Mazda Cx-5 Years to Avoid
Based on CarWhere's analysis of 2,160 NHTSA complaints, the Mazda Cx-5 years to avoid are 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021 — the worst logged up to 3.1× the model's median severity-weighted complaint rate, driven by engine failures. Updated August 2026.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of August 2026 · How we rate model years
No year rated caution
No standout best year
Year-by-year verdict
| Model year | Complaints | Severe | Recalls | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2013 | 194 | 104 | 1 | SOLID |
| 2014 | 377 | 118 | 4 | AVOID |
| 2015 | 133 | 53 | 4 | SOLID |
| 2016 | 507 | 189 | 5 | AVOID |
| 2017 | 148 | 51 | 1 | SOLID |
| 2018 | 113 | 107 | 3 | AVOID |
| 2019 | 260 | 162 | 2 | AVOID |
| 2020 | 105 | 44 | 0 | SOLID |
| 2021 | 137 | 99 | 0 | AVOID |
| 2022 | 62 | 23 | 0 | SOLID |
| 2023 | 59 | 28 | 0 | SOLID |
| 2024 | 41 | 19 | 0 | SOLID |
| 2025 | 23 | 13 | 0 | SOLID |
"Severe" = complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury, or a safety-critical component. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume; verdicts compare each year against the rest of the Mazda Cx-5. Full methodology.
Common Mazda Cx-5 problems
Across the federal record, the most-reported problem areas on the Mazda Cx-5 are engine, electrical, body. The confirmed and owner-reported issues below include owner mileage and repair-cost ranges where available.
Cracked cylinder head with oil leak
· Mazda Cx-5 2018–2023Corroborated by 24 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 329 engine complaints across 2018–2023, typically 35,000–119,000 miles. Owner-reported repair cost $3,500–$10,000.
Shifter switch park position detection failure
· Mazda Cx-5 2013–2014Corroborated by 20 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 190 electrical complaints across 2013–2014.
Sunroof spontaneous failure / explosion
· Mazda Cx-5 2013–2025Corroborated by 11 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 91 body complaints across 2013–2025.
Why these years stand out
2014 Mazda Cx-5: 377 owner complaints on federal record, 118 of them severe, plus 4 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Mazda Cx-5.
2016 Mazda Cx-5: 507 owner complaints on federal record, 189 of them severe, plus 5 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Mazda Cx-5.
2018 Mazda Cx-5: 113 owner complaints on federal record, 107 of them severe, plus 3 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Mazda Cx-5.
2019 Mazda Cx-5: 260 owner complaints on federal record, 162 of them severe, plus 2 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Mazda Cx-5.
2021 Mazda Cx-5: 137 owner complaints on federal record, 99 of them severe — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Mazda Cx-5.
Know what to pay for the right Mazda Cx-5 — then negotiate it
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FAQ
What years of the Mazda Cx-5 should you avoid?
Based on federal NHTSA complaint and recall data, the Mazda Cx-5 years to avoid are 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates, led by engine issues. See the year-by-year table for the full picture. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the best years for the Mazda Cx-5?
No single Mazda Cx-5 year stands out as a clear "best" in the federal data yet; the year-by-year table shows the full spread of verdicts.
How is the Mazda Cx-5 verdict calculated?
Each model year's NHTSA owner complaints are weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries, and safety-critical components count more), converted to a rate per year on the road, and compared against the rest of the Mazda Cx-5's own history, then adjusted for recalls. Full method at /research/years-to-avoid/methodology.
How do I check a specific Mazda Cx-5 before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for that exact VIN plus a market price check from verified buyers.
Is the Mazda Cx-5 reliable?
The Mazda Cx-5's reliability depends heavily on the model year. Across 2,160 NHTSA owner complaints, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021 rate "avoid" — see the year-by-year verdicts above. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the Mazda Cx-5?
The most-reported problem area for the Mazda Cx-5 is engine, followed by electrical and body. Confirmed failures include cracked cylinder head with oil leak, shifter switch park position detection failure, sunroof spontaneous failure / explosion. See the common-problems section above for owner-reported mileage and repair costs where available.
Sources & data notes
All figures are drawn from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Office of Defects Investigation — owner-filed complaints and recall campaigns — covering the Mazda Cx-5 across every model year on record. Retrieved August 2026. Counts are raw federal filings and are not adjusted for the number of vehicles sold or registered; a verdict compares each model year against the rest of the Mazda Cx-5, not against other vehicles. Full scoring at the methodology page.
Verify the flagged years in NHTSA's public database:
Verdicts are computed from federal NHTSA complaint and recall records, refreshed monthly. Read the full methodology.