Owners have filed 153 complaints
about the 2020 Mazda CX-5 with NHTSA between 2020 and 2026.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 7 of 14 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 33
Against the median year of the Mazda CX-5. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 84
16.3% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 100
90% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Automatic Emergency Braking
827.6%
Warnings
517.2%
Body
517.2%
Blind Spot Detection
413.8%
Adaptive Cruise Control
310.3%
Rearview System Braking
26.9%
Coil
13.4%
Chime
13.4%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
1032.3%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
1445.2%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
26.5%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
26.5%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
13.2%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
13.2%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
13.2%
NHTSA crash tests
The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own
photographs and star ratings.
Frontal crash test
Side barrier crash test
Side pole crash test
Photographs taken by NHTSA during its own New Car Assessment Program crash
tests of this model year. Public domain.
Configuration
Overall
Front
Side
Rollover
2020 Mazda CX-5 SUV AWD
16.9% risk
2020 Mazda CX-5 SUV FWD
17.4% risk
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 2020peak 10Aug 2026
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Oakland, CACrash
SERVICE BRAKES
While driving on the highway in traffic, I was applying the brakes (slowly and smoothly) and moving with the flow of traffic when the SBS system activated the brakes harshly and slammed me to a stop without reason. In addition to throwing me forward against my seatbelt, it also resulted in the car behind me rear-ending me. I did not hit the car ahead of me, since I was far enough behind them BEFORE the smart brake support engaged, but the feature caused an accident that could have been avoided.
NHTSA complaint #11729750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving on the highway in traffic, I was applying the brakes (slowly and smoothly) and moving with the flow of traffic when the SBS system activated the brakes harshly and slammed me to a stop without reason. In addition to throwing me forward against my seatbelt, it also resulted in the car behind me rear-ending me. I did not hit the car ahead of me, since I was far enough behind them BEFORE the smart brake support engaged, but the feature caused an accident that could have been avoided.
NHTSA complaint #11729750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lockhaven, PACrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The vehicle accelerated on its own, while I was parking. My foot was on the brake when the vehicle just took off. It continued to accelerate until a building stopped it. I continued to brake but the vehicle did not stop. Once the vehicle collided with building, saw on the digital read out the "Brake System Malfunction" and then Camera Malfunction. The vehicle was towed from the site and the insurance adjuster has sent me word that the vehicle is a total loss.
NHTSA complaint #11616109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lockhaven, PACrash1 injured
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The vehicle accelerated on its own, while I was parking. My foot was on the brake when the vehicle just took off. It continued to accelerate until a building stopped it. I continued to brake but the vehicle did not stop. Once the vehicle collided with building, saw on the digital read out the "Brake System Malfunction" and then Camera Malfunction. The vehicle was towed from the site and the insurance adjuster has sent me word that the vehicle is a total loss.
NHTSA complaint #11616109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lockhaven, PACrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
The vehicle accelerated on its own, while I was parking. My foot was on the brake when the vehicle just took off. It continued to accelerate until a building stopped it. I continued to brake but the vehicle did not stop. Once the vehicle collided with building, saw on the digital read out the "Brake System Malfunction" and then Camera Malfunction. The vehicle was towed from the site and the insurance adjuster has sent me word that the vehicle is a total loss.
NHTSA complaint #11616109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Roanoke, VA1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
On Septmber 2, 2023 the car had been on a 4 hour road trip. I came into the driveway, left the car running in Park with the brakes on (listening to music while I cleaned the car out) it was idylling for about 5 minutes. I went to the drivers side door, which was open and reached in to turn the car off using the start/stop button. Before I could turn the car off, it started backing up and the door ran over me. The car was definitely in Park and the Brake was on. There was no reason for the parking brake to disengage.
NHTSA complaint #11546572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Arvada, CO
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I purchased a brand new Mazda CX5 in 2020 that now has 46,000 miles on it. It is experiencing the known “ghost touch” issue in which the entertainment system and screen displayed in the center of the dashboard turns itself off and on, changes settings, shuts off navigation while driving, changes the radio from FM to AM, changes the time zone, drops hand free phone calls, initiatives hands free phone calls, does not allow me to control the volume, freezes, and more, while driving without me touching the system or even when it isn’t on. It is incredibly disruptive and distracting when driving and is a major safety problem. There was a class action lawsuit for this issue for 2016-2020 Mazda CX5s that expired in 2025 in which Mazda was required to pay up to $1750 for repairs. I was not having this issue at that time and have been told Mazda will only pay a portion to correct this issue. Considering how popular this vehicle is and the likelihood of this being cost prohibitive for many people to pay for themselves this has the potential to be a major safety problem throughout the country.
