Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Mazda CX-5 - part 1

My 2018 Mazda Cx-5 with 81,000 miles and an up to date maintenance record started leaking oil after an oil change. It started to notice smoke coming from under the hood and a puddle of oil in my garage floor. I took it to the shop where they determined it was a cracked cylinder head. I purchased this vehicle new from the dealership, and I have taken really good care of it. They need to issue a recall because it is a very expensive repair. Shame on you Mazda!!.

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The contact owns a 2021 Mazda Cx-5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the forward collision avoidance automatic emergency brakes activated unintendedly, and the vehicle jerked to the left and independently accelerated and moved back in the lane intended lane. The vehicle then jerked to the right, unintendedly accelerated, and then went back into the intended lane. Then the vehicle resumed normal operation. While driving approximately 60-65 mph a week later, the vehicle started jerking. The “Smart city brake malfunction” message was displayed, and the engine warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.

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Vehicle developed burning oil smell. Dealership diagnosed a cracked cylinder head. No warning lights (yet. Eventually low oil pressure light would come on. ) potential for engine to lock up and lose power while driving putting occupants and others at risk. Know problem for 2018-2021 model years. Car no longer under warranty. Cost to repair $7,100. Technical service bulletin sa-031-21 issued regarding this problem.

Cracked cylinder head at 109521miles, no warning, no temp gage no light indicators came on. I have pictures of vehicle dashboard showing no warning as it is smoking going to Mazda dealership. Dealership advised me of this being an issue in my make and model> I also have video from dealership. I have reached out to Mazda several times, its going on 5 weeks and I am getting the run around. Please let me know what other information is needed.

Vehicle was taken to an authorized Mazda dealership for 60,000-mile service; coolant system drained and refilled. Immediately after service, check engine light illuminated (p011a – engine coolant temperature sensor correlation issue). Dealership retained vehicle, drove ~300 miles, performed a second coolant flush; issue persisted. Dealer determined heater core clogged, attributed to coolant contamination/corrosion introduced during service. Another Cx-5 at the same dealership experienced the same issue. Safety concerns: heater and coolant system failure may affect cabin comfort and engine temperature monitoring. Occurred immediately after authorized service, suggesting procedural or system-related defect. Noted in Mazda technical service bulletin 07-007/19 as a known issue. Attempts at resolution: Mazda offered partial goodwill assistance (~$775–$875) and assigned partial responsibility to the customer. Multiple attempts to escalate with Mazda customer experience (case manager betty) have not resulted in a satisfactory resolution. Dublin Mazda dealership service department, mr. Frank gozales (866-502-9912) mentioned original coolant by Mazda has caused this issue on 2016, and 2017 Mazda cx5 and is Mazda problem. I am requesting NHTSA review of this issue for potential defect or safety investigation.

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Cracked cylinder head confirmed by Mazda dealership. No warning lights or indicators. We noticed white smoke and a burnt plastic smell after a drive one night. Dealership confirmed oil was leaking onto the exhaust, a potential fire hazard.

My 2019 Mazda Cx-5 with approximately 78,000 miles developed a sudden major engine oil leak. The Mazda dealership diagnosed the issue as a cracked cylinder head and quoted approximately $5,600 for repair. The vehicle was properly maintained and this failure occurred without warning. A cylinder head failure at this mileage appears premature and may represent a defect. The oil leak created a large puddle under the vehicle and could pose a potential safety hazard due to loss of engine oil.

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My 2019 Mazda Cx-5 started to smoke from the engine and I could smell oil burning. My car was due for an oil change so I brough it to a mechanic. After a diagnostic, they determined that there was a major oil leak and that the cylinder head was cracked and suggested I take it to the dealership. I did and they confirmed that there was a cracked cylinder head causing the massive oil leak. The technician even said in a video sent to me that the oil is leaking "in the same place as the others". I was then quoted $5,960. 75 to make this repair. I did research and found that this is a manufacturing defect that is long known to Mazda. There is a TSB and a cps that extends the warranty for this issue but only for turbo engines, not my non-turbo engine. My car is 2 years past the warranty but I only have 32k miles on it. I asked if Mazda could cover all or some of the cost since it is a defect, not caused by anything I did or didn't do. I was then told that because I didn't take my car there regularly for service, that they wouldn't cover it. I regularly took my car in for oil changes and other maintenance to a local shop as the nearest dealership was almost 30 miles away so it was very inconvenient. It's outrageous that Mazda won't issue a recall or extend the warranty for the same issue in the non-turbo engines. Asking me to pay $6k for a defect they caused is unconscionable.

