2018 Mazda CX-5
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 119 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 14 CX-5 model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 1 involved a crash. 1 person was injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpNov 12, 2021
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.
Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5321K.
Campaign 21V875000 on NHTSA.gov
EngineJun 27, 2019
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.
An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3719F.
Campaign 19V497000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, side/windowJun 25, 2018
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda CX-5 vehicles. In the event of a side impact or rollover crash, the side curtain air bags may not properly unfold during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
If the air bags do not deploy properly in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2718F.
Campaign 18V426000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
99 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Feb 4, 2025
There is a known issue with 2018 Mazda CX 5 related to a cracked cylinder head. I have just under 60,000 miles and I noticed smoke coming from under the hood near the exhaust manifold and a strong odor of burning oil. Dolan Mazda in Reno, NV has confirmed I have a cracked cylinder head and it is the cause of the burning oil. I am concerned that oil leaking from the cracked cylinder head onto the exhaust is a fire hazard. I feel a recall should be issued.
Engine, Jan 28, 2025
Cracked cylinder head
Engine, Jan 24, 2025
Cracked cylinder head causing oil to leak
Engine, Jan 23, 2025
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - Engine cylinder head was broken and caused oil leakage How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Oil leakage resulted in a smoky smell while driving and could have led to cars on the road or my own car could have skid leading to a fatal accident Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Dealer has inspected. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear - No warning lamps but there was a smoky smell while driving & visible oil leak under the front hood.
Engine, Jan 20, 2025
Cylinder head cracked at 46,000 miles causing smoke and oil leakage. This was the root of an almost $6,000 repair, leaving me without a vehicle for 15 days. This issue could also lead to more extensive engine problems in the future.
Engine, Jan 8, 2025
At approximately 57,000 miles, the cylinder head cracked. It was leaking oil and white smoke was coming out of the engine bay. There were no warning lights. I have since gotten the cylinder head replaced.
Engine, Dec 19, 2024
Purchased vehicle from dealership drove 1650 miles, cylinder head began leaking, excessive oil. Took vehicle to repair shop their assessment cracked cylinder head. Warranty expired, dealership refused help in addition to Mazda Corp. unless brought to nearest dealership 140 miles away, with no guarantee. Vehicle is not driveable, I do have photos of the cracks.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Dec 17, 2024
The cylinder head on my 2018 Mazda CX-5 developed cracks on the exhaust side, leading to significant oil leakage onto the exhaust manifold. This has caused engine damage and safety concerns. The vehicle is currently at a Mazda dealership, where the issue has been inspected and documented. The component is available for further inspection upon request. The oil leaking onto the exhaust manifold creates a serious fire hazard due to the high heat generated in this area. Additionally, the vehicle experienced burning smells and visible smoke coming through the air vents, which could impair visibility or cause distraction while driving. These conditions place the safety of myself, my passengers, and others on the road at risk. The issue has been confirmed by a Mazda dealership. They provided a video showing oil actively dripping from the cracked cylinder head and stated that the engine requires a full replacement. Mazda dealership video: [XXX] This video contains the engine inspection findings conducted at the dealership during my recent visit. It clearly shows the damage and highlights the issues identified. The vehicle has been inspected by the Mazda dealership service team, who identified the cracks in the cylinder head and documented the oil leakage and related engine damage. There were no warning lamps or messages on the dashboard prior to the failure. The symptoms began with a noticeable burning smell inside the cabin, followed by a slight mist coming out of the air vents and smoke from under the hood. Oil leakage was later observed on the ground, and the coolant level appeared empty. I’ve received a video inspection of my vehicle from the service center on March 7, 2024 with no concerns at that time, which you can view here: [XXX] . This link leads to TruVideo, a platform that many dealerships use to share service videos with customers. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Dec 6, 2024
There was a burnt rubber smell coming off the vents, took to dealership and they confirmed there was an issue with the front timing cover and was replaced. Less that a week later, there was smoke coming from the hood of the car. Took back to dealership unaware if it was recurring issue but it was determined there was a NEW oil leak due to faulty cylinder head needing replacement on my car which has less than 50,000 miles. While there was no warning lights, the car was unsafe to drive in that condition.
Engine, Dec 5, 2024
The cylinder head cracked while waiting for a light to change at a busy intersection, causing heavy smoke to enter the vehicle through the air vents with the heater on. The smoke filled the car quickly, causing my wife and me to exit the vehicle at the very busy intersection. A local independent service center diagnosed the problem. I was unable to drive the vehicle to the manufacturer for safety reasons and smoke filling the cabin. No warning lights were displayed. This vehicle was maintained following the manufacturer's recommendations throughout its 77,000 mile life.
Engine, Nov 26, 2024
We are a senior citizen couple driving this 2018 Mazda. Went out to garage to find a significant size area of oil spillage on the floor. The car has just over 25,000 as we are low mileage drivers. Took to a mechanic to find out it is a cracked head and oil is steaming out of the crack.i have since learned that Mazda is well aware of the weakness in this model and has chosen not to do anything about it. Our car is out of warranty. It would be a hardship for us to repair. And if repaired, would it happen again? This has recall written all over it, as well as a class action suit. I would like our vehicle repaired at no cost to us. How long were they aware of this issue? I have found hundreds of complaints. I prefer not to pursue this legally but this is unacceptable by Mazda. This was my second Mazda purchase but will be my last if they cannot stand behind their products.