NHTSA complaint #11756022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Belfast, ME
ENGINE
Cylinder Head has failed at 53,000 miles. Mazda has a technical service bulletin acknowledging that this is a common occurrence with this part. They have an extended warranty for the turbo engine but not for the standard engine. Looking through online forums, there are hundreds of not thousands of these issues for this model year and engine. Mazda has clearly acknowledged there is an issue and should repair these manufacturing defects that are not normal wear and tear items.
NHTSA complaint #11745274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Madison, AL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The infotainment display screen on my 2020 Mazda CX-5 has suffered a severe hardware failure resulting in un-commanded inputs, commonly known as "ghost touching." While driving at highway speeds, the touchscreen constantly registers phantom touches. It actively hijacks the vehicle's computer system and cuts out my Apple CarPlay connection during trips. This morning, the ghost touching randomly turned the Apple Maps navigation volume up to the absolute maximum level without warning. This intense, sudden noise causes driver shock and distraction while in motion, creating an immediate risk of a wreck. The vehicle currently has fewer than 29,000 miles.
NHTSA complaint #11743236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Collegeville, PA
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Read windshield just shattered while driving down the highway. No object hit the windshield. On I-95 near PHL airport, near exit for Rt 420
NHTSA complaint #11742819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lakewood, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The vehicle infotainment system including the touchscreen display and Connectivity Master Unit malfunctioned. The touchscreen operates without driver input, the system freezes or glitches, audio activates unexpectedly, and phone functions behave erratically. The vehicle and components are available for inspection upon request. While the vehicle was being driven, the system initiated actions without driver input including unintended phone calls including calls to 911, sudden unexpectedly loud radio or audio volume, screen freezing, and loss of navigation. These events caused driver distraction and a startle effect while the vehicle was in motion, increasing safety risk to vehicle occupants and others on the road. The issue is ongoing intermittent and reproducible during normal driving conditions. The vehicle was presented to an authorized dealer multiple times. A software update was performed in an attempt to correct the issue, but the condition continued. The dealer advised that replacement of infotainment components such as the CMU or display may be required. The vehicle has been inspected by an authorized dealer on multiple service visits. The issue was also reviewed by the manufacturer customer experience case management team which acknowledged understanding of the malfunction but declined repair assistance. No police or insurance inspections have occurred. No warning lights or messages appear before the malfunction. Symptoms occur without warning and include random touchscreen activation, system freezing or rebooting, unintended phone dialing, and unexpected loud audio. The issue began after purchase and has continued despite repair attempts. Similar infotainment malfunctions including ghost touch behavior, screen freezing or rebooting while driving, unintended audio behavior, and dialing issues have been documented in manufacturer service bulletins affecting comparable vehicles, indicating this issue is not isolated.
NHTSA complaint #11731620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lakewood, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The vehicle infotainment system including the touchscreen display and Connectivity Master Unit malfunctioned. The touchscreen operates without driver input, the system freezes or glitches, audio activates unexpectedly, and phone functions behave erratically. The vehicle and components are available for inspection upon request. While the vehicle was being driven, the system initiated actions without driver input including unintended phone calls including calls to 911, sudden unexpectedly loud radio or audio volume, screen freezing, and loss of navigation. These events caused driver distraction and a startle effect while the vehicle was in motion, increasing safety risk to vehicle occupants and others on the road. The issue is ongoing intermittent and reproducible during normal driving conditions. The vehicle was presented to an authorized dealer multiple times. A software update was performed in an attempt to correct the issue, but the condition continued. The dealer advised that replacement of infotainment components such as the CMU or display may be required. The vehicle has been inspected by an authorized dealer on multiple service visits. The issue was also reviewed by the manufacturer customer experience case management team which acknowledged understanding of the malfunction but declined repair assistance. No police or insurance inspections have occurred. No warning lights or messages appear before the malfunction. Symptoms occur without warning and include random touchscreen activation, system freezing or rebooting, unintended phone dialing, and unexpected loud audio. The issue began after purchase and has continued despite repair attempts. Similar infotainment malfunctions including ghost touch behavior, screen freezing or rebooting while driving, unintended audio behavior, and dialing issues have been documented in manufacturer service bulletins affecting comparable vehicles, indicating this issue is not isolated.
