2020 Mazda CX-5 Problems
Compared with other Mazda CX-5 years
Fewer complaints than typical for this model
30/100 0.6× a typical year · 50 = typical
- Complaint rate is 0.6× 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.
- 30 of its 108 complaints were filed by the end of 2022.
- Most reported problem: Infotainment screen "ghost touch" and random reboots (26 complaints).
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
- 108filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 3,200miles, 23 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns 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
- 5 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
- EPA fuel economy
- 28 mpgcombined, 2.5L 4-cyl FWD · 25 city / 31 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2020 Mazda CX-5 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of the 2020 Mazda CX-5 most often report infotainment screen "ghost touch" behavior, where the display makes selections and changes settings without input, along with battery drain and no-start conditions on low-mileage vehicles. A smaller group describes unexpected automatic emergency braking or sudden acceleration, and some report engine oil leaks traced to the cylinder head. Many complaints are filed within the first few thousand miles, while transmission complaints tend to appear at much higher mileage.
- Electrical system
Infotainment screen "ghost touch" and random reboots
- 26 complaints (24%)
- typically at 4.7 yrs old
- owner-quoted repair $800 (median of 7 quotes)
- filed 2023–2026
The Mazda Connect touchscreen registers inputs nobody made: it jumps between menus, changes volume to maximum, places calls, ends navigation, and turns off safety settings. Some say it happens mostly when parked or in warm weather and others say it occurs while driving, and a few describe the screen rebooting on its own. Owners report that dealers updated software, reset the system, or replaced the screen, and in several cases the behavior returned afterward. Reported from the first year or two of ownership onward, at a wide range of mileages, with some owners noting it is worse in warm weather or direct sunlight.
What to check: Spend time with the screen on during a test drive, including after the car has sat in the sun, and confirm navigation, audio and phone functions respond only to input. Ask whether the screen or its software has already been replaced or updated.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“My infotainment display has a prevalent ghost touch issue that causes majors distractions while I'm driving, and no warnings on when it'll happen. The ghost touch will end my navigation, end my calls or put them on hold, call random people in my contacts, turns on/off the music, changes the volume, changes various settings (sometimes safety settings), switching back/forth to different things, etc. …”
NHTSA complaint #11638986, filed 2025-01“I own a 2020 Mazda CX-5 equipped with the Mazda Connect infotainment system. The touchscreen display malfunctions regularly by randomly selecting menu items, jumping between screens, zooming in and out, and activating functions without any input from me. These “phantom touch” events occur even when the vehicle is in Drive, which means the touchscreen should be disabled — yet the system behaves as if it’s receiving constant false touch input. …”
NHTSA complaint #11676624, filed 2025-07 - Forward collision avoidance
Unexpected automatic emergency braking
- 15 complaints (14%)
- median 288 mi at 1.0 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2020–2026
Owners describe the Smart City Brake Support system applying the brakes hard when nothing is in front of the car, including over railroad tracks, in an empty lane, or when a car ahead has already turned. Several say the sudden stop came at 30-35 mph and startled following drivers. Others report a "Smart Brake Failure" warning in snow when the front camera is obstructed, and some say the vehicle then braked or accelerated unpredictably until restarted. Reported across a wide range of mileages, from a few hundred miles to tens of thousands, and in some cases during snowfall or when the front camera was blocked.
What to check: Ask whether the forward camera and radar systems have had any software updates, and check that the windshield area in front of the camera is clean and undamaged. Note that the system can be switched off, but owners describe the warnings returning.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Driving in the city in the right hand turn lane. This lane passes 2 places for a right hand turn. The car in front made a right hand turn. Their turn was almost complete when the car made a sudden hard brake. No other car was in front of me. My foot was not on the brake. The car behind almost slammed in the back of me.”
