2023 Mazda CX-5
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Service brakes is the leading concern among 63 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 10th highest complaint count among 14 CX-5 model years with reports.
Of the 2023 reports, 8 involved a crash. 5 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints
63 reports, newest first.
Other or unspecified, Dec 29, 2023, crash
New 2023 Mazda CX5. We have experienced 2 Unintended Sudden Acceleration episodes. The most recent one was while backing down our driveway, the car suddenly accelerated when the brake was applied causing considerable damage to the car and house. Our front porch camera caught the entire episode showing that the brake lights were in fact on. Mazda needs to take responsibility and recall these vehicles to find out what is going on, as there are numerous other similar complaints for this car on this site and others.
Other or unspecified, Oct 19, 2023
I bought a new Premium Plus CX-5 in April of this year. Since I bought the car, occasionally I hear a sharp click or snap from the dashboard, particularly when it's warm outside and I have the AC on. I have video footage of the sound multiple times, but Mazda says they cannot replicate it. It sounds like a rock hitting the windshield type sound, but it's electronic and inside the car. Multiple Mazda dealerships in So Cal confirmed the noise. It is because the vents are chrome, aka plastic wrapped in thin metal. When the car cools, these will snap but not break / do any damage. This has been confirmed by at least 5 others on the internet. Please see this thread: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Visibility/wiper, Oct 6, 2023
The sunroof spontaneously exploded outward while my wife was driving on the interstate. She was not near other vehicles or under an overpass for flying debris. We have had the vehicle for only 9 months and she works from home so it is kept in a garage for the majority of its life. It has not encountered any hail damage either. The sun shade was closed thankfully so my wife was fine but the anxiety it has caused her is immeasurable. This is a common occurrence as can be seen by any Google search indicating many people experiencing this issue. Most auto makers are not accepting responsibility for defects in manufacturing. The NHTSA has a duty to keep people safe and hold auto makers accountable for problems they are manufacturing. Exploding sunroofs are not safe and it is a major problem in the industry. There are countless testimonials and legal action being taken about this issue.
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Oct 2, 2023, crash
At 2:00 on a clear afternoon I was slowly coasting into a right hand turn into a parking space, and lightly tapping the brake to finalize the stop, when the car accelerated HARD forward over a curb and a sidewalk into the brick wall of a building. Airbag was deployed. My injuries were a nasty wrist contusion and bloody gashes where the airbag "door" deployed and I also had complete seatbelt brusing on my throat, chest and across my abdomen. This after traveling a mere 7-8 feet. At the time I was very shaken up and incredulous that such a thing could have happened logically, and conceded that perhaps I had made a mistake somehow. As I settled down later I became dubious, especially when I got behind the wheel of my rental car and 100% when I sat in my actual car at the wrecking yard. I am crystal clear I was depressing just the brake. Even if I had accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake (I did not) it would not have accelerated to the degree that it did. I am now scared of my car and am just hoping it is declared totaled by my insurance so I don't have to drive it again - any car but that one.
Engine, Sep 13, 2023
Mazda CX-5 Premium Between May and September this year, the MyMazda app has alerted me two times that the oil level was low. I manually checked and it was indeed low. The first time I brought it to a Firestone service center to have it checked and they verified that the level was down considerably to the bottom dot on the stick. They said to bring it to the dealer. I brought it to the dealer and they said they could not find any leaks and to come back in 1000 miles. I did that and they only checked the dipstick to make sure the level was fine and sent me on my way. The same exact thing happened again a week ago and I topped off the oil then made an appointment. The dealer said that I should not have done that and now they could not verify for themselves that the oil was in fact low. They disregarded the message that the MyMazda app sent me and did not care that I documented and took photos of the dipstick. They had to see it for themselves. They said to come back 1000 miles and not add oil if it is low. I said to the representative at the dealer that I had seen mentions about high oil consumption online and they stated it was only turbo models. I bought my car October 2022 and it has had this oil issue twice in 20,000 miles. That is scary and unacceptable.
Power train, Electrical system, Service brakes, Jul 22, 2023, crash
Brand new 2023 Mazda CX-5 with 150 miles on it experienced unintended acceleration while braking. Pulled into a parking spot with my foot on the brakes but the car didn't stop & even accelerated over a sidewalk and into a building. I experienced a bruise from the seatbelt. Airbags did not deploy. Someone could have been killed if they had been on the sidewalk. Car is currently at an auto body shop to fix the cosmetic damages, and once released, will have the car towed to our local Mazda dealership/service center to get the car inspected. In doing research on NHTSA's website, at least 4 vehicles (2-2023 Mazda CX-5s and 2-2023 Mazda CX-30s) have experienced this issue. Mazda needs to recall these vehicles and investigate.
