NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2017 Mazda CX-5. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
My car only has 65k miles on it and the rear differential failed and needs to be replaced. I am seeing this posted online by many Mazda CX-5 owners well under the mileage this typically happenes but out of the warranty period. Mazda should start a recall or compensate owners for this. its never been in an accident simply a commuter car used around town
The infotainment system suffers from ghost touching. It has gotten out of control even after a “recall” fix at the dealership. Without being touched the volume changes, the stations change, the presets change, the car makes calls to my contacts. I am often unable to control the screen as it turns the car to max volume while driving. It is extremely unsafe, distracting and alarming.
During a one-hour car ride, the front passenger side seat heater burned a hole through the seat, damaging my wife's skirt and leaving a hole in the upholstery. The overheating definitely originated within the seat. We immediately turned the seat heater off and have not used it since. It could have started a fire, which is very scary, or burned my wife, which is a serious safety risk. This issue has been mentioned by other Mazda owners, but I cannot find any recall reports. There were no warnings prior to the burning. The component is being taken to the dealership to be examined today.
Unknown The infotainment system started malfunctioning on its own
I purchased this vehicle on the 10th of September. BY the 12th I I noticed the infotainment system was doing its own thing without me touching anything. The next day it did the same thing I E.changing stations on its own,volume going up or down etc...
Unknown
Dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree. Multiple warning lights all at once. This issue has been reported on multiple Mazda vehicle years. Took to Delker Auto repairs. Is electrical problem. Stated that so far nothing wrong with components. Will have to hunt for. Mazda has known electrical issues. In addition, your file upload will not let me upload picture even though it's in correct format. I can send separately.
CX-5's infotainment system RANDOMLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING STARTS BEEPING AND CHANGING OPTIONS WHILE DRIVING, A VERY DISTRACTING EVENT. I TRIED TO SHUT THE SCREEN OFF BUT IT COMES BACK ON RANDOMLY AND CAUSES CONCERN AND DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING, IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS NOW AND OF WHAT I READ MAZDA WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM
The contact owns a 2017 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that the navigation was system rebooting and not connecting with the satellite. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where the Firmware was updated. The vehicle was repaired, but another failure occurred. The contact stated that the navigation system was inoperable. There was a compass symbol being displayed. The mechanic informed the contact that the navigation sim card chip needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Rear differential failed around 97,000 miles. We were three months past our certified pre-owned warranty. Total cost to repair was around $4400 after a discount on parts and labor through our Costco membership. Contacted Mazda to see if they’d be willing to provide any assistance to cover the repair, they declined. Service advisor told us that it was a catastrophic failure that we did not cause. We purchased this car in 2020 and have always had it serviced at the dealership and at no point did they bring it up as it being an issue. The rear differential should not fail.
The contact owns a 2017 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear differential needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Rear differential began to leak. Mechanics (3) looked at the part and discovered play in both right and left side axles leading into rear differential along with loud clanking noises inside the differential itself. Seal areas on both sides of unit had extensive play. Diagnosed with worn gears inside rear differential. Vehicle is only 8 years old (bought brand new) and has 74,110 miles. Complaint filed with Mazda claiming that gears and rear differential should not have failed given the mileage. Mazda has advised me that the car was out of warranty (5yrs/60k mileage) that the repairs were not covered. They wanted me to drive my car to a local Mazda dealer but I declined since driving it may/would have caused more damage to differential. Advised them to have their mechanic go to my local repair facility where part was replaced and pick up the differential for verification. Research online has indicated other owners has suffered identical issues. Have not heard anything back from Mazda. Total cost to replace $3,993.49
My vehicle has had the "Ghost Touch" issue that has been reported on many Mazda vehicles and even had a recall for the 2014-2016 models since I got the car in 2018. Mazda has refused to do a recall or cover repairs even though it's still being reported as an issue on multiple different models of Mazda. This happens on a constant basis and just keeps getting worse. Here is the original recall notice from NHTSA: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10164268-0001.pdf
Infotainment system "touch" screen doesn't work and I experience "ghost" touching where it's as if someone is actually pressing the screen to toggle between the different functions, raise/lower the volume, etc., when my hands are no where near the screen. It's a very dangerous distraction when it happens while driving.
