2019 Mazda CX-5 Fuel system Problems

My 2019 Mazda CX-5 (equipped with the 2.5L naturally aspirated SkyActiv-G engine with cylinder deactivation) has experienced a severe structural failure resulting in a cracked engine cylinder head. This casting defect allows pressurized motor oil to leak continuously from the cylinder head down onto the hot engine block and nearby exhaust components. This has led to the following severe safety risks: engine oil is leaking onto the exhaust manifold and creates an extreme risk of engine compartment fire when the vehicle is in motion; sudden loss of oil pressure or complete structural failure of the cylinder head can cause the engine to stall or seize unexpectedly without warning, completely disabling the vehicle in live traffic and creating an imminent crash hazard; and dropping oil levels and leaking fluids burning against the engine produce strong smoke and chemical odors that enter the cabin, which can cause driver distraction and severely limiting visibility if smoke escapes through the hood. We are also inhaling these odors. Mazda is fully aware of this structural engine defect and has detailed it internally under Technical Service Bulletin TSB #SA-031-21 (as well as related TSBs for oil seepage/leaks on these cylinder heads). Despite acknowledging the manufacturing flaw, Mazda has failed to issue a safety recall for this dangerous fire and stalling hazard, forcing consumers to drive unsafe vehicles or pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for a known defect. The vehicle currently has 62,317 miles. The crack and oil leak were officially diagnosed by the Carlsbad Mazda dealership service department on 5/26/26. I am requesting that the NHTSA launch a formal safety defect investigation into Mazda 2.5L cylinder head cracking to force a safety recall before this defect leads to a fatal fire or highway accident.

NHTSA ID

11741916

Incident

May 26, 2026

My car has an issue officially diagnosed by a reputable mechanic that matches the claim of the former TSB SA-058/20 that was changed and clarified through the now existing TSB SA-031/21. My car has a cracked cylinder head. This is the non turbo engine but it does have cylinder deactivation which his believed to be a culprit. The cracking is known to be caused by a manufacturing defect. There is an existing class action lawsuit regarding the turbo versions. There are complexities as to wh this lawsuit is on behalf of the turbo engines, and not the non turbo engines, however the same problems are well documented and widely acknowledged throughout hundreds if not more instances of people online and by Mazda's acknowledgment of the problem through the TSB's. This put me at great safety risk. I was driving north bound right beside semi trucks and busy traffic at speed limits of 70 mph when my engine started smoking. I was able to pull over and get it to a nearby mechanic. They officially diagnosed the vehicle w the cracked cylinder head matching the aforementioned TSBs. Mazda denied my goodwill case, even though it was made without complete information on my situation and car, despite my best attempts to get to the one representing my case with the dealership(I tried to reach him for 2 days with no success). Getting a repair from Mazda dealerships was inconvenient for my location and schedule, but I've always had my vehicle properly serviced. Mazda said this repair would cost near $7500. A mechanic quoted me at least the amount of $5500.

NHTSA ID

11736667

Incident

Mar 17, 2026

I purchased a 2019 Mazda CX-5 (As is) on July 20, 2015. On September 11, 2025, as I was traveling on a three lane highway. I attempted to pass another vehicle. As I was attempting to go around the vehicle, my Mazda suddenly began braking and quickly losing acceleration. The speed limit on the highway was 70 mph. I estimated my speed at the time was between 70 and 75 mph as I attempted to pass. Pressing on the accelerator pedal did nothing. I had to try and very carefully steer the car to the right hand side of the road while trying to avoid oncoming traffic approaching from behind. When I finally got the car off the road, this is when I noticed that the car had stalled. The car started right back up and I continued to my appointment. The "radar cruise control" was activated at the time of the incident. On September 15, 2025, I contacted the dealer where the car was purchased and explained what happened. I was asked to bring the car in that same day. The car was supposedly looked over and connected to the Service Dept.'s computer to see if any error sign appeared. Nothing showed up. I service technician was then asked to ride with me to see if the car would replicated the same stalling as it has previously done. We could not get the car to stall as it had previously done. Before leaving, a salesman asked me if I wanted him to explain the "radar cruise control" to me some more. I agreed. The salesman then proceeded to tell me that "the car did not stall, it was simply braking from the activation of the radar cruise control". Being an experienced driver, I told the salesman that the car had stalled as evidenced by the fact that I had to restart it. The situation was not resolved to my satisfaction, but no other offers were made by the dealer. I requested additional diagnostic work to be done, but the dealer refused to cooperate. I did take the car to another Mazda dealer, but could get no offer but to connect the car to their computer.

