RoadVitals

2015 Mazda CX-5 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest Aug 1, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 133 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2015 Mazda CX-5 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineFuel system
Filed Aug 1, 2024

While driving on the freeway the check engine light came on. I was able to drive the car home the remaining 20 minutes but there was some noticeable difficulty accelerating. When I went to turn on the car later that day the engine would not turn over and there was an audible rattling/chugging sound and the car itself shook. I was unable to get the car to start and the check engine light remained on. I had AAA check the battery the next day and confirm it was not a battery issue and a diagnostic revealed the P0192 code. AAA towed it to their shop where it was confirmed by the manager mechanic that the issue was with the high pressure fuel pump and that it was causing an issue with the low pressure fuel sensor as well. The mechanic was unable to determine what caused the pump to fail and has quoted me nearly $2000 to fix it. After some searching online it has become clear that this is an issue many other Mazda owners have faced and that is even a recall for the pump for years and makes from Mazda due to a known issue with DENSO fuel pumps causing this exact issue. Despite this being known and DENSO having admitted issue with fuel pumps in cars dating back to 2013, Mazda has not recalled the vast majority of the cars that could be affected. From information I've gathered, it is entirely possible that my vehicle could have just stopped running in the middle of the freeway due to this issue which obviously would have put me in great danger of an accident. To summarize: Low pressure fuel sensor and high pressure fuel pump with error code P0192 are cited as the issues. It's possible this issue can cause the car to stop running with no warning, which would be extremely dangerous especially on the freeway. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by a AAA mechanic shop. The vehicle has been inspected by the AAA mechanic but no others. The check engine light came on but was not clear how extreme the circumstance was.

NHTSA ID
11605868
Incident
Jul 30, 2024
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 20, 2024

The contact owns a 2015 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while pressing the brake pedal the engine had experienced very high revving and the vehicle would lurch forward. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who performed a PCM and TCM program update and reset the KAM per the manufacturers TSB. The contact indicated that the failure was corrected for a while but recently the failure had reoccurred. The local dealer was contacted and a service appointment was scheduled. No further information was available. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 25,000.

NHTSA ID
11572876
Incident
Apr 1, 2023
Mileage
25,000 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 8, 2022

2015 Mazda CX-5 with 91,000 miles on it. Automatic transmission has failed. When I attempted to pull out into traffic the vehicle would not shift into 2nd gear and instead jerked hard and the engine RPMs revved up. I was not able to get the vehicle past 10mph. This failure with the transmission resulted in the oncoming traffic having to swerve and break to avoid a collision with me. The vehicle was taken to a Mazda dealership who did a diagnostic on it and found that the Mazda had an "internal transmission failure" and would require a full replacement. I asked if it would be replaced with the same exact transmission and was told "no, the defect was discovered by Mazda and has been correct for new transmission models." The manufacture knows about this issue. Luckily I escaped serious bodily injury. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer as well as an independent 3rd party transmission repair specialist. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to this incident to give warning.

