether the display or touch panel has been replaced and whether any software update was applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My Mazda connect touch screen operates by itself (ghost touch) while driving down the road. My safety is at risk trying to press button to get it turned off, while driving down the road. It is a huge distraction. The volume speakers at the high level and continues to beep and yell your audio will be at this volume level (the loudest). It is not listed as a recall foe this make and model, but should be. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11587208, filed 2024-05

   “Significant safety issue--the entire dash and middle screen goes black, all music stops playing, the apple care play doesn't work, attached iphone sometimes goes blank. Must pull over and restart the vehicle. Previously at Mazda of orem (utah) for recall and this same issue. Returned today--9/1 8/19, dealer no idea why screens shutting off. Happens without notice of provocation. Significant safety issue,”

   NHTSA complaint #11256392, filed 2019-09, 4,500 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Sudden loss of power or unintended acceleration

   • 56 complaints (21%)
   • median 5,000 mi at 2.3 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $5,500 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe the vehicle accelerating from a stop without pressing the pedal, continuing to accelerate after the foot is lifted, or losing power and slowing sharply at speed. Some owners report the engine revving, hesitating, or shutting off, and a few describe radar cruise control slowing the car unexpectedly in turns. According to complaints, dealers were often unable to duplicate the concern and no fault codes were stored. Mostly reported under about 5,000 miles, and a few between 17,000 and 35,000 miles.

   Recall 19V4970003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the powertrain control module software recall work was completed. During a test drive, pay attention to low-speed creeping behavior and to how the car responds when you lift off the accelerator.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving on the freeway about 65 miles per hour and the the car started to run rough and the dash lights went out. It felt like it wanted to stall so I kept my foot on the gas and brake and exited the freeway and drove the side streets home. The problem did not happen again so far.”

   NHTSA complaint #11307591, filed 2020-02, 845 miles

   “Car accelerates by it self from standing stop.pulling out of parking stall shifting to drive car accelerates till I press brake twice. Then after slowly driving over speed bump car accelerated up to 25 to 30 MPH till I pressed brake twice . Car new has 1800 miles”

   NHTSA complaint #11229960, filed 2019-07, 1,800 miles

Buying note. Have any 2019 CX-5 inspected for oil residue around the rear of the cylinder head and confirm whether recall 21V875000 fuel pump work and the PCM software recall were completed. Because many complaints involve concerns dealers could not reproduce, a thorough test drive in stop-and-go traffic plus a screen check is worthwhile.

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.