23 of the
96 complaints about the 2023 Mazda CX-50 are about the
driver-assist systems — 24% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
57,000 miles.
F
23
Complaints
7
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Warnings
939.1%
Automatic Emergency Braking
730.4%
Adaptive Cruise Control
28.7%
Assist
28.7%
Forward Collision Avoidance
14.3%
Rearview System Braking
14.3%
Warning
14.3%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 57,000 milesState College, PACrash
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
The contact owns a 2023 Mazda CX-50. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 38 MPH. The contact stated he was approaching an intersection when a vehicle in front of him attempted to make a left turn but slowed down. The contact was unable to depress the brake pedal and turned the steering wheel to the left to avoid the crash, but he crashed into the corner of the passenger side rear bumper of the other vehicle. The contact was not sure of the damage to the other vehicle; his vehicle had damage to the right headlight and the front quarter panel. The contact stated that his vehicle was equipped with a front collision avoidance system, but the system had not engaged. The contact stated that no persons were injured. The contact stated that the police were on scene and wrote a report. The vehicle was driven to a collision center for repair. The contact had not had the vehicle diagnosed. The vehicle had been repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.
NHTSA complaint #11729942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am reporting a potential airbag system/emergency brake failure in my 2023 Mazda CX-50. I was involved in a rear-end motor vehicle accident at approximately 60 mph while my vehicle was completely stopped. I then hit the person in front of me. At the time of the impact, the airbags did not deploy, and I received a dashboard message indicating an airbag system malfunction. Since then, the emergency brake turns on and off on it's own at any time. Due to the severity of the crash, I am concerned that the airbags should have deployed, and their failure raises a serious safety concern. I sustained injuries (multiple fractures) as a result of the collision. I am requesting a formal investigation into possible defect or malfunction in the airbag system and emergency brake system.
NHTSA complaint #11727435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TXCrash
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
On 1/14/2026, I was pulling into a parking space in a parking garage when the vehicle abruptly accelerated causing the vehicle to hit the concrete wall in front of me. No braking assist or front collision warning issued. Airbags deployed. The car is currently at Joe Myers Collision Center in Houston, Texas to obtain an estimate for repair. The police did not respond to reported incident. Incident was reported to my insurance company immediately.
NHTSA complaint #11711337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have had my 2023 Mazda CX-50 for almost two years. Since I got the car, I have had no issues with the i-Activsense until June 2025. The reason I got the newer car was to ensure the safety of my family; however, Mazda failed to do their part. My car was recently involved in a car accident due to a faulty system. It appears that the newer Mazda CX-50s were included in a recall, but the 2023 model was not and it should be. On the day of the accident, my daughter was driving my car. The traffic was slowing down, and two lanes of traffic had to merge to one lane due to construction and all of a sudden, the car in front of her slammed on their breaks and the car could not stop in time before hitting them. My car never sent an alert until contact was made with the other car, and the emergency breaking did not activate. After my car hit the other car, an alert came on screen that indicated the i-Activsense was disabled. Once the car was turned off and then back on the alert disappeared. Additionally, I am now having issues with the rear camera not alerting if someone is behind me (car or pedestrian). I have a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee that will slam on the break for you if you get too close to an object when you are in reverse. Isn't that what the Mazda CX-50 should be doing?
NHTSA complaint #11665874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wyoming, PACrash
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
I have had my 2023 Mazda CX-50 for almost two years. Since I got the car, I have had no issues with the i-Activsense until June 2025. The reason I got the newer car was to ensure the safety of my family; however, Mazda failed to do their part. My car was recently involved in a car accident due to a faulty system. It appears that the newer Mazda CX-50s were included in a recall, but the 2023 model was not and it should be. On the day of the accident, my daughter was driving my car. The traffic was slowing down, and two lanes of traffic had to merge to one lane due to construction and all of a sudden, the car in front of her slammed on their breaks and the car could not stop in time before hitting them. My car never sent an alert until contact was made with the other car, and the emergency breaking did not activate. After my car hit the other car, an alert came on screen that indicated the i-Activsense was disabled. Once the car was turned off and then back on the alert disappeared. Additionally, I am now having issues with the rear camera not alerting if someone is behind me (car or pedestrian). I have a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee that will slam on the break for you if you get too close to an object when you are in reverse. Isn't that what the Mazda CX-50 should be doing?