NHTSA ID

11721085

Incident

Sep 11, 2025

My fuel pump burned out after only 60k miles.... very expensive repair. Mazda said the problem was only with the early 2019 models so mine wasn't included yet my fuel pump did exactly what the ones included in the recall did, but I was left with over $1700 repair bill to replace the fuel pump. Obviously the "improved design" used in the second half of the year isn't really improved, and I've never had to replace a fuel pump on a vehicle with so few miles on it. We were sitting idle waiting for food at a restaurant and the engine just died and we were unable to re-start the vehicle. No issues prior to this, always kept fuel at least 1/4 tank or more full and no engine warning lights until AFTER the engine died.

NHTSA ID

11720336

Incident

Feb 20, 2026

Drove 39 miles, around ~55 minutes. Parked the car, realized that I parked a little too far from the spot, car just stalled while rolling. Pressed accelerator, nothing. Turned off the car, tried to start again, it cranked but didn't start. Had to tow it to the nearest mechanic (total of ~2 hrs until my car got picked up and dropped off), mechanic calls me and tells me my car started fine. I'm thinking it could be 5321K recall but not sure as my VIN is not in the recall nor did I get any recall notice. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - No idea. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? - Got stranded for hours in the parking lot. 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? - No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? - Yes, fuel cap like icon and check engine light were on when trying to start the car after it stalled. The car would crank but not start.

NHTSA ID

11706210

Incident

Sep 6, 2025

For the 3rd or 4th time since I have own this car I experienced a loss of acceleration when attempting to make quick acceleration while attempting to merge with traffic. Acceleration is fine around town where quick acceleration is not appropriate. But the first attempt to merge with flowing traffic the car will slowly accelerates to about 30 mph and no more regardless as to position of accelerator pedal. On all occasion this bad behavior has this first drive of the day - going to work in the a.m. There is often a warning message indicating the safety radar is not working due to limited visibility which is a very common warning in the a.m.

NHTSA ID

11673265

Incident

Jul 14, 2025

I am writing to express serious concerns regarding the recent service that occurred on November 14th, 2023. Due to the service's failure and negligence, Luther Brookdale Mazda has jeopardized the safety and well-being of my family members. On [XXX], my 2019 CX-5 was towed from Monticello, Minnesota, to the dealership in Brooklyn Center around 9 pm. While returning from [XXX] dinner in St. Cloud on [XXX] , a sudden warning appeared on the dashboard: "Engine Coolant Temperature High. Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe place." Upon receiving this notification, we pulled over to the shoulder and observed smoke emanating from the engine bay. We promptly turned off the vehicle. Concerned for our safety, we contacted our family to pick us up and had the vehicle towed by AAA. As we awaited the tow truck's arrival, we noticed coolant had sprayed all over the engine under the hood, and the engine cover was missing. Furthermore, the coolant reservoir was below the minimum threshold. This particular issue is the reason I brought the vehicle in for service the week prior, regarding insufficient coolant temperature. It was evident from the state of the engine bay that the dealership failed to follow proper protocol. This lack of oversight likely resulted in damage to the engine and other essential vehicle components, leading to the total loss of the car. I am deeply disappointed by the lack of care and attention to detail in the service provided. This negligence also compromised my family's safety. Moreover, what was meant to be a festive holiday was marred due to the disregard for my property. I have been a loyal customer at Luther Mazda Brooklyn Park for several years, and I am shocked by the incident that has transpired. We have approached the dealer with the issue and they are continue to articulate that there is no engine damage, but with the ongoing class action lawsuit, I am extremely skeptical of their claims. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11612890

Incident

Nov 23, 2023

I have a 2019 CX5 Mazda that consistently leaks oil and smokes. After taking it to a mechanic, I learned that this is a known Mazda issue, but because my car is under warranty, they won't help me. The Cylinder head is pours, and my mechanic said even if he replaces it, it will happen again due to the design. After I have checked online, it seems that MANY people have this issue from 2018-2021. Mazda even made TSB #SA-031-21 to cover some of this issue but no recall. As mentioned, my car leaks oil everyday, and I have to constantly put oil in just to keep it from burning up. It smokes really bad, but I cannot afford a new car or afford to pay over $3K to get this fixed, or don't understand why they won't fix it if they know it was poor design???

NHTSA ID

11609668

Incident

Aug 31, 2022

While driving down the road my Mazda CX-5 continues to just stall and the engine light turns on and the safety features turn off. I was driving down a road in town and the engine started stalling as I came to a red light and slowed the engine shut off and I was almost hit from behind. It took several attempts at starting before the car would start. This has now happened for the past 3 days and is happening more and more frequently. I do not have any other means of transportation and after attempting to get the dealership to check due to the recalls on the Mazda CX-5 for fuel pump failure and the mechanic saying it appears the fuel pump is bad the dealership refuses to attempt any repair because the VIN is not listed in the recall at this time. This is a severe safety problem because if it stalls in traffic I will be in an accident as I have no ability to maneuver the vehicle when it stalls to get out of the way of vehicles approaching. If this issue isn't resolved it is going to cause injury to myself or others. People have had to swerve into the path of other vehicles to keep from hitting me when it stalls, which is eventually going to result in harm to others and/or myself and family.

NHTSA ID

11536875

Incident

Aug 6, 2023

Unknown. The engine started to stall as I was driving and the gas pedal wasn't working. The car shutdown after reaching 0 moles per hour and it would jerk when I tried starting it. The car had enough fuel, battery and was service a month prior. The car would not start and had to wait a few hours to try again. The issue is similar to the recall this model has but when I checked my VIN is all cleared . Please Help.

NHTSA ID

11482910

Incident

Sep 5, 2022

The contact owns a 2019 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that her daughter received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V875000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and scheduled an appointment for August 1; however, upon arrival at the dealer she was informed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the dealer had been called several times and it was confirmed that the part was not available and that the contact would receive a call back. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11478202

Incident

Aug 8, 2022

The contact owns a 2019 Mazda CX-5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V875000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. The consumer stated that Mazda still have not performed the recall for the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11473901

Incident

Nov 17, 2021

The contact owns a 2019 Mazda CX-5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V875000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer had been notified of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11463162

Incident

Jan 29, 2022

The contact owns a 2019 Mazda CX-5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V875000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11457001

Incident

Jan 1, 2022

Mazda recall 5321K NHTSA recall 21V875 has been open since Nov 2021 and notification by letter not received until Jan 2022 stating that a fix may be available by summer 2022. Meaning I am driving a vehicle that may stall at any time possibly causing a crash. This is unacceptable from a safety standpoint. NHTSA needs to apply pressure on Mazda to resolve this ASAP or provide loaner vehicles to those customers at risk.

NHTSA ID

11452052

Incident

Nov 17, 2021

The contact owns a 2019 Mazda CX5. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number 21V875000(Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available and would not be available until mid-summer. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated on two separate occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. After a restart, the vehicle operated as designed. The contact was concerned that the failure might occur while driving on a busy freeway. VIN tool confirms parts not available. The failure mileage was 5,000.

NHTSA ID

11451518

Incident

Feb 1, 2022

Mileage

5,000 mi

Safety recall just received for my car. Fuel pump failure may result in engine failure increasing risk of crash. Repair parts not available. It is expected parts may be available summer 2022. I will be driving cross country to return home to NY from AZ in March. What am i supposed to do?

