2018 Mazda CX-5 Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2018 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was smoke coming from under the hood. No warning light was illuminated. The contact's wife pulled over and discovered that there was oil leaking onto the ground. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that the #5 and #7 cylinder heads were cracked and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11752421

Incident

Jun 23, 2026

Mileage

100,000 mi

I am writing to formally document a significant engine failure on my 2018 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring (VIN: [XXX], License: [XXX], Odometer: 78,159 miles). The vehicle began exhibiting visible smoke from under the hood and severe oil leakage — oil was actively pooling beneath the car and leaving a trail. Upon inspection by Cal West Auto Center (San Marcos, CA), the vehicle was diagnosed with a leaking cylinder head gasket requiring full cylinder head removal and replacement. I am aware that Mazda issued Technical Service Bulletin TSB #SA-031-21 specifically addressing a cylinder head casting defect in 2018–2019 CX-5 models equipped with the 2.5L Skyactiv-G engine with cylinder deactivation — the exact configuration of my vehicle. This is a documented manufacturing defect, not normal wear and tear, and the repair estimate I have received is $4,800.84. Given that this failure is tied to a known defect acknowledged by Mazda, I am requesting that Mazda Motor America cover the cost of this repair in full, or provide a clear explanation of what goodwill or warranty coverage is available to me. I am happy to provide the repair estimate, vehicle documentation, and any additional information needed to process this request promptly. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response. [XXX] Cell: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11752039

Incident

Jul 1, 2025

Check engine light on when read it comes back with P0171 code

NHTSA ID

11750286

Incident

Jul 14, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that white smoke was coming from the engine compartment whenever the vehicle reached normal operating temperature. The contact stated that smoke entered the passenger’s side compartment through the air vents and was coming from underneath the hood. The contact stated that there was a burning odor coming from the engine compartment due to an oil leakage. The smoke impaired visibility while driving. The most recent failure had occurred while driving approximately 35 MPH on a city roadway. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and then to the dealer for further inspection. The independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with a cracked cylinder head and recommended that the vehicle be taken to the dealer for additional diagnostic tests. The dealer diagnosed the cylinder head as porous and informed the contact that the cylinder head needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified and informed the contact that the repair would not be covered. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had occurred intermittently and became more frequent and severe during hotter weather. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.

NHTSA ID

11747961

Incident

Jul 1, 2026

Mileage

83,000 mi

My Mazda 2018, CX-5, Grand Touring, was diagnosed with a cracked cylinder head at 64,599 miles. This issue could posed a safety hazard for not only us but others on the road by: *Engine Failure / Sudden Loss of Power-A crack allows coolant and oil to mix or leak, leading to overheating and potential catastrophic engine seizure. A seized engine can cause sudden, unexpected loss of power — especially dangerous at highway speeds or during lane changes/merges. *Oil and Coolant on the Road-Leaking fluids drip onto the roadway, creating slick surfaces for motorcyclists and other vehicles — similar to a spilled oil hazard. This is especially dangerous on curves and in wet conditions. *White Smoke / Steam Billowing from Exhaust-When coolant enters the combustion chamber, it burns off as thick white smoke. This can instantly reduce visibility for drivers behind the vehicle, potentially causing rear-end collisions. *Fire Risk-If oil leaks onto hot exhaust manifolds or engine components, it can ignite. An engine fire can spread quickly and, in traffic, puts surrounding vehicles and occupants at risk. *Debris from Engine Destruction-In extreme cases, a severely overheated or seized engine can cause internal components to fail violently. Debris from a catastrophic engine failure can damage undercarriages of nearby vehicles or become road hazards. *Stalling in High-Risk Locations-A vehicle that stalls due to engine failure in a tunnel, on a freeway on-ramp, in an intersection, or on a bridge creates an immediate collision risk for surrounding traffic. This is part of why Mazda's handling of the cylinder head defect is so problematic — it's not merely a costly repair, it's a public safety issue that arguably warrants regulatory attention (NHTSA). We had NO warning lights, no overheating issues. Repairs have been made to the cost of almost $5400.00 *Please note there are many, many people complaining of this same issue on this model of car in multiple on-line forums.

NHTSA ID

11747660

Incident

May 4, 2026

Cylinder head suddenly cracked, causing heavy oil leakage onto hot exhaust manifold. Car started to smoke heavily. Vehicle turned off before potential engine fire.

