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2014 Mazda CX-5

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most CX-5 years

Owner complaints for the 2014 Mazda CX-5 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 133.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

281 reports with mileage · 96 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 132 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

8 reports
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40,000 miles · Mar 30, 2021
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

THE STARTER IGNITION BUTTON WILL TURN OFF THE ENGINE BUT FAIL TO TURN OFF THE RADIO AND THE LIGHTS. THE ONLY WAY TO TURN IT OFF IS TO REPEATEDLY TURN ON THE IGNITION BUTTON, UNTIL IT TURNS OFF.

NHTSA ODI #11405494

60,000 miles · Nov 10, 2019
Exterior Lighting

THE ENGINE OF MY MAZDA CX-5 2014 TURNED OFF WHEN I GOT HOME BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT ALL THE ACCESSORIES STAYED ON. AS A RESULT, THE CAR DIDN'T START THE NEXT DAY AND IT RAN OUT OF BATTERY. TURNING IT COMPLETELY OFF WAS NOT AN EASY TASK. I HAD TO RESEARCH ONLINE TO FIGURE OUT THE TRICK MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER AND REALIZED THAT T…

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THE ENGINE OF MY MAZDA CX-5 2014 TURNED OFF WHEN I GOT HOME BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT ALL THE ACCESSORIES STAYED ON. AS A RESULT, THE CAR DIDN'T START THE NEXT DAY AND IT RAN OUT OF BATTERY. TURNING IT COMPLETELY OFF WAS NOT AN EASY TASK. I HAD TO RESEARCH ONLINE TO FIGURE OUT THE TRICK MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER AND REALIZED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE. I CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND A THREAD THAT IS INCLUDED AT THE END OF THIS MESSAGE. MAZDA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND GET THE CARS FIXED WITH A RECALL BUT IT SEEMS THAT THEY ARE JUST DENYING THE SITUATION. EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN'T REPRESENT A SAFETY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING A CAR, IT DOES REPRESENT A HUGE INCONVENIENCE TO OWNERS, AS WELL AS TIME AND MONEY. THE KNOWN FAULTY PART THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IS THE KDY0-46-040 SWITCH. ONLINE THREAD WITH MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE: HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T49115_DS799849

NHTSA ODI #11279305

45,762 miles · Dec 20, 2018
Exterior LightingUnknown Or Other

VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO DRIVE & IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD 03/20/2018 AND IT ROLLED BACKWARDS. ALSO UNABLE TO SHUT VEHICLE OFF ONCE IT IS PARKED. CONTINUOUS ISSUES TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF ONCE IT IS PARKED. LIGHTS STAYS ON THE DASHBOARD & RADIO CONTINUE TO PLAY MUSIC. I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES FOR TWO YEARS NOW TURNING THE VEHICLE O…

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VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO DRIVE & IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD 03/20/2018 AND IT ROLLED BACKWARDS. ALSO UNABLE TO SHUT VEHICLE OFF ONCE IT IS PARKED. CONTINUOUS ISSUES TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF ONCE IT IS PARKED. LIGHTS STAYS ON THE DASHBOARD & RADIO CONTINUE TO PLAY MUSIC. I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES FOR TWO YEARS NOW TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND MAZDA IS NOW TELLING ME THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF MY PHONE CHARGER IS WRAPPED AROUND THE GEAR STICK WHY IT WILL NOT GO INTO PARK AND THE ISSUE IS THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY HAVING ISSUES TO TURNING OFF.. I HAVE A VIDEO RECORDING OF THE CHARGER WRAPPED AROUND THE GEAR STICK AND THE VEHICLE PUT INTO PARK WITH NO ISSUES. I ALSO BOUGHT THE PHONE CHARGER LONG AFTER THIS ISSUE STARTED. THEY CHANGED THE SHIFTER 03/2018 BECAUSE IT WAS NO GOOD AND THEY CHARGED ME FOR AN ITEM THEY ARE AWARE OF HAS ISSUES. I HAD TO GOOGLE HOW TO TURN MY VEHICLE OFF 11/27/2018.