NHTSA complaint #11731620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lone Tree, IA
SEAT BELTS
Air bag light is flashing in the dashboard. It says passenger air bag off. Driver seatbelt doesn't always click when trying to fastent seatbelt. I have to try multiple times until it clicks.
NHTSA complaint #11730087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lone Tree, IA
AIR BAGS
Air bag light is flashing in the dashboard. It says passenger air bag off. Driver seatbelt doesn't always click when trying to fastent seatbelt. I have to try multiple times until it clicks.
NHTSA complaint #11730087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lone Tree, IA
ENGINE
The car has signs of current recall in other Cx-5 Models. Hesitation with acceleration or driving at high speed, reduced power, not responding appropriately when accelerating or would accelerate on its own, strong smell of gas after the car has been driven and is parked. I know there is currently a recall for a gas pump failure. There is no engine light on.
NHTSA complaint #11730088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lone Tree, IA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The car has signs of current recall in other Cx-5 Models. Hesitation with acceleration or driving at high speed, reduced power, not responding appropriately when accelerating or would accelerate on its own, strong smell of gas after the car has been driven and is parked. I know there is currently a recall for a gas pump failure. There is no engine light on.
NHTSA complaint #11730088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oakland, CACrash
SERVICE BRAKES
While driving on the highway in traffic, I was applying the brakes (slowly and smoothly) and moving with the flow of traffic when the SBS system activated the brakes harshly and slammed me to a stop without reason. In addition to throwing me forward against my seatbelt, it also resulted in the car behind me rear-ending me. I did not hit the car ahead of me, since I was far enough behind them BEFORE the smart brake support engaged, but the feature caused an accident that could have been avoided.
NHTSA complaint #11729750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving on the highway in traffic, I was applying the brakes (slowly and smoothly) and moving with the flow of traffic when the SBS system activated the brakes harshly and slammed me to a stop without reason. In addition to throwing me forward against my seatbelt, it also resulted in the car behind me rear-ending me. I did not hit the car ahead of me, since I was far enough behind them BEFORE the smart brake support engaged, but the feature caused an accident that could have been avoided.
NHTSA complaint #11729750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Prospect Heights, IL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am reporting an ongoing defect with the infotainment system in my 2020 Mazda CX-5, involving ghost-touch inputs, system freezing, and random reboots. These issues began around the second year of ownership and have progressively worsened. The system constantly registers inputs that are not being made (ghost-touch), changes settings on its own; and occasionally- reboots while operating the vehicle. This makes it difficult or impossible to reliably use essential vehicle functions such as navigation, communication, and audio controls. The issue is particularly concerning because it creates a driver distraction and potential safety risk, as the system behaves unpredictably and requires attention while driving to manage or disable unintended inputs. I reported these issues multiple times to an authorized Mazda dealership while the vehicle was still under warranty. However, I was told no issue could be found or that software updates would resolve the problem. These updates did not fix the issue. On August 9, 2025, another system update was performed under the Mazda Connect Class Action Settlement, but the problem persists. The dealership is now requiring a paid diagnostic fee before proceeding further, despite the known nature of this defect. Based on my research and widespread owner reports, this issue is commonly associated with infotainment system defects, including screen delamination and/or failure of the Connectivity Master Unit (CMU). I am submitting this complaint to document the defect and request further review, as it affects safe operation and driver attention.
NHTSA complaint #11728663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saint Petersburg, FL
STEERING
The steering column in this car has a known defect in the steering column nut resulting in knocking/rattling/clunking. Mazda is aware of this issue and has redesigned the steering column and issued multiple TSBs for specific models, years, and even VINs. Mazda is not classifying this a a safety issue to avoid recall but if the part is to fail it can result in loss of vehicle control and a crash. The steering column is main component necessary to have control over the car and the direction it travels. I've called my dealership and Mazda corporate who both refuse to fix the issue even though my car is under an extended warranty. TSB 06-001/24 previous TSB 06-004/23.
NHTSA complaint #11724703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Parkville, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The Smart Brake Support system malfunctioned while driving. The vehicle began shaking and lost power, requiring excessive throttle to move. The car hesitates and may not accelerate normally, creating a dangerous situation in traffic. Warning lights appeared on the dashboard and the vehicle became unsafe to operate. The issue occurred shortly after purchase and was reproduced multiple times. The dealer inspected the vehicle but refused to provide a written diagnosis or repair timeline. The vehicle is unreliable and poses a risk of sudden loss of control or rear-end collision.
NHTSA complaint #11720015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Parkville, MD
ENGINE
The Smart Brake Support system malfunctioned while driving. The vehicle began shaking and lost power, requiring excessive throttle to move. The car hesitates and may not accelerate normally, creating a dangerous situation in traffic. Warning lights appeared on the dashboard and the vehicle became unsafe to operate. The issue occurred shortly after purchase and was reproduced multiple times. The dealer inspected the vehicle but refused to provide a written diagnosis or repair timeline. The vehicle is unreliable and poses a risk of sudden loss of control or rear-end collision.
NHTSA complaint #11720015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Parkville, MD
SERVICE BRAKES
The Smart Brake Support system malfunctioned while driving. The vehicle began shaking and lost power, requiring excessive throttle to move. The car hesitates and may not accelerate normally, creating a dangerous situation in traffic. Warning lights appeared on the dashboard and the vehicle became unsafe to operate. The issue occurred shortly after purchase and was reproduced multiple times. The dealer inspected the vehicle but refused to provide a written diagnosis or repair timeline. The vehicle is unreliable and poses a risk of sudden loss of control or rear-end collision.
NHTSA complaint #11720015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Worthington, OH
POWER TRAIN
Started smelling burning oil in 2020 Mazda CX-5 non turbo with 34,000 miles. Auto shop states it is a cracked cylinder that will cost over $7,000 to repair. A Google search shows it is a known issue but Mazda has not extended the warranty for non-turbo models.
NHTSA complaint #11718626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 milesPendleton, IN
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
The contact owned a 2020 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving under 45 MPH, the TCM received a false data sensor warning, causing the vehicle to enter LIMP Mode. The contact stated that during the failure, the smart brake feature, Adaptive Cruise Control, and other unknown ADS features and warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure with the ADS system prompted the vehicle to come to a complete stop while driving 45 MPH. The contact parked and turned off the vehicle to troubleshoot the ECU after the failure had occurred. The contact restarted the vehicle, and the adaptive cruise control warning light, smart brake feature, and ADS radar features returned. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified about the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #11709183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Honolulu, HI
POWER TRAIN
Vehicle suffering from Mazda TSB 05-005/23 Chirping noise from Transaxle on 3rd to 4th gear upshift. Vehicle diagnosed by dealership as needing new Transaxle on 17OCT25. Diagnosis stated issue started ~32k miles.
NHTSA complaint #11697451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicago, IL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE SUNROOF EXPLODED NORMAL TEMPS in CHICAGO IL Halloween Hight 60 desgres on while driving on HWY
NHTSA complaint #11696893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicago, IL
STRUCTURE
SUNROOF EXPLODING - 2020 Cx5 I've seen other reports on mazda forums happending on cx the sunroofs RANDOM normal temp in chicago IL on Halloween night
NHTSA complaint #11696894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stafford, VA
POWER TRAIN
The issue is iron is depositing in the transmission due to a bad torque converter, this is a known issue with mazda and it doesn't seem to be something they are willing to cover and many people are experiencing this especially with the cx5 models. It causes jerking and chirping noise, plus will eventually ruin the transmission and will cause serious safety issues. Just look into the reddit threads
NHTSA complaint #11690786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Louisville, KY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I purchased this vehicle as a used car from a dealership. On my way home, the infotainment panel began to shout at top volume that this is the volume that navigation would be set at. The volume was so loud that it was startling, and it continued on until I had to pull over. I contacted the dealer, but they offered no assistance. The car continues to control itself at the panel ferning with the use of android auto so that you can't use your phone GPS for directions. The radio will control itself, changing stations, making loud beeps, and turning the volume up. There is no way to stop this feature because you can't turn the system completely off while the car is on. I can find no way to fix this on my own. I have tried resets, but have seen ample information about other people having this problem online. This does not seem to be an unknown problem and I don't know why there has not been issued a recall because it's very dangerous.
NHTSA complaint #11690851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Port Huron, MI
POWER TRAIN
Driving about 20 to 35 mph accelerating I would get a distinctive one time chirp noise with a little bit of a stutter It happens every time I go about that speed accelerating. Thankfully my car was under pre-owned warranty but I have to get now. Three transmission flushes I have to pay $400 for and they have to replace a torque converter. I just got the car 10 days ago and only has 61,000 mi on it. Over the long term this could damage the transmission cause more and more issues
NHTSA complaint #11690627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