NHTSA ID

11744932

Incident

Jun 6, 2026

I am submitting this complaint regarding a cylinder head failure on my Mazda CX-5. The vehicle has approximately 53,000 miles and has been properly maintained throughout its service life. The vehicle developed a crack in the cylinder head, which was subsequently confirmed by an authorized Mazda dealership. Mazda has previously issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) addressing cylinder head cracking on certain vehicles; however, my vehicle's VIN is not included in the covered range despite experiencing the same failure described in the TSB. The dealership initially provided a repair estimate of $8,789 plus tax to replace the cylinder head. Following further discussions, the dealership reduced the repair cost to $3,903 plus tax. They recognize that this crack is not part of normal wear and tear but due to the VIN number not being included in the recall are unable to provide full coverage. A cylinder head crack is a major engine failure that should not occur on a well-maintained vehicle with only 53,000 miles. I am concerned that vehicles outside the VIN range identified in Mazda's TSB may be experiencing the same defect and that the scope of the issue may be broader than currently recognized. The vehicle was purchased used from the same Mazda dealership that diagnosed the failure and is currently performing the repair evaluation. I respectfully request that NHTSA review this issue to determine whether additional Mazda CX-5 vehicles may be affected by the same cylinder head defect despite not being included in the existing TSB.

NHTSA ID

11744861

Incident

Jun 12, 2026

2018 Mazda CX-5 AWD with 2.5 L engine, non turbo. Car has 98,914 miles. Rear differential started leaking oil. Dealer stated that the differential needs to be replaced, for $5,003.33. Manual does not provide for oil change intervals. Lifetime oil. 98K must be the life expectancy. Has not been fixed yet. Sitting in the garage dripping oil onto a piece of cardboard. independent shop looking for a low mileage used differential.

NHTSA ID

11742164

Incident

May 6, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle he could smell a burning odor, and added that he noticed a puddle of oil on his driveway. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed to have a cylinder crack causing the cylinder to leak oil all over the engine. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 104,000.

NHTSA ID

11742070

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

Mileage

104,000 mi

Touch Screen and/or infotainment center causing ghost touch. Available for inspection. Ghost touch (known Mazda issue) with touch screen has been changing radio stations, increasing volume to max. Will go into user settings and change guidance voice to full volume, increasing bass to full volume, fast forward songs, mute phone call feature, randomly switch from bluetooth to handset of phone. All of this is done without the driver or anyone else in the car touching anything. When this happens there is no easy fix. I cannot just stop the song, mute the volume. We have to wait for it to decide to stop and fix itself. It is a safety issue because You are driving and randomly volume goes to full blast an startles you, cannot hear what is going on around you, and hurts your ears. This is distracting and I have swerved my car because of it. Bluetooth capability is suppose to be handsfree, so if it keeps muting my call or switching to my phone, that is now a safety hazard as well. vehicle was inspected in 2021 by Mazda dealership. At that time they said the only thing they can do it remove the SIM card, and we would lose navigation. However the issue did not stop. It would cost us about $1000+ between labor and parts and inspection to get this fixed. It was addressed again in 2023 and 2025. 2025, when the infotainment system had a class action law suit but ours wouldn't be covered because its the touch screen and not the computer. No warning systems.

NHTSA ID

11740394

Incident

May 1, 2021

I took my car to the dealership because it was leaking oil and coolant. Upon verification, I was informed that my vehicle had a cracked cylinder head. They told me that the repaired will cost me $5500. Unfortunately this is an amount that I do not have. So I reached out to the Mazda Corporate and they told me that there is no repair assistance can be provided and that I should reach out to Mazda Dealership and see if they may accept to put the cost of the repair towards the Good Will Repair. Unfortunately I haven’t been successful with that either. My Mazda Corporate case number is 00450563. This issue is created safety issue with burning engine oils and fume entering the vehicle. This is well known issue with this car model and unfortunately Mazda has made a recall on any of them. While I understand that this may cause Mazda Millions if a recall is put out, it will great to assist with the ones experiencing this issue. Any assistance regarding this matter will be truly appreciated.

