All reports
40When my car starts up, engine rpm is around 1500 or above 1000. If I would switch to reverse, the car sudden jerks back stronger and quicker than I expected even though my foot isn’t on the accelerator pedal and have pressed the brake lightly.
On 09/01/2026 at approximately 55 mph, I was driving with adaptive cruise control engaged. The vehicle ahead decelerated abruptly. My vehicle began braking hard with no input from me for a fraction of a second. A red BRAKE warning appeared in the instrument cluster with an audible alarm. I then applied the brake pedal hard. On first contact the pedal barely moved from its rest position and was extremely firm. About a second into my application, while still traveling at over 25 mph, pedal resistance dropped sharply and pedal travel increased substantially. I had to push the pedal several inches farther to get back to comparable deceleration. The pedal did not pulse or vibrate. I came to a matching speed roughly one car length from the vehicle ahead, and only because I kept braking hard. I did not see an MRCC Cancelled message, though the BRAKE warning occupies the same part of the display, so I cannot say whether the initial deceleration came from Mazda Radar Cruise Control or Smart Brake Support. No brake, ABS, or DSC warning lamp illuminated before, during, or after the event, and none has since. There were no symptoms beforehand, and the brakes have worked normally since. Failed component: unknown. I cannot determine whether the change in pedal feel came from the brake booster, the DSC hydraulic control unit, the master cylinder, or the driver assistance system handing brake control back to me. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone and no service center has reproduced the issue. The vehicle is available for inspection if needed. If a driver assistance system is commanding brake pressure and withdraws it during the driver intervention, total deceleration can drop at the moment when the driver still wants to stop aggressively to avoid a crash. Suddenly, the driver has to find the extra pedal travel while still closing on the obstacle. I slowed to a safe speed in time. With less room, or less attentiveness, I may not have been able to.
We purchased a certified pre-owned Mazda CX-5 from Wellesley Mazda in [XXX] on XXX. As soon as we got home and tried to exit the vehicle, we noticed that the driver's seatbelt was not releasing. Since then, we have noticed that the seat belt has not latched or unlatched properly. Our concern is that a manufacturer-certified vehicle was delivered to a consumer with an intermittently failing primary locking restraint mechanism. There should have been a 160-point inspection done before this car was delivered in order for it to be considered pre-owned. This car is driven by our son who has been put at risk by a faulty restraint device. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The vehicle experienced a sudden and complete engine stall while idling immediately after fueling the gas tank to capacity on a day with high ambient temperatures (over 100°F). Leading up to the stall, the vehicle was subjected to temporary auxiliary loads (Max AC running and active steering input). Immediately following the stall, the vehicle exhibited a hard-start condition and would not catch fire. After sitting turned off for several minutes, the vehicle restarted normally. The incident left no Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) or Check Engine Lights. Independent of this event, the vehicle intermittently exhibits a raw gasoline vapor smell inside the cabin at idle, alongside slight hesitations during low-speed steering maneuvers. This presents a safety hazard due to unexpected loss of motive power immediately after refueling in high-traffic gas station environments.
Check Engine Light Code P0524 - Low Oil Pressure. Everything check out fine. Checked all the suggested TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) possibilities from a respected and qualified service center. Cleared the code and it keeps coming back on.
The passenger seat occupancy sensor goes off intermittently, causing an extremely distracting seatbelt alarm in the vehicle during operation. This has occurred to me while driving on a highway; I deeply lost focus on controlling the vehicle as the alarm started suddenly, I shoved the one water bottle off the seat to no avail, and I had to reach way over to plug the seatbelt in to silence it. In other instances where this occurs, only a full restart of the vehicle will reset the sensor. Existing TSB 08-001/23 was deemed to not cover my vehicle by the manufacturer, despite my VIN being in range and symptoms being identical.
Brake pedals do not have enough pedal reserve, it takes some time for it to come to a stop. The brakes don’t feel secure. We feel like the brakes are going to give up. It also makes a very loud scratching sound when reversing and pressing on the brakes.
