Power Train Problems of Mazda CX-5 - part 1

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.

Cylinder head suddenly cracked, causing heavy oil leakage onto hot exhaust manifold. Car started to smoke heavily. Vehicle turned off before potential engine fire.

See all problems of the 2018 Mazda CX-5 🔎.

Like many other complaints. My 2018 Mazda cx5 gt is having the same issue with the cracked cylinder head. I only have about 36-38k mileage on it ( I forgot the exact). Mazda dealership will not cover the cost. Never had an accident to the front and only one accident to the back when I got rear ended in 2019. If this is a wide spread issue, why is this not a recall? and why is it only the turbo engine gets extended warranty? the repair cost right now approximately $9,500. I never do any maintenance at Mazda so I doubt they will give me the good will assistance but I am still waiting for an answer. I hope nhsta will do something because this issue will continue with all other owners that have the same year model.

2018 Mazda Cx-5 awd with 2. 5 l engine, non turbo. Car has 98,914 miles. Rear differential started leaking oil. Dealer stated that the differential needs to be replaced, for $5,003. 33. Manual does not provide for oil change intervals. Lifetime oil. 98k must be the life expectancy. Has not been fixed yet. Sitting in the garage dripping oil onto a piece of cardboard. Independent shop looking for a low mileage used differential.

My 2018 cx5 just hit 50,000 miles recently and I smelled something burning and saw smoke coming from the hood while I was stopped for a school bus. I immediately stopped driving due to fire concerns. The vehicle has a cracked cylinder which is a known issue for this vehicle. Mazda has no plans to correct this issue other than issuing a technical bulletin. I feel that Mazda should repair this at their cost because it is a defect and the vehicle only has 50,000 miles. Instead I have to pay nearly $5,000. This is hard to believe! transcript from dealer: the technician reported an oil leak from the cylinder head, specifically indicating a crack in the number four lifter valley that is causing fluid to leak down the engine block. This issue is recognized as a known problem, and the technician will check if it is covered under warranty. Repairing the cylinder head will require significant labor, including dropping the engine, and will take some time to complete. Services being performed: - oil change. - inspection for oil leak issue. Recommendations: - replacement of the cylinder head due to the identified oil leak. Multi point inspection $4870. 22.

Any time the vehicle has been sitting with the engine off and has been given enough time to “cool down”, upon starting the vehicle and switching from park to drive, the vehicle will violently lurch forward while attempting to reach 2nd gear. This is dangerous behavior that is not normal for any vehicle. There is clearly something wrong with either the transmission or the way the software communicates with the transmission. When the engine is within normal temperature it doesn’t display this dangerous behavior. A similar TSB was issued for the 2nd generation of cx5s but not for this generation of cx5s.

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

Upon acceleration it’s not shifting gears properly. The rpm’s rev but the vehicle doesn’t go faster. Traffic behind me continued to accelerate to where I was concerned about being rear ended. I have not taken it to anyone yet. . It has done this a couple of times. Even though it’s a 2018 it only has 25000 miles on it. The dealer is an hour away and I”m afraid to drive it there because I don’t want to cause more problems. No warnings lights or messages.

My car has an issue officially diagnosed by a reputable mechanic that matches the claim of the former TSB sa-058/20 that was changed and clarified through the now existing TSB sa-031/21. My car has a cracked cylinder head. This is the non turbo engine but it does have cylinder deactivation which his believed to be a culprit. The cracking is known to be caused by a manufacturing defect. There is an existing class action lawsuit regarding the turbo versions. There are complexities as to wh this lawsuit is on behalf of the turbo engines, and not the non turbo engines, however the same problems are well documented and widely acknowledged throughout hundreds if not more instances of people online and by Mazda's acknowledgment of the problem through the TSB's. This put me at great safety risk. I was driving north bound right beside semi trucks and busy traffic at speed limits of 70 mph when my engine started smoking. I was able to pull over and get it to a nearby mechanic. They officially diagnosed the vehicle w the cracked cylinder head matching the aforementioned tsbs. Mazda denied my goodwill case, even though it was made without complete information on my situation and car, despite my best attempts to get to the one representing my case with the dealership(I tried to reach him for 2 days with no success). Getting a repair from Mazda dealerships was inconvenient for my location and schedule, but I've always had my vehicle properly serviced. Mazda said this repair would cost near $7500. A mechanic quoted me at least the amount of $5500.

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

My car only has 65k miles on it and the rear differential failed and needs to be replaced. I am seeing this posted online by many Mazda Cx-5 owners well under the mileage this typically happenes but out of the warranty period. Mazda should start a recall or compensate owners for this. Its never been in an accident simply a commuter car used around town.

