24 of the
153 complaints about the 2020 Mazda CX-5 are about the
driver-assist systems — 16% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
10,000 miles.
D
24
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Automatic Emergency Braking
833.3%
Warnings
520.8%
Blind Spot Detection
416.7%
Adaptive Cruise Control
312.5%
Rearview System Braking
28.3%
Camera
14.2%
Warning
14.2%
Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance across every Mazda CX-5 year
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 my vehicle the systems sensors are affected by nearby drivers which cause the car to stall in the middle of traffic going between 40 and 75 miles per hour.
NHTSA complaint #11683539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Madison, MS
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
While driving my vehicle the systems sensors are affected by nearby drivers which cause the car to stall in the middle of traffic going between 40 and 75 miles per hour.
NHTSA complaint #11683539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Madison, MS
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
While driving my vehicle the systems sensors are affected by nearby drivers which cause the car to stall in the middle of traffic going between 40 and 75 miles per hour.
NHTSA complaint #11683539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Seymour, TN
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
The vehicle reboots the screen/infotainment system while driving. The dealership has updated the software and replaced the screen (Screen was at my cost). They reset the codes and it comes back. This is a safety hazard as it could cause non compliance with the FMVSS in regards to rear-view cameras being required. There is currently a settlement in place under a class action.
NHTSA complaint #11669094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
During snowfall, the front camera becomes obstructed, leading to a malfunction in the smart brake system. When this occurs, an alert appears indicating a “Smart Brake Failure,” accompanied by an audible warning and the illumination of the check engine light. The vehicle then exhibits unpredictable behavior, including unintended braking and sudden acceleration, creating a hazardous driving situation. The only temporary resolution is to restart the vehicle; however, the check engine light remains on for several days before eventually turning off. This issue occurred while I was driving on the highway on February 19, 2025, posing a significant safety risk. This is not the first time the car has done this.
NHTSA complaint #11643730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jefferson, OH
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
During snowfall, the front camera becomes obstructed, leading to a malfunction in the smart brake system. When this occurs, an alert appears indicating a “Smart Brake Failure,” accompanied by an audible warning and the illumination of the check engine light. The vehicle then exhibits unpredictable behavior, including unintended braking and sudden acceleration, creating a hazardous driving situation. The only temporary resolution is to restart the vehicle; however, the check engine light remains on for several days before eventually turning off. This issue occurred while I was driving on the highway on February 19, 2025, posing a significant safety risk. This is not the first time the car has done this.
NHTSA complaint #11643730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Temple Hills, MD
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Forward Braking Safety Sensor Was on transmission after braking check engine light . Was driving car from work it lost all power . And those warning ⚠️ light indicators where on . Car wouldn't go over 15mph . Took vehicle to mazda and dropped it off as my husband requested information do so . Mazda called say diagnostic saying it needed plugs ,coil packs serpentine belt and adjuster pulleys replacement. I called my husband he's a mechanical engineer he said no way it needs a tune up that early. He requested information go get the car as he flew home from working outta town. We took it to scooter's place certified mechanic in Indian Head md . Scooter's place diagnostic scan said completely the opposite. Say it was the cars brain aka cpu send false signals causing misfire to all components of vehicle . He change one spark plug and car ran normal. He told us it wasn't a fix it was cpu and no matter tune up or not . The computer was the issue. I went back to passport mazda in Suitland Maryland to give them second opinion issues the GM wouldn't give my money back for false diagnostic readings and refused to listen or hear what I had to say I was to upset to continue and decided to leave . He kept saying he wasn't a technician so he doesn't know but was explaining technician issues that were incorrect i have both diagnostic detail paperwork which i will attach with report
NHTSA complaint #11642604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bedford, TX
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
"ghost touch" issue on my cars touch screen operates by itself or doesn't respond. I was driving down a dark road when it went black, the screen had adjusted its brightness down to zero! The radio will change stations then freeze and the manual controls won't even work.
NHTSA complaint #11626121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pooler, GA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
Display went dark and did not display. This is not the only time it happens. It acts like someone’s touching the screen even when in motion. It prevents the reverse camera from displaying.
NHTSA complaint #11620857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Emergency braking brought car to a complete stop while traveling around at approx. 35 MPH with no car or anything else in front of the car on a wide and clear town street. Car would then not go into park and only after a couple of mins did it go into park and car was able to be driven.