NHTSA ID
11483555
Incident
Sep 5, 2022
Engine
Filed May 11, 2021

2015 MAZDA CX5 2.0 L, WELL MAINTAINED; RECOMMENDED OIL USED AT PROPER INTERVALS, WITH 130,000 MILES, MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVEN. WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS AND/OR SOUNDS, VEHICLE STARTED LOOSING POWER AT AROUND 30 MPH IN THE CITY AND ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED. AAA WAS CALLED TO START THE VEHICLE TO NO AVAIL, BATTERY CHECKED OUT OK. TOWED TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN WICHITA, KS. DEALER SERVICE EXAMINED VEHICLE AND FOUND A VALVE STEM BROKEN AND LYING ON TOP OF ENGINE, VISIBLE THROUGH THE SPARK PLUG WELL. AS THE OWNER, ALONG WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, I SAW THE BROKEN VALVE STEM IN THE ENGINE BUT ALSO NOTICE MY ENGINE WAS EXTREMELY CLEAN ON THE INSIDE WITH CLEAN OIL AS WELL, NO EVIDENCE OF DIRT AND/OR SLUDGE OF ANY KIND. VEHICLE OWNER COMMENTED TO THE DEALER HOW CLEAN THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE WAS KEPT INSIDE AND OUT. DEALER RESPONDED BY TEXT TO OWNER, NEW ENGINE REPLACEMENT, AT THE COST OF $7000; USED ENGINE WITH 91,000 MILES AT $5000. DEALER STATED AFTER 60,000, VEHICLE OF OUT OF WARRANTY. OWNER RESEARCHED AND FOUND EVIDENCE THE FAILURE IS LIKELY DUE TOO ENGINE DESIGN. MAZDA BUILT AN ALUMINUM ENGINE WITH HIGH COMPRESSION RATIO, BUT BUILT IT LIGHTER AND WITH SMALLER COMPONENT PARTS. ACCORDING TO ENGINEERS, THAT'S A RECIPE FOR VARIOUS COMPONENT PARTS AND ULTIMATELY OVERALL ENGINE FAILURE. THE SKYACTIV ENGINE OPERATES AT 13.0 COMPRESSION RATIO, BY DESIGN; IF NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY AND BEING IT'S NEW TECHNOLOGY, FAILURES LIKE INTERNAL COMPONENT PARTS AND THE ENGINE, ARE LIKELY. OWNER'S VEHICLE AT DEALER FOR ALMOST 3 WEEKS AND THEY ARE OFFERING NO ASSISTANCE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INQUIRY INTO THE DESIGN OF THE SKYACTIV ENGINE AND ADDRESS MAZDA ALLEGING OWNER'S ARE ABUSING VEHICLES AND CHARGING EXORBITANT PRICES FOR MECHANICAL ISSUES CAUSED BY THEIR PRODUCT DESIGN. OWNER CURRENTLY HAS TWO 2015 MAZDA CX5'S . DEALER/MAZDA OFFERING NO ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA ID
11416089
Incident
Apr 30, 2021
Mileage
130,000 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed Sep 29, 2020
Crash reported

WAS TURNING RIGHT ONTO SIDE CITY STREET TO PARK, WAS GOING MAYBE 2 MILES AN HOUR BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO PARK. THE CAR ENGINE SELF ACCELERATED AND I COULD NOT CONTROL IT, HIT A CHAIN LINK FENCE AND SHEARED OFF A NATURAL GAS METER TO A HOME. THE BREAK PEDAL DID NOT STOP THE CAR, I WAS IN DRIVE PUT INTO PARK AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF

NHTSA ID
11361681
Incident
Sep 26, 2020
Mileage
85,600 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 30, 2019

MY VEHICLE HEATER CORE HAS PLUGED UP AFTER 48,000 MILES. I CANT DRIVE IN COOL WEATHER DO TO FOG WINDSHIELDS. THIS IS A HUG PROBLEM WITH MAZDAS CX-5 BETWEEN 2014 AND 2016.

NHTSA ID
11259090
Incident
Aug 28, 2019
Mileage
48,000 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed May 28, 2019
Crash reported

I WAS TRYING TO PARK MY VEHICLE IN A SOCCER FIELD PARKING LOT. AS I SLOWLY TURNING RIGHT INTO MY SPOT AT ABOUT 3-5MPH, MY FOOT WAS LIGHTLY DEPRESSED ON BRAKE PEDAL AND ABOUT TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY MADE A VERY LOUD ENGINE SOUND (MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOT ON THE GAS PEDAL) AS THE ENGINE REV UP FOR ABOUT A SECOND OR TWO THEN ACCELERATED FORWARD JUMPING THE CURB AND HIT A BIG FENCE POLE WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT SPED UP FROM 3MPH TO 30MPH AND I HAD NO TIME TO REACT. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BADLY DESTROYED AND THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED. THE CAR WAS FIVE YEARS OLD AND ABOUT 75K MILES. IT IS VERY SAFETY CONCERNING AND SHOULD BE SERIOUSLY LOOK INTO. *DT *AS

NHTSA ID
11210299
Incident
May 18, 2019
Mileage
75,000 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed May 15, 2019

