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The 2018 Mazda CX-5 has 116 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.
The 2018 Mazda CX-5 has 116 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is engine at 86 complaints, typically surfacing around 86,500 miles (~$3,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 CX-5 | 133 | 4 |
| 2016 CX-5 | 508 | 5 |
| 2017 CX-5 | 148 | 1 |
| 2018 CX-5 (this page) | 116 | 3 |
| 2019 CX-5 | 262 | 2 |
| 2020 CX-5 | 105 | 0 |
| 2021 CX-5 | 140 | 0 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: No
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2018 Mazda CX-5 SUV AWD Later Release. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
Run the VIN from the listing — 3 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.2/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
Cracked cylinder head due to defect in the casting process. Oil leaking thru the crack landing on the exhaust manifold causing an odor and possibly toxic fumes in the cabin of the vehicle.
Purchased vehicle from dealership drove 1650 miles, cylinder head began leaking, excessive oil. Took vehicle to repair shop their assessment cracked cylinder head. Warranty expired, dealership refused help in addition to Mazda Corp. unless brought to nearest dealership 140 miles…
The cylinder head on my 2018 Mazda CX-5 developed cracks on the exhaust side, leading to significant oil leakage onto the exhaust manifold. This has caused engine damage and safety concerns. The vehicle is currently at a Mazda dealership, where the issue has been inspected and…
Mazda has inspected the car and determined that there is a crack in the cylinder head. This is apparently a known defect in 2018-2021 Mazdas with 2.5L engines, including, without limitation, the 2018 Mazda CX-5. The cracked cylinder head has caused leaking coolant, which can…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.
If the air bags do not deploy properly in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.2 out of 10 based on 116 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 Mazda CX-5 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
The 2018 Mazda CX-5 is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average; 3 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the engine first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 86 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 86,500 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 7.2 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 116 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is engine. Typical failure occurs around 86,500 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 86 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 86,500 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.
The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 86,500 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 116 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.