On October 16, 2025, while slowly pulling into a parking space, my vehicle experienced sudden and unintended acceleration without driver input. I did not depress the accelerator. Despite attempting to stop the vehicle, I was unable to do so. The vehicle mounted the curb, entered the sidewalk area, and struck a community mailbox, a tree, and two legally parked vehicles. My vehicle and the two parked vehicles were declared total losses. At the time of the incident, pedestrians, including toddlers, were present on the sidewalk. This loss of vehicle control created an immediate and severe risk of serious bodily injury or death. Post-incident diagnostics indicated multiple system errors, including but not limited to: •Powertrain Control Module •Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) •Instrument Cluster •Smart Brake Support / Mazda Radar Cruise Control Of particular concern is that Mazda, through its authorized dealer Rosenthal Mazda of Gaithersburg, Maryland, had prior notice of abnormal vehicle behavior. On two separate occasions before the crash, I reported that the vehicle would jolt suddenly, as if struck from behind, and at times felt as though it was attempting to accelerate without input. On each occasion, I was informed that the dealer could not duplicate the issue. No corrective action was taken, and the vehicle was returned to service. This event constitutes a serious safety failure involving unintended acceleration and apparent braking or electronic control system malfunction in this-model vehicle. Given the involvement of advanced driver assistance systems and braking components, this matter warrants immediate and thorough review.
Sudden acceleration even. Date April 10, 2026, at around 2:30 PM on a clear sunny day. Car make and model Mazda CX5 bought on 7/4/2023 VIN [XXX] , mileage around 10,000, only one owner. While attempting to park at BJ’s Wholesale Club ,when driver started to make a turn to a parking space, vehicle suddenly accelerated, applying the brakes stopped the forward motion, then driver put the car in reverse to try to properly park in a parking space and the car accelerated in reverse, this sudden motion could have killed or seriously injured any person passing in back of the car, when that motion stopped driver put the car in drive to be able to finally park the car and it sped uncontrollably, brakes didn’t stop the vehicle and it crashed against two vehicles parked nearby, damage to the Mazda vehicle was mainly to the left side, the front grill was not damage because driver was not able to control the rapid forward motion. Mazda dealer wanted the body of car repaired before checking the safety issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The air conditioning compressor clutch suddenly would not engage, leading to reduced visibility out of the windshield during humid weather in Oklahoma springtime and extended times for windshield to defog. Temperatures inside the vehicle also rose to very high levels without air conditioning available, even with windows down while driving. No crash or injuries but this presented an unsafe situation for a vehicle with only 39,000 miles and purchased new from the dealership. There were no indicator lights, messages, or warnings, other than observation that air conditioner vents were no longer blowing cold air when selecting the AC button after problem occurred. Problem was verified by both an independent mechanic and our Mazda dealership. AC system was overcharged from the factory per diagnostic results, leading to internal AC compressor short and early component failure.
My 2023 Mazda CX-5 (48,000 miles) is experiencing a loud mechanical whirring/grinding from the driver-side headlight assembly, a documented manufacturing defect involving foreign matter contamination of the internal LED cooling fan bearings (TSB 09-029/25). Despite the manufacturer acknowledging this factory-installed defect, Mazda has refused to proactively remedy the issue because the vehicle is nominally past its 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper period. I have been explicitly advised by service personnel to continue operating the vehicle until the headlight unit 'entirely fails' before further assistance may be considered. This 'fail-first' directive is a reckless disregard for public safety; the internal cooling fan exists specifically to prevent the high-intensity LED from overheating. A failure of this fan leads directly to the sudden burnout of the main headlamp while the vehicle is in motion. Mazda is essentially requiring me to drive a vehicle with a known, ticking-clock lighting defect and wait for a total loss of visibility at night before they will address a part that was contaminated during their own production process. This is a critical safety hazard that places myself and other drivers at risk of a collision due to sudden headlamp failure.
Airbags failed to deploy in a collision where the front end of the vehicle was crushed, and a driver wearing a seat belt hit the steering wheel with enough force to fracture their sternum and cause two cervical fractures as well.