NHTSA ODI #11162853

80,000 miles · Jun 20, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior LightingUnknown Or Other

A FEW WEEKS AGO MY KEYLESS SYSTEM BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING. WHEN I PUSH THE CAR OFF BUTTON AND GO TO GET OUT OF CAR A WARNING BEEP GETS MY ATTENTION THAT THE DASH IS STILL ON. THE ONLY WAY I HAVE FOUND TO GET EVERYTHING TO SHUT OFF COMPLETELY IS TO RESTART THE CAR AND PUT IT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE AND I MAY HAVE TO DO THIS SEVERAL TIME…

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A FEW WEEKS AGO MY KEYLESS SYSTEM BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING. WHEN I PUSH THE CAR OFF BUTTON AND GO TO GET OUT OF CAR A WARNING BEEP GETS MY ATTENTION THAT THE DASH IS STILL ON. THE ONLY WAY I HAVE FOUND TO GET EVERYTHING TO SHUT OFF COMPLETELY IS TO RESTART THE CAR AND PUT IT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE AND I MAY HAVE TO DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11102880

73,000 miles · Sep 15, 2017
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSteering

WHEN I START THE CAR ALL THE DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON AS I DROVE THE CAR. WHEN I TURNED ON THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED RAPIDLY THE NAVIGATION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN AND THE CAR STARTED TO DIE. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS LIT THE WARNING ABOUT A POWER STEERING FAILURE, BRAKE FAILU…

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WHEN I START THE CAR ALL THE DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON AS I DROVE THE CAR. WHEN I TURNED ON THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED RAPIDLY THE NAVIGATION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN AND THE CAR STARTED TO DIE. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS LIT THE WARNING ABOUT A POWER STEERING FAILURE, BRAKE FAILURE AND KEYLESS ENTRY PROBLEM, ABS, SPEED MONITORING TIRE PRESSURE ALL COMES UP IN THE WARNING AREA. THE POWER STEERING DOES FAIL MAKING IT HARD TO TURN. IN DOING RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE IT COMES FROM A FAULTY GROUND CABLE ISSUE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. I HAVE HAD THIS OCCUR 3 DIFFERENT TIMES NOW ON THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11023630

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2016
Exterior Lighting

THE LOW BEAMS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE INEFFECTIVE ON DARK COUNTRY ROADS. ALSO, THEY ARE POINTED SO LOW THAT THEY DO NOT ILLUMINATE A STOP SIGN - THEY HIT JUST BELOW THE SIGN ITSELF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THEM ADJUSTED, BUT THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED, AND THE HEIGHT IS NORMAL. WHILE DRIVING ON DARK ROAD…

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THE LOW BEAMS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE INEFFECTIVE ON DARK COUNTRY ROADS. ALSO, THEY ARE POINTED SO LOW THAT THEY DO NOT ILLUMINATE A STOP SIGN - THEY HIT JUST BELOW THE SIGN ITSELF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THEM ADJUSTED, BUT THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED, AND THE HEIGHT IS NORMAL. WHILE DRIVING ON DARK ROADS, IF MY HIGH BEAMS ARE NOT ON THEN I NEED TO DRIVE REALLY SLOW SINCE I HAVE SUCH LIMITED VISIBILITY WITH MY LOW BEAMS.

NHTSA ODI #10852710

40,000 miles · Feb 8, 2016
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS, LOW BEAM. I'VE HAD MY CX-5 TOURING SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW IN JULY 2013. I ALWAYS NOTICED HOW THE HEADLIGHTS, WHEN TURNED ON, ARE VERY BRIGHT FOR A SPLIT SECOND, THEN INSTANTLY DIMS DOWN LOWER. THIS HAPPENED ALL THE TIME THE FIRST 2 YEARS DRIVING IT. I KNEW IT HAD THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR ROAD ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS.…