The contact owns a 2021 Mazda Cx-5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was advised by the dealer to continue adding oil to the engine as needed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 46,465.

I started observing oil leaks and took it to the dealership. They changed the gasket for 2500$ and the oil leak worsened. Dealer is asking for $4500 to replace a bad cylinder head. I am told that this is a common Mazda manufacturing defect and Mazda denied the repair cost coverage request. Any help would be really appreciated. This is commonly reported Mazda issue and especially on a low mileage vehicle woth 56000 miles on, this is not fulfilling the promise of quality machinery.

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.

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Vehicle information year/make/model: 2018 Mazda Cx-5 engine: 2. 5l mileage at failure: approximately 115,000 miles component: engine complaint summary: I am reporting a sudden and unsafe engine failure involving a cracked cylinder head in my 2018 Mazda Cx-5. This failure occurred without warning at approximately 115,000 miles and resulted in significant oil leakage from the engine. Description of the failure and safety risk: while operating the vehicle, I detected a strong burning oil odor followed by visible smoke coming from the engine compartment. Upon inspection, it was determined that the cylinder head had cracked, allowing engine oil to leak onto hot engine and exhaust components. This condition presents a serious safety hazard, including the risk of fire due to oil contacting high-temperature surfaces. Notably, there were no warning lights, messages, or prior indicators of any issue before the failure occurred. The vehicle has been properly maintained and has not experienced overheating or misuse that would reasonably lead to this type of failure. Repair information: the vehicle was diagnosed by an authorized Mazda dealership, which confirmed a cracked cylinder head. The estimated cost of repair is approximately $5,130. Additional information / defect pattern: through independent research, I have identified multiple reports of similar failures involving Mazda 2. 5l engines in comparable vehicles. These reports describe nearly identical symptoms, including sudden oil leakage, smoke, and cracked cylinder heads at relatively low mileage. This pattern suggests a potential manufacturing or material defect rather than normal wear and tear. Manufacturer response: I have contacted Mazda customer experience and escalated the matter. Mazda has declined to provide any assistance, citing the vehicle being out of warranty, despite the nature of the failure and associated safety concerns. Summary: this issue involves a critical engine component failure that can le.

I am reporting a safety issue involving engine failure and fumes entering the vehicle cabin as well as unintended braking post major engine repair at 75,000 miles on my 2018 Mazda cx5. My vehicle developed engine problems consistent with a cylinder head/coolant defect and began allowing fumes/smoke to enter the cabin while driving. This created a health and safety concern for occupants. I reported this to the dealership and was told the vehicle was safe to drive despite the presence of fumes in the cabin. A major engine repair was later performed. A few days following the repair, additional warning lights and system malfunctions appeared, including brake system warnings, and the vehicle later braked unexpectedly while driving nearly causing me to be rear-ended. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership, but the root cause of the fumes and subsequent safety issues has not been clearly explained. This situation created a safety risk due to exposure to fumes inside the cabin and unexpected vehicle behavior while driving. Smoke/fumes video and any additional documentation can be provided upon request. Attaching the costly invoice as well.

Incident description: on multiple occasions in January and February 2026, while operating a 2024 Mazda Cx-5 in reverse on low-friction surfaces (snow/ice) with a slight incline, the vehicle suffered a total systemic failure. System failures: while reversing at low speeds, the engine spontaneously shut off without warning. This resulted in an immediate loss of power braking and power steering. Simultaneously, the electronic gear selector (shifter) became non-functional, preventing the vehicle from being placed into 'park' to stop the uncontrolled rearward slide. Safety risk: the vehicle became a "runaway" object on several occasions. In one instance, the vehicle narrowly avoided crushing a pedestrian against another parked car, stopping only when the tires reached a different surface texture. In a separate incident, the vehicle slid uncontrolled down a residential hill, striking snowbanks. There is a grave concern regarding whether the supplemental restraint system (airbags) remains functional during these engine-stall events, as the dealer could not confirm occupant protection status during a total power loss. Inspection & reproduction: the vehicle was presented to an authorized Mazda dealer on March 3, 2026. The service department attempted to replicate the issue by reversing over soapy water on a gravel surface. However, due to the high friction of the gravel, they were unable to induce the specific tire-slip/low-traction conditions required to trigger the malfunction. No error codes were found during an informal scan, and no warning lamps or messages appeared prior to or during the failures. Component for inspection: the vehicle is available for inspection. I believe the failure is rooted in the traction control or engine management software, which appears to improperly shut down the powertrain when it detects specific wheel-spin patterns in reverse, subsequently disabling critical safety systems including brakes and transmission locks.

