Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 148 safety complaints
about the 2017 Mazda CX-5 with the US government. Of those, 5 describe a crash, 3 people were injured and no death is recorded. One recall campaign is open against it, covering the trailer hitch.
The most complained-about system is the electrical system,
named in 44 complaints, 30% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 19,000 miles,
the median across the 55
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers June 2017 to June 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
148 complaints on file
148
Complaints
5
Describe a crash
0
Mention fire
3
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
Complaints rose 36% year on year: 19 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 14 in the twelve before.
A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free.
Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can
answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a
model year.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 44 · 30%
44 30%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 35 · 24%
35 24%
ENGINE 15 · 10%
15 10%
SERVICE BRAKES 14 · 9%
14 9%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 13 · 9%
13 9%
STRUCTURE 12 · 8%
12 8%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 12 · 8%
12 8%
POWER TRAIN 11 · 7%
11 7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 6 · 4%
6 4%
LANE DEPARTURE 5 · 3%
5 3%
AIR BAGS 4 · 3%
4 3%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 4 · 3%
4 3%
01938
Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 148.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2023 at 23.
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2017 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what
happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2017 Mazda CX-5, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
SUV AWD
SUV FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover
16.9%
17.4%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard
A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed.
A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.
Recall campaigns
1 on file
TRAILER HITCHES
17V744000 · November 21, 2017
The defect
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2017 CX-5 vehicles equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness. This harness may be routed such that there is insufficient clearance between the harness and the exhaust muffler, allowing the wiring harness to contact the muffler.
The risk
Contact with the muffler may damage the trailer wiring harness, potentially resulting in the trailer lighting being inoperative, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the trailer hitch harness away from the muffler, replacing the harness if it is damaged, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1617K.
Mazda North American Operations · up to 1,076 vehicles across all model years covered
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
AIR BAGS
1 injured · crash
Blind spot monitoring system warning appears on dashboard of vehicle after driving for about 50-60 miles. This occurs only when I drive >50-60 miles in one trip without shutting off my vehicle. Speed does not matter. My sensors will not work until I turn off my car and turn it back on. This started as soon as I purchased my vehicle in July 2020. 1 previous owner (lease) before I purchased the vehicle. No prior accidents. Got the vehicle at ~30,000 miles. In January 2021, I drifted off the freeway and hit a tree going 35 mph during a snow storm. It was only myself (driver) and a passenger in the front seat at the time of the incident. Both were wearing seatbelts. The seat belts locked up, …
NHTSA complaint 11462935, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STRUCTURE:BODY
1 injured · 10,000 miles
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, MY SUNROOF COMPLETELY SHATTERED WITHOUT BEING HIT OR TOUCHED BY ANYTHING. IT WAS COMPLETELY SPONTANEOUS WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE, WHICH MAKES ME FEEL LIKE THE GLASS WAS FAULTY. THE SHADE TO THE SUNROOF WAS OPEN, SO GLASS FELL ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE CAR, ON THE FRONT SEATS, CANTER CONSOLE, AND THE SECOND ROW - AS WELL AS ALL OVER ME WHILE DRIVING. WHEN IT SHATTERED IT MADE A LOUD POPPING NOISE, COMPLETELY SCARING ME WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY THERE WEREN'T ANY CARS CLOSE TO ME TO CAUSE ANY DAMAGE TO. I DID CUT MY FINGER OPEN WHILE CLEANING GLASS OFF OF ME. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY INTO A PARKING LOT TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE AND TAKE …
NHTSA complaint 11098971, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SEATS
1 injured · 14,781 miles