NHTSA complaint #11665874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wyoming, PACrash
BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
I have had my 2023 Mazda CX-50 for almost two years. Since I got the car, I have had no issues with the i-Activsense until June 2025. The reason I got the newer car was to ensure the safety of my family; however, Mazda failed to do their part. My car was recently involved in a car accident due to a faulty system. It appears that the newer Mazda CX-50s were included in a recall, but the 2023 model was not and it should be. On the day of the accident, my daughter was driving my car. The traffic was slowing down, and two lanes of traffic had to merge to one lane due to construction and all of a sudden, the car in front of her slammed on their breaks and the car could not stop in time before hitting them. My car never sent an alert until contact was made with the other car, and the emergency breaking did not activate. After my car hit the other car, an alert came on screen that indicated the i-Activsense was disabled. Once the car was turned off and then back on the alert disappeared. Additionally, I am now having issues with the rear camera not alerting if someone is behind me (car or pedestrian). I have a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee that will slam on the break for you if you get too close to an object when you are in reverse. Isn't that what the Mazda CX-50 should be doing?
NHTSA complaint #11665874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On the freeway going 60 MPH, the safety system malfunctioned and applied maximum braking - as if I was going to collide with something in front of me. It was frightening. There was a 1/4 mile of open road in front. It happened 2 more times in the next 2 miles on the interstate. Background: I had been driving through a snow storm for a couple hours prior to the incident and I received a forward camera dirty warning. I was in the left lane (of 3 lanes) with a concrete barrier about 15 ft to my left. All 3 times, there was a semi truck & trailer on the right. I was in no danger of collision. I took the CX50 to the Mazda Dealer and the issue was escalated to the regional service techs who said the auto was "working as intended" I vehemently disagree. I am lucky there was no one driving close behind me, otherwise there would have been a terrible accident
NHTSA complaint #11649142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Little Neck, NY
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
When driving, the car automatically apply the brakes even though there is no car or any obstruction in front of the vehicle. This happens 3-4 times in the last year. The i-ACTIVESENSE System malfunction. The brake system malfunction. Now I am receiving a Critical Vehicle Malfunction Alert. I am bringing my car to the dealer tomorrow morning (Monday, December 23rd, 2024) for it to be addressed. This is a very serious and dangerous issue and almost cost me an accident on two occasion.
NHTSA complaint #11632011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Little Neck, NY
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
When driving, the car automatically apply the brakes even though there is no car or any obstruction in front of the vehicle. This happens 3-4 times in the last year. The i-ACTIVESENSE System malfunction. The brake system malfunction. Now I am receiving a Critical Vehicle Malfunction Alert. I am bringing my car to the dealer tomorrow morning (Monday, December 23rd, 2024) for it to be addressed. This is a very serious and dangerous issue and almost cost me an accident on two occasion.
NHTSA complaint #11632011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Panama City Beach, FLCrash
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
The Collision Avoidance System did not activate, to avoid a front-end collision. The vehicle in front of me stopped, making a right-hand turn onto another road. I moved forward, not seeing him stop. My car rear-ended the vehicle in front of me, with no warning or activation from my system.
NHTSA complaint #11616168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Emergency braking activated with no obvious scenario that would engage it. On different occasion, emergency braking activated in stop and go traffic, causing extreme deceleration resulting in engine stalling.
NHTSA complaint #11611951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oakland, CA
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Emergency braking activated with no obvious scenario that would engage it. On different occasion, emergency braking activated in stop and go traffic, causing extreme deceleration resulting in engine stalling.
NHTSA complaint #11611951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chula Vista, CA
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
The key light went on without me knowing what it was. Brakes are taking a while to engage. The acc stoped my car while driving in traffic almost caused an accident. Don’t know if this matters but phone charger does not stay connected with cover or not.
