2017 Mazda CX-5
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 148 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 14 CX-5 model years with reports.
Of the 2017 reports, 5 involved a crash. 3 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Trailer hitchesNov 21, 2017
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2017 CX-5 vehicles equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness. This harness may be routed such that there is insufficient clearance between the harness and the exhaust muffler, allowing the wiring harness to contact the muffler.
Contact with the muffler may damage the trailer wiring harness, potentially resulting in the trailer lighting being inoperative, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the trailer hitch harness away from the muffler, replacing the harness if it is damaged, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1617K.
Campaign 17V744000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
44 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Nov 20, 2022
The infotainment display operates by itself. This is a known issue commonly called “ghost touch” and Mazda has issued service bulletins for 2014-2016 model year cars. Unfortunately other cars including my 2017 CX-5 are also affected. This is a safety issue as the navigation will stop working and the constant beeping from the ghost clicking is very distracting and can lead to the driver not focusing on the road. Mazda should be required to recall all affected model years, not just the 2014-2016.
Electrical system, Aug 2, 2022
The navigation display turns fails / turns off and on throughout the drive. It turns on then goes off while backing out with the rearview camera in use. It goes off during drives, while directions are in use, while calls are in session, and with no active use at all. After checking online I found that numerous Mazda owners experience the same with thief CX5-s but there is no collective effort by Mazda to find a solution. I paid for extended warranty with Navigation Display covered and they still cannot find a solution. This is more than inconvenience. It is a serious safety issue when physical distraction is caused by manufacturer defect which can lead to accidents on the highway at high speeds relying on the navigation, while backing up viewing the camera, while driving on windy roads and the screen goes out. The auto response for most drivers is to try and reach for the phone to continue directions, stop abruptly if backing up and the screen goes out, reach for the phone to take it off blue tooth so the hands free conversation is not dropped. It is not to much to expect a major auto manufacturer to have a stable navigation screen. The local dealerships do not take it seriously. How can this matter be escalated as a matter of safety?
Electrical system, Jun 15, 2022
The main screen in the middle of the vehicle experiences “ghost touches” or acts like it’s being controlled sporadically without any buttons or the screen being touched. It does it so aggressively that it causes major distraction while driving and will even change navigation routes while driving and make calls while trying to navigate. This is a huge safety issue especially for younger drivers that can’t handle this well. It makes beeping sounds and changes the screens very quickly and many times I’m unable to stop it. I’ve researched ways to fix it online with no success without spending a large amount of money at a dealership. I’ve seen many many people online with the same issue. I bought the vehicle new, and it began doing this within the first year.
Electrical system, Air bags, Lane departure, May 1, 2022, crash
Blind spot monitoring system warning appears on dashboard of vehicle after driving for about 50-60 miles. This occurs only when I drive >50-60 miles in one trip without shutting off my vehicle. Speed does not matter. My sensors will not work until I turn off my car and turn it back on. This started as soon as I purchased my vehicle in July 2020. 1 previous owner (lease) before I purchased the vehicle. No prior accidents. Got the vehicle at ~30,000 miles. In January 2021, I drifted off the freeway and hit a tree going 35 mph during a snow storm. It was only myself (driver) and a passenger in the front seat at the time of the incident. Both were wearing seatbelts. The seat belts locked up, but airbags never deployed for myself or the adult passenger in the front seat. Driver sustained no injuries, but the passenger smashed their knee into the glove compartment and smacked their head on the window/seatbelt holder on the side of the interior wall. The passenger was asleep during the incident, which may have explained why they did not brace themselves. One minute we were on the freeway, then we hit a slippery spot, and within seconds we were head on with a tree. Drove away to avoid the possibility of any vehicles following my path and smashing into us. Car was still driveable somehow. Car was repaired after 3 weeks at Caliber Collision and looked great. Sensor issue persists still, but unrelated to accident. Mentioned it to Caliber Collision when vehicle was being repaired and they had a Mazda service person come out with a sensor machine and they could not find the issue.
Electrical system, May 1, 2022
Connectivity Master Unit controlling the infotainment system has failed. Infotainment system continuously rebooting, freezing, change radio presets on its own and changing to home screen, and navigation starts speaking while listing to music.
Electrical system, Apr 23, 2022
Mazda has termed the issue Ghost Touch in their CX-3 models, which the NTSB issued a Technical Service Bulletin. It is dangerous as the infotainment system begins to switch between functions on its own, without driver or passenger input, and while the cars is in motion; changing radio stations, dialing phone numbers, turning the system display to Night Mode making it impossible to read while using the vehicle navigation system, exiting navigation maps altogether. The part number given to me by Mazda is K123611J0C. The dealer diagnosed and confirmed this issue in April 2022. They stated it is a common problem but it is not covered under warranty. Replacement costs quoted was over $1400, plus $180 to diagnose the problem.
Electrical system, Mar 2, 2022
The Mazda connect touch screen in the center display doesn't always accept touch commands properly and regularly operates by itself (ghost touch) while in drive.
Electrical system, Feb 11, 2022
The car battery does not get fully charged even after long trips and continuous use of the vehicle. It has been so ever since the vehicle was purchased brand new and maintained meticulously with all service performed on-time at the dealership. Even after long trips exceeding 350 miles, the battery would charge only up to 50% (12.2 volts) and never to 100% (12.7 volts). Thereafter it would quickly discharge to Low (<11.9 volts) if a few shorter trips were made. Upon bringing this to the dealer’s attention while the car was still under warranty, they ran a battery and alternator test and quickly dismissed the issue saying that both the battery and alternator were working fine. Nevertheless, in just two years the OEM battery failed from constantly being in a state of low charge, despite using the vehicle regularly for long trips. Because the dealer refused to honor the warranty, I had to replace with a new battery at my own cost. Now the new battery doesn’t charge beyond 50% (12.2v) either, and I have to routinely charge it every few days to full (12.7v) with an external battery charger just so the battery doesn’t die and either gets me stranded on the road (safety issue for myself and others) or damages computers/other electrical components (reliability and repair issue).
Electrical system, Aug 20, 2021
The Mazda Connect touch screen in the center display doesn't always accept touch commands properly and regularly operates by itself (ghost touch) while in drive.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Mar 18, 2021
THE CAR STALLED WHILE IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY WITH 56 MILES LEFT IN THE GAS TANK. THIS CAUSED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION DUE TO THE FACT THAT I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL, AS THE TRAFFIC WAS SPEEDING PAST. I HAD TO COAST THROUGH TRAFFIC TO THE SAFETY OF THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. ONCE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP, IT WOULDN'T RESTART AND IT SEEMED AS IF IT NEVER ACTUALLY STOPPED TRYING TO RESTART. I NOTICED A FEW THINGS DURING THIS SITUATION. 1. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 2. ALL THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS APPEARED TO COME ON 3. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND HOLD BUTTON FOR CITY PARKING BRAKE WERE FLASHING AT THE CENTER COUNSEL 4. THE DASHBOARD WARNINGS ROTATED BETWEEN, CITY PARKING BRAKE, PARKING BRAKE, CRUISE SYSTEM DISABLED 5. THE BATTERY FINALLY DIED AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF THIS HAPPENING MY FAMILY AND I WERE BROUGHT TO SAFETY BY A STATE TROOPER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A GAS STATION. WE FILLED THE GAS TANK, JUMPED THE CAR AND IT HAS NOT HAD THE ISSUE SINCE. UNFORTUNATELY THE REAR LIFT GATE HAS ONLY WORKED ONE TIME AFTER THE EVENT BUT I AM NOT SURE WHAT IS GOING ON THERE. I HAD THIS SAME ISSUE HAPPEN ONCE IN 2019, AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. I TOOK IT TO A MAZDA DEALER AND THEY SAID IT MAY HAVE BEEN BAD GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE ISSUE SEEMS TO MATCH A SIMILAR ISSUE MENTIONED IN RECALL 3719F.
Electrical system, Back over prevention, Mar 1, 2021
THE INFOTAINMENT DISPLAY WILL REBOOT CONTINUOUSLY, IN WEATHER BELOW 60 DEGREES, AND WILL NOT STABILIZE UNTIL THE CAR IS WARMED. DURING THIS TIME YOU ARE UNABLE TO ACCESS ANY OF THE FEATURES. THIS CAN TAKE 20 MINUTES OR MORE. IT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR ABOUT A YEAR, AND OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NO RESOLUTION OR EXPLANATION.
Electrical system, Dec 30, 2020
KNOWN GHOSTING ISSUE CAUSED BY MANUFACTURING AND DIAGNOSED BY MAZDA. THE LIGHTS INSIDE FLICKER, THE RADIO/NAVIGATION/TELEPHONE (BLUETOOTH) STARTS, STOPS, AND MOVES AS IT WANTS TO. THIS CAUSES DISTRACTIONS AND IS UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING. THERE ARE RECALLS ON OTHER MODEL CARS FOR THIS, HOWEVER, MAZDA WON'T FIX MY CAR EVEN THOUGH THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 21, 2020
MAZDA INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM KEEPS REBOOTING WHILE DRIVE, STATIONARY, IN MOTION & ON A CITY/HIGHWAY, USING THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM BECOMES DANGEROUS, CAN'T USE THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM AT ALL.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jan 16, 2020
CODES APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD SHOWING BRAKE DYSFUNCTION, SMART BRAKE SYSTEM DISABLED, MASTER ERRORS, AND MULTIPLE OTHER ERROR MESSAGES. NAVIGATION TURNS ON BY ITSELF AND FLASHES AND MOVES OR CHANGES LOCATIONS. THE VEHICLE WILL BRAKE BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN NOTHING ELSE IS AROUND NEAR ME (AT THE TIME) AND WILL DRIVE TO THE SIDE AT LIGHTS WHEN OTHER CARS ARE THERE.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 17, 2018
THE BACK UP CAMERA FAILS TO OPERATE AT TIMES FOR A DAY OR HALF A DAY. SOMETIMES IT APPEARS BLACK AND OTHER IT JUST SHOWS THE VOLUME WITH AN X OVER IT, BUT NO PICTURE OF THE REAR. I HAVE CHECKED EACH TIME AND THERE IS NOTHING BLOCKING THE CAMERA IN THE REAR. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED THERE WAS JUST A FEW THOUSAND MILES, THEN AGAIN ABOUT 5,000 AND THEN AGAIN AT 9465 MILES. I WAS IN PARK WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND IN REVERSE. NO IMAGE APPEARED AND THEN WHEN BACKING UP IN MOTION IT DID NOT WORK EITHER. IT HAS HAPPENED OVER 3 TIMES IN THE FIRST 10 MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE AND THE DEALER WILL NOT FIX IT BECAUSE THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE IT. IT IS INTERMITTENT. THE CAR HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT CAMERA WHICH WAS FINALLY REPLACED AFTER 7 MONTHS AFTER MY MANY TRIPS TO DEALERS. IT WAS REPORTED TO YOU ALSO.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Mar 28, 2018
TWO WEEKS AFTER I GOT THE VEHICLE, I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY DOING SPEEDS OF 45 TO 74. THE DRIVERS LAND CHANGE ASSIST WAS NOT WORKING AS A CAR WAS RIGHT BESIDE ME SEVERAL TIMES I NOTICED AND THE LIGHT WAS OFF. MY SON MENTIONED IT. DEC 22, 2017 2) I WAS DRIVING AT DUSK ON CRUISE CONTROL 74 MPH AND THE CAR SUDDENLY BRAKED AND A WARNING BRAKE! WAS ON THE DASH. I WAS IN THE FAST LANE WITH NO OBJECTS OR CAR IN FRONT.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Jan 18, 2018
WHILE DRIVING MY 2017 MAZDA CX-5, THE SMART CITY BRAKE SUPPORT (SCBS) INDICATOR ILLUMINATES ON THE DASH. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, ON CLEAR, SUNNY DAYS AND IN RAIN AND/OR SNOW; ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. THE RATE OF DRIVING SPEED VARIES FROM APPROX 10 TO 65 MPH. THE INDICATOR STAYS ON FOR ANYWHERE FROM 20 SECONDS OR UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED (UPWARDS OF 20 MINUTES). SERVICE TECHS AT LOCAL DEALER WERE ABLE TO PULL THE FAULT CODE FROM THE COMPUTER, BUT IT WAS GENERIC AND GAVE NO GUIDANCE. MAZDA INITIALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS WAS A PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE CAMERA THAT CONTROLS THE SYSTEM (MOUNTED INTERIOR OF CAR AT WINDSHIELD), BUT WHEN PROBLEM PERSISTED WITH THE NEW CAMERA, MAZDA SAID IT'S "NORMAL" FOR THE LAMP ILLUMINATION TO DISPLAY ON THE DASH UNDER VARIOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS AND REFERENCED SERVICE ALERT SA-052/17, WHICH DISCUSSES FOG, RAIN, EXHAUST GAS FROM VEHICLE IN FRONT, ETC. TRIGGERING THE SCBS. ACCORDING TO THIS SERVICE ALERT, A DIRTY WINDSHIELD WILL ALSO TRIGGER THE WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS THE SCBS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, WHEN THE LIGHT ILLUMINATES IT DISTRACTS FROM THE ACT OF DRIVING.
Electrical system, Structure, Jan 4, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MAZDA CX-5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC, THE SEAT HEATER BECAME VERY HOT. IN AN ATTEMPT TO TURN DOWN THE SEAT HEATER, WHERE THE SWITCH BUTTON WAS "EXACTLY AN INCH" FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE CONTACT UNINTENTIONALLY HIT THE IGNITION SWITCH BUTTON AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL. THE VEHICLE RESTATED 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE HIGHWAY PATROL ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FREMONT MAZDA LOCATED IN THE FREMONT AUTO MALL (39800 BALENTINE DR, NEWARK, CA 94560) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT HEATER SWITCH WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,300.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Oct 27, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MAZDA CX-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SMART CITY BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN ACTIVATED AND MODIFIED TO A SPECIFIC DISTANCE OR SPEED. THE DEALER (MAZDA OF MESQUITE, 15900 LYNDON B JOHNSON FWY, MESQUITE, TX 75150, (972) 686-6200) WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED A TSB THAT INDICATED THAT, WITHOUT A WARNING INDICATOR OR WARNING CHIME, THE FUNCTION WAS NOT ABLE TO BE REPLICATED AND THE SYSTEM WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT SEND A TECHNICIAN TO TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINE IF THE FUNCTION WAS PROPERLY WORKING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 0.