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HEADLIGHTS, LOW BEAM. I'VE HAD MY CX-5 TOURING SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW IN JULY 2013. I ALWAYS NOTICED HOW THE HEADLIGHTS, WHEN TURNED ON, ARE VERY BRIGHT FOR A SPLIT SECOND, THEN INSTANTLY DIMS DOWN LOWER. THIS HAPPENED ALL THE TIME THE FIRST 2 YEARS DRIVING IT. I KNEW IT HAD THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR ROAD ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS. SO I THOUGHT IT WAS THE WAY IT SHOULD WORK. ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS AGO, THEY STARTED TO COME ON, AND STAY BRIGHT CONSTANTLY, UNTIL I TURNED THEM OFF THEN ON AGAIN. NOW, THEY WOULD STAY BRIGHT FOR HOURS IF I DON'T TOUCH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THEN WHEN I DO SWITCH THEM TO ANOTHER SETTING; THEY WOULD GO DIMMER AND STAY THERE. AFTER A FEW TIMES DOING THIS, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO BE CHECKED OUT. AFTER A THOROUGH INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC REPORTED THAT THESE (FACTORY) HEADLAMPS ARE SUPPOSED TO TURN ON HIGH THEN LOW IN A SPLIT SECOND. THIS DOES NOT SOUND LOGICAL TO ME, ESPECIALLY SINCE I SPENT 15 YEARS WORKING IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY (FOR OEM SUPPLIERS, AND I ALSO WORKED DIRECTLY WITH FORD, CHRYSLER, MAZDA, OTHERS) FOR A FEW DIFFERENT MAJOR ELECTROMECHANICAL VEHICLE OEM COMPONENTS. UNLESS THERE IS SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THESE HEADLIGHTS, WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS SPLIT SECOND BRIGHT THEN DIM FOR THE FIRST COUPLE YEARS, AND SUDDENLY START STAYING BRIGHT FROM THE TIME I START THE CAR? THEY NOW (ERRATICALLY) STAY BRIGHT AS LONG AS I DON'T TOUCH THE SWITCH ARM. WHEN I DO, THEY COME ON BRIGHT FOR A SPLIT SECOND, THEN DIM DOWN. THIS CONDITION IS ERRATIC, PARKED, IN MOTION, IDLING ETC., I HAVE NOTICED ON POORLY LIT BACK ROADS, THAT THE HEADLIGHTS (WHEN "LOW" WERE NOT ADEQUATE TO SEE THE ROAD, AND IS A SERIOUS ROAD HAZARD. I OFTEN TURN ON THE HIGH BEAMS TO COMPENSATE FOR THE DIM HEADLIGHTS. I CAN SEND THE DEALER INSPECTION REPORT UPON REQUEST. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10824878

500 miles · Jan 3, 2015
Exterior Lighting

THE HEADLIGHTS OF THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT AT LOW BEAM ARE VERY DANGEROUS. AT LOW BEAM, A DARK "CURTAIN" APPEARS THAT COVERS APPROXIMATELY THE TOP HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD AT ABOUT EYE LEVEL. THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE THE ROAD BUT WITH THE CUT OFF AS DESCRIBED. IT IS VERY AWKWARD AND DISTRACTING. TO COUNTERACT, I HAVE TO DUCK MY HEAD…

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THE HEADLIGHTS OF THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT AT LOW BEAM ARE VERY DANGEROUS. AT LOW BEAM, A DARK "CURTAIN" APPEARS THAT COVERS APPROXIMATELY THE TOP HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD AT ABOUT EYE LEVEL. THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE THE ROAD BUT WITH THE CUT OFF AS DESCRIBED. IT IS VERY AWKWARD AND DISTRACTING. TO COUNTERACT, I HAVE TO DUCK MY HEAD DOWN TO TRY TO GET SOME FIELD OF VIEW IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WITH SOME PERSPECTIVE. I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN A CAR THAT HAS EXHIBITED ANYTHING LIKE THIS, AND THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY DEFECT. WHEN APPROACHED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT NIGHT, THE "CURTAIN" DISAPPEARS BUT THIS IS ITSELF DISTRACTING AND OF CONCERN. MY WIFE TOOK OUR NEW CX-5 TO THE DEALER FOR THE FIRST SERVICE INTERVAL AND TOLD THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS WAS A BIG SAFETY PROBLEM, AND THAT IT WAS WAITING ON A RESOLUTION. FRANKLY, MAZDA AND THE REGULATORS NEED TO GET THIS FIXED ASAP. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT SOMEONE OR MANY PERSONS ARE GOING TO BE KILLED. THAT "CURTAIN" APPARENTLY IS NOT A MERE ADJUSTMENT ISSUE SINCE THE VERY GOOD LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10669863

Official recalls

3

16V644000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate

Sep 6, 2016

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 26, 2015, and 2013-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured December 15, 2011, to December 26, 2015. On the affected vehicles, the lift gate support struts may corrode, possibly causing the struts to break and/or the lift gate to drop unexpectedly.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9916H.

16V203000 · Steering

Apr 11, 2016

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 2, 2015, 2013-2014 Mazda2 vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to August 8, 2014, 2014-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured January 19, 2013, to December 2, 2015, and 2013-2015 CX-9 vehicles manufactured December 6, 2012, to July 31, 2015. The lower mounting nuts and bolts that attach the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle may loosen, allowing the steering knuckle to separate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower mounting nuts and bolts that secure the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle. If the bolts are loose, they will be replaced and then correctly tightened, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 20, 2016. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9316D.

16V064000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap

Feb 3, 2016

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Mazda CX-5 vehicles manufactured June 27, 2013, to February 2, 2016. The affected vehicles have a fuel filler pipe that may rupture in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A rupture of the fuel filler pipe may result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will alter the attachment between the fuel filler pipe and the left rear side of the bracket of the fuel filler pipe, free of charge. The recall began on February 25, 2016. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 9216B.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Mazda CX-5 problems