2021 Mazda CX-5
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 79 of 144 complaints (55%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Driver Assistance & Speed Control include more reported injuries (6) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 106 in 2020 to 144 in 2021.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | vs. 2021 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,250–3,200 | 2,250–2,600 | 2,250–2,600 | 2,400–2,600 | 2,400–2,600 | |
| Combined MPG | 24–29 | 24–28 | 24–28 | 24–26 | 24–26 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 22–28 / 27–31 | 22–25 / 27–31 | 22–25 / 27–31 | 22–24 / 27–30 | 22–24 / 27–30 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 322–370 | 322–370 | 322–370 | 337–370 | 337–370 | |
| Complaints filed | 269 | 106 | 144 | 63 | 62 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 7 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 8 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 5 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 5 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 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 2021 Mazda CX-5 have?
No NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026.
What is the most common complaint about the 2021 Mazda CX-5?
Engine: 79 of 144 NHTSA complaints (55%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Mazda CX-5 get?
EPA rates it 24–28 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Mazda CX-5?
EPA estimates $2,250–$2,600 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 (high) | 31 mpg (high) | 28 mpg (high) | $2,250 (low) | 322 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 23 mpg | 28 mpg | 25 mpg | $2,500 | 355 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.5L | 4-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 24 mpg | 30 mpg | 26 mpg | $2,400 | 337 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.5L | 4-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 22 mpg (low) | 27 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | $2,600 (high) | 370 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 79 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 11 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 21 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 17 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 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
No recalls have been issued for this model-year.