DRIVERS SEAT FEELS LIKE SPRINGS OR COILS PUSHING ON MY TAIL BONE AND LUMPS THAT HURT THIGH PART OF LEG. FEELS LIKE SOMETHING COULD BE LOOSE AS THE LUMPS GO FROM TAIL BONE, WHOLE BOTTOM LIKE A BAR ACROSS SEAT TO THIGHS TO JUST TAIL BONE. THIS IS THERE ALL THE TIME FROM JUST GETTING INTO CAR AND GETS WORSE BECAUSE IT REALLY IS PUSHING ON BOTTOM. SEEMS LIKE SEATING COIL OR FRAME COULD BE PROBLEM. I DID RETURN TO DEALER BUT NO ONE THERE COULD FEEL IT. IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NO PICTURES AS NOT VISIBLE HAPPENS ONLY WHEN SEATING ON IT. THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE INJURY TO MY SPINE/BACK. *TR
NHTSA complaint 11328613. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
crash · towed · 3,100 miles
TAKATA RECALL: UNINTENDED ACCELERATION- WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT GOING UNDER 5 MPH, MY GAS PETAL ACCELERATED WITHOUT MY FOOT ON IT, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED ME WAS THE BUSHES I SLAMMED INTO. IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION DUE TO A TREE IN FRONT OF ME I COULD OF SLAMMED INTO AS WELL AS PEOPLE COULD OF BEEN ON THE SIDEWALK WALKING. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER AND I HOPE THIS IS LOOKED INTO FULLY. I JUST GOT THE CAR 3 MONTHS AGO.
NHTSA complaint 11076314. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The radio is uncontrollable by driver. The radio the self dial from Bluetooth. Even if not connected, the radio surprises this driver by playing the radio unexpectedly at the highest rate. Due to the buttons not working, driver cannot turn down the radio causing safety concerns for being scared and distracted. There are no warnings. Mazda is unwilling to assess without pay.
NHTSA complaint 11747415. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
There is a consistent issue with the “ghost touch“ and the electrical system so when you’re going down the road, the musical will change. The music will blast up or down randomly it’ll get stuck and it’s very distracting. It will hang up on people while you’re having a conversation through the car phone. This was a recall for Mazda 2014 through 2016 and they need to extend it because it was still happening with my 2017. This is my first experience with Mazda and it has not been a good one as far as this goes. I do a lot of driving and phone calls and music are very important and stuff randomly changing or getting stuck while you’re driving and then trying to fix it is very dangerous.
NHTSA complaint 11746990. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Infotainment system randomly makes its own selections. Turns volume up and down, changes settings, changes stations... etc. Anything that can be controlled on the screen is at risk of being randomly hijacked. Once, my drivers assist volume was unexpectedly turned to full blast and randomly shouted "navigation assistant will be at this volume. " I jumped so badly I actually could have crashed if I hadn't been at a light.
NHTSA complaint 11741077. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
92,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Mazda CX-5. While driving the vehicle, the engine overheat warning suddenly illuminated on the dashboard cluster panel. The contact pulled over immediately, restarted the engine, and coasted the vehicle to a local, independent mechanic shop. The independent mechanic diagnosed the issue as a blown head gasket. For a secondary inspection, the vehicle was transported to an authorized Mazda dealership. Dealership technicians determined that the engine cylinder was actually cracked and recommended a full engine replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,000.
NHTSA complaint 11739578. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
Last week, the airbag warning light illuminated on my dashboard. Please be aware that this marks the fourth occurrence of this issue. Each time I bring the vehicle to the dealership, they provide a different explanation, and I am required to cover the repair costs. I have been informed that the vehicles were manufactured with a defect, causing the wiring harness to corrode at the junction where the temperature sensor connects to the engine, which measures the coolant temperature. Additionally, on two occasions, I was told that the wire had disconnected from the airbag connector. During my most recent visit to the dealership on 5/21/26, I was informed that an item in my glove compartment had …
NHTSA complaint 11739407, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
My car only has 65k miles on it and the rear differential failed and needs to be replaced. I am seeing this posted online by many Mazda CX-5 owners well under the mileage this typically happenes but out of the warranty period. Mazda should start a recall or compensate owners for this. its never been in an accident simply a commuter car used around town
NHTSA complaint 11724653. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's
lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed November 21, 2017.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by
us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that
sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst