Electrical System Problems of Mazda CX-5 - part 1

The radio is uncontrollable by driver. The radio the self dial from bluetooth. Even if not connected, the radio surprises this driver by playing the radio unexpectedly at the highest rate. Due to the buttons not working, driver cannot turn down the radio causing safety concerns for being scared and distracted. There are no warnings. Mazda is unwilling to assess without pay.

See all problems of the 2017 Mazda CX-5 🔎.

Repeated failure and rebooting of Mazda connect infotainment system I am the owner of a 2016 Mazda Cx-5. The factory Mazda connect infotainment system has developed a recurring defect in which the system repeatedly reboots to the Mazda logo while driving. Prior to complete failure, the navigation system became intermittent and bluetooth connectivity frequently disconnected, requiring repeated attempts to reconnect devices. The system now continuously cycles through the startup screen, making navigation, hands-free phone functions, and system settings inaccessible. These repeated reboots occur while the vehicle is in motion and are distracting to the driver. The flashing and rebooting screen repeatedly draws the driver's attention away from the road and interferes with the use of navigation and hands-free communication features that are intended to promote safe driving. After researching this issue, I found numerous reports from other Mazda owners experiencing the same symptoms involving the Mazda connect system, navigation sd card, and connectivity master unit (cmu). The frequency and similarity of these reports suggest that this is a widespread and well-known defect rather than an isolated incident. Because this defect affects driver attention and the safe operation of the vehicle's communication and navigation functions, I respectfully request that Mazda and the national highway traffic safety administration investigate this matter and require Mazda to issue a recall or establish a repair program for affected vehicles. Vehicle: 2016 Mazda Cx-5 mileage: 70k.

See all problems of the 2016 Mazda CX-5 🔎.

I leased a brand new vehicle on June 8th. On June 12th, I took it to the dealer's service center because of a warning message, accompanied with a loud chime that said: "emergency call unit malfunction", the sos red light was also on. I picked the car up today, June 15th. Shortly leaving the dealership, I was driving on the freeway crawling traffic with my husband and 4 year old child in the vehicle. Suddenly, the service/wrench icon started flashing on the dashboard, and the car's engine completely died and stalled while we were moving on the highway. At the exact second the engine died, dash and infotainment screen went completely black, the a/c shut off as well. I instantly lost my speedometer and all safety alerts while stuck in traffic. I was still stepping on my brakes, and turned my hazard lights on so we could pull over to safety. Screens went back on and engine came back on. We were fortunate to be by the nearest exit and took it. The screens went back on, but service light was still flashing. We were able to drive the car to Mazda, and was provided a loaner car. This is a massive safety issue and hazard that put my family in immediate danger on a busy highway just following a dealer service.

The infotainment display screen on my 2020 Mazda Cx-5 has suffered a severe hardware failure resulting in un-commanded inputs, commonly known as "ghost touching. " while driving at highway speeds, the touchscreen constantly registers phantom touches. It actively hijacks the vehicle's computer system and cuts out my apple carplay connection during trips. This morning, the ghost touching randomly turned the apple maps navigation volume up to the absolute maximum level without warning. This intense, sudden noise causes driver shock and distraction while in motion, creating an immediate risk of a wreck. The vehicle currently has fewer than 29,000 miles.

See all problems of the 2020 Mazda CX-5 🔎.

The vehicle's automatic emergency braking (aeb) / Smart brake support system intermittently triggers "false positive" emergency braking events during critical driving maneuvers, specifically while accelerating to merge into highway traffic. During these events, the system violently applies the brakes with no external hazard present. Crucially, the vehicle fails to acknowledge driver override input. Depressing the accelerator pedal fully does not disengage the automatic braking, stripping the driver of vehicle control and exposing the vehicle to a severe risk of being rear-ended at high speed. Simultaneously, the vehicle experiences a persistent "in-unit telematics malfunction" error on the dashboard, accompanied by rapid-fire mobile app notifications (14 alerts in a single day) stating "critical vehicle malfunction: vehicle cannot be driven. " these communication module errors have persisted despite the dealership applying Mazda's latest software updates, indicating a critical network failure or hardware defect that compromises active safety systems.

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.

See all problems of the 2025 Mazda CX-5 🔎.

There is a consistent issue with the “ghost touch“ and the electrical system so when you’re going down the road, the musical will change. The music will blast up or down randomly it’ll get stuck and it’s very distracting. It will hang up on people while you’re having a conversation through the car phone. This was a recall for Mazda 2014 through 2016 and they need to extend it because it was still happening with my 2017. This is my first experience with Mazda and it has not been a good one as far as this goes. I do a lot of driving and phone calls and music are very important and stuff randomly changing or getting stuck while you’re driving and then trying to fix it is very dangerous.

Three loud beeps on startup. Car in park, doors closed seat belt on no passengers three single tone loud beeps are coming from right front speaker only. Concerned for unknown potential system(s) failure.

The failures are intermittent but recurring, and I have personally experienced them multiple times under normal driving conditions. The dealership has not been able to reproduce the failures consistently, and Mazda has provided no inspection, no investigation, and no acknowledgment of the issue despite multiple attempts to contact them. In addition, numerous other 2026 Mazda cx?5 owners are reporting the exact same problems across multiple online forums and owner communities. These include: • complete center display blackouts • random system errors • telematics failures • driver?assist malfunctions • connected services not working at all owners are actively seeking help from one another because Mazda is ignoring customer reports, providing no guidance, and offering no official communication or support. This widespread pattern strongly suggests the issue is not isolated, but rather a potential systemic defect affecting the 2026 cx?5 platform.

The air conditioning compressor clutch suddenly would not engage, leading to reduced visibility out of the windshield during humid weather in oklahoma springtime and extended times for windshield to defog. Temperatures inside the vehicle also rose to very high levels without air conditioning available, even with windows down while driving. No crash or injuries but this presented an unsafe situation for a vehicle with only 39,000 miles and purchased new from the dealership. There were no indicator lights, messages, or warnings, other than observation that air conditioner vents were no longer blowing cold air when selecting the ac button after problem occurred. Problem was verified by both an independent mechanic and our Mazda dealership. Ac system was overcharged from the factory per diagnostic results, leading to internal ac compressor short and early component failure.

See all problems of the 2023 Mazda CX-5 🔎.

The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Cx-5. The contact stated that while driving 70 mph with the cruise control activated, the cruise control cancellation switch failed to operate as intended after several attempts or while depressing the brake pedal. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact was able to deactivate the cruise control using the main cruise control power switch. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.

I purchased this vehicle new in June 2025. About a month after the dealer service inspection, the vehicle suddenly would not start at all. The key fob sometimes cannot unlock the door, and I have to use the backup key to open it. After entering the vehicle, the engine will not start. I previously brought the car to the dealer for inspection, but they said no issue was found. Now the problem has happened again and the vehicle cannot start. This is a serious reliability and safety concern for a new vehicle.

The Smart brake support system malfunctioned while driving. The vehicle began shaking and lost power, requiring excessive throttle to move. The car hesitates and may not accelerate normally, creating a dangerous situation in traffic. Warning lights appeared on the dashboard and the vehicle became unsafe to operate. The issue occurred shortly after purchase and was reproduced multiple times. The dealer inspected the vehicle but refused to provide a written diagnosis or repair timeline. The vehicle is unreliable and poses a risk of sudden loss of control or rear-end collision.

While driving on February 12, 2026, the steering system failed, resulting in the steering wheel locking and becoming impossible to turn. While making a right-hand turn, the steering wheel suddenly locked. I had to forcefully jerk the wheel to regain control and avoid colliding with a concrete barrier on the right shoulder. After several seconds, the steering function returned to normal. This failure occurred without warning and created an immediate safety hazard due to loss of steering control. The vehicle has been inspected by a dealership, but the issue could not be replicated and no repairs were performed. This condition presents a serious safety risk as it can occur during normal driving maneuvers and may lead to loss of control and collision.

I noticed smoke filling the inside of my car. I looked over at the passenger seat, and my coat was on fire. I poured my drink on it, pulled over, and threw the coat out of the car. I saw a large hole in the lumbar area of the passenger seat, and it was glowing red and putting out a lot of heat. The seat heater was on, so I immediately turned it off. It was obvious that the fire has started inside the seat, and there was no other fire source in car--ie. Lit cigarette, lighter, etc. If someone had been sitting there, they would have serious burns. The seat will need to be replaced.

Hello. I started hearing this noise on my car, it was distracting and found it that it only happens when my headlight is turned on. I believe that the headlight leveling motor went out, I have an appointment for next week to have it checked, but the more I reach out to others Mazda drivers, the more I hear this is a common issue. My car is brand new, well taken care of, this seems to happen a lot.

