10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
0 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2021 Mazda CX-5 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2021 Mazda CX-5 Owner Comments

problem #12

Feb 012024

CX-5

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

-My rear differential needs replaced with just 24,000 miles on the car. I have the video from the technician at the Mazda dealership if needed. -My safety was not at risk because I took the car in at the first sign of issue. -Mazda Dealer technician has confirmed problem. -Mazda has been contacted to approve the part/fix since it is still under warranty. -No warning lamps appeared. I noticed a noise that was not something I had heard/noticed before. -I have searched many forums and this is a known/common issue with this make/model.

- Cuyahoga Falls, OH, USA

problem #11

Nov 162022

CX-5

  • miles
Vehicle drives very "rough" at low speeds less than 30 mph. The car feels like it is jumping and can't tell at what year it should be driving in. This is very noticeable when driving around residential areas. This is a common issue with the Mazdas with the Skyactive engines. Dealership in Raleigh knew about this problem and said that there is nothing they can do except possibly provide an update to the computer software. I have written to Mazda corporation regarding this and of course, no response was received. Mazda needs to acknowledge this problem with their special transmission/engines and FIX this. I shouldn't be having these kinds of issues with a vehicle that has less than 13,000 miles

- Garner, NC, USA

problem #10

Dec 252022

CX-5

  • miles
My car is a 2021 CX-5, Turboed AWD vehicle. It keeps consuming oil. I took it to the dealership, Sandy Sansing Mazda in Pensacola, where I purchased the car. The technicians informed me that these models are known to consume oil. They did not tell me that when I bought it in September of 2022! They had a technical service bulletin, which works as a policy for the company, with a range of VIN numbers that indicated the vehicles with those VIN numbers are likely to have a manufacturing defect that allows oil to leak into the combustion chamber. My car's VIN number falls within that range. While I purchased this vehicle to drive long distances, including to see and care for my mother in NC, who was recently diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, and to Alaska from FL, my newish (pre-certified) car runs out of oil quickly. It must be causing internal damage (plugs, wires, exhaust, and the cylinders). When I asked the Mazda techs to fix the issue, they informed me they would not uphold the warranty, because I put oil in the vehicle. I was 400 miles away from home on a trip, on a Sunday, when a light in my car came on that indicated the car was low on oil. Why wouldn't I put oil in it? It is not safe to drive a vehicle with no oil, as it could cause the engine to stop working. One time, my oil pump went out in a 2002 Tacoma, and my camshaft welded itself together, or to other parts of the engine, at 70 mph down a highway. I lost power steering, power brakes, power in general. The timing belt was instantly shredded. It's not safe to drive cars that consume oil so rapidly between recommended changes. Mazda would not uphold their warranty responsibly, and they have known about the defect for some time, yet they are still selling cars that are unsafe to drive.

- Pace, NC, USA

problem #9

Jan 102023

CX-5

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

It appears that my car has the check oil level light coming on at approximately 3000 to 4000 miles after an oil change. This seems like a safety issue to me because a brand new car should not be burning a quart of oil at this interval.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #8

Dec 122022

CX-5

  • miles
When I reached 7000 miles on my car the low oil light came one. I immediately drove it to the dealership - ending a vacation early as I thought something was seriously wrong with the car. I got to dealership and they blamed me for getting an oil change at a competitor and not putting in enough oil. They then changed the oil and again at 12000 the low oil light came on. There seems to be an oil consumption issue that Mazda is NOT admitting to or fixing. Every time I drive more than 4500 miles the car is 1/2 a quart low and it warns me. Now the dealership wants me to spend HUNDREDS of dollars on a vehicle in warranty for oil consumption testing....though there is no leak and no soot in the tail pipe.

