This SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. SA-061/25 12/17/25 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 any aftermarket devices have been installed. Aftermarket devices may be the cause of the electrical concern. Below are a few examples of unusual electrical concerns caused by aftermarket devices. Examples: 1. Devices connected to the DLC-2 (battery discharge/DTC stored) 2. Devices plugged into the 12V outlet 3. GPS tracking device (engine no start/battery discharge) 4. Dash cam (DTC stored)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Mazda CX-5 engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2014 Mazda CX-5 have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 CX-5 | 10 |
| 2014 CX-5 (this page) | 12 |
| 2015 CX-5 | 7 |
| 2016 CX-5 | 21 |
| 2017 CX-5 | 9 |
| 2018 CX-5 | 85 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are noted in Red. 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. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers. SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE Refer to the applicable Workshop Manual or Owner's Manual for vehicle -specific manufacturer scheduled maintenance.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some customer's might state that they notice fluid or oil leaking/dripping on the ground when the vehicle is parked. For this concern, inspect the vehicle for any trace of a fluid or oil leak and use the following examples as a guide to determine if it is severe enough to require a repair, or just to clean the area and monitor it at the next service. Examples of residue or seepage that may not be considered a leak and that may not require repair based on splash shield inspection.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗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 any aftermarket devices have been installed. Aftermarket devices may be the cause of the electrical concern. Below are a few examples of unusual electrical concerns caused by aftermarket devices.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some customer's might state that they notice fluid or oil leaking/dripping on the ground when the vehicle is parked. For this concern, inspect the vehicle for any trace of a fluid or oil leak and use the following examples as a guide to determine if it is severe enough to require a repair, or just to clean the area and monitor it at the next service.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2014 Mazda CX-5 describe three broad engine-related problems. First, some report violent engine surge and slam at idle—the engine races and then decelerates hard enough to squeal the brakes and jerk passengers forward, even at traffic lights. One owner's vehicle did this at under 500 miles and again within months. This came with hesitation during acceleration and random clunk sounds.
Second, a few owners hit sudden loss of acceleration while driving, with multiple dashboard warnings (AT malfunction, SCBS, engine inspection) forcing them to coast to a stop. Restart briefly restored sluggish acceleration before failure returned. One vehicle was diagnosed with a cracked cylinder head at 57,311 miles after an overheating warning shut down the engine on a highway.
Third, and most widespread in these complaints, the push-button start/stop refuses to shut the engine off while in park. Owners must jiggle the gear shifter repeatedly or press the button many times—sometimes 20+ minutes—to achieve shutdown. One owner identified the root cause as a faulty parking sensor (part KDY0-46-040). Related to this, some owners report electrical systems remaining powered even after shutdown, draining the battery and leaving vehicles unable to lock. Mazda refuses to recall these issues and claims no knowledge of them, despite owners finding multiple online reports of the same failures.
Same Mazda CX-5 engine reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Engine surge/slam at idle with hesitation
Engine races and suddenly slams with violent force at traffic lights and while stopped, jolting passengers and making brakes squeal. Vehicle also experiences hesitation during acceleration and random clunk sounds.
When: Under 500 miles on first incident; winter months; repeated incidents reported
Symptoms owners cite: engine racing at idle; sudden violent deceleration/slam; brake squeal and passenger jerk; hesitation during acceleration; random clunk sound in rear
Sudden loss of acceleration with multiple warning lights
Vehicle stops accelerating on road, multiple dashboard warnings illuminate (SCBS, AT malfunction, engine inspection required), and acceleration becomes sluggish or stops entirely. Owner notes risk of highway danger.
When: 57,311 miles reported on one vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: loss of acceleration; check engine light; AT malfunction warning; SCBS warning; sluggish acceleration after restart
Codes mentioned: AT malfunction, SCBS
Cracked cylinder head with high coolant temperature warning
Engine overheating warning light and message appear at highway speed. Engine shuts down, leaving vehicle stranded in traffic lane. Diagnosed as cracked cylinder head with no prior symptoms.
When: Highway speed, no prior problems reported
Symptoms owners cite: high engine coolant temperature warning; warning message to stop vehicle; engine shutdown
Repairs/costs cited: Cracked cylinder head diagnosed
Push-button start/stop failure with park sensor issue
Engine will not turn off when push button is pressed while vehicle is in park. Owner must move gear shifter repeatedly or toggle the start/stop button multiple times to finally shut down the engine. Multiple owners report the same issue online. Root cause identified as faulty parking sensor (part KDY0-46-040).
When: Multiple occurrences, some taking 20+ minutes; reported as worsening over time (June through October in one case)
Symptoms owners cite: engine remains running after pushing start/stop button; requires shifter jiggling to turn off; multiple attempts needed to shut down; warning light saying 'shifter must be in park'
Repairs/costs cited: Faulty parking sensor (part KDY0-46-040) requires replacement; several hundred dollars quoted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mazda refuses recall; states they have no knowledge of issue
Electrical system does not power down in park
When vehicle is in park and push button is pressed, engine shuts off but electrical system remains powered on—radio and accessories stay active. Battery continues draining, leaving vehicle stranded with doors unable to lock due to battery depletion.
When: Occurs randomly; first noticed June, worsening by October
Symptoms owners cite: radio and accessories remain on after shutdown; battery drain; inability to lock doors; electrical system stays powered
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mazda claims no knowledge of issue
Heater core failure
Check engine warning light illuminates during normal driving at moderate speed. Dealer diagnoses heater core failure requiring replacement.
When: 57,311 miles
Symptoms owners cite: check engine warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Heater core replacement required
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had engine trouble with your 2014 Mazda CX-5?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2014 Mazda CX-5?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 56,425 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Mazda/CX-5.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.