Engine, Nov 19, 2024
2018 CX-5 has a cracked or porous (depending who is telling me the issue) cylinder head at 60000 miles. I was told by the Mazda service advisor that the issue is common. I reached out to Mazda for assistance in covering their faulty part and was told they would not cover any of it.
Engine, Nov 5, 2024
The engine cylinder head has a crack that has caused the engine oil to leak from the engine. This seems to be a common issue known by Mazda. The oil has saturated the right front brake and portions of the undercarriage, that will also need to be cleaned and or replaced. We had the car looked at a repair shop in Portland OR. they let us know this is a huge problem with this engine and we have not had this repaired as of this note. we will contact or dealer where we purchased the CX-5 and see about getting it replaced. This happened as my Wife was driving from California to our home in Washington. She noticed the oil light was flickering and she found a repair shop in Portland that looked at it and for that the head was cracked. Our car has 89,413 miles on it and has been maintained and does not have any other issues at this time.
Engine, Oct 30, 2024
One of the Cylinder heads has a crack in which has cause some oil to leak in the affected area. This is not the 2.5T engine, there is a TSB out for those engines. The affected engine is the 2.5 NA engine.
Engine, Oct 30, 2024
Vehicle has a cracked cylinder head at 43,000 miles. It is leaking oil and will lead to further engine damage if not repaired. Dealer inspected and diagnosed the problem. There were no vehicle warnings. It was brought to dealer because it was leaking oil and smelled of burning oil. It appears to be a common problem with Mazda Cx5s.
Engine, Sep 23, 2024
First warning was the oil light came on and I became aware of a leak. When I took it to the mechanic the next day, he described a porous spot on the side of the cylinder head that had opened up and was rapidly losing oil when the engine was running. I understand that this is not a unique problem to my vehicle but is common with this model year. I am concerned that the engine will run out of oil and malfunction causing loss of control at highway speed. The car is currently scheduled for confirmation of the problem with the local Mazda dealer.
Engine, Aug 29, 2024
Defective sealant used on timing cover, already leaking engine oil at 85000km… also confirmed as the same engine prone to cylinder head cracking from poor casting dimensions resulting in engine oil contacting the exhaust manifold and smoking. Possible fire hazard. Engine can seize up from low oil pressure at highway speeds and lock up the wheels causing an accident. Not sure why Mazda hasn’t issued a recall for this obvious safety concern… reminds me of Hyundai/Kia engine problems and now they’ve been sued and replacing thousands of engines for free.
Engine, Aug 22, 2024
Engine seems that it cracked. The car has 66K and has good maintenance record. I took my 2018 CX5 to Mazda for a possible oil leak. Mechanic says block has hairline crack, is leaking oil down exhaust manifold and engine needs to be replaced. It seems a known issue with this model & Mazda is aware of the problem. There is no recall or class action lawsuit that either of us found. Mazda has said this car in no longer under warranty. It has 66K and the engine is broken?
Engine, Jul 31, 2024
Cylinder head was found to be cracked for a while on the vehicle. This was discovered at 117K miles but likely was cracked well before judging from the age of the oil in the engine bay. Car has been maintained well this shouldn't be happening at all this early into its life.
Engine, Jul 23, 2024
Burnt oil smell started being noticed in the cabin. Checked for leaks and none was found. Took the car to the dealer and it turns out the cylinder head is cracked. Dealer acknowledged this is an ongoing manufacturing issue. I contacted Mazda corporate to see if I qualify for after warranty assistance. No engine lights are on. Car has been maintained properly.
Engine, Jul 22, 2024
I bought this brand new in 2018 (Aug.) and I take care of this car very well. I was in the Korean Army, and I worked at the motor pool taking care of cars and trucks. Last year, I noticed my oil level decreasing that I kept refilling. I just thought it was burning some oil. Last week, I was losing lots of oil with some smoke (oil burning). I took the car to a local shop and they said "the cylinder head appears to be leaking oil from the back drivers side of the head".
Engine, Jul 22, 2024
Cracked Cylinder Head. Oil leak and smoke near passenger side.
Engine, Jul 13, 2024
I noticed a burning smell while driving. Smoke started coming through the air vents and made me light-headed. I asked my son to take a look, and he said that oil was dripping onto the exhaust and smoking, and it could have caught on fire. There were no warning lamps or any other indicators besides the smell and smoke. I could have passed out from inhaling the smoke and died, or my car could have caught on fire. I took my car to the Mazda dealer. They confirmed that my car was affected by the well-known 2018-2021 CX-5 cylinder head crack. They quoted me $4848 to fix it. When I asked if they could help me with the price, they offered me 10% off. I told them that’s unacceptable. After much back and forth with the dealer and Mazda Corporate, they dropped the total to $1470.60.
Power train, Engine, Jun 5, 2024
2018 mazda started smoking from under hood and noticed a burning oil smell. Took to mechanic and was told engine head gasket has a huge Crack. Car only has 22k on it and never been in any accident. All appropriate preventative services are up to date. There was no indication light no warning light nothing to identify why the car was leaking oil and smoking until it was looked at. This has multiple.complaints in regards to this specific year and model and needs to be addresses before someone's car catches fire or stalls in the middle of highway
Engine, Jun 5, 2024
Oil smell in cabin. Diagnosed by independent repair shop as hairline crack in back of cylinder head. Cylinder head replaced at 91000 miles.