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2018 Mazda CX-5

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most CX-5 years

Owner complaints for the 2018 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

Limited mileage data: 83 of 348 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Engine. Review the 177 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

19 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

Equipment complaints

3 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 7, 2025
Equipment

I've had issues with my infotainment system screen for years and have mentioned this to the dealership. But their response was that I wasn't in warranty anymore and that I'd had to just reboot the radio system on my own. Because it was out of warranty for them to check the issue, the issue was never put on my file when I went to…

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I've had issues with my infotainment system screen for years and have mentioned this to the dealership. But their response was that I wasn't in warranty anymore and that I'd had to just reboot the radio system on my own. Because it was out of warranty for them to check the issue, the issue was never put on my file when I went to get serviced. Now my screen has been acting up even more, nonstop, with this "ghost touch" issue that many other CX-5 car owners have also been dealing with. I've had many unsafe incidents already while driving and can cause major accidents from shift in focus on the road and back to my screen because the music suddenly turned on full blast due to a glitch that Mazda didn't care or want to resolve for their customers (even after their recall for the same type of screen for previous models with the CX3). Yes, I've researched this intently and Mazda continues to deny these claims, not wanting to recall the same screens that they continue to manufacture, dispute this glitch and defect, being negligent and not caring for their valued customers. There have already been class action lawsuits with the CX-5 but Mazda still turns the other direction in terms of placing a recall on the infotainment screens. My vehicle has also been serviced and diagnosed with "ghost touch." The issue is Mazda not wanting to fully reimburse for this problem, turning a blind eye on this for years. Mazda finally confessed that I still have an after warranty assistance program after talking to customer service for a long time. The Campaign number is CSP13.

NHTSA ODI #11659527

70,000 miles · Apr 25, 2025
Equipment

The contact owns a 2018 MAZDA CX-5. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the infotainment system displayed a blank screen, then one minute later, the infotainment screen displayed as intended. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road and turned on and off the vehicle and the infotainment system displays …

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The contact owns a 2018 MAZDA CX-5. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the infotainment system displayed a blank screen, then one minute later, the infotainment screen displayed as intended. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road and turned on and off the vehicle and the infotainment system displays as intended. The contact mentioned that this failure has occurred on several different occasions. The contact stated that the infotainment system independently displays calls, and the radio comes on independently. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnosis or repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #11656766

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2021
Equipment

While stopped at a pharmacy pick up window, I engaged the auto hold. I took my foot off the break and about 3 seconds later my car lurched forward about a whole car length. There was nothing in front of me, but had there been I would have hit it.

NHTSA ODI #11440961

Official recalls

3

21V875000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Nov 12, 2021

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

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.

19V497000 · Engine; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Jun 27, 2019

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.

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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Engine

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.

Consequence: An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.

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.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

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.

Consequence: An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.

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.

18V426000 · Air Bags:side/window

Jun 25, 2018

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda CX-5 vehicles. In the event of a side impact or rollover crash, the side curtain air bags may not properly unfold during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the air bags do not deploy properly in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2718F.

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