Owners have reported 7 crashes, 2 fires and 5 injuries to NHTSA for the 2019 Mazda CX-5. These are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defect rates.
Owner complaints78
ENGINE
Owners of the 2019 Mazda CX-5 frequently report issues with cracked cylinder heads, often leading to significant oil leaks and engine overheating. Typical symptoms include oil smells, smoke entering the cabin, and visible oil leaks, with many complaints arising shortly after the warranty period, around 30,000 to 62,000 miles. The cracked cylinder head can pose a fire hazard, as oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, and in one case, this has led to a fire. Buyers should be aware of these issues, especially as they can result in costly repairs and safety risks.
Severity signals: 0 crash, 1 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints38
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Owners report frequent issues with the 2019 Mazda CX-5's infotainment system, particularly "ghost touch" malfunctions where the touchscreen registers unintended inputs. This leads to actions such as making random phone calls, changing radio stations, and altering settings without driver interaction, posing significant distractions while driving. Complaints also mention the infotainment screen freezing or rebooting unexpectedly, and some owners experience these issues shortly after the vehicle's warranty expires. Safety implications are noted, with one report of a crash attributed to this distraction and another of an electrical fire originating from the passenger door speaker components. Buyers considering this model should be aware of these recurring infotainment issues and the potential safety risks they may present.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 1 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints25
POWER TRAIN
Owners report that the 2019 Mazda CX-5 frequently experiences issues with cracked cylinder heads, leading to significant oil leaks. Complaints often mention symptoms such as burning smells, visible smoke from the engine, and oil dripping from the vehicle, typically emerging around 25,000 to 60,000 miles. There are also reports of transmission failures, with some vehicles stalling or losing power while driving. Safety implications include two reported crashes, one involving an injury due to the vehicle rolling backward on an incline. Potential buyers should be aware of these patterns, especially considering the lack of warning indicators before failures occur.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 0 fire, 2 injury reports
Owner complaints6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Owners report several issues with the vehicle speed control in the 2019 Mazda CX-5. A common problem involves unexpected deceleration, often occurring when attempting to accelerate quickly, such as merging into traffic or when using cruise control around curves. Some owners experience a sudden loss of speed to as low as 20 mph, with at least one case linked to a possible coolant leak. Another issue includes unexpected acceleration from a stop, requiring the driver to apply the brakes multiple times to regain control. These problems are reported across various mileage ranges, with some incidents occurring as early as 1,800 miles. Safety implications include sudden braking or acceleration that could lead to potential collisions, particularly in traffic or on highways.
Owner complaints5
AIR BAGS
Owners of the 2019 Mazda CX-5 frequently report issues with the air bag warning light, which either illuminates or blinks without apparent cause. Complaints often describe these symptoms occurring around 38,000 miles, with some owners experiencing unresolved issues despite dealer visits. One report includes a crash where the airbag failed to deploy during an incident of unintended acceleration, raising potential safety concerns. Another complaint mentions a persistent "Passenger Air Bag is not active" warning, initially resolved under warranty but recurring after the warranty period expired. These patterns suggest that prospective buyers should be aware of potential airbag system malfunctions and the associated safety implications.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints5
FUEL SYSTEM
Owners of the 2019 Mazda CX-5 frequently report issues related to a recall on the fuel system, specifically citing the unavailability of necessary parts for the repair. Complaints consistently mention that despite receiving recall notifications, parts are not available, and the repair process is delayed. One owner reports a stalling issue at approximately 5,000 miles, which resolved after restarting the vehicle, raising potential safety concerns if the stalling occurs in traffic. No other symptoms or failures are commonly described, and there are no reports of crashes or fires associated with this issue. Prospective buyers should be aware of potential delays in recall repairs and the possibility of stalling without warning.
Owner complaints4
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Owners report that the 2019 Mazda CX-5's forward collision avoidance system can engage unexpectedly, causing hard braking even when there is sufficient space to avoid a collision. Symptoms include rapid deceleration from speeds as high as 65 mph, sometimes without any vehicles or obstacles in the vicinity. Complaints frequently mention this issue occurring both while in cruise control and during lane changes. The incidents often occur at highway speeds, with one report noting the car has been driven for 12,200 miles. These unexpected braking events pose significant safety risks, such as potential rear-end collisions, and have been described as almost causing accidents. Multiple owners indicate that the system's aggressiveness is problematic, and the option to disable it is limited to a single drive cycle.
Owner complaints3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Owners of the 2019 Mazda CX-5 report issues with cracked cylinder heads leading to oil leaks, with symptoms including smoke, burning odors, and oil stains on driveways. These problems are typically noted at mileages ranging from approximately 26,000 to 89,000 miles. Complaints frequently mention the absence of warning lights, though one owner noted a check engine light. While no crashes or fires are reported, the presence of smoke and burning odors may indicate potential safety risks. Prospective buyers should be aware of these engine issues and consider verifying any related repairs or service alerts.
Owner complaints3
STEERING
Owners of the 2019 Mazda CX-5 report several steering-related issues, often accompanied by other system malfunctions. Common symptoms include a violent jerking of the steering wheel, especially at extreme angles, and a sensation of the car being pulled left and right, akin to wind interference, even in calm conditions. These issues are sometimes linked to electronic sensor failures and are reported to occur without warning lights. One incident describes a severe loss of control during hydroplaning, resulting in the vehicle spinning across multiple lanes. These complaints highlight potential safety risks, including unexpected vehicle behavior and loss of steering control, often occurring after battery-related events or during adverse weather conditions.
Owner complaints2
SERVICE BRAKES
Owners of the 2019 Mazda CX-5 report issues with the vehicle's braking system, specifically related to malfunctions in the Smart Brake System. Symptoms include unexpected deceleration, shaking, and dashboard warnings indicating multiple brake-related malfunctions. One owner describes an incident where the vehicle slowed and shook without braking input, while another reports a crash due to unexpected acceleration despite brake application. These issues are reported soon after purchase, with one occurring less than 16 hours after acquiring the vehicle, suggesting potential early-life reliability concerns. The presence of a crash highlights significant safety implications, particularly in high-traffic situations.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