- Holt, MI, USA

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problem #7

Sep 042022

CX-5

  • miles
Low oil level between oil change cycles with over 1,000 miles remaining before oil change is required. This has happened between both oil changes so far and I have to add oil myself to ensure oil level isn-€™t low. The oil consumption seems extremely high and is concerning that at only 12,000 miles I-€™ve had this problem happen twice.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #6

Sep 132022

CX-5

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Detected slight odor of burning oil while highway driving, mileage approximately 8,650. Three days later -€œlow oil level-€ warning light lit up, mileage 8928. Allowed car to rest and checked oil level manually. Oil level was slightly above the minimum required. No signs of oil on garage floor.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #5

May 052022

CX-5

  • miles
Vehicle has had excessive oil consumption. Engine consumes approximately one quart of oil every 4k miles or so with normal driving not spirited. Vehicle has no visible signs of outward leaks. First oil change was at 5030 miles with approximately 5.2 quarts of Castrol edge full synthetic oil and a Purolator boss oil filter PLB14612. Vehicle currently has 9352 miles. I have not let it get to a point where oil light comes on, but it has been to the quart low dot on the stick twice so far. This should not be normal. This has not been confirmed by a dealer or independent service center as I maintain the oil checks and oil changes myself. Tailpipes do have black soot inside but is not greasy or oily. I haven't noticed a lot of smoke from tailpipes just a small bit of whitish vapor that quickly dissipates when my wife pulls it out of the driveway and starts off down the road that I contribute to normal condensation, but I nor she can see tailpipes when we are driving a longer distance of course. I haven't smelled oil burn or seen any leaks on driveway, but the oil is going somewhere. I have seen a TSB from Mazda about possible valve stem seal problems with my VIN number. I hope Mazda will resolve this within my warranty as oil consumption can cause other major engine component damage down the road i.e., catalytic convertor, oxygen sensors, carbon deposits, etc.

- Prattville, AL, USA

problem #4

Aug 012022

CX-5

  • miles
Oil consumption issue with the 2.5T motor. Engine is burning oil at an accelerated rate.

- Buford, GA, USA

problem #3

Feb 012022

CX-5

  • miles
When the cylinder deactivation system triggers It causes the engine/car to shake and stutter. Somtimes it's suttle and other times if feels like the car is going to stall out. It's a vibration that makes it feel like your driving over cobblestones. This has been ongoing for a few months now. I'm taking it to the dealer tomorrow. It appears to be the same problem as the 2018-2019 Recall.

- Loganville, GA, USA

problem #2

Dec 202021

CX-5

  • miles
Bought the car brand new in May 2021, did a first oil change at around 4K miles due to the fact the car uses conventional 5w-30 oil and not synthetic oil. At around 7k miles the low oil engine light came on. Checked the dipstick and it was low. Added a quart of oil to hold me over until the next available appointment. Dealer could not find any leaks, they completed a oil change again. I went in again at 11K for another oil change. Had no problems. A few days ago at 14K low engine light came on, this time I turned the car off. Let it sit over night. Made an appointment with the dealer for the next day. Turned the car on the next morning, light went away. Both times I got a notification from Mazda connect services alerting me of these problems. (Please see attached) I brought the car in on 12/22/21 and was told the car was low on oil and nothing else could be done until Mazda comes up with a solution.

- Brewster, NY, USA

problem #1

May 172021

CX-5

  • miles
On 17-MAY-2021 after sitting unused for 1 day my Mazda CX-5, mfg year 2021 with about 1,500 miles did not start. All electrical systems failed, there was no indication of any power present. The vehicle is presently at the dealership it was purchased at about 90 days ago, 495 Mazda in Lowell MA and is available for inspection. The sudden loss of all electrical systems has the potential for stranding the driver and passengers in dangerous locations. The problem has not yet been reproduced. The vehicle has been inspected by the service department of 495 Mazda in Lowell MA who advised they had charged the battery and tested it as ok and offered to return the vehicle to me. There were no warning lights or other indication of this problem. This morning when I called for service, the dealer, 495 Mazda informed me they do not pick up failed automobiles and I should either call Mazda roadside assistance or jump start the car and bring it in. I measured the battery voltage at 2.5 volts and charged it with a high quality battery charger. The car then started. After shutting off the car there was a faint buzzing sound from the engine compartment. I advised the dealer service department of all these details. I would also note that after the car started I measured the battery voltage at over 14 volts proving the charging system works, after shutting off the engine the voltage dropped to 12.1 volts.

- Andover, MA, USA

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