CSR

Mazda · NHTSA safety record

2019 Mazda CX-5

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

Owners have filed 270 safety complaints about the 2019 Mazda CX-5 with the US government. Of those, 7 describe a crash, 2 mention a fire, 5 people were injured and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the gasoline fuel system and the engine.

The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 131 complaints, 49% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 17,000 miles, the median across the 43 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers July 2019 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

270 complaints on file

270

Complaints

7

Describe a crash

2

Mention fire

5

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.

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
ENGINE 131 · 49%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 49 · 18%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 46 · 17%
POWER TRAIN 32 · 12%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 16 · 6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 16 · 6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 12 · 4%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 9 · 3%
AIR BAGS 7 · 3%
STRUCTURE 7 · 3%
SERVICE BRAKES 6 · 2%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 5 · 2%
0 54 108

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 270.

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 2024 at 60.

64 48 32 16
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2019 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 2019 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

2 on file

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

21V875000 · November 12, 2021

The defect
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.
The risk
Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5321K.

Mazda North American Operations · up to 121,038 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE

19V497000 · June 27, 2019

The defect
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.
The risk
An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3719F.

Mazda North American Operations · up to 262,220 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.

SEATS

2 injured · crash · towed

We were at a stop light and we were rear ended by a Lexus SUV. We're assuming she was going 45mph + but we're not too sure yet. I couldn't figure out why myself, the drive of the car that was hit, had such a horrendous neck ache after being hit. I turned around & saw that my headrest had been completely ripped out of the seat itself, providing no support for my head and/or neck on impact. I can't find any information of if this is on purpose, as a safety feature, or if the headrest failed.

NHTSA complaint 11552369. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

1 injured · crash · towed

On [XXX], I was the operator of a 2019 Mazda CX-5 in Los Angeles, California. I parked the vehicle on an incline on or around [XXX] in Los Angeles, California, and then exited the vehicle. The vehicle remained stationary for some time, until it suddenly began rolling backwards at a speed that pushed me to the ground while I was getting my things from the passenger side door, causing me serious injuries. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint 11646520. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

1 injured · crash

ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2019, AS I WAS APPROACHING MY HOME, I ACTIVATED MY GARAGE DOOR OPENER AND THE GARAGE DOOR OPENED AS I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I STOPPED THE CAR, A 2019 MAZDA CX-5, IN THE DRIVEWAY, PLACED IT IN PARK, GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE AND ENTERED THE GARAGE. WHILE IN THE GARAGE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MINUTES, I TURNED AROUND TO SEE MY 2019 MAZDA CX-5 ACCELERATING TOWARD ME. THE CAR ROLLED UNTIL IT HIT THE WASHING MACHINE AND DRYER. I MANAGED TO AVOID GETTING PINNED BUT NOT BEFORE THE CAR RAN OVER MY FOOT. I MANAGED TO SQUEEZE PAST AND ENTER THE VEHICLE PLACING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUTTING THE CAR BACK IN PARK.

NHTSA complaint 11287590. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY

1 injured · 29,036 miles

I HEARD A VERY LOUD BANG, SOUNDING LIKE A GUNSHOT THAT WENT OFF, WHEN THE SUNROOF ABOVE MY HEAD VIOLENTLY SHATTERED WHILE I DRIVING TO WORK. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND GOT COVERED WITH PIECES OF GLASS. THE GLASS SCRATCHED ME ON THE FACE, CLOSE TO MY EYE. I AM IN SHOCK AND I AM STILL FINDING SMALL PIECES OF GLASS ALL OVER MY BODY EVEN AFTER TAKING A SHOWER.