See all problems of the 2024 Mazda CX-5 🔎.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - Smart brake support (sbs) & forward obstruction warning system malfunctioned. Front radar sensor malfunctioned. Parking brake malfunctioned. I-activesense system malfunctioned. Emergency lane keep disabled. Dynamic stability control malfunctioned. Traction control system not operating correctly. Anti-lock brake system (abs) malfunctioned. Brake system not responding. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? in total 10 malfunctions led to brake not responding and could not stop the car and resulted into a car accident. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? no has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? police report from car accident states brake malfunction. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? car was totally fine until all 10 error messages appeared on Jan. 17th 2026 12:42-12:43pm and immediately the brake system did not respond and resulted in the car accident. **important** police report documented that the officer on scene is a witness of the car dashboard shows “brake malfunction”.

The infotainment system suffers from ghost touching. It has gotten out of control even after a “recall” fix at the dealership. Without being touched the volume changes, the stations change, the presets change, the car makes calls to my contacts. I am often unable to control the screen as it turns the car to max volume while driving. It is extremely unsafe, distracting and alarming.

I was driving down the road and started smelling smoke then looked over and my passenger seat was in flames.

Passenger side seat heater overheated and burned upholstery.

The battery died, the car wouldn't start one night. The battery which is the original that came with the car is only about 2 years old. I googled the code from the code reader, it said some Mazda Cx-5 have a starting problem but then I checked the recall website and there was none.

Radio audio randomly stopped working and you have to disconnect the negative or you have to leave the car off essentially all night. It’s definitely unknown issue there’s videos all over youtube about it and there’s forms on read about it.

See all problems of the 2021 Mazda CX-5 🔎.

During a one-hour car ride, the front passenger side seat heater burned a hole through the seat, damaging my wife's skirt and leaving a hole in the upholstery. The overheating definitely originated within the seat. We immediately turned the seat heater off and have not used it since. It could have started a fire, which is very scary, or burned my wife, which is a serious safety risk. This issue has been mentioned by other Mazda owners, but I cannot find any recall reports. There were no warnings prior to the burning. The component is being taken to the dealership to be examined today.

Summary of issue: the infotainment system in my 2019 Mazda Cx-5 has been malfunctioning for a long period of time, and the issue has now escalated to the point where the system is unsafe and distracting while driving. Details: the infotainment screen intermittently “ghosts” and activates functions on its own—clicking through menus, changing settings, and moving erratically without any driver input. The system has also frozen and rebooted while the vehicle is in motion. This creates a serious distraction and safety concern. I previously reported this issue to the dealership, where they attempted a reset and told me to come back if the problem returned. The issue persisted and worsened. I recently returned, and the dealership diagnosed a communication failure between the cmu and the infotainment screen. However, they cannot identify any cause, and the screen itself has no physical damage and has never been struck. Mazda has declined to cover this under warranty, even though this appears to be an internal failure of components that should not fail at this mileage. Additionally, infotainment failures in Mazda vehicles have been the subject of prior complaints and service bulletins. Safety concern: the malfunction causes the screen to operate unpredictably while driving, which distracts from the road and creates a risk of an accident. Because the system controls access to vehicle settings, bluetooth, audio, navigation, and backup camera interfaces, the failure presents a potential safety defect. Requested action: I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether this infotainment / cmu communication failure is a broader defect affecting 2019 Mazda Cx-5 vehicles, as dealerships cannot identify the cause and the failure poses a clear distraction hazard.

See all problems of the 2019 Mazda CX-5 🔎.

The front passenger seat heating system caught fire and burned through the fabric and my dog's seat. The fumes made me and my dog nauseous. I had to swerve across the highway and stop on the shoulder to extinguish the seat fire/burn. The fuse was pulled for safety. The seat is in storage for inspection. Mazda will be contacted.

Unknown the infotainment system started malfunctioning on its own.

I purchased this vehicle on the 10th of September. By the 12th I I noticed the infotainment system was doing its own thing without me touching anything. The next day it did the same thing I e. Changing stations on its own,volume going up or down etc. . .

Dashboard lit up like a christmas tree. Multiple warning lights all at once. This issue has been reported on multiple Mazda vehicle years. Took to delker auto repairs. Is electrical problem. Stated that so far nothing wrong with components. Will have to hunt for. Mazda has known electrical issues. In addition, your file upload will not let me upload picture even though it's in correct format. I can send separately.