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

2018 Mazda Cx-5, 58,182 miles. Report date is 3/7/2026, low mileage for it's age. Vehicle has been exclusively purchased and serviced at the same authorized Mazda dealership for the lifetime of the vehicle, with all maintenance records on file. I began experiencing a strong burning oil smell inside the passenger cabin while driving. The fumes were noticeable to both the driver and passengers, creating a potential carbon monoxide/combustion fume exposure hazard that posed a safety risk to all occupants. Upon bringing the vehicle to the dealership, the technician diagnosed a cracked cylinder head requiring full replacement. This is a significant structural engine defect. Despite the vehicle being dealer-serviced its entire life, the repair cost was initially placed entirely on the owner. Mazda eventually provided partial financial consideration, though the root cause of why a cylinder head cracked on a well-maintained 58,182-mile vehicle was never adequately explained. I am filing this complaint because fumes entering the passenger cabin represent a serious safety defect, and I believe this issue may affect other 2018 Cx-5 owners.

Started smelling burning oil in 2020 Mazda Cx-5 non turbo with 34,000 miles. Auto shop states it is a cracked cylinder that will cost over $7,000 to repair. A google search shows it is a known issue but Mazda has not extended the warranty for non-turbo models.

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

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.

Oil is leaking from the front timing chain cover and the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The issue was caught early enough before it was an acute safety issue, however this issue can cause smoke while driving and cause the vehicle to lose function while driving, endangering those in and around the vehicle in motion. The vehicle only has 35,000 miles on it, has been confirmed and documented by an independent service center, and this is a widespread well-known issue - the service center has had three vehicles in this week with the same exact issue, and Mazda issued a technical service bulletin detailing the issue and stating the root cause is a lack of sufficient sealant applied during manufacturing. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives - only a service center. There were no warning lamps or messages of the problem prior to failure - I was lucky to have this caught during a routine inspection.

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.

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 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.

Timing chain gasket leak, causing oil to go everywhere and smoking could cause a fire.

2018 Mazda Cx-5, 2. 5l na has been diagnosed with leak in the cylinder head cover, which has resulted in engine oil leaking directly onto the exhaust manifold. This leak produces significant smoke and a strong burning oil smell while the vehicle is running. There are numerous reports on Mazda owner forums describing the same issue occurring in Mazda Cx-5 models. Some owners even reported instances of minor fires or active burning under the hood due to oil contacting hot components. Mazda released technical service bulletin TSB #sa-031-21, which includes a redesigned cylinder head for the 2018–2019 Cx-5 models. This bulletin demonstrates Mazda’s awareness of the design flaw. The TSB only covers turbo 2. 5l engines and not normally aspirated engines. There is substantial evidence that this is a widespread defect in these model years, unrelated to owner misuse or vehicle mileage. Mazda should take full responsibility by issuing a formal recall or providing an extended warranty to address the problem and prevent safety risks.

Vehicle suffering from Mazda TSB 05-005/23 chirping noise from transaxle on 3rd to 4th gear upshift. Vehicle diagnosed by dealership as needing new transaxle on 17oct25. Diagnosis stated issue started ~32k miles.

What component or system failed: the cylinder head failed due to cracking around the exhaust manifold, resulting in exhaust and coolant leakage. My independent mechanic and the Mazda dealer both confirmed this was the source of the burning smell and engine risk. The failed parts are currently in the possession of the Mazda dealership and available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: the failure created a strong burning rubber smell inside and outside the vehicle while driving. My mechanic advised this type of leak could lead to engine overheating, sudden power loss, or potential fire risk if not caught early. I frequently transport children in the vehicle, and the unexpected engine damage posed a significant safety concern. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed: yes. The issue was first diagnosed by an independent, certified mechanic and then confirmed by the Mazda dealership, who determined the cylinder head had to be replaced due to premature cracking and leakage. Has the vehicle/component been inspected: yes. The vehicle has been fully inspected by an independent mechanic and the Mazda dealership service department. The dealership stated the failed cylinder head will be sent to Mazda for engineering review. Were there any warning lamps or symptoms before failure: there were no warning lights or error messages prior to the failure - which is alarming. The only initial symptom was a strong burning rubber smell that began shortly before the diagnosis. No overheating warnings appeared on the dash before the problem was confirmed. Additional context: the vehicle has 40,000 miles, has been fully maintained according to schedule, and is garage-kept. The Mazda service department acknowledged this failure is unusual and premature. 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 symptoms.

Driving about 20 to 35 mph accelerating I would get a distinctive one time chirp noise with a little bit of a stutter it happens every time I go about that speed accelerating. Thankfully my car was under pre-owned warranty but I have to get now. Three transmission flushes I have to pay $400 for and they have to replace a torque converter. I just got the car 10 days ago and only has 61,000 mi on it. Over the long term this could damage the transmission cause more and more issues.