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2015 MAZDA CX-5 IT HAD LESS THAN 50 MILES ON IT. THAT WAS DECEMBER 2015. I GAVE THE CAR TO MY SON, WHO HAS BEEN DRIVING IT FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS. HE HAD THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 5000 MILES WITH THE SYNTHETIC OIL WHICH I WAS TOLD WAS THE CORRECT WAY ACCORDING TO MAZDA. ON APRIL THE 24TH 2019 THE CAR DIED ON THE HIGHWAY. MY SON SAID THE LIGHTS ON THE CONTROL PANEL FLASHED AND THE CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND KILLED OVER WOULD NOT START BEFORE IT DIED MY SON SAID THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING REALLY LOUD. NOW THE DEALERSHIP WANTS 10,304.00 TO FIX A CAR THAT HAS A BB VALUE OF 12,000 TO 15000 DOLLARS. THEY WANT TO REPLACE THE ENGINE,FUEL INJECTORS, AND THE FUEL PUMP AND IT ALSO BLEW A FUSE THAT THE GUY WORKING ON IT SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN HAPPEN BEFORE. NOW THAT WAS A MAZDA EMPLOYEE, NOW I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS SITE AND THIS IS NOT A UNCOMMON PROBLEM FOR MAZDA, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WON'T OWN UP TO IT. THEY JUST SAY IT IS PAST WARRANTY. I DON'T NEED THIS STRESS.

NHTSA ID
11207850
Incident
Apr 24, 2015
Mileage
75,000 mi
BrakesEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 26, 2019
Crash reported

I WAS PARKING MY MAZDA CX5 IN A SPOT AT A SHOPPING CENTER AND WHEN I TOUCHED THE BRAKE WITH MY RIGHT FOOT AND WENT TO SHIFT CAR INTO PARK, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FULL SPEED, MAKING A VROOM SOUND, JUMPING THE CURB AND SMASHING INTO A BRICK POST (LUCKILY I HIT THE POST AND NOT A PERSON!). I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A TRANSMISSION, BRAKE OR ACCELERATOR ISSUE - BUT THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG. I DID NOT HIT THE ACCELERATOR INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT MUST BE ME, SOMEHOW, SOMEWAY, HITTING THE ACCELERATER BUT I NEVER REALLY BELIEVED THIS. TODAY, APRIL 26, 2019, THE SAME THING HAPPENED! LUCKILY, THIS TIME THE CAR JUMPED THE CURB AND I HIT A TREE, LEAVING A SMALL DENT IN MY HOOD. AGAIN I HEARD THAT VROOM SOUND, AND JUST THOUGHT - OH NO, NOT AGAIN!

NHTSA ID
11203922
Incident
Oct 26, 2018
Mileage
27,775 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 3, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MAZDA CX-5. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND LOST POWER COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND SEVERAL BSM OFF, TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT, TCS/DSC INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. LANNAN MAZDA IN LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,740. *TT *TR

NHTSA ID
11058373
Incident
Jan 3, 2018
Mileage
44,740 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 31, 2017

MAZDA ENGINE DEFECT I PURCHASED A 2015 MAZDA CX-5 USED TWO YEARS AGO. WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO WORK SHE NOTICED A LOUD TICKING NOISES FROM ENGINE. SHE SCHEDULED A SERVICE WITH MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITHIN THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION AND THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE TORN DOWN FOR COMPLETE DIAGNOSIS, HE FURTHER SUGGESTED THAT I REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE WITH A MAZDA NEW ENGINE TOTALING OVER $7000. ALARMED, I RESEARCHED AND FOUND OTHER MAZDA OWNER EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS CONSTITUTES MY FORMAL COMPLAINT FOR MAZDA DEFECTIVE ENGINES.

NHTSA ID
11020926
Incident
Aug 17, 2017
Mileage
100,000 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed Sep 14, 2016

NHTSA RECALL 16C-644 INSUFFICIENT CORROSION. REAR HATCH OR LIFT GATE MAY DROP. CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES. RECALL WAS NOT REPAIRED

