2018 Mazda CX-5 problems and complaints
Owners have filed 124 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Mazda CX-5. The most-reported areas: Engine (100), Power Train (18), Unknown Or Other (9).
Key takeaways
- 124 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 1 involve a crash, 0 a fire, 1 reported injury.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 100 | 81% |
| Power Train | 18 | 15% |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 | 7% |
| Electrical System | 3 | 2% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 | 2% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 3 | 2% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 | 2% |
| Steering | 1 | 1% |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1% |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 1% |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2018 Mazda CX-5
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Engine air filter
- Cabin air filter
- Wiper blades
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| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Mazda CX-5 SUV AWD Later Release | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2018 Mazda CX-5 SUV FWD Later Release | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2018 Mazda CX-5 SUV AWD Early Release | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2018 Mazda CX-5 SUV FWD Early Release | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Electrical System - filed 2026-11-02
The display touch screen has delaminated and ghost clicks on various items while driving. The volume will go up, songs change, various messages will announce, all without touching the screen or any other controls. This is surprises my daughter and is dangerous - she has nearly crashed because of this malfunction. I...
Engine - filed 2026-11-02
My Mazda dealership in Lodi recommended service on a timing cover seal. They could see oil leaking but failed to check if the oil was coming from the timing cover or cylinder head, which is a known issue according to a service bulletin. I left the dealership with a “ticking time bomb” in which my car was still smoking ...
Engine - filed 2026-10-28
My 2018 Mazda CX-5 Touring (2.5L non-turbo engine with cylinder deactivation) developed a burning oil smell that steadily worsened over several days. On XXX, at about 61,300 miles, I saw smoke coming from the engine compartment after driving. The engine had not overheated, and the car was regularly maintained. On XXX,...
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More for the 2018 Mazda CX-5
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.