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I am reporting a premature engine failure on my 2019 Mazda Cx-5 with approximately 55,000 miles. The vehicle developed a significant engine oil leak that was diagnosed by a repair facility as a casting failure in the cylinder head behind the timing cover. Due to the location of the leak and the nature of the defect, the entire cylinder head assembly had to be replaced. The total repair cost was $5,262. 32, which I paid out of pocket. The repair documentation indicates that Mazda has issued a technical service bulletin addressing this condition, but there is currently no recall or warranty extension covering the issue for my vehicle. A cylinder head casting failure at such low mileage appears premature and not consistent with normal wear and tear on a properly maintained engine. An engine oil leak of this nature could potentially create safety risks, including oil contamination of engine components or the possibility of oil leaking onto hot engine parts. Because this issue appears to be documented by Mazda through technical service guidance and has resulted in a costly major engine repair at relatively low mileage, I believe it should be investigated to determine whether a broader manufacturing defect exists that could affect other vehicles. I am submitting this complaint so that the issue is documented and can be evaluated for potential safety concerns or a future recall if similar failures are occurring in other vehicles.

My 2018 Mazda Cx-5 awd (2. 5l skyactiv-g, non-turbo) was diagnosed by a Mazda dealer with a cracked/leaking cylinder head, a known manufacturing defect in the casting of the aluminum cylinder head. Engine oil is leaking from the rear of the cylinder head onto the exhaust manifold, creating a burning oil smell and visible oil accumulation at the rear of the engine. This is a documented fire hazard. The Mazda dealer confirmed the diagnosis matches technical service bulletin sa-031-21, which Mazda issued in may 2021 specifically for this defective cylinder head design on 2018–2019 Cx-5 models. The dealer additionally informed me that Mazda has internally acknowledged this as a growing, widespread problem across the 2018–2021 Cx-5 model years, and that a recall may be forthcoming. Mazda customer service denied my goodwill repair claim despite acknowledging the TSB. The estimated repair cost is $7,000. The vehicle is currently not being driven due to the fire risk of oil contacting the exhaust manifold. This defect appears to affect a significant number of 2018–2021 Mazda Cx-5 vehicles. I am requesting NHTSA open a formal safety defect investigation and compel Mazda to issue a recall. Multiple other owners have reported the same issue on NHTSA and in owner forums. This is a manufacturing defect not normal wear and tear and poses a serious fire safety risk to consumers.

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.

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The engine cylinder head cracked and is leaking engine oil. This component is available for inspection at liberty Mazda or by an independent certified mechanic upon request. The cracked cylinder head caused significant engine oil leakage, which created the following safety risks: sudden loss of engine power or stalling while driving smoke emission from the engine bay potential fire hazard if leaking oil contacted hot engine components these conditions placed both the driver, passengers, and others on the road at risk. The cracked cylinder head and associated oil leak were diagnosed and confirmed by liberty Mazda, the authorized dealership that performed prior repairs on this vehicle. The dealership documented the issue and provided a repair estimate of approximately $5,400. No independent service center has inspected the vehicle at this time. The vehicle and cylinder head have only been inspected by liberty Mazda. Mazda corporate has not physically inspected the vehicle, but all service records and documentation of prior repairs have been submitted to them during the warranty dispute process. There has been no inspection by police, insurance representatives, or other third parties may 2025: the vehicle intermittently struggled to accelerate. At that time, no dashboard warning lamps illuminated, and the dealership initially reported no issues. June 2025: following the timing cover repair, the vehicle experienced engine oil leakage due to incorrect sealant installation, which was documented. February 10, 2026: the dealership repaired the oil pan seal and replaced the sealant, refilling engine oil. February 14–15, 2026: approximately four to five days after the February 10 service, the cylinder head cracked, causing a significant oil leak. All symptoms and related service events are documented in liberty Mazda’s service records.

The vehicle's cylinder head has developed a structural crack at on the casting, a known manufacturing defect identified by the manufacturer in service advisory sa-037/23. This failure is causing pressurized engine oil to leak directly onto the hot exhaust manifold while the vehicle is in operation. The leaking oil is pooling on high-temperature exhaust components, creating a significant risk of fire while driving. The leak generates heavy smoke and noxious burning oil fumes that are entering the passenger cabin through the hvac system, causing respiratory issues.