NHTSA complaint #11325432, filed 2020-05, 165 miles“Sudden braking caused by automatic braking system. On sept 1, 2020, I was driving down a neighborhood street, going about 30 MPH, and a car in front of me was turning. I was in no danger of hitting the car in front of me; however, my 2020 Mazda CX-5 suddenly braked and made a loud noise. Granted, this car was new to me and I hadn't experienced this before, but I was completely surprised given an accident was not imminent. This sudden braking caused my head to swing forward and back resulting in neck, shoulder, and back pain. …”
NHTSA complaint #11353304, filed 2020-09, 150 miles - Engine
Oil leak traced to the cylinder head
- 8 complaints (7%)
- median 9,000 mi at 1.4 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
- filed 2021–2026
Owners report smelling burning oil, seeing smoke, or finding oil around the engine, with diagnosis pointing to a crack in the cylinder head near the exhaust manifold. In some cases the repair was quoted at several thousand dollars, and one owner said parts were on backorder. Some also describe the oil level dropping between changes and the oil light coming on earlier than the scheduled interval. Reported from roughly 9,000 miles into the 30,000-40,000 mile range, with several owners noting the vehicle was otherwise on schedule for maintenance.
What to check: Check the oil level and look for oil residue or burning smells around the exhaust side of the engine, and ask for service records showing oil changes and any cylinder head or gasket work.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I have been warned by other drivers at night that my tail lights were out. My clock and radio both are malfunctioning. I just took the car for the yearly inspection and there is a major oil leak from a gasket. The car only has 16,000 miles on it!”
NHTSA complaint #11399640, filed 2021-03“I noticed an oil leak. I had it diagnosed and its a crack in the cylinder head, right above the exhaust manifold. This is known issue for Mazda's online. There is oil spilling everywhere. The oil burns off as it is driving. Smoke fills my car.”
NHTSA complaint #11677045, filed 2025-07 - Electrical system
Battery drain and no-start, sometimes with electrical
- 6 complaints (6%)
- median 1,670 mi at 1.0 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2020–2025
Owners describe a dead battery after the vehicle sat parked, sometimes within days of purchase, requiring a jump start or a tow. Several report repeated battery replacements over a short period, and some say the dealer could not duplicate the failure or retrieve a fault code. A few connect the same electrical behavior to dashboard lights flickering or the car not shutting off properly when the start/stop button was pressed. Mostly reported on vehicles with very low mileage, often within the first few thousand miles and sometimes within days of purchase.
What to check: Ask whether the battery has been replaced and whether the vehicle has sat unused for long periods. A service bulletin directs technicians to ask about aftermarket devices before diagnosing electrical complaints, so mention any dash cams or accessories installed.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“My 2020 Mazda CX-5 was 2 days old and the battery was completely drained and had to be towed to the dealer. I picked it up and they did nothing to the battery. They told me nothing was wrong and they replaced the key fob battery. Two more days after that I parked it in my garage and pushed the button to turn it off. Apparently it did not turn off and come morning, I had significant carbon monoxide poisoning and was hospitalized for 4 nights. …”
NHTSA complaint #11373760, filed 2020-11, 35 miles“Dashboard lights have gone off then back on while driving on the highway & local roads several times. Also concerned as to what else this issue affects & not sure if daylight running lights are on or off at this time or other electrical elements. Not sure the cause of this possible short in the system in addition to a battery replacement (orig. Battery & then 2 others since 7/4/20)”
NHTSA complaint #11372988, filed 2020-11, 2,900 miles
Buying note. Check the infotainment screen carefully in warm conditions and confirm whether it has been updated or replaced, and ask about battery replacement history on low-mileage examples. Have a pre-purchase inspection look for oil residue around the cylinder head and drive the car through the 20-40 mph range to check for transmission shudder.
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 108 consumer complaints for the 2020 Mazda CX-5. 23 of the complaints include a mileage, and 87% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 3,200 miles. Of all complaints, 10 involved a crash, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 448 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 30 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer 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.