NHTSA complaint 11404615. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
I purchased a used 2019 Mazda CX-5 in 2024, with 25,000 miles on it. In June of 2026 I started to have an oil leak. Took it to a mechanic's shop who diagnosed it as a valve cover gasket, ran the car for another 2 months, oil leak did not stop, got worse, to the point where my oil light came on where the oil was low enough, then I took it to another mechanic, they diagnosed it as some sort of pressure sensor that has to do with the oil, they replaced that, then that still wasn't the case, it was leaking, and they diagnosed it as a cracked cylinder head. This has been an issue with Mazdas in the 2018 to 2022 range for the CX-5s, and Mazda knowingly has put in faulty parts and is not willing

NHTSA complaint 11764827, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
1. January 2025 Diagnosis (Inside Powertrain Warranty): I presented the vehicle (2019 Mazda CX5, 36K miles) with severe transmission jerking and shift lurching at a local Mazda dealership. Technicians diagnosed teh issue as described in TSB 05-004/23 and applied a software flash to the PCM/TCM stated in TSB 05-004/23. Mazda’s o􀆯icial text states the root cause of this symptom is torque fluctuation and torsional resonance within the torque converter. 2. Current Symptom (Defect Manifestation): The vehicle now exhibits the distinct upshift chirp detailed in TSB 05-005/23 (NHTSA ID MC-10246127-0001). Mazda’s documentation states the root cause of this chirp is excessive wear of the lock-up

NHTSA complaint 11762829, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
1.January 2025 Diagnosis (Inside Powertrain Warranty): I presented the vehicle with severe transmission jerking and shift lurching. Your technicians applied a software flash to the PCM/TCM per TSB 05-004/23. Mazda’s official text states the root cause of this symptom is torque fluctuation and torsional resonance within the torque converter. 2.Current Symptom (Defect Manifestation): The vehicle now exhibits the distinct upshift chirp detailed in TSB 05-005/23 (NHTSA ID MC-10246127-0001). Mazda’s documentation states the root cause of this chirp is excessive wear of the lock-up clutch inside the torque converter, which sheds iron powder directly into the automatic transmission fluid (ATF).

NHTSA complaint 11762087, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2019 Mazda CX-5 developed P0192-00 fuel-pressure-related fault and significant loss of acceleration/limp mode. Mazda dealership diagnosed fuel rail/injector-seal issue and performed approximately $2,836 in repairs. The condition was not corrected. Dealer now diagnoses a high-pressure fuel-pump failure and is requesting an additional $1,459. Vehicle has experienced loss of power while driving. There is an existing Mazda fuel-pump recall affecting some 2018–2019 CX-5 vehicles, but Mazda says my VIN is outside the recall population. I am concerned about a potential fuel-system safety defect.

NHTSA complaint 11760472. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

towed · 100,000 miles

The contact owns a 2019 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH and turning into a driveway, smoke emerged from the engine compartment. The vehicle was turned off and inspected. Upon opening the hood, smoke was observed near the rear firewall of the engine compartment, and oil was leaking under the engine compartment. The source of the leak could not be identified initially, and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where a leaking cylinder head was diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, where it was confirmed that the cylinder head was leaking oil and needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer

NHTSA complaint 11759696, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
In early 2025, my 2019 Mazda CX5 automatic would not shift always shift when it should - - it would take several seconds. This was especially concerning when I merged onto freeways and when I drove up hills or steep roads, and needed to pass a slower vehicle. The problem was especially noticeable & lasted longer when the engine was cold. I took the car to my mechanic who said it was the TCM, there was a recall notice, & that I needed to take my car to a dealer. (I never received a recall notice.) I took my car to Mazda in Sacramento because my local dealer (Salinas, CA) would not address the issue without me paying a $395 "diagnostic fee" - - even though I had the recall info from my

NHTSA complaint 11755884, quoted in part. 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 44 0 —
2023 63 0 —
2022 63 0 —
2021 147 0 —
2020 107 0 —
2018 350 3 —
2017 148 1 —
2016 510 4 —
2015 133 3 —
2014 377 3 —
2013 194 1 —

Other 2019 Mazda models

MAZDA3 74 CX-9 53 CX-3 27 MX-5 11

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Mazda on this site — 82 vehicles.

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.

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