2020 Mazda CX-5 Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 7%of 108 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 96,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2020 Mazda CX-5, 7% of the 108 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 96,000 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.
“Driving about 20 to 35 mph accelerating I would get a distinctive one time chirp noise with a little bit of a stutter It happens every time I go about that speed accelerating. Thankfully my car was under pre-owned warranty but I have to get now. Three transmission flushes I have to pay $400 for and they have to replace a torque converter. I just got the car 10 days ago and only has 61,000 mi on it. Over the long term this could damage the transmission cause more and more issues”
NHTSA complaint #11690627, filed 2025-09“The issue is iron is depositing in the transmission due to a bad torque converter, this is a known issue with mazda and it doesn't seem to be something they are willing to cover and many people are experiencing this especially with the cx5 models. It causes jerking and chirping noise, plus will eventually ruin the transmission and will cause serious safety issues. Just look into the reddit threads”
NHTSA complaint #11690786, filed 2025-10“The contact owns a 2020 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked abnormally while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with transmission failure. The manufacturer was notified by the dealer about the failure, and the manufacturer agreed to partially cover the cost of the repair. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11674985, filed 2025-07, 52,000 miles“Started smelling burning oil in 2020 Mazda CX-5 non turbo with 34,000 miles. Auto shop states it is a cracked cylinder that will cost over $7,000 to repair. A Google search shows it is a known issue but Mazda has not extended the warranty for non-turbo models.”
NHTSA complaint #11718626, filed 2026-02“Low oil level indicator came on at roughly 55,000 miles only about 3000 miles after last oil change. Car was immediately stopped and towed to the nearest Mazda dealer. Dealership confirmed oil level was low. Car appears to me consuming excess oil. Oil consumption test pending.”
NHTSA complaint #11574372, filed 2024-02Related service bulletins
- 11032003May 1, 2026This 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…
- 11032103Apr 21, 2026This 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…
- 11029625Feb 26, 2026Some vehicles may display some (or all) of the following symptoms: • Check engine light on with DTC P061B • Light increase in engine rpms during acceleration • Transmission will…
- 11026354Nov 27, 2025When inspected, the differential or PTO oil is dark or black. This is considered normal and NO repair should be performed. During production, differential ring and pinion gears…
- 11026350Nov 8, 2025Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Diagnostic Guidelines Diagnostic Guidelines When diagnosing NVH concerns, it is essential to first classify the issue into one of three…
- 11026351Nov 6, 2025Some customer's might state that they notice fluid or oil leaking/dripping on the ground when the vehicle is parked. For this concern, inspect the vehicle for any trace of a…
- 11009654Oct 24, 2024The SKYACTIV-DRIVE FW6A-EL AT uses “Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) Type: FZ”. Only use “ATF-FZ” to fill or top off the fluid level. ATF-FZ is specially designed for use in…
- 11009630Oct 22, 2024Some customers may complain of a shift shock when shifting from 2nd to 3rd when the engine is cold. This is caused by improper TCM control logic. To eliminate this concern, the…
- 11009628Oct 3, 2024Some customers may complain of a shift shock when shifting from 2nd to 3rd when the engine is cold. This is caused by improper TCM control logic. To eliminate this concern, the…
- 11007010Aug 7, 2024Some customer's might state that they notice fluid or oil leaking/dripping on the ground when the vehicle is parked. For this concern, inspect the vehicle for any trace of a…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 6% |
| 2025 | 3 | 10% |
| 2024 | 3 | 6% |
| 2023 | 3 | 4% |
| 2022 | 5 | 8% |
| 2021 | 17 | 11% |
| 2020 | 8 | 7% |
| 2019 | 32 | 12% |
| 2018 | 42 | 12% |
| 2017 | 11 | 7% |
| 2016 | 51 | 10% |
| 2015 | 19 | 14% |
| 2014 | 50 | 13% |
| 2013 | 38 | 20% |
Other parts of the 2020 Mazda CX-5
31 complaintsOther or unknown
25 complaintsEngine
17 complaintsBrakes
15 complaintsForward collision avoidance
12 complaintsBody and structure
6 complaintsVehicle speed control
6 complaintsAir bags
5 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
4 complaintsExterior lighting
4 complaintsFuel system
4 complaintsLane departure
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2020 Mazda CX-5
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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