CSR

Mazda · NHTSA safety record

2017 Mazda CX-5

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

148

Complaints

5

Crashes

0

Fires

3

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2017 Mazda CX-5 have filed 148 safety complaints with NHTSA between June 2017 and June 2026. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 44 of them (30%). The typical failure was reported at 19,000 miles, the median across the 55 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 1 recall covering this vehicle.

Recalls (1)

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

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 148.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 44 30%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 35 24%
ENGINE 15 10%
SERVICE BRAKES 14 9%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 13 9%
STRUCTURE 12 8%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 12 8%
POWER TRAIN 11 7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 6 4%
LANE DEPARTURE 5 3%
AIR BAGS 4 3%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 4 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2023 at 23.

2017 2023 2026
2017 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

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.

Compare

Other years of the Mazda CX-5

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2024 41 0
2023 59 0
2022 62 0
2021 143 0
2020 106 0
2019 265 2
2018 347 3
2016 510 4
2015 133 3
2014 377 3
2013 194 1

Other 2017 Mazda models

Every Mazda on this site — 81 vehicles, 161 recall campaigns and 2 open investigation s.

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. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

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.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst