2015 Mazda CX-5
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Structure is the leading concern among 133 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 7th highest complaint count among 14 CX-5 model years with reports.
Of the 2015 reports, 11 involved a crash. 7 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Structure, body, hatchback/liftgateSep 6, 2016
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 26, 2015, and 2013-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured December 15, 2011, to December 26, 2015. On the affected vehicles, the lift gate support struts may corrode, possibly causing the struts to break and/or the lift gate to drop unexpectedly.
If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9916H.
Campaign 16V644000 on NHTSA.gov
SteeringApr 11, 2016
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 2, 2015, 2013-2014 Mazda2 vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to August 8, 2014, 2014-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured January 19, 2013, to December 2, 2015, and 2013-2015 CX-9 vehicles manufactured December 6, 2012, to July 31, 2015. The lower mounting nuts and bolts that attach the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle may loosen, allowing the steering knuckle to separate.
If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower mounting nuts and bolts that secure the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle. If the bolts are loose, they will be replaced and then correctly tightened, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 20, 2016. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9316D.
Campaign 16V203000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, storage, tank assembly, filler pipe and capFeb 3, 2016
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Mazda CX-5 vehicles manufactured June 27, 2013, to February 2, 2016. The affected vehicles have a fuel filler pipe that may rupture in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
A rupture of the fuel filler pipe may result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will alter the attachment between the fuel filler pipe and the left rear side of the bracket of the fuel filler pipe, free of charge. The recall began on February 25, 2016. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 9216B.
Campaign 16V064000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, windshieldJan 19, 2016
Pilkington North America, Inc. (Pilkington) is recalling certain replacement windshields, model FW04026 GTY, manufactured November 23, 2015, to December 16, 2015 for use in Mazda CX-5 vehicles that are equipped with the Smart City Brake Support system. The affected windshields have a bracket mounted on the inside to hold a laser sensor or LIDAR device for the Smart City Brake Support system. These brackets were improperly affixed with only tape instead of tape and urethane and therefore may loosen.
If the bracket loosens or detaches from the windshield, the safety features of the Smart City Brake Support system may be disabled and therefore increase the risk of a crash.
Pilkington will contact the wholesalers and retailers that purchased the windshields to try to identify the affected customers. The affected windshields will be replaced, free of charge. This recall began on February 15, 2016. Owners may contact Pilkington at 1-844-278-7230.
Campaign 16E002000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
133 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Lane departure, Sep 10, 2025
With a heavy downpour of rain the bsm flashes off, then after sitting for a few hours the car battery dies and the key fob is not recognized in the vehicle. Took it to a dealership and it stopped doing it. Code that are thrown have to do with some computer communication failing. I have had the car die on me 4 times in the last year that I’ve had it.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 17, 2025, crash
I was near a red light and applied the brakes, but the car accelerated and ran into the truck stopped in front of me. This happened around May of 2024. I took the car to the Elk Grove Mazda dealer. They ran diagnostic and road tests but found nothing wrong. The car had the same problem again sometime later inside my garage. The car rammed into the drywall while I tried to stop by pressing the brake pedal. I took the car to the AAA repair shop in August 2024. They spent three days, and they told me they found a problem with the "steering angle sensor." It was 22 degrees off calibration. They reset the sensor, and the car ran better. However, the car acted again after some driving. It tries to accelerate while I apply the brake pedal near a stop. I took the car back to the AAA shop, but they did not find any problems in a whole week. I still drive this(my only) car, but extra careful, keeping a longer distance between cars in front of me and braking ahead few times ahead of any stop.
Air bags, Jan 21, 2025
Air bags came out on own
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 1, 2024
While driving on the freeway the check engine light came on. I was able to drive the car home the remaining 20 minutes but there was some noticeable difficulty accelerating. When I went to turn on the car later that day the engine would not turn over and there was an audible rattling/chugging sound and the car itself shook. I was unable to get the car to start and the check engine light remained on. I had AAA check the battery the next day and confirm it was not a battery issue and a diagnostic revealed the P0192 code. AAA towed it to their shop where it was confirmed by the manager mechanic that the issue was with the high pressure fuel pump and that it was causing an issue with the low pressure fuel sensor as well. The mechanic was unable to determine what caused the pump to fail and has quoted me nearly $2000 to fix it. After some searching online it has become clear that this is an issue many other Mazda owners have faced and that is even a recall for the pump for years and makes from Mazda due to a known issue with DENSO fuel pumps causing this exact issue. Despite this being known and DENSO having admitted issue with fuel pumps in cars dating back to 2013, Mazda has not recalled the vast majority of the cars that could be affected. From information I've gathered, it is entirely possible that my vehicle could have just stopped running in the middle of the freeway due to this issue which obviously would have put me in great danger of an accident. To summarize: Low pressure fuel sensor and high pressure fuel pump with error code P0192 are cited as the issues. It's possible this issue can cause the car to stop running with no warning, which would be extremely dangerous especially on the freeway. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by a AAA mechanic shop. The vehicle has been inspected by the AAA mechanic but no others. The check engine light came on but was not clear how extreme the circumstance was.
Power train, Engine, Feb 20, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while pressing the brake pedal the engine had experienced very high revving and the vehicle would lurch forward. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who performed a PCM and TCM program update and reset the KAM per the manufacturers TSB. The contact indicated that the failure was corrected for a while but recently the failure had reoccurred. The local dealer was contacted and a service appointment was scheduled. No further information was available. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 25,000.
Air bags, Feb 8, 2024, crash
Was involved in accident on 8/12/23 with speed over 30mph at impact and not a single airbag deployed
Suspension, Wheels, Sep 26, 2023
Right swing arm/ball joint broke off doing a u turn. Vehicle has been maintained and garage kept.
Wheels, Sep 21, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated the tires deflating abnormally. The contact stated that the tires needed to be inflated on a weekly basis. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the rims were improperly fitted to suit multiple tires, causing the tires to deflate. The vehicle had not been repaired. The tires had been replaced by several other brand tires however, the failure persisted. The dealer confirmed that the failure was not a tire failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.
Other or unspecified, Sep 2, 2023
While driving on the interstate, the passenger side front door glass shattered unexpectedly causing an eye injury. There was no noise of a rock hitting the glass or anything. Previous to the incident, the glass had no cracks or chips in it.
Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 17, 2023
Occasionally have sudden unintended acceleration. Went to dealer, no codes shown. Replaced battery and did throttle service. Happens 1 or 2 times a month generally within first 5 minutes of trip when attempting to stop. While braking , rpm's go to 3k and brakes barely hold car stopped, so I throw it in neutral to stop...rpms eventually go down to normal. It's obviously a very dangerous situation. Im going to make another appt with dealer again but not optimistic because no codes show and they will keep the car until it happens but that could take forever. Went to other mechanics for fresh eyes and opinions. Some feel that it could be a software issue controlling the throttle body and said thats an engineering thing and that no technician will be able to figure that out. I had gone on Reddit / Mazda CX5 and found one other person with what looked like the exact same issue.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Structure, Jul 20, 2023
The contact owned a 2015 Mazda CX-5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V064000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 16V644000 (Structure) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list as she no longer owns the vehicle. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.
Service brakes, Other or unspecified, May 10, 2023, crash
I was on my way home going down a windy back road going about 45 mph. there was a jeep in front of me and the mail truck was in front of them. the mail truck went to slow down and take a right onto a different road and as the jeep slowed down i applied my breaks and there was no response. this was not the first time this had happened in this vehicle but this time i panicked and i had to cut my wheel into the persons front yard to the right of us as i was continuously picking my foot up and slamming it down on the break and there was no response my car was just speeding up. i ended up going into the road that the mail truck was taking a right on and i hit the front of his truck and went flying into the woods and the trees were what stopped me. i now live with constant nerve pain everyday from this and suffer with a compressed lower back fracture that limits me daily from many things. before this incident i had issues with the breaks and acceleration twice. i had taken it to mazda and they fixed my “break switch” ? obviously that wasn’t the problem.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Mar 16, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that fuel was leaking from the vehicle causing the vehicle to need refueling more often. The contact stated the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V064000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) which required that the fuel pump or tank to be replaced. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who informed her that the repair only required a sealant and cover that had since corroded. The certified mechanic replaced the electric intake fuel pump assembly. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 74,000.
Seats, Mar 6, 2023
The contact’s daughter owns a 2015 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that the front driver’s side seat was previously moved in a forward position; however, when her son attempted to move the seat backward to drive the vehicle, the seat remained seized in the forward position. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
Service brakes, Feb 16, 2023
On Feb. 9, 2023, I started my vehicle and lots of warning indicators lit up the dash of my well-maintained vehicle. Check Engine, ABS, TPMS, SBCS to name some of the warning lights. When I took my car to the dealer, they told me the left front wheel speed sensor had mechanical failure and would need to be replaced. Said the car's antilock brakes wouldn't work without it being replaced. My car also has the automatic brakes to prevent collision and stability control systems which are dependent on wheel speed sensors' function. My vehicle mileage was 59307 when I took it to the dealer. Over $600 repair bill.
Electrical system, Dec 15, 2022
The contact owns a 2015 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the horn malfunctioned and there was no sound when the horn pad was pressed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 148,000.
Structure, Dec 9, 2022
The contact called on behalf of his daughter who owns a 2015 Mazda CX5. The contact stated that while his daughter was loading groceries in the trunk, the liftgate dropped unexpectedly and the corner of the liftgate hit her in the head, causing a laceration. The contact's daughter was taken to urgent care where she was informed that she had sustained a laceration and three staples were put on the laceration. The dealer was notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V644000 (Structure); however, the recall remedy failed to resolve the safety issue. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the recall repair was one-time free of charge and they were not obligated to repair additional failures. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Sep 8, 2022
2015 Mazda CX-5 with 91,000 miles on it. Automatic transmission has failed. When I attempted to pull out into traffic the vehicle would not shift into 2nd gear and instead jerked hard and the engine RPMs revved up. I was not able to get the vehicle past 10mph. This failure with the transmission resulted in the oncoming traffic having to swerve and break to avoid a collision with me. The vehicle was taken to a Mazda dealership who did a diagnostic on it and found that the Mazda had an "internal transmission failure" and would require a full replacement. I asked if it would be replaced with the same exact transmission and was told "no, the defect was discovered by Mazda and has been correct for new transmission models." The manufacture knows about this issue. Luckily I escaped serious bodily injury. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer as well as an independent 3rd party transmission repair specialist. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to this incident to give warning.
Suspension, Jul 8, 2022
Rear Shock broke away from vehicle chassis. SAFETY Issue Mazda Technical Service Bulletin 02-016/18 " ....breakage can occur. ......the material and the shape of the bracket has been modified" THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART $675 to replace two DEFECTIVE shocks
Power train, Mar 10, 2022
Transmission failed, and vehicle is available for inspection. The incident occurred after exiting a highway and coming to halt at stop light. Vehicle wouldn't exceed above 5 mph after moving forward, it surged, downshifted, and come to a complete stop. This created an incident where other motorist nearly rear ended occupants in subject vehicle. The vehicle was inspected by both dealer as well as independent mechanic and before were able to replicate the issue. No warning lamps or messages appeared. There were no other signs of a potential problem prior to failure. The failure was sudden and unexpected.
Power train, Feb 11, 2022
Car had 63,000 miles on it. Began making very loud noise. Brought to private mechanic, then dealer. Both agreed car had mechanical failure of rear differential. The full system needed replacing for safety. All agreed this should not occur with only 63,000 miles.
Lane departure, Sep 28, 2021
My vehicle detects other vehicles and/or objects on the left side periodically when there is nothing there.
Power train, Aug 13, 2021
The transmission quit on my at 59K miles. Wont go into drive, but will in reverse. I took the care to a transmission shop, and it needs rebuilt. No warning lamps, messages, etc. I was stopped at a red light, luckily I wasn't driving at it just stopped.
Engine, May 11, 2021
2015 MAZDA CX5 2.0 L, WELL MAINTAINED; RECOMMENDED OIL USED AT PROPER INTERVALS, WITH 130,000 MILES, MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVEN. WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS AND/OR SOUNDS, VEHICLE STARTED LOOSING POWER AT AROUND 30 MPH IN THE CITY AND ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED. AAA WAS CALLED TO START THE VEHICLE TO NO AVAIL, BATTERY CHECKED OUT OK. TOWED TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN WICHITA, KS. DEALER SERVICE EXAMINED VEHICLE AND FOUND A VALVE STEM BROKEN AND LYING ON TOP OF ENGINE, VISIBLE THROUGH THE SPARK PLUG WELL. AS THE OWNER, ALONG WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, I SAW THE BROKEN VALVE STEM IN THE ENGINE BUT ALSO NOTICE MY ENGINE WAS EXTREMELY CLEAN ON THE INSIDE WITH CLEAN OIL AS WELL, NO EVIDENCE OF DIRT AND/OR SLUDGE OF ANY KIND. VEHICLE OWNER COMMENTED TO THE DEALER HOW CLEAN THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE WAS KEPT INSIDE AND OUT. DEALER RESPONDED BY TEXT TO OWNER, NEW ENGINE REPLACEMENT, AT THE COST OF $7000; USED ENGINE WITH 91,000 MILES AT $5000. DEALER STATED AFTER 60,000, VEHICLE OF OUT OF WARRANTY. OWNER RESEARCHED AND FOUND EVIDENCE THE FAILURE IS LIKELY DUE TOO ENGINE DESIGN. MAZDA BUILT AN ALUMINUM ENGINE WITH HIGH COMPRESSION RATIO, BUT BUILT IT LIGHTER AND WITH SMALLER COMPONENT PARTS. ACCORDING TO ENGINEERS, THAT'S A RECIPE FOR VARIOUS COMPONENT PARTS AND ULTIMATELY OVERALL ENGINE FAILURE. THE SKYACTIV ENGINE OPERATES AT 13.0 COMPRESSION RATIO, BY DESIGN; IF NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY AND BEING IT'S NEW TECHNOLOGY, FAILURES LIKE INTERNAL COMPONENT PARTS AND THE ENGINE, ARE LIKELY. OWNER'S VEHICLE AT DEALER FOR ALMOST 3 WEEKS AND THEY ARE OFFERING NO ASSISTANCE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INQUIRY INTO THE DESIGN OF THE SKYACTIV ENGINE AND ADDRESS MAZDA ALLEGING OWNER'S ARE ABUSING VEHICLES AND CHARGING EXORBITANT PRICES FOR MECHANICAL ISSUES CAUSED BY THEIR PRODUCT DESIGN. OWNER CURRENTLY HAS TWO 2015 MAZDA CX5'S . DEALER/MAZDA OFFERING NO ASSISTANCE.
Power train, Mar 15, 2021
TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND AUTOMATICALLY BRAKED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. WOULD NOT ADVANCE AND TO THE NEXT GEAR AND AUTOMATICALLY KEPT BREAKING EVERY FEW FEET. HAD TO PULL OVER AND BE TOWED. NO ADVANCE WARNING OR PRIOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES. CAR MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN KEPT UP. LUCKY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON A HIGHWAY GOING 65.