I am reporting a safety defect in my 2023 Mazda CX-5 involving the right headlight assembly. The internal LED cooling fan has failed, causing loud noise and excessive vibration. This is a confirmed manufacturing defect (documented in Mazda Service Alert SA-013-23). Safety Risk: The cooling fan is essential to prevent the LED from overheating. A failure of this component can cause the headlight to dim or shut off completely without warning while driving at night, creating a severe visibility hazard and increasing the risk of a crash. Repair Details: An authorized Mazda dealer confirmed the internal failure and verified no external damage. Despite being a 2023 vehicle and a known safety issue, Mazda North American Operations has refused to cover the repair.
Just out of warranty passenger headlight is making a humming noise. Many other owners are having same malfunctions. Cost to replace at dealership is around $2,000.00. LED headlight has a cooling fan that is failing. Many have been replaced under warranty. Mine started just outside of the warranty mileage. It’s a known issue that should have a recall issued.
Adaptive headlight motor does not work. It makes a huge noise. Unfortunately it is not under warranty but Mazda dealerships have informed me that this is a known issue. This is a concern because the headlight does not function properly and does not work. The issue is a motor that fails, however you cannot just replace the motor. The entire headlight assembly needs to be replaced and is over 2,000. I strongly believe Mazda should be looked into and a special recall should be issued due to this. There should not be. $2 part that fails continuously causing a $2,000 repair.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - Smart Brake Support (SBS) & Forward Obstruction Warning system malfunctioned. Front radar sensor malfunctioned. Parking brake malfunctioned. I-activesense system malfunctioned. Emergency lane keep disabled. Dynamic stability control malfunctioned. Traction control system not operating correctly. Anti-lock brake system (ABS) malfunctioned. Brake system not responding. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? In total 10 malfunctions led to brake not responding and could not stop the car and resulted into a car accident. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? NO Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? POLICE report from car accident states brake malfunction. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Car was totally fine until all 10 error messages appeared on Jan.17th 2026 12:42-12:43PM and immediately the brake system did not respond and resulted in the car accident. **important** Police report documented that the officer on scene is a witness of the car dashboard shows “brake malfunction”
Autobraking activates randomly. Mazda scans codes and returns the vehicle. They have refused to service or disable the system. NHTSA laws are dangerous and this tech is not ready for road use. Avoid Mazda at all costs!
Cracked cylinder head probably caused by cylinder deactivation causing catastrophic oil loss on the highway. Upon researching this, I see that it is a known issue with Mazda. My car is now in the shop awaiting repairs. It only has about 35,000 miles on it. This is obviously a known defect and is simply not acceptable.
The battery died, the car wouldn't start one night. The battery which is the original that came with the car is only about 2 years old. I googled the code from the code reader, it said some mazda cx-5 have a starting problem but then I checked the recall website and there was none.
LKA does not work & mazda seems to ignore its many complaints
Loud fan noise coming from the passenger side headlight. Noise continues when car has been turned off and stops when the light shuts off. Dealer said that replacement of the passenger headlamp assembly needed but would charge because it was not longer under warrant due to mileage. No warning lamps, messages nor other items appeared. The symptoms began around 40,000 miles.
Humming or moaning noise from the passenger side headlamp. Inspected by dealer mechanic and mentioned the TSB 09-015-23B bulletin. Dealership replaced headlamp covered under warranty.
After driving a few mile, the following two warnings come up * Smart Brake System Malfunction * Forward Radar Sensor System malfunction. If I turn off the car and then restart, the warnings go away. However, it comes back if I drive for a while again. I have visited dealership a few times for the same issue, they replaced the wheel bearing and brake switch. The warning disappeared for days and came back.
The adaptive headlight system and motor in 2023 Mazda CX-5 has defect and it makes buzzing noise and vibration. It was recognized by Mazda and its known defect. They should replace the defective headlight system even after the warranty period since this is not normal wear and tear part.
