Table 1 shows one common service brakes related problems of the 2025 Mazda CX-5.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes problems |
I have a serious safety issue with my 2025 Mazda Cx-5, purchased new in January 2026 from island Mazda on [xxx]. A few days before the critical alert, I noticed the car stopping on its own before pressing the brake. While driving on the highway, I received a “faulty sensor” alert that went away. On July 10, 2026, I received a critical vehicle malfunction alert in the mymazda app. The app gave no specific details. I called Mazda customer experience. They confirmed via email the system labels it as a parking brake malfunction and instructed me not to drive the vehicle. They advised it could stop at any time or not stop. I also experienced pulling and unprompted braking while driving. On xxx, I called island Mazda service multiple times (calls went to a call center). No callbacks. I went in person. General manager [xxx] was unavailable; sales manager [xxx] advised towing to [xxx]. The car was towed xxx at 1:29 pm. No confirmation call. I called again at ~2 pm. Technician [xxx] called first. Service manager [xxx] later called and was rude/dismissive. He yelled when I mentioned lemon law saying he can no longer speak to me when I mention that, downplayed the issue, refused to discuss documentation, and suggested I test drive the unsafe vehicle with them to figure out whats wrong. He spoke over me and said it would take a long time to fix because they are busy. He said he would forward my case to someone else and I agreed he is not capable of handling this appropriately. This is a brand new vehicle under warranty. I have a [xxx] son with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (rare condition requiring stress-dosing for injury). I do not feel safe driving it since the alert never even appeared in my actual car just the Mazda app on my phone I do not trust the dealership after this treatment to fix it. Requesting full investigation into the defect and dealership handling. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
At about 6:50am July 7th 2026, I was getting in the exit lane of interstate 50 to exit. I merge into the lane and being applying my breaks since I was going about 55-60mph. However, my vehicle did not slow down. I began to press harder, it still did not slow down, so I pressed as hard as I could because I was rapidly approaching stopped vehicles. The vehicle began to make a grinding sound, it started shaking, and then a "break" light appeared on the instrument panel. After this it came to a sudden and violent stop. I have taken it to the dealership for similar issues many times since I got the vehicle in October 2025. Each time they state that they cannot replicate the issue and the vehicle operates as it should. It is under warranty so I have not taken anywhere other than the Mazda dealership.
On may 21st , 2026, while waiting in line to make a right turn (positioned 3rd in queue), the vehicles ahead moved forward. As I transitioned from the brake to the gas pedal to follow, the vehicle experienced an instantaneous engine stall and total electrical failure (not an I-stop event). Pressing the gas caused the vehicle to slowly roll backward. When I immediately tried to reapply the brakes, the brake pedal became extremely stiff and nearly impossible to press down, failing to hold the vehicle effectively. The driver behind me began honking aggressively due to the imminent collision risk. I attempted to lower the windows to signal the other driver, but all electronic controls were completely dead. I had to quickly shift the gear into park (p) and hit the start button to successfully restart the engine, which temporarily restored functions.
The contact owns a 2025 . The contact was in a parking lot of a shopping center, put the car in gear and the steering wheel became inoperable , vehicle would not stop while depressing the brakes. Four additional vehicles were damaged from the impact with one vehicle deemed a total loss. The right front end was impacted including the hood and the right wheel. No additional property damage. The vehicle came to a stop in the parking lot from impacting the vehicles. Both front driver and passenger side air bags deployed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was deemed as a total loss by the insurance company. The contact sustained injuries left broken clavicle, left arm, left and right knees received lacerations and lacerations and 3 broken ribs on the left side and hematoma and received medical treatment at the emergency room intensive care. A woman in the back seat of one of the parked vehicles sustained minor injuries and received medical treatment. The dealer nor manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 2,837.
The vehicle exhibits unintended acceleration behavior when the brake pedal is applied. Instead of slowing down, the engine revs and the vehicle does not decelerate as expected. On March 16, 2026, while merging onto a highway and applying the brakes, the engine suddenly revved to approximately 3,500 rpms while the vehicle failed to slow down. There have been previous issues with the vehicle not slowing when breaks are being applied, nut this is the first instance when it was noticed that the rpms increased while breaking. This issue has also been reported to the dealership, with service documentation noting that when applying the brakes, the engine revs and the vehicle does not slow or accelerate properly. This creates a dangerous condition where braking input does not result in expected deceleration and may instead cause acceleration-related behavior. The issue has not been resolved. This issue significantly increases the risk of collision and loss of vehicle control.
Breaks and gas pedal simultaneously stopped working while driving and steering wheel locked up.
While driving at various speeds, including highway speeds, the vehicle intermittently fails to slow down when the brake pedal is applied. On multiple occasions, the brake pedal was pressed but the vehicle did not respond appropriately and continued moving forward. On December 1, 2025, while traveling at approximately 65 mph on the interstate in rainy conditions, the vehicle began making a grinding sound and started sliding instead of slowing down. The vehicle briefly lost the ability to decelerate, creating a near-collision with a semi-truck. On December 22, 2025, the issue occurred twice in one day. While attempting to brake at a stop sign and in traffic, the vehicle did not slow down, nearly causing collisions with vehicles in front and adjacent lanes. In the instance where approaching the stop sign where a vehicle was stopped, the dashboard flashed “break” while I was breaking as hard as I could. Warning lights and sensor-related alerts have appeared intermittently prior to and during some incidents. The issue has continued intermittently, including additional incidents where the brakes were either unresponsive or overly sensitive. They do not respond in a consistent or predictable manner, making safe driving nearly impossible. This problem places myself and others at significant risk of collision due to loss of braking control. The vehicle has been taken to multiple dealerships for inspection. The problem has not been successfully replicated, and no repairs have been performed to resolve the issue. Dealership documentation includes customer reports of “not braking” and brake malfunction concerns.
At stop signs, in a row of 3 or 4 cars, on the 3rd or 4th stop, I apply the brake but it accelerates as I am braking, moving forward 8 or 10 feet. Over the course of 1800 miles, this has occurred 3 or 4 times, narrowly avoiding collisions.
I pulled the car into garage, and realized it's not inside enough. So I moved the car forward, but forgot to place the shift to p position. With the shift in d position, I shut off the engine, opened the door, ready to get out. I did not notice the car was moving backward, until the open door hit the garage frame. I file a claim with my insurance, had the front door replaced in a local body shop. I confirmed that in d position, with engine shut off, the car can move freely in my drive way. I did have this issue in my other two cars, I occasionally forgot put the shift from d position to p position, but the car did not move. This issue - a car can move freely without driver's awareness - is a serious and dangerous issue. If this happens in the street, a serious crash can occur. The car manufacturer should figure a way to prevent this from happening when the shift is in d position and engine is shut off.