NHTSA complaint #11567061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
We were driving in a snowstorm during the daytime on a 2-lane highway with directional passing lanes (where it opens and closes, not crossing into oncoming lane to pass) from CO to UT. While passing a semi truck, with traffic in the oncoming lane, and behind us, the auto-braking activated. There were no vehicles in front of us. The alert went off, and the car rapidly slowed from 70 to 35, and applying the gas did not resolve the issue. This almost caused a rear end collision by other cars also trying to pass the semi. We think it was either caused by slush thrown up by the passed truck tires, or a slight curve in the road that made the computer think that someone was in front of us. Whatever it was, it was very dangerous to have the brakes slammed on on a snow road with vehicles all around us.
NHTSA complaint #11557960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Salt Lake City, UT
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
We were driving in a snowstorm during the daytime on a 2-lane highway with directional passing lanes (where it opens and closes, not crossing into oncoming lane to pass) from CO to UT. While passing a semi truck, with traffic in the oncoming lane, and behind us, the auto-braking activated. There were no vehicles in front of us. The alert went off, and the car rapidly slowed from 70 to 35, and applying the gas did not resolve the issue. This almost caused a rear end collision by other cars also trying to pass the semi. We think it was either caused by slush thrown up by the passed truck tires, or a slight curve in the road that made the computer think that someone was in front of us. Whatever it was, it was very dangerous to have the brakes slammed on on a snow road with vehicles all around us.
NHTSA complaint #11557960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Charlotte, NC
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Shock absorber severe noise driving over road imperfections , lower front ball joint failure full pull through of the joint off of the control arm assembly pulling the cv axle apart and basically having the front wheel more or less completely separate from the body where the vehicle is no longer moveable
NHTSA complaint #11554686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Shock absorber severe noise driving over road imperfections , lower front ball joint failure full pull through of the joint off of the control arm assembly pulling the cv axle apart and basically having the front wheel more or less completely separate from the body where the vehicle is no longer moveable
NHTSA complaint #11554686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
To often does the safety system disable with what I'm told is dirt or fog by the dealer but I've had many newer vehicles with this safety suite of systems and none of them had this problem unless sensors cameras were full of snow. Possible camera or sensor issue not sure. My buddy has a Mazda cx5 never sees the system disable. Heavy rain does mine. Sometimes a little moisture and colder temperatures. I think it's worth investigating please. Thank you!
NHTSA complaint #11554431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Milltown, NJ
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
To often does the safety system disable with what I'm told is dirt or fog by the dealer but I've had many newer vehicles with this safety suite of systems and none of them had this problem unless sensors cameras were full of snow. Possible camera or sensor issue not sure. My buddy has a Mazda cx5 never sees the system disable. Heavy rain does mine. Sometimes a little moisture and colder temperatures. I think it's worth investigating please. Thank you!
NHTSA complaint #11554431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oxford, CT
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
Safety systems disables when Sunlight hits directly on the car. I own Toyota and honda, they Never had problems with sunlight. sudden loss of safety systems, caused warnings on dash, which was a distraction, especially when Sun hits directly at the car/driver. I verified the camera and sensors, there were very clean.
NHTSA complaint #11528625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oxford, CT
LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
Safety systems disables when Sunlight hits directly on the car. I own Toyota and honda, they Never had problems with sunlight. sudden loss of safety systems, caused warnings on dash, which was a distraction, especially when Sun hits directly at the car/driver. I verified the camera and sensors, there were very clean.
NHTSA complaint #11528625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oxford, CT
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Safety systems disables when Sunlight hits directly on the car. I own Toyota and honda, they Never had problems with sunlight. sudden loss of safety systems, caused warnings on dash, which was a distraction, especially when Sun hits directly at the car/driver. I verified the camera and sensors, there were very clean.
NHTSA complaint #11528625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Port Richey, FL
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
Lane keeping assistance does not prevent the vehicle from departing the lane nor does it provide corrective steering. LKA is fully activated and vehicle travelling over 45 mph on highway with clearly marked lanes; vehicle drifted across three lanes with zero corrective action from LKA.
NHTSA complaint #11524603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.