NHTSA ID

11448212

Incident

Jan 20, 2022

I was driving on the highway, at about 65 mph. The engine lost power and the car began to slow down. It did not respond to the accelerator, but the power was still on. I was lucky enough to be able to pull over to the shoulder without colliding, but it was extremely fortunate that no cars were obstructing me at the time. I put the car into park once stopped and turned the engine off. I tried to restart but the engine did not turn over and several warning signs came up on the dash and the car emitted irregular dinging/beeping noises before going silent (I do not recall specifically, but I believe the check engine and/or battery indicator lights came on) The hazards worked, also the interior lights. But I was stranded in a remote area in complete darkness on a very narrow shoulder with large trucks whizzing by. A CHP officer appeared eventually and expedited a tow truck, which brought me to the nearest Mazda dealership 100 miles away. It was midnight by the time we arrived. Both the tow truck driver and the technician (the next morning) were both unable to jumpstart the car. Engine would not turn over at all. The technician opened up the engine and sent reports to Mazda. We are waiting to hear back but they would not give me a loaner vehicle without knowing the cause of the failure. Very relieved I was not hurt but also very upset at the chance I could have been.

NHTSA ID

11444941

Incident

Dec 22, 2021

VEHICLE HAVING SIGNIFICANT DROP IN POWER OUTPUT IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING. ISSUE RESOLVES WHEN FINALLY SHIFTING TO 3RD GEAR, BUT LACK OF PREDICTABLE RESPONSE WHEN MERGING IS UNSETTLING.

NHTSA ID

11397986

Incident

Feb 9, 2021

Mileage

26,000 mi

THE FUEL LOW LEVEL LIGHT IS NOT TRIGGERED UNTIL 12 MILES OR LESS OF FUEL REMAINING. THE SERVICE BULLETIN PROVIDED BY THE DEALERSHIP, MED CENTER MAZDA IN PELHAM ALABAMA, SHOWS THAT WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE SENDER VOLTAGE FROM THE RBCM AND THE FUEL INJECTION AMOUNT FROM THE PCM BOTH AGREE THAT 2,6 GALLONS REMAIN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER POWERS A TRANSISTOR AND TURNS THE LIGHT ON. IN A DISCUSSION WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR, WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE ARE 2.6 GALLONS REMAINING THEN WHY THE MILES TO EMPTY DOES NOT REGISTER 30-50 BASED ON THE EPA RATINGS FOR THE VEHICLE. WE DECIDED TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO CLEAR ANY RESIDUAL INFORMATION IN THE COMPUTER AND RESET THE AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY SYSTEM. WHILE DRIVING THE MAZDA CX-5 LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER GETTING IT BACK FROM THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE FUEL LOW LEVEL LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE UNTIL 6 (SIX) MILES TO EMPTY. I EXITED THE INTERSTATE AND DROVE THE VEHICLE ABOUT 5 MILES TO MY HOME. THE MILES TO EMPTY READ 0 (ZERO) WHEN PULLING IN MY DRIVEWAY. I PARKED THE MAZDA AND CHANGED VEHICLES TO COMPLETE MY TASKS FOR THE DAY. UPON STARTING THE MAZDA THE NEXT MORNING, THE MILES TO EMPTY STILL SHOWED 0 (ZERO) WHILE ALSO SHOWING AN AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY AT 24+ MPG. I THEN DROVE TO THE GAS STATION WHERE 13.573 GALLONS WERE REQUIRED TO FILL THE TANK. THAT LEAVES APPROXIMATELY 1/10TH OF A GALLON UNTIL THE CAR RAN OUT OF FUEL, ALTHOUGH I HAD ONLY TRAVELED 6-7 MILES AFTER THE LIGHT CAME ON. BOTTOM LINE: THERE WAS DEFINITELY LESS THAN 2.6 GALLONS IN THE TANK WHEN THE FUEL LOW LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO QUIT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE AND WHICH COULD ALSO BE DAMAGING THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE COMPUTERS, PROGRAMMING, AND/OR SENSORS ARE MALFUNCTIONING. THE MALFUNCTIONING FUEL SYSTEM ON THE 2019 MAZDA CX-5 COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11362484

Incident

Oct 1, 2020

Mileage

23,500 mi