Visibility, Jul 18, 2023
The contact owns a 2023 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, he observed a crack from the middle of the windshield to the bottom corner of the driver's side windshield. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but was unable to assist with the repair. The failure mileage was 2,802.
Other or unspecified, Jul 10, 2023
Car’s (less than a month old)rear glass shattered when shut the driver side door. No prior damage or wild temperature fluctuations. Could have been dangerous if occurred while driving or someone sitting in back seat. Wondering if there’s a defect in glass, or install.
Service brakes, Engine, Jul 7, 2023
When applying the brakes car surges forward. If put in neutral engine races. Very difficult to bring to a stop with reduced braking. Multiple occurrences. Dealer states vehicle is operating within design perimeters.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 29, 2023
I was driving my new 2023 Mazda CX5 with approximately 1,300 miles in the center lane of a divided highway of the suburbs just north of New York City. I was driving with all windows closed, A/C turned on and the weather was clear, hot and sunny. Without any warning there was a loud and abrupt explosion from within the vehicle. As I looked in my rear view mirror I saw glass blowing in the wind behind me. I suddenly detected wind blowing above my head and realized my sunroof had most likely been the glass I saw behind me. I kept the sunshade closed with one hand until I could safely pull over to look. I did not suspect any road debris to have caused the breaking of the glass and my inspection did not reveal any other damage or possible outside causes. This even appeared to have been spontaneous and without warning. I feel that this incident could have been a lot worse had the sunshade been open, most likely blowing little pieces of glass into my eyes while driving at highway speeds in a center lane. I also fear that this could have been a hazard to my children passengers if they were in the back seat at the time it happened. I notified my Mazda dealership at the earliest possible moment and they asked to inspect it. After inspection, a regional service manager advised that this type of incident has been heard of but only in southern warmer states and typically on hot sunny days when the air conditioning is on inside the vehicle. Apparently the temperature difference coupled with cabin pressure and any sort of defects in the glass can make the glass explode upward. Date/time of incident 6/11/23 @ 5pm est. Date of repair by dealership: 6/15/23
Service brakes, May 28, 2023
Brakes are very poor, car lurches forward at stop lights and you have to stomp the brake pedal to prevent running into the car in front of you.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, May 26, 2023
The power liftgate on the 2023 Mazda CX-5 SUV closes with sufficient force that the vehicle owner's manual warns of possible serious injury or even death, and cautions the operator to be sure that people or objects are not in the way of closure. However, the actual design of the overall system permits accidental closure by way of the key fob even when the operator is out of sight of the vehicle. This effectively renders the warnings meaningless, and disregards the safety of people or objects that might be in the way. The vehicle electronics/computer system uses dual purpose switches in or on the vehicle to activate the liftgate; if closed, a press of the switch will unlock and open it, and if open, the same switch will close and lock it. The system also provides the same feature with an exposed, raised button on the key fob which can easily be accidentally pressed to activate closure. Who then assumes liability for the possible resulting tragedy? During my first month of ownership (April 2023), I have experienced the liftgate opening by accident at least twice and it obviously could have been both opened and closed numerous times by accident totally without my knowledge. In a similar fashion, I have experienced the susceptibility of the other fob switches to accidental activation; the car has been locked by accident as least once, and the horn accidentally activated at least three times when I have been inside the house while the car is out of sight in the garage and the key fob was in my pocket. I am obviously making the reasonable assumption that accidental pressure on the various fob switches is the cause for activation. The attached PDF document describes in more detail some of the hazards posed by the existing design, and possibly applies to other car makes and models
Other or unspecified, Jan 26, 2023
4 month old car and brakes are rusted and rotor is warped. The car is shaky and rear right side grinder. Mechanic said it was safe to drive and that it was a “user error” for being to hard on the brakes. They said they inspected the vehicle and could not determine the “brown liquid” was. They cleaned what I assume was rust and claimed it was safe to drive again. Two weeks and three drives later it is grinding again, smelling smoky, and shaking. I feel unsafe driving the car. There were no warnings or messages when the symptoms first appeared. The car is available for inspection upon request. Although it has not directly put anyone at risk yet, I believe it is a matter of time before myself or someone else gets injured.