The rear camera dose not always display on the LCD screen, likely due to the ghosting issue with the infotainment system which randomly cuts in and out. This poses a safety hazard when backing up. Despite repeated complaints from other owners as well regarding the LCD screen, Mazda will not cover cost of replacing the LCD screen. I had a 2014 Mazda 3 for which there was a recall for the same issue and they covered it. So I don't understand why they won't do it for this vehicle. Being able to see what is behind the vehicle when backing up is a safety concern. I provided date of most recent occurrence, but this has happened multiple times before.
Touchscreen continues to change to different screens Ghost touch screen malfunction is know to dealer as prior year models have also had problems and recall was issued Dealer won’t cover cost of repair as it’s out of warranty This just started so I wouldn’t have known during warranty The dealer will repair for $750 which is not fair as it’s a known problem It is very distracting while driving and even if I turn the display off it will come back on
Coolant leak, caused engine failure
Rear differential failed at roughly 80,000 miles. Depending on failure, unexpected loss of traction or a locking up of the drivetrain could occur. We were lucky to catch it before then. Dealer confirmed issue with no clear cause. No warning lamps/messages/etc indicated that the part was failing. The only thing we noticed was increased highway noise, which could easily be ignored by someone who is not as aware of good/bad car noises.
Car was making popping noise, got it checked out at mechanic. Said rear differential had metal in the oil.
The vehicle – display has a ghosting issue with the screen keeps on changing without me, touching the controls. It will switch from one function to another function independently, and sometimes the screen goes blank. This display was replaced under recall in 2020 and I’m starting to have similar problems now in 2024 for the last 10 months. When the screen goes blank, this compose a safety hazard.
Twice now, my 2017 Mazda CX-5 stalled on the highway with a check engine light popping up--both times was driving around 60-70mph for a couple of hours and had about a quarter tank of gas left. The first time, no code was found, but the second time, after a deeper diagnostic, the dealership found a P0192 code. After reading here and many other places online, based on the code and the car's behavior, it really sounds like the Denso low-pressure fuel pump is to blame; that's the source of the recall for 2018 and 2019 Mazda CX-5s experiencing this same issue [XXX] ). If the 2017 model also uses that fuel pump, why isn't it included in the recall? If this dangerous and erratic car behavior is due to a faulty part, it really should be covered by the recall. Shame on you, Mazda. Lives are at risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
There is a known issue of "Ghost Touching" on the infotainment system on 2017-2020 Mazda's. The ghost touching causes the infotainment center to randomly self-select options on the screen, which is highly distracting. The following are experiences I've had while driving (sometimes going 70MPH on the interstate), where my infotainment center begins to make selections on it's own: Unpausing paused music Making random phone calls Opening text messages and selecting the reply button Flipping between screens continuously Ending phone calls This is extremely distracting and dangerous. Mazda is aware of this issue. I had my screen replaced in 2020, and replaced with another faulty screen that I now have to get replaced again.
This car has an issue with 'ghost touches' on the infotainment screen. We had it replaced under warranty in January 2020, and the same issue is happening again. Searches online show this is a widespread problem and Mazda wants to charge $1,000 to fix it this time. It is a distraction, turns music on/off volume up/down and can cause dangerous unexpected distractions.
Vehicle Infotainment Center - the touch screen will automatically select options and click options while driving, causing a distraction and most recently attempting to enable a child lock. It will do it while the car is both driving and while stopped. It will randomly do it on both the Radio Screen and the Navigation screen.
The sunroof exploded while driving on the interstate. The noise was terrifying and I didn't know what it was at first so I slid the sunroof cover open a little and glass started coming down. I pulled over the interstate (dangerous in addition to the glass) and the sunroof had exploded. I was not going under an overpass and no vehicles in front of me, nor did I hit anything that kicked up
The center screen started self selecting on its own, and randomly choosing options that included going into the setting for Adas system and turning stuff off and on.
Exact same issues as NHTSA Recall No.19V-272 -- Manufacturer Recall No. 3219D. -- Affected P/N: TK52-675XO B
The sunroof exploded. Exploded. Sound was shocking. I did not know what it was. The sound of the outside from the sunroof clued me in. The "shade" underneath the sunroof was closed so I did not see it happen.
My touch screen, has been acting up. While driving, the navigation system will automatically change prompts while driving. It will change to music, random dials, consistently change to random dials. I am unable to stop the dials from changing. I have read on the internet people are calling this "ghost touching". The volume will randomly go up high while driving. I am unable to control the volume or prompts. This is dangerous while on the road. I am unable to hear first responders while driving in traffic. This is a huge distraction. Many people I am reading are going through this with their Mazdas... This is costing us more than 3,000 or 4,000 to get fixed. I am unable to get this fixed for this price. I am unable to get a new car.
18-20 year same model and trim were recalled for fuel pump. Mine a 2017 has same symptoms died on highway going 75 almost life threatening. SEVERAL threads online with 2017 models are stating same case. I believe should be included in recall - very dangerous. Please please escalate so no one gets hurt on the highway!
The infotainment system has a known problem called "Ghost Touch". The screen will randomly change from am to fm radio, make phone calls on its own, change screen during navigation. Mazda knows of the issue with this model. This should be a recall as it can severely distract a person while driving. Mazda says this is not under warranty even though I have extended warranty and the millage is only 32,000. Please make this a recall before a serious accident occurs.
The vehicle display registers false “phantom” touches, causing it to behave erratically. Mazda issued a service bulletin for 2014-2016 Mazda 3 models but this affects most Mazda models through at least 2020 including our 2017 CX-5. Mazda has not acknowledged this for other vehicles. My 2016 Mazda 3had the repair completed under a service bulletin. Unfortunately the dealer will charge a diagnostic fee for this vehicle. Mazda does offer a repair part for this issue, where they previously required complete CMU replacement, so they know it’s a problem. This results in sudden and random changes in volume, navigation, radio, etc with no intervention, causing a significant distraction and safety concern.
While driving my driver airbag warning light started blinking. When I took it to the dealership to be inspected they said the sensor for the driver airbag is in the seat cushion and was not getting enough power for it to turn on, therefore if the light is blinking the airbag is disabled and I would need to replace the entire seat cushion to fix this issue. If the airbag is disabled then I could be seriously injured in the event of an accident when the airbag does not deploy.
My car has been getting the P092 code with check engine light, it runs really rough, i have had many parts replaced at my expense when i know the model years 2018 and 2019 have been recalled, I am many others are having the same issues, is it going to take people dying on highways because their car just shuts off. My cat has been having the same issues reported in safety recall 19V497-6744. after googling around, I may have found an answer. Denso, who makes low pressure fuel pumps for a lot of different manufacturers, recalled several million of them a couple of years ago. They determined that there was a manufacturing defect that causes the pump impellers to crack and deform. Then they don't move enough gas to the front of the engine. I guess there is no pressure sensor between the tank and the high pressure fuel pump, so the problem isn't recognized by the car until the sensor in the fuel rail sees it. Several auto makers have issued recalls, including Mazda. But Mazda only went back as far as 2018. Toyota recalled cars as far back as 2013. There are now several lawsuits against various auto makers arguing that Denso knew about the problem in 2015, and the recalls should go further back in time. These two articles do a good job of covering the history of the problem:
Not an "incident" per se. Front passenger Seat Belt is difficult to clasp.
I got my rear brakes replaced. Within a few days I noticed drag on each of the rear brakes would seize up at times causing excessive heat and a burning smell. When I took it into my local Mazda Service Center, I was told by the Service Manager and the Service Tech that this is a known issue with Mazda CX5s, that when the Mazda is not put into “maintenance mode” when replacing the rear brakes, it can cause damage to the parking brake motors and calipers. They said my vehicle was allegedly put into maintenance mode before brake service and that the issue can still happen even when the precautions are taken. Upon doing some brief online research I am finding that I am far from the first person to experience this unsafe defect. My safety and the safety of those on the road with me are at an extreme risk as my brakes could overheat and fail, causing a deadly accident. I believe this needs to be addressed by the manufacturer on all 2016/2017 CX5 models immediately as more and more are needing rear brake replacements, causing more and more risk on the roadways. Please hold Mazda accountable for this defect in their parking brake mechanism and require them to replace calipers and parking brake motors when performing rear brake replacements, and even better would be to recall all CX5 models to ensure a safe parking brake mechanism is on every vehicle Mazda sells. I was a huge fan of Mazda and planned to purchase more of their vehicles in my lifetime until this incident happened. I always service at authorized Mazda Service Centers to ensure I get expert level service and avoid mistakes or shortcuts being made.
I'm deeply concerned about the safety issues with our 2017 Mazda CX-5's infotainment system, VIN [XXX] . This info system is a risk, especially when driving with our child. I believe that a recall for the info system should extend to our vehicle, as it poses a safety risk for all customers. This issue came to my attention when my husband was in Traverse City, MI, during the pandemic 2019-2020, no mazda dealerships there. Now that we've moved back to Hawaii in summer 2022, where there's a Mazda dealership, I had our car inspected. The dealership in Waipahu, Hawaii, informed me that I needed to replace the head unit for $1785 then as it is out of warranty. I find it unfair to bear this cost for a safety issue that isn't my responsibility, mazda said it’s out of their hands. Now the quote is at $2912.32 for the part and totals $3,283.06 with only a 12 month warranty on this new part. This limited 12 month coverage is ridiculous when I will be paying over $3000. The problem has worsened over time, becoming extremely dangerous for my family and everyone else on the road. The info system turns on by itself, doesn’t accept touch commands sometimes, operates on its own, making changes etc. even when not in use, blacks out the screen, then maxing out the volume, and repeatedly playing a loud automated voice “Navigation will be at this volume”. Alternatively, when backing up when this occurs it also dims the back up camera on the info system for the vehicle which is a huge safety concern. The only way to stop it is to turn the car off completely. This is extremely unsafe when I am driving. I've tried to mute or turn off the system while driving, but it quickly turns back on, creating a severe unsafe distraction. I'm concerned that I might face this issue eventually leading to a car accident. I shouldn't have to pay for a safety replacement when I believe this is Mazda's responsibility. This issue is a is a threat to everyone's safety on the road. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Sudden jerking started when driving on a 45miles/hour with vehicle stopping suddenly. The issue was diagnosed by the dealer to be a transmission related and was asked to replace with a new transmission. There was no prior warning.
This particular Mazda model has a ghost touch issue with the infotainment system. It will start selecting buttons on its own, which includes changing stations, randomly calling people, hanging up on people, dimming back up camera, changing different settings within the infotainment system. This is a major safety hazard as I have almost gotten in several accidents from this distraction. This has happened so many times that I cannot pinpoint one specific date. Mazda is aware of this because there is a service alert currently for this issue.
The contact owns a 2017 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the air bag connector. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred 9,000 miles later. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who again diagnosed a failure with the air bag connector. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 24,000.
A low tire pressure indicator light warning /beep came on the display panel. Soon after, while driving on a busy street, the driver's side front tire suddenly went completely flat all the way to the rim, causing a safety issue.There was no nail or other foreign object in the tire, just very worn out tread. With only 28,346 miles, all four Yokohama Geolandar G 91A P225/65 R17 100H tires have worn tread with the two front tires the worst. I had the two front tires replaced with Advanta 225/65 R17 102H because I didn't want the same Yokohama Geolandar low quality tires. I didn't have at the time, and still don't have the funds to replace the two rear tires, even though the rear tires are losing pressure the same way, which I'm keeping watch on, as the indicator warning doesn't seem to alert me until it is at a critical level. I'm asking for a refund of the two front tires replaced and replacement of the two back tires.Thank-you
There is an electrical issue with the infotainment system. It changes settings/programmed setup on its own. It is a known issue that mazda owners call “ghost touch”. This is becoming a safety concern for me as it has toggled for the smart city brake support and blind spot monitoring to toggle to off randomly. Although it is not relied on by myself, it can cause an accident or death if does not engage. Additionally, it has changed my display (driver gages) to the lowest setting which is extremely difficult to see at night. As well as the head unit (infotainment system). When this happened, I could not safely read the speed I was going nor reset the display brightness. Mazda needs to take responsibility of this as all system settings are located in the infotainment system. It has apparently also been a known issue for Mazda dated back to 2013 from researching online. Thank you.
When I was pulling into my driveway, approx. 5-10mph with my foot barely on the accelerator, the car started accelerating on its own, almost hitting the fence. I was able to slam on the brake pedal and it stopped. It was such a hard stop, left a tire mark on the asphalt and took out some patches of my grass.
The infotainment system is experiencing 'ghost touch'. It random selects options such as volume, track, adjust bass/treble, etc.... It is very distracting and I don't understand why the recall for this specific issue, is only covered until 2015. This electrical short continues to happening on later models.
