2018 Mazda CX-5 problems and complaints
Owners have filed 120 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Mazda CX-5. The most-reported areas: Engine (97), Power Train (18), Unknown Or Other (9).
Key takeaways
- 120 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 | 97 | 81% |
| Power Train | 18 | 15% |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 | 8% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 | 3% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 3 | 3% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 | 2% |
| Electrical 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%.
| 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.
Engine - filed 2026-10-08
Cracked cylinder head- factory defect, causing oil to leak onto exhaust manifold. Smoke fills engine bay and cab through air vents, very high concern of engine bay fire. 2018 Mazda cx5 non turbo 2.5 sky active engine. Mazda knows of this defect and will not proved remedy.
Power Train - filed 2026-09-25
There has been numerous report of the Mazda CX 5 having failure rear differential. I just purchased a 2018 Mazda CX five for my daughter in September 2026 I now am experiencing this issue on the rear diff. The dealer will not cover the repair since it’s as is purchase Mazda should take this as a recall and fix the vehi...
Engine - filed 2026-09-24
2018 Mazda CX-5 2.5L NA Engine Cracked cylinder head and blown head gasket with leaking oil onto exhaust manifold resulting in white smoke & burning oil smell. No engine light. Issue confirmed by dealer and independent shop. Commonly reported issue amongst 2018-2021 Mazda CX-5 owners either naturally aspirated engine...
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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.