NHTSA ID
10906373
Incident
Jul 11, 2016
Engine
Filed Jan 22, 2016

TRANSMISSION ISSUE: I TURNED ON THE CAR IN A PARKING LOT AND TMPS AND SCSB CODE AND THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHTS CAME ON. I HAD ABOUT 15K ON THE CAR AND IT WAS JUST A YEAR OLD AND DUE FOR IT'S SERVICE. I WROTE DOWN THE CODES AND FIGURED I WOULD TELL THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE. I DROVE A LITTLE WAYS AND STOPPED AT A LIGHT. THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND SHUDDER. I DROVE THROUGH THE LIGHT AND PULLED UP TO THE STOP SIGN. THE TACHOMETER REVVED UP BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T GO ANYWHERE. I MADE IT TO THE STOP SIGN, PUT ON MY FLASHERS AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. I TURNED IT OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE A FEW MORE FEET THEN AGAIN THE ENTIRE ENGINE REVVED UP AGAIN. REPEAT THIS ABOUT 6 MORE TIMES. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT THE MILE TO MY HOUSE DOING THE DRIVE, STOP, TURN OFF, START AGAIN AND REPEAT. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE CAR AND SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT MAZDA WAS ABLE TO TELL THEM HOW TO FIX IT BECAUSE THEY'D SEEN IT BEFORE AND IT WAS A A "SHIFT CONCERN AND SOFTWARE UPGRADE NEEDED." I'D REALLY LIKE TO SAVE SOMEONE ELSE FROM GOING THROUGH THIS SO I WANT TO REPORT IT. IF I'D BEEN DRIVING FASTER AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN LIKE THAT, I COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM? ALSO WHY WASN'T THIS REPORTED ON ANY OF THE CAR/DRIVER, CONSUMER REPORTS REVIEWS. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND PEOPLE SHOULD CONSIDER IT BEFORE THEY BUY THE CAR. MAZDA SHOULD FIX THE ISSUE IN THE CX-5 SO THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

NHTSA ID
10821716
Incident
Jan 15, 2016
Mileage
15,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 13, 2015

ACCELERATING ONTO THE FREEWAY, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE AS WELL AS SEVERAL DASH WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AND WOULD ONLY GO 45-50MPH. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND AFTER READING OUT THE DATA ON THE ENGINE COMPUTER, I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS MOST LIKELY "BAD" GAS. I WAS DIRECTED TO JUST BURN THROUGH THE GAS IN THE TANK. WHEN THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME FROM THE GARAGE IT WAS RUNNING FINE AND I WAS NOT TOLD ANYTHING HAD BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I AM STILL USING THE SAME TANK OF GAS AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AGAIN SO FAR. I CHECKED WITH THE GAS RETAILER AND THEY HAVE HAD NO OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH RESPECT TO CONTAMINATED GAS. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR ON A 75MPH FREEWAY AT 45MPH TO REACH THE DEALER. EVEN WITH EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON THAT WAS A VERY HARROWING EXPERIENCE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10694171
Incident
Feb 26, 2015
Mileage
675 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 22, 2014

I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE PARKED THERE FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS- THE VEHICLE IS BRAND NEW WITH 725 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN ON CITY STREETS ONLY SINCE I'VE HAD IT. I PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT, DROVE 1 BLOCK IN NO TRAFFIC, AND WHEN PARKED AT THE STOPLIGHT, NOTICED A BIT OF SMOKE/STEAM COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. NOT A LOT AND THE CAR WASN'T OVERHEATING. SINCE THE CAR WAS SO NEW, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK OF IT BUT THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS A FLUKE. DROVE IT FOR 2 MORE ERRAND STOPS ON 30MPH STREETS AND THEN HOME. THE NEXT DAY I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THE A/C ISN'T COOLING. I TOOK IT TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP THAT WEEK ASSUMING WHATEVER IS WRONG WOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SHOWED ME A SMALL PINHOLE IN MY A/C COMPRESSOR AND INFORMED ME THAT A ROCK MUST'VE FLOWN THROUGH MY GRILL AREA AND LEFT A HOLE IN THE COMPRESSOR, CAUSING THE FREON TO LEAK. IT WOULD COST AROUND $1500 TO FIX AND ISN'T COVERED BECAUSE CONSIDERED "ROAD DEBRIS." THE BIGGEST ISSUE I HAVE IS THAT THE DESIGN OF THE GRILL IS SO OPEN, I CAN FIT MY ARM IN THERE. WHAT'S TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN? EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS, THE PASSENGERS BREATHE IN FREON AND IT'S RELEASED INTO THE ENVIRONMENT. CLEARLY THE GRILL IS DESIGNED FAR TOO OPEN TO PREVENT FROM LARGE DEBRIS, LET ALONE A PEBBLE, DAMAGING THE A/C CONDENSER. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO RETROFIT THE OPENING AND PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TIME AND TIME AGAIN. I DID RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE AND ONE PERSON REPORTED IT HAPPENING ON THE 2ND DAY OF HER OWNERSHIP AND THEN AGAIN A YEAR LATER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10667571
Incident
Dec 6, 2014
Mileage
725 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .