The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 185 of 355 complaints (52%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Brakes include more reported injuries (2) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 150 in 2017 to 355 in 2018.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 355
- Recall campaigns
- 3
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,200–$3,350
- Combined MPG
- 26–29
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | vs. 2018 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,150–2,400 | 2,300–2,400 | 2,200–3,350 | 2,200–3,350 | 2,200–2,600 | |
| Combined MPG | 26–29 | 26–27 | 26–29 | 24–29 | 24–28 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 24–26 / 29–34 | 23–24 / 29–31 | 24–28 / 30–31 | 22–28 / 27–31 | 22–25 / 27–31 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 306–340 | 328–352 | 321–365 | 322–370 | 322–370 | |
| Complaints filed | 512 | 150 | 355 | 273 | 110 | |
| Recalls issued | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 31 | 5 | 19 | 7 | 10 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 10 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 13 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 6 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2018 Mazda CX-5 have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2018 Mazda CX-5?
Engine: 185 of 355 NHTSA complaints (52%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Mazda CX-5 get?
EPA rates it 26–29 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Mazda CX-5?
EPA estimates $2,200–$3,350 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 25 mpg | 31 mpg (high) | 28 mpg | $2,200 (low) | 321 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.5L | 4-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 24 mpg (low) | 30 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | $2,400 | 335 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.2L | Front-Wheel Drive | Diesel | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 28 mpg (high) | 31 mpg (high) | 29 mpg (high) | $3,250 | 348 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.2L | 4-Wheel Drive | Diesel | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 27 mpg | 30 mpg (low) | 28 mpg | $3,350 (high) | 365 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 185 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 42 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 39 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 35 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 12 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 29 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 61 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM); ENGINE
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
- Defect
- 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."
- Consequence
- If the air bags do not deploy properly in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- 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.