2024 Mazda CX-50 Powertrain & Transmission Problems

On 02/27/2026, a 2024 Mazda CX-50 (20700 miles) exhibited a severe burning smell following a 3-hour highway drive and a subsequent steep, 2-mile mountain climb to a restaurant in Jasper, TN. The smell was strongly observed by multiple occupants upon exiting the vehicle. On 03/02/2026, a technician at Mazda of Knoxville confirmed via video a 'flat grease ring' slung onto the undercarriage, indicative of a centrifugal lubricant leak from the driveshaft/CV assembly. The proximity of this flammable grease to the hot exhaust system during high-torque operation (mountain climbing) presents a critical fire hazard. Despite visual confirmation of the slinging grease, the dealership issued a blank service invoice, omitting the defect from the official record and returning the vehicle in an unsafe condition. This represents a documented safety defect being suppressed by the manufacturer, posing an unreasonable risk of vehicle fire or catastrophic driveline failure.

The vehicle jerks while slowing down/low speed.

Two things here. One is when using adaptive cruise control; when there is a car in front that is going slower than your speed your car will slow down. But when it goes out of the way the car will just rev up as much as it can and just catch up to speed. My Camry before this had two options of speeding up; one slower than the other so it saves the transmission. Also, my engine would randomly be at higher rpm’s than usual when at park. It would idle higher than go lower than back and forth. I’ve experienced it during cruise control when randomly my engine would be revving up and down; car being a little jerky. I’ve read online that Mazda is known for transmission issues with also their transmission sensors. Something needs to be done ASAP and fix the issue