AI Damage2018 Mazda CX-5: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Mazda CX-5 filed 120 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain. The maker issued 407 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 120
- involving a crash
- 1
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 407
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 81% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 15% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 3% of all complaints
- 4 Forward collision avoidance 3% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 2% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 2% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 1% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 1% of all complaints
- Engine: 97 complaints (81% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 53.
- Powertrain: 18 complaints (15% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 43.
- Engine and cooling: 3 complaints (3% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 75.
- Forward collision avoidance: 3 complaints (3% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 7.
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (2% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 103.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 9 complaints
- 2.2 L · diesel · turbo · 4 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: FWD, 4WD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 120 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 97 | 0 | 53 |
| Powertrain | 18 | 0 | 43 |
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 75 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 103 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 1 | 31 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 15 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 117 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 33 |
| Wheels | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 11 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Unintended acceleration incident. I entered the parking lot of a business where the Salvation Army is located to drop off a donation. The parking spaces were on the left side.
Smoke fills engine bay and cab through air vents, very high concern of engine bay fire. 2018 Mazda cx5 non turbo 2.5 sky active engine. Mazda knows of this defect and will not proved remedy.
2018 Mazda CX-5 2.5L NA Engine Cracked cylinder head and blown head gasket with leaking oil onto exhaust manifold resulting in white smoke & burning oil smell. No engine light. Issue confirmed by dealer and independent shop. Commonly reported issue amongst 2018-2021 Mazda CX-5 owners either naturally aspirated engines.
The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was leaking engine oil, and there was white smoke coming from underneath the hood. The contact stated that upon further inspection, there was a puddle of engine oil on the ground while the vehicle was idling. No warning light was illuminated.
The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was smoke coming from under the hood. No warning light was illuminated. The contact's wife pulled over and discovered that there was oil leaking onto the ground.
Check engine light on when read it comes back with P0171 code
This issue could posed a safety hazard for not only us but others on the road by: *Engine Failure / Sudden Loss of Power-A crack allows coolant and oil to mix or leak, leading to overheating and potential catastrophic engine seizure.
Cylinder head suddenly cracked, causing heavy oil leakage onto hot exhaust manifold. Car started to smoke heavily. Vehicle turned off before potential engine fire.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 501 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 24% most complained about).
On average one model year of the CX-5 has 126 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 120, about average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...),…
If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal MGSS diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been…
- Some vehicles may exhibit accumulation of dried coolant (1) around the water pipe (2)
This is caused by a gap between the housing and pipe due to a press fitting during the manufacturing process. The accumulated coolant is solidified and plugs the gap in high temperature environment and the seepage is…
- Some vehicles may require the replacement of a damaged VIN plate or vehicle certification label
To obtain a replacement VIN plate (bulkhead-mounted and visible through the lower-left area of the windshield), contact DAG (Dealer Assistance Group) using VIN Plate Request Form available on One Mazda. To obtain a…
- Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems
Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not…
- If an engine assembly is replaced after a catastrophic internal mechanical failure, clean the intake…
If an engine assembly is replaced after a catastrophic internal mechanical failure, clean the intake manifold internally before installing a replacement engine assembly. If the intake manifold is not cleaned properly…
- Some customers may experience one or more electrical malfunctions after a vehicle body repair
A newly painted fender stay (2) may be causing a poor front harness (1) ground connection. The front fender stay (2) newly painted surface at ground point (3), where attachment bolt (4) is seated, may create a poor…
- Some customers may complain about a tapping or knocking noise coming from the rear seat after fuel fill
The concern will likely occur if the fuel tank is overfilled (more fuel is added after the fuel pump nozzle shuts off automatically) or filled up normally in high ambient temperatures and the fuel expands. No repair is…
- Some vehicles may exhibit rattling noises from the engine compartment and oil leakage from the drive belt…
Some vehicles may exhibit rattling noises from the engine compartment and oil leakage from the drive belt auto tensioner. This may be caused by insufficient sealing at the drive belt auto tensioner damper when the auto…
- TSB 01-001/26 Warranty and Parts Kit Update
INCLUDES: Warranty Extension Program - Special Service Program (SSP) D8 Check Engine Light ON with DTC P0126:00, 2018-2025 CX-5, 2019-2023 Mazda3, 2019-2022 CX-3, 2018-2021 Mazda6, 2020-2023 CX-30 Dear Mazda Dealer…
- There is a concern that some water pumps are being replaced that are not faulty, due to signs of a very…
There is a concern that some water pumps are being replaced that are not faulty, due to signs of a very small coolant leak from the bleed hole. This Service Alert is to inform you about the water pump sealing mechanism…
- Some customers may experience a check engine light ON with DTC P0126
00 (Thermostat stuck open) and one or more of the following symptoms: Engine takes longer to warm up. Engine temperature gauge fluctuates. Low coolant temperature indicator (blue) light stays on longer or turns on…
- Some vehicles may display some (or all) of the following symptoms
• Check engine light on with DTC P061B • Light increase in engine rpms during acceleration • Transmission will not shift past 4th gear • Various U codes (U0401 ABS, U0401, U0415 FSC, U0301, U0316 SBS/MRCC, U0442 TCM)…
NHTSA lists 407 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Mazda CX-5?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, powertrain, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 120. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: oil leak or consumption (53%), smoke, burning smell, fire (53%), warning lights, check engine (21%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Mazda CX-5?
NHTSA lists 407 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2018 Mazda CX-5 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2018 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.