repaired · 2024 Q2
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
2018 Mazda CX-5Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 356 owner complaints about the 2018 Mazda CX-5, most often about the engine. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-875 the manufacturer reports only 84% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 9, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2018 Mazda CX-5 has problems
356 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
183Engine5 crash/fire/injury
42Power train1 crash/fire/injury
32Service brakes7 crash/fire/injury
30Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
20Fuel/propulsion system
19Fuel system, gasoline
13Vehicle speed control
13Forward collision avoidance
12Structure
5418 other systems10 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 183 | 5 |
| Power train | 42 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 32 | 7 |
| Electrical system | 30 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 20 | 1 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 19 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | 4 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 13 | 0 |
| Structure | 12 | 1 |
| 18 other systems | 54 | 10 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2018 Mazda CX-5 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2020 Q4
repaired · 2019 Q4
Air bags: side/window
Risk. If the air bags do not deploy properly in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mazda.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
21kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 26 engine complaints. 92% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 23% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
15under 30k miles24under 100k miles2100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
23 owners mentioned a cost$5,500median
Middle half: $4,824 – $7,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2018 vs. every other CX-5 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the CX-5 median. How we score
'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2018 Mazda CX-5 safety ratings
2018 Mazda CX-5 SUV AWD Later Release in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (16.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What CX-5 owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
On XXX, I was driving my 2018 Mazda CX-5 (SKYACTIV-G 2.5 non-turbo with cylinder deactivation, 67,000 miles) on [XXX] in [XXX], on the way to a work conference. Shortly after I got off the highway, smoke suddenly started filling the cabin. I could smell burning oil, and I honestly thought the…
My Mazda dealership in Lodi recommended service on a timing cover seal. They could see oil leaking but failed to check if the oil was coming from the timing cover or cylinder head, which is a known issue according to a service bulletin. I left the dealership with a “ticking time bomb” in which my…
My 2018 Mazda CX-5 Touring (2.5L non-turbo engine with cylinder deactivation) developed a burning oil smell that steadily worsened over several days. On XXX, at about 61,300 miles, I saw smoke coming from the engine compartment after driving. The engine had not overheated, and the car was regularly…
Own a 2018 CX-5?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.