Mazda CX-5: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Mazda CX-5 problems by model year, from 2,195 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2018 (93%, 111 drivetrain complaints), 2021 (63%, 90 drivetrain complaints) and 2019 (59%, 154 drivetrain complaints). 5 of the 11 Mazda CX-5 years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 2 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2017 (23%), 2023 (23%) and 2014 (23%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2017 (23%) to 2018 (93%), up 70 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2019 drew the most drivetrain complaints (154 of 740 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Mazda CX-5 year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 CX-5 | too few to score | – | 0 | 1 | – | 0 |
| 2013 CX-5 | elevated | 36% | 70 | 194 | 5/11 | 1 |
| 2014 CX-5 | no elevated signal | 23% | 84 | 377 | 9/11 | 4 |
| 2015 CX-5 | no elevated signal | 27% | 33 | 133 | 8/11 | 4 |
| 2016 CX-5 | no elevated signal | 30% | 99 | 510 | 6/11 | 5 |
| 2017 CX-5 | no elevated signal | 23% | 32 | 148 | 11/11 | 1 |
| 2018 CX-5 | very high | 93% | 111 | 119 | 1/11 | 3 |
| 2019 CX-5 | high | 59% | 154 | 270 | 3/11 | 2 |
| 2020 CX-5 | no elevated signal | 27% | 27 | 107 | 7/11 | 0 |
| 2021 CX-5 | very high | 63% | 90 | 147 | 2/11 | 0 |
| 2022 CX-5 | elevated | 39% | 15 | 63 | 4/11 | 0 |
| 2023 CX-5 | no elevated signal | 23% | 25 | 126 | 10/11 | 2 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Mazda CX-5 years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Mazda CX-5 engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the Mazda CX-5 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 11 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2016 | 16V064000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap | 2014–2016 |
| Jun 2019 | 19V497000 | engine | 2018–2019 |
| Nov 2021 | 21V875000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2018–2019 |
8 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2016 | 16E002000 | visibility: windshield | 2014–2016 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V203000 | steering | 2014–2016 |
| Sep 2016 | 16V644000 | structure: body: hatchback/liftgate | 2013–2016 |
| Nov 2017 | 17V744000 | trailer hitches | 2017 |
| Jun 2018 | 18V426000 | air bags: side/window | 2018 |
| Feb 2020 | 20V063000 | exterior lighting: headlights | 2016 |
| Mar 2023 | 23V135000 | trailer hitches | 2023 |
| Apr 2023 | 23V275000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module | 2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Mazda CX-5
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Mazda CX-5
What are the worst years for the Mazda CX-5?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Mazda CX-5 years are the 2018 (93% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2021 (63% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2019 (59% of relevant complaints, high). 5 of 11 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Mazda CX-5?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Mazda CX-5 years are the 2017 (23%), the 2023 (23%) and the 2014 (23%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Mazda CX-5 have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 11 scored years, 740 of 1,949 relevant NHTSA complaints (38%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2013, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022.
Is the Mazda CX-5 reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 5 of 11 Mazda CX-5 years we score have an elevated complaint share and 6 do not. Pooled across those years, 38% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Mazda CX-5?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Mazda CX-5 years we track, out of 11 in total: 16V064000 (Feb 2016, 2014–2016), 19V497000 (Jun 2019, 2018–2019), 21V875000 (Nov 2021, 2018–2019). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.