Mazda CX5 Common Problems: What You Need to Know

The Mazda CX5 is widely popular for its sleek design. The subcompact crossover has gained popularity amongst SUV enthusiasts due to its perfect combination of style, performance, and reliability. However, like any other vehicle, this Mazda’s beauty still encounters some hiccups along the road.

Mazda CX-5 common problems include:

• Windshield cracks easily
• Daytime running lights failure
• Transmission problems
• Premature brake wear
• Engine problems
• Infotainment system glitches
• Mazda CX-5 electrical problems

In this article, we will dive deeper into the realm of Mazda CX5 and shed more light on the most common problems encountered by its owners. While these issues may not plague just every CX-5 on the road, being aware of them will help you handle any issues that may arise along the way.

Mazda CX5 Common Problems

Below, we discuss the most common problems that tend to occasionally affect the Mazda CX5 vehicles. We’ll also explore possible solutions and tips to help prevent these problems from occurring in your vehicle.

Windshield cracks easily

One of the most commonly reported problems with the Mazda CX-5 is its windshield breaking easily. According to most of the car owners, this crack appears from nowhere, starts out small, and then continues to expand.

From the reports we came across, all drivers seem to agree that no impact on the windshield may have caused the cracking.

Some owners may have left their vehicles parked in the garage overnight, only to find them with a spider web crack on the windshield the next morning. The problem is quite common in Mazda CX-5s from 2014 to 2017.

Driving with a cracked windshield can be quite disturbing. Depending on your state, you may be going against the law if you fail to fix it.

If your cx-5 windshield cracks, the best fix here is to replace it as soon as possible. There are preventive measures to consider since this happens out of nowhere.

When buying your Mazda CX-5, we advise you to push for the windshield to be put under the warranty. This will ensure the manufacturer takes care of the problem if it arises.

Mazda CX-5 transmission problems

Transmission system issues are also common in Mazda cx-5s. One of the most affected models is the 2014 cx5. It seems to have issues with the trans clicking into gear.

Some owners report that when they attempt to put the car into gear, the engine revs but nothing happens. The transmission then clunks into gear and abruptly moves forward, giving the impression that you’re a bad driver.

Some other owners also complain about their car lurching forward when it starts moving (i.e., not smooth acceleration).

Transmission issues also plague the 2016 cx5 model. The vehicle owners complain about their vehicles revving up and failing to shift gears. This is akin to total transmission failure.

In this case, a full tranny replacement will be needed. And as you can easily guess, this isn’t a cheap fix.

Though transmission system issues can happen at any time, they usually tend to affect the vehicles at around 10,000 to 30,000 miles mark.

Immediately you notice signs of transmission troubles or Mazda cx-5 manual gearbox problems, we advise you to act promptly to prevent further damage to your trans which may cost you dearly to fix.

No Mazda CX-5 transmission recall has been made so far, which means you’ll need to incur the repair costs on your own.

Daytime running lights (DRLs) failure

Another widely reported Mazda CX-5 problem—specifically for the 2016 model—is the daytime running light failure.

Judging by the driver complaints, however, the issue doesn’t affect the functionality of low and high-beam lights.

According to carcomplaints, the issue affects vehicles with an average mileage of 45,000 miles.

This issue is mostly caused by the wrong specifications of the gasket responsible for sealing the wiring connector. This causes the circuit tasked with controlling the lights to rust and corrode, causing the DLRs not to receive power.

To fix this issue, the sealing gasket needs a replacement. However, in some cases, the whole headlight or headlight assembly may require a replacement.

Note that Mazda issued a recall for 36,761+ CX-5s due to faulty daytime running lights. This means if your car experiences this issue, the dealer should fix it at no cost to you.

And if you have already paid for this repair, you’d want to reach out to Mazda for reimbursement.

Premature brake wear

While this issue isn’t quite widespread, it affects many drivers and therefore qualifies as another common problem for the CX5s.

Many drivers have reported premature brake wear. This problem seems to be more prevalent in the 2016 model and seems to affect cars at an early mileage mark of around 28,800 miles.

This happens as a result of the brake pads and rotors wearing out faster than expected. This may lead to increased stopping distance, decreased braking performance, and more frequent brake replacements.

Factors that could cause premature brake wear include the quality of brake components used. However, your driving habits and the environmental conditions may also contribute to the issue.

When your vehicle encounters this problem, you’ll need to consider brake replacement as the best fix. The repair cost can be around $300 to $800, depending on what components are used and the labor fees.

We advise you to invest in quality brake components to help save you money and ensure better braking performance in your vehicle.