The driver-side power door mirror on my 2023 Mazda CX-5 vibrates excessively at highway speeds above 75 mph, especially on windy days. The vibration is so severe that it causes a blurred and distorted view, making it difficult to clearly see vehicles in adjacent lanes. This poses a significant safety risk, as it impairs my ability to make safe lane changes and monitor surrounding traffic. I brought the issue to the attention of my Mazda dealership during a scheduled service appointment, but they dismissed it as "normal" and quoted approximately $700 to replace the mirror - despite the fact that this appears to be a known issue with Mazda vehicles. Numerous owners of recent Mazda models have reported similar problems online, yet Mazda has not issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) for the 2023 CX-5. I am attaching a previous TSB (09-002/13) that Mazda released for earlier CX-5 models (2013–2014), which addressed the same mirror vibration issue through structural reinforcement and mirror replacement. This suggests the problem may still persist in newer models. The mirror is available for inspection upon request. No warning lights or messages were displayed, and the issue began shortly after I started driving the vehicle on highways. Link to previous TSB - [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The vehicle turned the ac off and started blowing straight hot air into the vehicle after sitting in idle for less than 5 minutes. Which resulted in my dog having a seizure and passing away. There was not a notification on the app or any type of warning for this to happen.
Fuel system failure. The vehicle just dies and does not restart, this is a safety issue due to it happening when you are driving on the highway and unable to get out of the way of traffic.
The car has a lot of vibration when driving 60mph and above. Have had this issue looked at more than 5 times and they had my card for 1 month at the dealership trying to find the issue. This started back in February of 2024 and I have purchased 4 sets of tires and nothing makes the vibrations of the seat, steering wheel go away. Originally it wasn’t vibrating while driving back in February of 2025 only when braking to which I said to them I think it’s the rotors that have an issue. They never check the rotors and said it was my tires that were cupped. I put new tires on the car and still the same issue and went back to the dealership in April of 2024 and let them know it think it’s the rotors. In fact it was the rotors they were warped and they balanced the tires again. The dealership recommended resurfacing the rotors to which I had done. A Couple of months later the vibration while driving started. Bought another set of tires had then installed, balanced and aligned and still vibration. I thought maybe it’s the brand so I bought another set of tires to which the problem is still there. Now besides the vibration while driving I have vibrations while braking again after the dealership put in new rotors back in Nov. 2024. When to the dealership on 06.26.25 let them know the vibration while braking is happening again and I think it’s the rotors. They check them and rotors are warped again about only 6.5 months.The service manager said she will resurface them for me for no charge but then the service advisor said if they do that that the resurfacing is going to make me have to change the brake pads as I will end up in the red since my brake pads are in the yellow right now. I said then don’t resurface because I am not paying for the brake pads when that should’ve been done the first time the rotors were warped. I feel like I risk my life everyday driving this car to work 34miles one way.
Vehicle is a 2023 Mazda CX-5 Signature Turbo model that had a leaking hydraulic tensioner for the serpentine belt at 15,759 miles. Mazda technician cleaned the hydraulic tensioner, and less than 500 miles later the leak returned. This is common enough in the community to expand TSB’s on this part.
When driving the vehicle, my car exhibits a rocking / shake when going from brake to gas at speeds below 20 mph. I was told by the dealership that it is normal operation, but when driving two other CX5’s, the behavior did not exhibit. I do not know what to do. I have also brought it to 2 independent mechanics and they told me the engine mounts needed to be replaced. I did the service at 36,000 miles and it did not get rid of the problem. It seems to be a defect of the car, which I’ve been living with since 2023. The issue has been ongoing.
Summary of Events: Purchase Date: 05/27/2023 Coolant Warning: In January 2025, I received a coolant temperature warning (code P0126) indicating insufficient coolant temperature. Repairs: I brought the vehicle in for repairs on 02/15/2025 for thermostat and related parts. The repairs were completed by 02/17/2025. New Warning: On 03/18/2025, I received a high coolant temperature warning. Upon inspection, coolant was nearly empty, and I found coolant contamination in the engine bay. Notification to Dealership: I emailed Hennessy Mazda on 03/19/2025, but after no response, I filed a claim with Mazda headquarters on 03/20/2025. Only after that, they called me and instructed me to bring the vehicle in. They claimed that after replacing the faulty parts and cleaning the engine bay, the car was ready for pickup. (While they assert that all actions were completed on 03/22, Based on the fact that the car door was opened approximately five times in April, it can be inferred that the necessary actions were likely completed in early April.) Concerns: Coolant Leak: The coolant leak persisted for nearly a month, likely causing damage to internal components due to engine overheating. Electronic Contamination: The leaked coolant likely contaminated sensitive electronic systems, wiring, and connectors, potentially leading to long-term failures due to the conductive and corrosive properties of modern coolants like Mazda FL22. Long-Term Risks: Hidden corrosion inside connectors and wiring. Potential for electrical failure, sensor malfunctions, and further degradation over time. Hennessy Mazda is currently addressing only the visible issues and claiming the car is now functioning properly, while attempting to shift the long-term and hidden risks onto me. I am requesting a vehicle replacement or compensation due to the safety and long-term reliability risks posed by the unresolved coolant leak and contamination.
Extremely heavy steering causing excessive driver fatigue making it difficult to maintain control of the vehicle at highway speeds (up to 70mph). Dealers unable to reproduce, likely due to it being cold outside when I had time to go. The hotter and dryer the roads gets, the better grip the tires have and the worse the heavy steering gets. It is significantly heavier than my old car at higher speeds and that car has no power steering. My arms are very sore after 30min - 1 hour. Mazda refuses to admit this is a significant safety issue. It gets worse when the LKAS activates at least once (too heavy I am veering around in my lane)
I motor fan is constantly on when driving. It is 32F to 40F here in Hampton Roads. There is no reason the fan should be on. I have video of the fan running at 29 degrees F. I reported it to my local mazda 3 times. A person I know in another area reported the same problem and her local mazda dealer fixed it.
See attached document for complaint.
Small amount of weight such as keys or phone is triggering the Occupant sensor in the front passenger seat. This issue just started and I am finding a lot of complaints regarding this.
Engine light came on. Immediately brought to dealer. Always serviced at dealership. One previous occurance of illuminated light reading major engine malfunction. Pulled car to side of road, called dealership who advised turn off and back on. Didn't tell me about ALL the problems that Mazda was aware of. Now I'm told my new car with 22k miles has a blown engine. No notification from Mazda about a known problem. Asked when buying the car if there were any major problems with this car. Mazda apparently lies.
The contact owns a 2023 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while the temperature was 45 degrees or lower, the vehicle failed to start properly, and the engine failed to warm up properly. The coolant light was illuminated, and the engine temperature gauge failed to rise above COLD. The vehicle occasionally failed to start or while started and driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled while and engine temperature failed to reach the normal operating temperature. The check engine light was illuminated. The contact would shift to SPORT Mode to prevent the cylinder activation from occurring and causing the vehicle to stall. The contact stated that the failure persisted, and the vehicle was hesitating while driving in temperatures of 50 degrees or less. Additionally, the key fob intermittently failed to unlock the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and had to be towed. The contact stated that during the recent failure, the battery was disconnected, and the vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact stated that the key fob battery had been replaced 6 times; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired for the engine failure. The contact called another dealer, J. Allen Mazda (15150 Airport Rd, Gulfport, MS 39503); however, only an appointment to inspect the vehicle was made but the vehicle was not yet inspected. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 4,000.
The Low Oil Warning Light comes on between oil changes. I think this is the 3-4th time. I will have to add 1 quart of oil to the car after 3000-4000 miles. I only have about 33,000 miles on this vehichle and do the oil changes myself. I checked for leaks at the oil filter and oil drain plug. No indication of oil leaking or I would see it on the floor of my garage. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Engine using excessive amounts of oil. It could be available for inspection How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? I plan to take it into the dealer for next oil change and report it. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? The Low Oil warning comes on
The vehicle continues to have safety features malfunctions with its sensors. The forward facing camera sensor and the Blind Spot Monitoring Sensor continues to malfunctions when driving in clear visibility with light to heavy traffic at random times during a day. These features assist the driver to maintain a safe distance from other vehicles while driving. My vehicle has almost crashed several times due to the failures of the features such as the stop and go traffic and forward facing crash detection not working properly.
Headlight of the motor keeps rumbling in about 25000 miles of usage. Expense of fixing such a motor is estimated between 2500-2800$. Further, it is unknown how safe it would be for someone to keep driving such a car with a rumbling motor if they dont fix it. This sound and vibration of the motor can be felt even in a standing car when lights are on.