Reliability & cost of ownership
Mazda CX-5 Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Mazda CX-5? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Mazda CX-5 problems by model year
20 recall entries across 7 model years and 2,247 owner complaints across 15 model years on file, sourced from the federal NHTSA database. We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the remaining 8 model years — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 CX-5 | Not confirmed | 18 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2025 CX-5 | Not confirmed | 29 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2024 CX-5 | Not confirmed | 47 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2023 CX-5 | Not confirmed | 67 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2022 CX-5 | Not confirmed | 65 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2021 CX-5 | Not confirmed | 149 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2020 CX-5 | Not confirmed | 110 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2019 CX-5 | 2 | 273 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2018 CX-5 | 3 | 122 | 4.5 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2017 CX-5 | 1 | 150 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2016 CX-5 | 5 | 512 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2015 CX-5 | 4 | 133 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2014 CX-5 | 4 | 377 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2013 CX-5 | 1 | 194 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2012 CX-5 | Not confirmed | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Mazda CX-5, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- engine516 complaints
- electrical system436 complaints
- unknown or other342 complaints
- power train261 complaints
- exterior lighting220 complaints
- service brakes208 complaints
- visibility/wiper164 complaints
- structure129 complaints