My vehicle was damaged by an as yet determined electrical fire seemingly having originated in the passenger door speaker components.

The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Cx-5. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine. The contact pulled over to the side of the road before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who determined that the engine had failed due to a lack of maintenance. The contact stated that the vehicle was equipped with an automatic reminder regarding the oil change. The contact stated that the oil change reminder failed to illuminate to indicate that the oil level was extremely low. The check engine warning light also failed to illuminate. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

The infotainment screen in the vehicle suffers from phantom/ghost touching, rending a safety hazard as while following navigation it can act on it's own, becoming a large distraction.

Cx-5's infotainment system randomly, and without warning starts beeping and changing options while driving, a very distracting event. I tried to shut the screen off but it comes back on randomly and causes concern and distraction while driving, it has been happening for years now and of what I read Mazda will not correct the problem.

When accelerating, the transmission feels jerky/stutters. The check engine light and traction control light are illuminated and on the instrument cluster the messages: "forward Smart city brake support malfunction", "Smart brake system malfunction" and "front radar sensor system malfunction" appear. The vehicle acts like it doesn't know which gear it should be in, it'll buck pretty hard and then it refuses to accelerate. . . It feels like it's in a "limp mode". A previous driver of the vehicle complained and said that it actually stalled in traffic on the highway and was of course difficult to steer due to loss of power. I took it to a dealership and they came up with a laundry list of things to fix. . . Most of which wouldn't have any bearing on this issue. I did have the serpentine belt replaced and the belt tensioner replaced due to wear on the belt and loose tension. On 7/16/25, I scanned the vehicle with a code reader, the codes p0301 and p0506 appeared. P0301 is a generic "cylinder 1 misfire detected" message and p0506 is a generic "iac system rpm lower than expected. The vehicle was taken to a shop where the spark plugs and the cylinder 1 coil was replaces and the iac cleaned. On 7/24/25 the same vehicle behaviors were observed and the same warning lights and messages were activated. I scanned the vehicle and got "p0300 random/multiple cylinder misfire detected and p0304 cylinder 4 misfire detected. There was a recall on this particular vehicle make, model and year and my vehicle was out of the VIN# range. I firmly believe that the recall needs to be expanded to include a larger number of vehicles. . . You can google about this vehicle and see many others with similar issues. Usually, the cure is a pcm reflashing/software update that seems to take care of the issue. Please expand the recall before someone dies in an accident because of this problem.

I own a 2020 Mazda Cx-5 equipped with the Mazda connect infotainment system. The touchscreen display malfunctions regularly by randomly selecting menu items, jumping between screens, zooming in and out, and activating functions without any input from me. These “phantom touch” events occur even when the vehicle is in drive, which means the touchscreen should be disabled — yet the system behaves as if it’s receiving constant false touch input. When this happens, I cannot back out of screens or use the physical control knob or buttons, making it extremely distracting and unsafe while driving. The dealer initially diagnosed it as a screen laminate issue, which they said isn’t covered under warranty. However, this appears to be a known defect in the cmu (connectivity master unit) that Mazda has not properly addressed in many cases, even though there is an ongoing class action settlement about it. The cmu passed their diagnostic test, but the issue persists — and others have reported receiving full replacements despite passing those same tests. Mazda refuses to escalate or repair unless the screen kit fails first. I believe this is a defect affecting driver safety, especially since it continues while the vehicle is moving.

. . . . . On at least 5 seperate occasions our 2021 Mazda cx5 SUV accelerated to a high rate of speed (on it's own). It has done it to my wife and I both. I contacted two different Mazda service centers and was advised they have no knowledge of this and that there are no open recalls or TSB's and as intermittent as it is it would be almost impossible to duplicate. On July 18th the car accelerated (on its own) again but this time it drove my wife into a tree at aprox. 35/40 mph breaking her ribs. The body shop informed me this morning that the car is a total loss. Mazda needs to get to the bottom of this and resolve this issue ASAP. This time it was a tree, the next time it may be at a crosswalk or at an intersection. It's just a mater of time until someone is killed or at the very least badly hurt. I don't know how Mazda can be unaware of this problem, it's all over the internet. Our body shop pulled it up on line and was shocked at the amount of complaints/ concerns that existed related to this problem. Please investigate this because the next person may not be as fortunate. Thank you in advance.