Engine problems

This Mazda crossover is also not without some engine issues affecting most of its models.

According to the data collected by carcomplaints, the engine issues affected models from 2013 to 2021, with the 2013, 2014, and 2018 models reporting the highest number of issues.

The most common engine issues across these vehicle models include check engine light coming on, unexplained acceleration on applying the brakes, and power loss when driving the car.

The car lurching forward at a complete stop issue has been attributed to the vapor purge solenoid.

From time to time, cx-5 owners also reported a ticking noise coming from their vehicle turbo. This is usually less common and is attributed to inadequate fuel or poor lubrication.

When your car starts experiencing engine-related issues, you’d want to have a qualified Mazda technician or your dealership inspect it.

They can easily find any underlying problems and fix them to make your engine functional again.

Infotainment system glitches

The infotainment system of CX-5 has also been reported to be problematic. Many drivers complain about the infotainment system going haywire and making random, unprompted sections without the car owner touching it.

This issue has been given the name “ghost touch” as the screen seems to be controlled by an invisible being.

Vehicle owners who have encountered this problem have complained about random and intended events below:

• Changing the radio stations
• Switching between functions
• Exiting navigation
• Dialing phone numbers
• Beeping sounds
• Selecting random buttons
• Turning the display into night mode
• Continuous reboot and freezing, and so on.

Though this issue isn’t life-threatening, it’s definitely frustrating. The issue has been reported on CX-5 models from 2017 to 2021.

Some car owners were forced to buy new displays for their vehicles that may cost well over $1,200. Other owners were able to get around this problem by dialing the touchscreen on their infotainment system.

Note that Mazda hasn’t issued recalls for this problem in CX-5, so you’ll have to fix it on your own. The vehicle owners have also reported that Mazda won’t help fix this problem outside the warranty.

Mazda CX-5 electrical problems

Electrical problems have also been reported in MazdaCX-5. One such common issue is the radio and headlights staying on when you shut your car engine. This problem was common in the 2013 and 2014 models.

Most car owners were forced to put their vehicles in park position several times to help fix this problem.

The cause of this problem was the ignition/electrical system failing to turn off the battery when the engine turned off. This would result in the battery being completely drained and making your car fail to start.

When faced with this issue, a faulty sensor on your vehicle transmission is usually the culprit. So, you should take your vehicle to a mechanic or dealership to have it replaced for about $250.

Another solution suggested by car owners is to try driving your car around a bit and then try to power it off again.

Others suggest turning the engine back on, shifting through different gears, and then turning the power off. The battery will get powered off at some random iteration.

Mazda cx-5 years to avoid

When getting a used CX-5, you want to ensure you get a model that’s reliable and won’t be a hive of problems. That said, the Mazda CX5 years to avoid include the 2014 and 2016 models.

The 2014 model year reported the highest number of electrical issues, brake problems, engine issues, exterior accessory issues, and others.

Most owners of this vehicle complained about premature brake wear, engine revving and clunking into gear when stopped, and the engine failing to completely shut down.

Carcomplaints have rated the 2016 cx-5 as the worst model year. The most common issues reported for this vehicle include brake lights, electrical systems, drivetrain issues, and engine problems.

Some of the worst problems owners of this model reported include daytime running light failure, premature brake wear, and broken windshields.

Problems with Mazda CX-5 diesel

The Mazda CX-5 diesel engine seems to be problematic and good at the same time.

According to the reviews by car owners on this forum discussion, the most common issues with the Mazda CX5 diesel engine include:

• Overheating engine
• Head gasket issue
• Carbon in the oil issue
• Coolant leaks

Most car owners report a faulty radiator cap that seems to bleed all the coolant into the overflow bottle.

The coolant then overflows and isn’t sucked back into the radiator after it cools down. This will cause the engine coolant to drop low and the engine to overheat.

If you’re interested in learning more about common problems in Mazda vehicles, you might also find our articles on Mazda 323 common problems and Mazda 6 common problems helpful. These resources provide insights into the issues faced by Mazda vehicle owners.

Conclusion

That’s it about the most common Mazda CX-5 problems. The Mazda CX-5 problems and complaints that you need to be aware of include transmission issues windshield cracking, premature brake wear, daytime running lights failure, infotainment system issues, engine problems, and electric issues. The worst model years to avoid include the 2014 and 2016 models as they have received the highest number of complaints.

Whether you already own a Mazda CX5 or planning to get a used one, knowing these common problems will enable you to be better equipped to handle them when they arise. Remember to adhere to the manufacturer-recommended maintenance of your vehicle to help prevent these problems from occurring in your vehicle in the first place.