- Electrical system31 29%
- Other or unknown25 23%
- Engine17 16%
- Brakes15 14%
- Body and structure6 5.6%
- Vehicle speed control6 5.6%
- Air bags5 4.6%
Also reported: Exterior lighting (4), Fuel system (4), Lane departure (4), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (4), Wheels (2), Engine cooling (1), Equipment (1), Seat belts (1), Seats (1), Steering (1).
Example complaints
Electrical system: “Purchased brand new 2020 Mazda CX-5 on sept 25, 2020. On sept. 29, 2020 with < 500mi: while traveling approximately 45 MPH on county road, pressed brake pedal and the pedal did not move. Several malfunction lights flashed including power steering malfunction , smart city brake support malfunction . Repeatedly slammed on the brake pedal and it did not move at all. Tried to swerve to avoid a vehicle but the steering was unresponsive. Impacted a vehicle at a red light. …”
NHTSA complaint #11366933, filed 2020-10, 412 milesOther or unknown: “My 2020 Mazda CX-5 sunroof glass suddenly exploded for no known reason as I was driving 45 MPH on highway 97 in oregon. The sunroof was closed and it just suddenly burst. All the glass broke and there was a hole where it blew out. It was a sunny day. The temperature was about 55 degrees.”
NHTSA complaint #11406101, filed 2021-04, 4,412 milesEngine: “Low oil light came on at 52,764 miles, 300 miles before the next oil change on the manufacturer-recommended 7500 mile schedule. I've switched to a 5000 mile oil change schedule and will be monitoring oil level going forward for excessive oil consumption. I have always done oil changes every 7500 miles and have followed all other maintenance prescribed in the manual.”
NHTSA complaint #11619876, filed 2024-10Brakes: “Bought a Mazda cx5 june 2020 and it was involve in a accident sept 17th 2020 do to brake failure. My mother was driving the vehicle and attempted parking in a apartment complex when the vehicle failed to stop and collided with the facility 20ft in front of the parking space. At the incident, I the owner, found 3 damage rotors were the flaw came from heavy grinding at the caliber (see attach photos). Within the caliber's alloy you can also see the chipped alloy produced from a flaw & the alignment of where it grinds the rotor (see attached photos). …”
NHTSA complaint #11360368, filed 2020-09, 3,200 milesMileage when problems were reported
87% of the 23 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 700 and 9,000 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 2020 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 |
Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2020 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking standard.
Neighbouring years: 2019: same overall rating; 2021: same overall rating. 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 2020 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 4WD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 22 | 27 | 24 | $2,800 |
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
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2020 Mazda CX-5 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by 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. 448 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…
- 11034439Jun 17, 2026Electrical system. This SA supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted below in Red. SA-027/26 04/16/26 DESCRIPTION The Mazda DCA-8000 is required for all warranty battery testing…
- 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…
- 11032102Apr 15, 2026Electrical system. This SA supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted below in Red. SA-007/25 10/22/25, 06/02/25 and 02/03/25 DESCRIPTION The Mazda DCA-8000 is required for all…
- 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…
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 2020 Mazda CX-5?
Owners of the 2020 Mazda CX-5 most often report infotainment screen "ghost touch" behavior, where the display makes selections and changes settings without input, along with battery drain and no-start conditions on low-mileage vehicles. The issues reported most often: Infotainment screen "ghost touch" and random reboots; Unexpected automatic emergency braking; Oil leak traced to the cylinder head.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2020 Mazda CX-5 have?
NHTSA recorded 108 consumer complaints for the 2020 Mazda CX-5 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2020 Mazda CX-5 is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 31 complaints (29% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 25.
Has the 2020 Mazda CX-5 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How did the 2020 Mazda CX-5 do in NHTSA crash tests?
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2020 Mazda CX-5 5 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 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 2020 Mazda CX-5 get?
The EPA rates the 2020 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 2020 Mazda CX-5 reported?
Among the 23 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 3,200 miles and the middle half falls between 700 and 9,000 miles; 87% 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.