The contact owns a 2017 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle jerked and stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The dealer retrieved DTC code: P0192 with a faulty fuel pump. The contact added fuel, and the vehicle operated as designed. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
On April 15th, 2019, Mazda made the public aware of Recall Campaign 3219D which involves a failure of the Front Body Control Module on Mazda 3 vehicles, which renders the front windshield wipers inoperable. That document indicates that the part number of replacement for the faulty module is KDY5-67-5XX. On July 10th, 2023, a Mazda dealership serviced a 2017 Mazda CX-5 as the windshield wipers were not functioning. They determined that the Front Body Control Module was faulty and causing the issue. With the new module, part number BAYS-67-5XX, the issue is resolved. The above part numbers are remarkably similar, especially given the added factor that the Front Body Control Module of this vehicle failed in the exact same way as is described in the recall. Mazda, in their filing of the Part 573 Safety Recall Report for campaign 3219D for the Mazda 3, indicated that there may still be an issue with the wiper motor's "condenser" (sic, capacitor) being undersized. Mazda refused to reimburse for these repairs when detailed and requested in writing.
While driving 65 mph on a highway the sunroof glass shattered. The car was not hit by debris from a truck or other car as there were none within 50 ft. I heard a loud boom and shattered glass rained down on me, the passenger seat and backseat. Fortunately I kept control of the vehicle.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Sudden loss of power (and speed) on interstate highway at ~65 mph. Fuel level was under 1/4 tank level. Weather was clear and approx. 60-70 deg F. Cruise control was on and vehicle working normally for hours on the road trip with cruise control on and functioning properly on the highway. Suddenly, the vehicle lost power, check engine light came on, and vehicle was running very sporadic. P0192 code thrown. Low fuel pressure which resulted in car suddenly going into reduced power mode. Sudden loss of high pressure pump would have resulted in complete loss of propulsion, which did not occur in this case - this indicates low pressure from the in-tank LP fuel pump. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Sudden and unexpected loss of power on the highway which could have resulted in rear end accident or loss of control while trying to get the vehicle off the highway. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes - if fuel tank level gets below 1/4 tank the problem will occur. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No - sudden loss of power and then engine light came on (constant, not flashing) and vehicle had sporadic power issues until we could get off the highway. Certified technician put scanner on car. Code was P0192 - low fuel rail pressure. Filled fuel tank to full, cleared code, and continued to drive car. Issue did not reoccur until fuel level fell below 1/4 level (approx.). 2017 Mazda CX5 is believed to have the same or similar low pressure fuel pump in tank, OEM = Denso, which is on recalled Mazda models from 2018 and newer. I believe older models of Mazda's with the same pumps should also be recalled!
While driving on the interstate (continuously for about 4 hours) the vehicle suddenly lost power and the engine stalled. Power steering and power brakes were impacted and the vehicle was difficult to get off the road safely. Once stopped, it would not restart over a 30 minute period. A tow truck was called and it was taken to the dealer. A couple hours later when the dealer checked it, the vehicle started normally and drove without issue. A P0192 code was stored in the ECU so the high pressure fuel pump was replaced even though they could not reproduce the problem. The vehicle has 63000 miles on it now, but a similar sequence happened at 15000 miles. In that situation while driving at a steady speed all power cut out and the engine abruptly downshifted to the point where the tires squealed. After pulling off the road and stopping/starting the vehicle it seemed to drive normally again. We were traveling at the time with no dealer nearby, but when we returned back home we took it to the dealer and they found the same code P0192 and ran various tests and decided to replace the high pressure fuel pump even though it was driving properly. In only 63000 miles this vehicle has twice failed dramatically and without warning in ways that could easily cause an accident or injury. I am lacking in confidence that the root cause has ever been identified.
There is currently a recall for faulty fuel pumps in Mazda CX-5 models 2018-2019. We currently own a 2017 Mazda CX-5 with less than 80,000 and had the same faulty part as the recalled years cause us to stall on a highway going 75 miles an hour. We were towed to a Mazda dealership who told us the running issues on our car were the following; Code P0171-fuel pump was damaged and sent debris into the high-pressure pump Code-P01792. The dealership knew we were aware of the recall in other model years and they informed us it was the same exact part in our car. So are big questions is why wasn't 2017 included in this warranty. I have reached out to Mazda and they are totally disregarding our claim and questions as to why 2017 wasn't included in the recall. A couple days before we stalled we experienced a engine hesitation which we believed was due to high winds and a roof rack while traveling. We did not have any lights on or warnings prior to being stalled. After we stalled the Alachua please department pushed our car to safety.