NHTSA ID

11738764

Incident

Dec 12, 2025

Like many other complaints. My 2018 Mazda cx5 GT is having the same issue with the cracked cylinder head. I only have about 36-38k mileage on it ( I forgot the exact). Mazda dealership will not cover the cost. NEVER had an accident to the front and only one accident to the back when I got rear ended in 2019. If this is a wide spread issue, why is this not a recall? and why is it only the turbo engine gets extended warranty? The repair cost right now approximately $9,500. I never do any maintenance at Mazda so I doubt they will give me the good will assistance but I am still waiting for an answer. I hope NHSTA will do something because this issue will continue with all other owners that have the same year model.

NHTSA ID

11738405

Incident

May 13, 2026

We purchased this vehicle used from Mazda of Orange in July 2025 with 52,399 miles on it. After 6 months of ownership and approximately 3,000 miles there was a burning smell. We took it to our local mechanic and the following repairs were required: Replacement of cracked belts, Replacement of cracked axle boots, Replacement of an excessively loose front axle, Replacement of valve cover gasket. Cost was $3,000 and the dealer refused to reimburse us. Now the car is leaking oil and needs a new head gasket and cylinder head surface machined. Quote was approximately $3,500. We have requested Mazda perform this repair. Will you please look into these vehicles? These are significant defects on a car with such low miles. We also believe that some of these defects were know to the dealer but are unable to prove it. We believe our vehicle is part of a batch that has signficant mechanical defects. Current mileage of the vehicle is 56,865.

NHTSA ID

11738202

Incident

May 15, 2026

My 2018 CX5 just hit 50,000 miles recently and I smelled something burning and saw smoke coming from the hood while I was stopped for a school bus. I immediately stopped driving due to fire concerns. The vehicle has a cracked cylinder which is a known issue for this vehicle. Mazda has no plans to correct this issue other than issuing a technical bulletin. I feel that Mazda should repair this at their cost because it is a defect and the vehicle only has 50,000 miles. Instead I have to pay nearly $5,000. This is hard to believe! Transcript from dealer: The technician reported an oil leak from the cylinder head, specifically indicating a crack in the number four lifter valley that is causing fluid to leak down the engine block. This issue is recognized as a known problem, and the technician will check if it is covered under warranty. Repairing the cylinder head will require significant labor, including dropping the engine, and will take some time to complete. Services being performed: - Oil change. - Inspection for oil leak issue. Recommendations: - Replacement of the cylinder head due to the identified oil leak. Multi Point Inspection $4870.22

NHTSA ID

11738150

Incident

Apr 29, 2026

Sunroof blew out while driving down interstate highway. There was no impact that we are aware of, just a complete failure of the sunroof glass. The sunroof was closed, with the shade also closed, so no glass fell down into the vehicle. The glass blew out with a very loud explosion that startled and disoriented all within the vehicle causing us to swerve and look around for what had happened. The glass has been inspected and is being repaired by a local auto glass shop today. No warning lamps or otherwise. I have pictures of the glass if needed.

NHTSA ID

11737283

Incident

May 9, 2026

Unintended acceleration incident. I entered the parking lot of a business where the Salvation Army is located to drop off a donation. The parking spaces were on the left side. As I pulled into a parking space and was in the process of parking, the vehicle suddenly lurched/accelerated forward unexpectedly and struck the concrete wall of the building. The airbags did not deploy despite the frontal impact. No one was seriously injured, but my husband, daughter, and I experienced soreness the following day from the impact. Thankfully, I had chosen a parking space in front of a concrete wall rather than the glass storefront windows, which could have resulted in far more serious injuries or damage. I contacted my insurance company, and the vehicle has since been repaired.

NHTSA ID

11737223

Incident

Apr 28, 2026

I received notice from Mazda about a recall on the infotainment system. The notice required me to provide as much proof of claim as possible. I provided proof from the dealership where the system was replaced. I was within filing time guidelines. Mazda administrator sent notice that my claim was denied with no reason as to why. Claim # XXX VIN [XXX] I am requesting the full amount of parts and labor that I spent for the replacement of the infotainment system. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11735940

Incident

Jul 16, 2024

another case of a 2018 cx-5 cracked cylinder head. 70k miles and regularly maintienced. no warning other than oil showing on the ground. took it in to mazda dealership and they came back after looking at it and declared it was a cracked cylinder head priced at 6.8k. after looking it up it appears to be a casting issue that has affected many mazdas but mazda corp. will not take fault.

