Car · Mazda problems

2018 Mazda CX-5 problems

352 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Mazda CX-5. The most reported area is engine and engine cooling (52% of them). NHTSA also lists 278 service bulletins and 3 recall campaigns.

Counts are what owners told NHTSA, as filed. NHTSA does not confirm each report, and a complaint is not proof of a cause. Injuries: 6. Deaths: 0.

Complaints by area

Each bar is the share of this model year's 352 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

• Engine and engine cooling183 · 52%
• Other or unknown58 · 16%
• Power train (transmission and drive)42 · 12%
• Fuel system39 · 11%
• Service brakes33 · 9%
• Electrical system29 · 8%
• Forward collision avoidance13 · 4%
• Speed control and throttle13 · 4%

16 smaller areas not shown (62 complaints in total).

Do not compare models by these numbers. NHTSA has no sales count for each model, so a model with more complaints may just have sold more cars. Use them to see which areas owners write about, not to rank cars.

Service bulletins

NHTSA's database lists 278 repair bulletins from Mazda for the 2018 Mazda CX-5. A bulletin is a repair instruction sent to dealers. It is not a recall and does not mean your car is covered. The 8 newest:

1. SA-041-26aReceived October 3, 2026

   Electrical system

   DESCRIPTION If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal MGSS diagnosis by asking if...

2. 01-010-26Received September 2, 2026

   Engine and engine cooling

   The changes are noted in Red text.

3. SA-021-26Received May 5, 2026

   Electrical system

   SA-010/23 02/09/23 DESCRIPTION Some customers may experience one or more electrical malfunctions after a vehicle body repair.

4. SA-029-26Received May 5, 2026

   Power train (transmission and drive)

   SA-011/24 02/12/24, 06/06/24, 07/29/24 DESCRIPTION Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems.

5. SA-031-26Received May 5, 2026

   DESCRIPTION Some vehicles may require the replacement of a damaged VIN plate or vehicle certification label.

6. 01-008-26Received May 3, 2026

   Power train (transmission and drive)

   The changes are noted in Red.

7. SSPD8 Dlr Ltr aReceived April 4, 2026

   Engine and engine cooling

   Subject: TSB 01-001/26 Warranty and Parts Kit Update INCLUDES: Warranty Extension Program - Special Service Program (SSP) D8 Check Engine Light ON with DTC P0126:00, 2018-2025 CX-5, 2019-2023...

8. 01-001-26bReceived April 2, 2026

   Some customers may experience a check engine light ON with DTC P0126:00 (Thermostat stuck open) and one or more of the following symptoms: Engine takes longer to warm up.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2018 Mazda CX-5. Recall repairs are free at a Mazda dealer.

1. 19V497000June 27, 2019

   Engine

   A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.

2. 21V875000November 12, 2021

   Fuel system, gasoline

   The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.

3. 18V426000June 25, 2018

   Air bags

   In the event of a side impact or rollover crash, the side curtain air bags may not properly unfold during deployment.

See all 3 recalls for the 2018 Mazda CX-5, or check your VIN below to see which are open on your car.

Common repairs in this area (not a diagnosis)

These are repair jobs that sit in the areas owners report most. A complaint may need a diagnosis first: the same symptom can come from many causes, and a serious one such as engine failure is not fixed by a cheap part. They are not a forecast of what your CX-5 will need. Ranges are US estimates for all makes.

This model year has an engine recall in NHTSA's data. Before you pay for an engine repair, check the recalls and ask the dealer about warranty extensions for your VIN. Those repairs can be free.

Start with a diagnosis

• Diagnostic scan (check engine light)$55 to $250

Engine and engine cooling 183 complaints · 52%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Power train (transmission and drive) 42 complaints · 12%

• Transmission fluid service$140 to $480
• Transmission solenoid replacement$290 to $1,200
• Torque converter replacement$880 to $2,475
• Clutch replacement (manual transmission)$1,000 to $2,050

Fuel system 39 complaints · 11%

• Fuel pump replacement$370 to $1,075
• Fuel injector replacement (one injector)$170 to $820
• EVAP purge valve replacement$80 to $240
• Gas cap replacement$5 to $95

Service brakes 33 complaints · 9%

• Brake pad replacement (front)$190 to $400
• Brake rotors and pads (front)$320 to $790
• Brake pad replacement (rear)$180 to $420
• Brake caliper replacement (one wheel)$240 to $590
• Brake fluid flush$75 to $180

Check a quote you got

Check your VIN

Complaints and bulletins cover a whole model year. Only the VIN shows what is open on your car.

By VIN By year, make and model

VIN (17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield or the driver door jamb)

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Look up this VIN

Recall and complaint data comes from NHTSA, the US government's vehicle safety agency, and is cached for up to a day. Recall repairs at a dealer are free. A recall that is not listed may not apply to your car or may not be filed yet. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls too.

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2018 Mazda CX-5: questions

What are the most common problems on the 2018 Mazda CX-5?

Of the 352 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Mazda CX-5, 183 (52%) name engine and engine cooling, and 42 (12%) name power train (transmission and drive). A complaint can list more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%. These are owner reports, not proven causes.

Is the 2018 Mazda CX-5 reliable?

These numbers cannot say. NHTSA complaints have no sales count to compare against, so a high number on one model does not mean it fails more than another. Use them to see which areas owners write about, then check your own VIN for open recalls.

Do these complaints include crashes or fires?

Owners marked 19 of the 352 complaints as involving a crash and 1 as involving a fire. They also reported 6 injuries and 0 deaths. NHTSA records these as the owner reports them and does not confirm each one.

How many recalls does the 2018 Mazda CX-5 have?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2018 Mazda CX-5. Recall repairs are free at a Mazda dealer. Enter your VIN to see which ones are open on your car.

What is a service bulletin?

A service bulletin is a repair instruction a maker sends to its dealers. It is not a recall, and it does not mean your car is covered. NHTSA lists 278 repair bulletins for the 2018 Mazda CX-5.

More

• 2019 CX-5 problems
• 2016 CX-5 problems
• 2014 CX-5 problems
• 2018 recalls
• All Mazda recalls
• Mazda problems by model
• Check-engine codes

Sources

• NHTSA complaint and technical service bulletin files, checked October 29, 2026
• NHTSA recalls

Complaint, bulletin and recall counts come from NHTSA as filed. Repair prices are estimates from our own ranges. Not a repair shop, estimates only.