NHTSA complaint #11573346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving forward in a straight line during broad daylight at approximately 40mph, the car in front of me slowed and turned right onto a side street. I applied brakes to slow myself (to ~25mph I estimate) until the car in front of me was fully out of my lane. Once the car in front of me was out of my lane, I released the brake in order to accelerate back up to the speed limit, but before I could press the gas pedal the car suddenly slammed on the brakes, beeped warning beeps, and displayed BRAKE on the dash. It did this for less than a second before deactivating. It did not fully stop the car. It just caused a sudden, severe braking event and then the car returned to normal operations. This exact road scenario (car in front turning right onto a side street while traveling at city speeds of ~30-40 mph during daylight) has caused the sudden temporary automatic braking twice, and two other times in this same scenario the BRAKE warning displayed and sounds activated but without automatic braking. These four events occurred within the less than one year that I have owned the car. One of the automatic braking incidents happened in cold temperatures on snowy/icy road conditions. The other occurred in traffic with vehicles following behind my car close enough to risk a rear-end collision. I have reached out to a dealership to request the safety sensors be inspected, but I have seen on internet communities [XXX] and [XXX] ) that many people have encountered this exact behavior (sudden unexpected braking) in the exact same scenarios (car ahead turning right). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11554529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Automatic Emergency Braking (Mazda's Smart City Braking Feature) will randomly trigger even when there is no vehicle/person/object/obstruction present in the road infront of you. It has occurred going over railroad tracks and made by car go from 30 mph to 0 in a second. It has occurred switching lanes into an empty lane and triggered it. It has also picked up the center medians as an object it should hit the emergency brake for. This is insanely problematic when a vehicle is following behind you and this system is essentially brake checking them out of nowhere. In the past, dealers have said to just turn the sensitivity down. This does not fix it. In addition, I have gotten "BRAKE" warnings from the car on the highway (does not engage because I am at a speed faster than the emergency braking allows) but this is quite unnerving when you are on an open highway going 75 mph and your car is wanting you to brake.
NHTSA complaint #11544224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Schenectady, NYCrash
BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
The rear camera and warning system has failed numerous times. On one occasion I hit a vehicle because of the failure. Also, the windshield has a leak that sometimes is like a waterfall causing serious visibility problems.
NHTSA complaint #11531591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rcokport, TXCrash
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
I was traveling behind a propane truck, that was going to make a right turn. I disengaged the adaptive cruise control by tapping on the break. I began coasting to a stop, suddenly the car began accelerating again with no warning. I was forced to make the turn with the propane truck and side swiped the truck in the process.
NHTSA complaint #11522742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Canyon Country, CA
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
The infotainment system experiences a "ghost touch" at random times. Usually it is when it is warm out or in direct sunlight. This has caused some of the safety features of the car to be randomly turned off. The system becomes unresponsive to manual controls while the ghost touch is occurring. This is frequent and dangerous. It is shut off lane control warnings, lighting, dimmed the entire system, etc. This has been a known issue on past models and the dealer is telling me they are aware of this but it is not covered under the warranty on my model. The first time this occurred was around 35,000 miles but I didn't realize what was happening. When I asked the dealer about it, they couldn't repeat it and ignored my concerns. It didn't start regularlly occurring until after my 36,000 mile warranty was up.
NHTSA complaint #11516741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Canyon Country, CA
LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
The infotainment system experiences a "ghost touch" at random times. Usually it is when it is warm out or in direct sunlight. This has caused some of the safety features of the car to be randomly turned off. The system becomes unresponsive to manual controls while the ghost touch is occurring. This is frequent and dangerous. It is shut off lane control warnings, lighting, dimmed the entire system, etc. This has been a known issue on past models and the dealer is telling me they are aware of this but it is not covered under the warranty on my model. The first time this occurred was around 35,000 miles but I didn't realize what was happening. When I asked the dealer about it, they couldn't repeat it and ignored my concerns. It didn't start regularlly occurring until after my 36,000 mile warranty was up.
NHTSA complaint #11516741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Port St. Lucie, FL
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
1st issue - System monitor restarts without warning. Just driving along with only one iPhone plugged in the monitor shows a spinning "wheel" saying restarting while driving, 2nd issue - with two iPhones plugged in it starts having more issues. Stops charging second iPhone connects then reconnects constantly. Then stops (see picture) 3rd issue - With only one iPhone plugged in and running navigation from iPhone, the system disconnects from iPhone but no voice unless we disconnect, 4th issue - While driving in adaptive cruise control and braking for people stopping the cruise control will not re-start. It shows on- keep pressing resume - but will not engage (above 40 mph) then after a few minutes it does respond to the resume command
NHTSA complaint #11437616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10,000 milesNashville, TN
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
The contact owns a 2020 Mazda CX-5. The contact noticed that while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the passenger blind spot monitoring light and sound failed to operate. The contact mentioned that the vehicle failed to let her know when a vehicle was nearby her. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they reset the monitor however, the failure recurred days later. The contact mentioned that the failure recurred several times. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000.
NHTSA complaint #11434194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.