NHTSA ID

11735291

Incident

Apr 27, 2026

My 2018 Mazda CX five experience catastrophic engine failure at approximately 119,000 miles despite proper maintenance. The failure resulted in a repair estimate exceeding $9500. This type of failure raises concerns regarding potential engine defects or premature mechanical breakdown. Mazda acknowledged the issue by offering a minimal Goodwill payments, but refused meaningful assistance. I am reporting the issue to determine whether similar failures are occurring with Mazda and further investigation is warranted.

NHTSA ID

11734878

Incident

Sep 17, 2025

My CX-5 has 86,120 miles. I noticed a burnt oil smell coming into the car and later found oil droplets on my garage floor. I took it in to my neighborhood garage and they found an oil leak coming from the cylinder head. They recommended I take to my Mazda dealer. I had it towed to Pearson Mazda, Richmond,VA. They inspected it and stated I had a cracked cylinder head. I have a 100K extended warranty that will cover most of the cost to repair it. However, I found the Mazda CX-5 2018-2021 models have a cylinder head defect. I found a Mazda Service Alert, #SA-031/21 and on Reddit a Mazda CX-5 owners page that has many stories of the same problem, cracked cylinder head. Some have had Mazda cover the repair cost or given a major discount and provided an extended warranty after repair. I reviewed this with Pearson Mazda and they stated that my car does not fall in the vehicle numbers that they will cover. This is a known issue and they will not acknowledge it for my car. I have contacted Mazda Corporate and waiting for a callback. Litigation has been filed for the CX-5 Turbo customers and they have received restitution. This is also a major issue on non-Turbo customer’s SUVs. I have read that the 2018-2021 manufacturing (casting) of the cylinder head was defective. However, Mazda is not admitting it because a RECALL would cost them millions to fix the cylinder head issue on all the affected vehicles. But, they are at fault and should work with all customers that have been affected by this issue. Therefore, I am requesting NHTSA to make this a public safety matter and have Mazda be accountable for the issue. Thank you!

NHTSA ID

11734839

Incident

Apr 19, 2026

I am experiencing “ghost touch” from the faulty laminate on the touch screen. Can literally see it degrading. It is a widely known issue and is dangerous cause I’m cruising along at 70 on the highway then all of a sudden my car randomly changes to different screens or changes sound settings. Very distracting and disconcerting. Unbelievable this hasn’t been a recall - government is certainly complicit in this now.

NHTSA ID

11734765

Incident

Apr 29, 2026

Defect front doors the opening handle has a( trim metal plastic) section separates and the metal part is very sharp and my wife got hurt with the metal portion like I said it's very sharp. I need to cover the handle to prevent that. Now it's in the passenger side too.

NHTSA ID

11733874

Incident

Jan 21, 2026

2018 CX-5, VIN [XXX] , 60,182 miles. Skyactiv-G 2.5L with cylinder deactivation (VIN 8th digit M). Head gasket leak diagnosed by independent mechanic and confirmed by Mazda dealer, who referenced Service Action SA-073/24. Oil actively leaking onto garage floor and contacting exhaust manifold, causing burning smell and potential fire risk. Defect was first documented by dealer at 52,966 miles within powertrain warranty. This is a known manufacturing defect affecting the cylinder head casting on 2018+ CX-5 models with cylinder deactivation INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11733339

Incident

Apr 22, 2026

Upon acceleration it’s not shifting gears properly. The rpm’s rev but the vehicle doesn’t go faster. Traffic behind me continued to accelerate to where i was concerned about being rear ended. I Have not taken it to anyone yet..it has done this a couple of times. Even though it’s a 2018 it only has 25000 miles on it. The dealer is an hour away and i”m afraid to drive it there because i don’t want to cause more problems. No warnings lights or messages.

NHTSA ID

11732799

Incident

Apr 16, 2026

Oil leak from defective head that occurred behind exhaust manifold leaking hot oil onto the hot exhaust causing the potential for fire. Leak started at 44,000 miles. This manufacture defect is not being covered by Mazda or a recall even though the high potential of fire and serious injury.

NHTSA ID

11731395

Incident

Mar 1, 2026