All of a sudden, my engine started making this ticking noise. I brought it to a mechanic, and he said the noise is coming from inside the engine. He checked for codes and everything, but nothing came up. The only way to look at it is to take the engine apart from what he told me. I started researching for solutions online before doing this and I came across other Mazda cx5 owners complaining of the same thing. I listened to a few of these videos of the sound it makes and sounds just like my car. Apparently, it is a common issue connected with the hydraulic lash adjusters, and I am amazed that Mazda has not reached out to people affected by this. I am not sure what the long-term issue is with this noise, but it can't be good if it's in the engine. Who knows what kind of damage it could cause.

Timing chain cover leaking.

Turned car on when leaving for work. Smelled a strong burning smell. Fluid all under car on the driveway. Took the vehicle to repair shop and they stated that it was the cylinder head and that there was a possible recall or warranty extension for this particular issue. I called Mazda and they said it was an issue but for the 2019 model and not the 2018. After doing some research I have read where this issue seems to be happening for the 2018 as well and they are not taking responsibility for it.

The head on the 2. 4l engine of the 2019 Mazda cx5 has shown a manufacturing defect that Mazda has addressed in certain models, but not all of the models with this engine. This leaves a large amount of vehicle owners with the financial liability to pay out of pocket for Mazda's engineering and manufacturing defect that they know about. The oil leaks onto the exhaust manifold creating a fire hazard. When driving our car, we cannot use outside air on the vents, a/c because the intake pulls in smoke coming from the engine compartment. I brought the car in today to Mazda and was denied any help in the repair, I am continuing with Mazda corporate to try and reach a resolution. Currently this will be roughly a $7000 repair. I do not have an estimate yet from the dealership.

I am being told there is a crack in the cylinder head that is a known issue for these vehicles. I have done some research online and it says that they installed defective cylinders in vehicles that were made between the years 2018-2020 leaving vehicle owners to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket due to a manufacturing defect. My car was smoking and smelling like something burnt even inside the car causing the driver to inhale those fumes, I took it to the shop and it turns out that the cylinder head is cracked and leaking the oil.

My VIN indicates the 2. 5l non-turbo skyactiv engine. Many 2019 Cx-5 touring models with this engine used cylinder deactivation, which is the version that has had some cylinder head cracking complaints. The engine type has documented failures my mileage (96k) is not extremely high for an engine the repair cost is very high ($5,500+) Mazda is refusing to help me out of goodwill assistance and ive only had the car for a year. They know this is a problem and fixed it for the turbos but not the non turbos! this is ridiculous, I expected a car to last more than 96k miles this can cause a fire or a stall and can cause a crash.

Cracked cylinder head due to defect in the casting process. Oil leaking thru the crack landing on the exhaust manifold causing an odor and possibly toxic fumes in the cabin of the vehicle.

The vehicle has suffered a crack of the cylinder head assembly which leads to engine oil leaking onto hot exhaust and fire hazard. This defect is officially documented by the manufacturer in service alert sa-031/21, which identifies a trend of aluminum heads cracking and leaking pressurized oil directly onto the hot exhaust manifold. Although Mazda has issued a 10-year/120,000-mile warranty extension (program csp11) for the exact same casting failure in its turbo-equipped models, it has refused to provide similar "goodwill" relief for my vehicle, despite it suffering from the identical engineering flaw. Mazda’s refusal to cover a verified latent manufacturing defect that poses a significant fire hazard is arbitrary and unfair. I am requesting that Mazda north american operations provide full reimbursement for the $6,788. 51 repair.

While driving, my 2018 Mazda Cx-5 experienced a sudden and complete loss of engine power without warning. The engine shut down while the vehicle was in motion; however, electrical systems such as the radio, heat, and electronics remained operational. The vehicle lost propulsion, creating a serious safety risk in traffic. The vehicle had recently been serviced at an authorized Mazda dealer for completion of pcm and fuel-system recalls. Shortly after recall service, the engine failure occurred. No warning lights or prior symptoms were present. An independent mechanic suggested possible engine seizure, but a full diagnostic evaluation (including compression testing or internal inspection) has not been completed. The cause of the sudden power loss remains undetermined. This incident represents a potential safety defect involving unexpected engine shutdown and loss of propulsion.