The issue is iron is depositing in the transmission due to a bad torque converter, this is a known issue with Mazda and it doesn't seem to be something they are willing to cover and many people are experiencing this especially with the cx5 models. It causes jerking and chirping noise, plus will eventually ruin the transmission and will cause serious safety issues. Just look into the reddit threads.

Transmission failure, currently reproducible but car is at dealer to be evaluated/repaired. I was safe as I was still in my driveway, however if I was in traffic I would be at risk of an accident, by the time you realize you are not moving you have already let off the brake and could be rolling, fear is that if it happens at a traffic light other drivers woudl assume I am going to accelerate but I'm not. First time this happened dealer reproduced issue, contacted Mazda, and a replacement valve body was installed. Now that it has happened again within the first 33k miles it creates a trust issue. There were no warning sign either time the transmission failed. I also do not drive aggressively, wife says I drive like a grandpa. About 10-15 seconds after failure the alarms and warning lights go off.

See all problems of the 2022 Mazda CX-5 🔎.

The cylinder head has a crack in it witch sprays oil all over the engine. It also sprays oil on to the very catalitic converter that's very hot . Smoke is everywhere and iam afraid it will cause a fire.

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.

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

The “trailing link shaft” broke/split/tore apart at the right rear wheel. My car only has 16,500 miles. The vehicle was inspected by auto manufacturing dealer (Mazda). Mazda refused to admit it’s realting to manufacturing defect(s). I did not report it to police or my auto insurance carrier at that moment because I did not know what the issues were not until I dropped it off to my local dealer.

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

The contact owns a 2020 Mazda Cx-5. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked abnormally while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with transmission failure. The manufacturer was notified by the dealer about the failure, and the manufacturer agreed to partially cover the cost of the repair. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.

Rear differential failed around 97,000 miles. We were three months past our certified pre-owned warranty. Total cost to repair was around $4400 after a discount on parts and labor through our costco membership. Contacted Mazda to see if they’d be willing to provide any assistance to cover the repair, they declined. Service advisor told us that it was a catastrophic failure that we did not cause. We purchased this car in 2020 and have always had it serviced at the dealership and at no point did they bring it up as it being an issue. The rear differential should not fail.

The timing chain cover gasket failed and is leaking oil at 66,000 miles. It is currently being addressed at borgman Mazda in grand rapids. No crash or safety risk. There were no warning lamps, it was found by an separate inspection not from the dealership.

The contact owns a 2017 Mazda Cx-5. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear differential needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Rear differential began to leak. Mechanics (3) looked at the part and discovered play in both right and left side axles leading into rear differential along with loud clanking noises inside the differential itself. Seal areas on both sides of unit had extensive play. Diagnosed with worn gears inside rear differential. Vehicle is only 8 years old (bought brand new) and has 74,110 miles. Complaint filed with Mazda claiming that gears and rear differential should not have failed given the mileage. Mazda has advised me that the car was out of warranty (5yrs/60k mileage) that the repairs were not covered. They wanted me to drive my car to a local Mazda dealer but I declined since driving it may/would have caused more damage to differential. Advised them to have their mechanic go to my local repair facility where part was replaced and pick up the differential for verification. Research online has indicated other owners has suffered identical issues. Have not heard anything back from Mazda. Total cost to replace $3,993. 49.

The contact owns a 2024 Mazda Cx-5. The contact stated while driving at 45 mph, the check engine light illmiunated. The contact mention when depressing accelerator pedal, the rpm's get suck independently and the vehicle fails to respond as intended. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, however the dignanoses was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified on the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 39,381.

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

Just got diagnosed with cracked cylinder head. After looking on social media, it appears this is a thing for the model years 2018 and 2019. Bad casting? anyway I believe this should be a voluntary recall to correct such a flawed engine. I bought this new from a Mazda dealership and kept it up to date with service only through the dealer. The 60 month/60,000 mile drive train warranty ran out last July. However I only have 50,000 miles on the car. . . Babied.

One of the cylinder heads on the back portion of the motor cracked, leaking oil down into the engine compartment. I didn't realize this was an issue until I got a warning about low oil. I went and got an oil change and within 2 days I had the low oil warning again. I had no other warnings that this was going on. This creates a potentially dangerous situation with people leaking oil onto roads and highways unknowingly. It was inspected by Mazda and confirmed to be the issue. There is currently a TSB from Mazda about it. But my car wasn't included in it. TSB 01-002/23.

Smelled smoke (burnt oil) for over a year. Dealer could not address. Finally found that the cylinder heads had cracked and required replacement at $7500. Car was only 51k miles.