On 12/10/25, my 2019 cx5 na had major oil leak after smelling a burning smell for a few days. Took it into local mechanic and he couldn’t find the leak, did an engine wash and additional testing before identifying a crack in the cylinder head; the leak was coming from the exhaust manifold. There was oil all over the engine and the underbelly of the vehicle; according to the mechanic, I was lucky the car didn’t start on fire with the amount of oil. I was informed that this is a common problem with the turbos and the nas but the extended warranty only included the turbo engines. Contacted Mazda customer experience and set up an appointment. Vehicle went to the Mazda dealership on 12/15 and it was confirmed that there was a crack in the cylinder head and received an estimate of $11,000 needed for repairs. $7000 of that was for a new cylinder head. This was after an independent mechanic inspected my vehicle and stated everything looked good besides the main issue and needing new rear breaks in the next few months. 12/15-contacted Mazda customer experience and and case file was opened. 12/16-contacted customer experience back due to not receiving a call and received the name and extension of the assigned case manager. 12/17- still had not received a call back and left voicemail for case manager. Requested a call back to myself and the dealership; received a call back a few hours later and I was never asked what happened but was informed that Mazda corporate could not help me due to the warranty being expired. I am now required to pay over $250 to the dealership for an inspection of the vehicle I never requested. There were initially no warning signs but then the low oil light came on after 3 days of smelling something burning.

The infotainment system consistently changes stations and volume on its own. Knob will not allow you to make adjustments . Contacted dealer and infotainment is not covered under warranty , or extended warranty. Now the collision notification is not working. Warnings from system that it has failed and causes system to not register any movement . This has been going on recently. Now have to drive it as it doesn’t have the system. And have to use my apple play for radio as infotainment keeps failing to include radio and navigation told by dealer that the infotainment system is not mounted into the dash and sticks up , so the heat from sun and summer has fried th system. Has been ongoing for over a year just found site to report it . Will not buy another vehicle with infotainment system sticking up out of dashboard.

The 2019 Cx-5 awd with the 2. 5l na engine (with cylinder deactivation) has an engine oil leak coming from the cylinder head area. The Mazda dealer confirmed the leak source and found burnt oil on the exhaust. The component is available for inspection. The leak location and symptoms are consistent with the known porous/cracked cylinder-head defect documented in this engine family. Full confirmation requires teardown. In early Dec 2025, a burning oil smell began, then thick white smoke came from under the hood while driving and after stopping. This created an immediate fire risk, and rapid oil loss could cause sudden engine failure or stall in traffic. The issue was inspected and confirmed by an independent mechanic, who noted the leak could only be traced after removing the exhaust manifold. The Mazda dealership then inspected it and confirmed the leak source at the cylinder-head area and the burnt oil residue. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by both the independent mechanic and the Mazda dealer. No warning lights or messages appeared prior to the smoke. Mazda has an extended warranty program for the same cylinder-head defect on the turbo engine, but no equivalent coverage exists for the na engine, despite the identical safety risks.

While driving a short distance, my engine overheated and there was a strong burning smell. The cylinder head was cracked, causing a significant oil leak. The car is currently at the dealership but is available for inspection upon request. The defective cylinder head is leaking engine oil directly onto hot exhaust components. This creates an immediate risk of engine fire and causes smoke to enter the vehicle cabin, impairing visibility and driver health. The vehicle was diagnosed by an authorized Mazda dealership. They confirmed the cylinder head is cracked and requires replacement. My mechanic advised this type of leak could lead to engine overheating, sudden power loss, or potential fire risk and should not be driven. Mazda has issued prior technical service bulletins and warranty extensions for similar cylinder head/manifold cracking issues on the 2. 5l turbo engine, but no program exists for the non-turbo engine, despite identical problems. Mazda should be held responsible for this safety issue. Mazda is aware of this manufacturing defect but has not recalled these engines to be repaired or replaced if they are outside of their warranty period, placing costly repairs and potentially life-threatening situations on their customers. The repair is replacement of the cylinder head/sleeve or replacement of the engine block, which has since been modified by Mazda to resolve this issue. Mazda’s refusal to extend reimbursement to non-turbo owners is unfair and leaves affected customers with no support for a known manufacturing flaw. I urge NHTSA to investigate this recurring engine defect in non-turbo 2019–2020 Mazda Cx-5 models and encourage Mazda to offer equal reimbursement.

Low engine oil level light on about 1000 miles from last oil changed. Dealer fixed the Mazda recall code: p250f on July 30, 2025. Now is same issue of low engine oil level light on again on November 19, 2025.

Mazda has inspected the car and determined that there is a crack in the cylinder head. This is apparently a known defect in 2018-2021 Mazdas with 2. 5l engines, including, without limitation, the 2018 Mazda Cx-5. The cracked cylinder head has caused leaking coolant, which can drain into the engine and create serious safety issues. Mazda is aware of the issue, however, they are claiming that it is not covered by warranty.

The cyclinder head cracked. This could cause the engine to fail, and leaving the driver on the highway or other unsafe locations of travel. The certified repair shop along with the insurance adjuster advised it was a manufacturing defect. The warning sign was an oil burning smell inside the vehicle while stationary and inside the garage.