The contact owns a 2021 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while stopped at a stop sign, the vehicle failed to accelerate while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact restarted the vehicle and corrected the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer performed a Special Service Program (SSP) Recall #: SSPC7 (TCU Connect Concern CV/Battery) where the TCU software was…
2021 Mazda CX-5 engine problems
moderate 62 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
62
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 62 engine complaints filed for the 2021 Mazda CX-5, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Engine accounts for 46% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 8 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 62 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: 2021 Mazda CX-5 turbo engines have a well-documented oil consumption defect tied to valve stem seals that Mazda acknowledges but has not fixed or recalled as of these complaints. Expect to add oil every 3,000–4,500 miles and plan for dealer visits to top off rather than perform actual repairs; a class action lawsuit is underway.
The 2021 Mazda CX-5 turbo engine has a consistent problem: oil consumption without visible external leaks. Owners start seeing the low oil warning light as early as 2,000–7,000 miles, then again every 3,000–4,500 miles thereafter, well short of the 7,500-mile service interval listed in the owner's manual. When checked, the dipstick shows the oil level dropped by 1–2 quarts. No puddles appear under the car, so the oil is burning or leaking internally—most likely into the combustion chamber through defective valve stem seals.
Mazda released Technical Service Bulletin 01-012/21 in October 2021 acknowledging the issue across the CX-5, CX-30, CX-9, Mazda3, and Mazda6 turbo lineup. The bulletin states the root cause remains unidentified and repair procedures will be announced later. Dealers offer no permanent fix—just repeated topping off and increasingly frequent oil changes (every 5,000 miles instead of 7,500). Several owners report dealers refusing warranty work unless both the check engine light and low oil light are on simultaneously.
One owner paid for timing cover and gasket replacement; the leak returned. A separate P0126 code (coolant control valve) affects some 2021 models, producing a non-blinking check engine light; repairs are covered under TSB 01-005/23. A class action suit was filed in November 2022 (Heinz vs. Mazda). Owners report driving with low oil on dangerous roads and living in fear of engine seizure.
Same Mazda CX-5 engine reports on nearby years: 2018 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Excessive oil consumption / oil burning
Engine burns or leaks oil internally without visible leaks in the engine compartment. Owners report the low oil warning light illuminating every 3,000–4,500 miles despite following manufacturer service intervals of 7,500 miles. Oil level drops 1–2 quarts between changes. Root cause widely attributed by owners to defective valve stem seals allowing oil to leak into the combustion chamber. One owner reported consuming up to 1 quart per 1,000 miles.
When: Begins as early as 2,000–7,000 miles; recurs throughout vehicle ownership. Multiple complaints show pattern repeating at 3,000–4,500 mile intervals.
Symptoms owners cite: Low oil warning light on dashboard and/or Mazda app notification; Oil level drops below minimum on dipstick without visible external leaks; Oil pressure light illumination; Need to top off oil between scheduled oil changes; Check engine light illumination in some cases
Codes mentioned: P250F (Engine oil level signal: engine oil level low), P0126 (Coolant control valve concern in some reports)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships acknowledge the problem but offer no permanent fix; owners report being advised to top off oil as needed or change oil more frequently than manual recommends (every 5,000 miles instead of 7,500). One owner paid for timing cover and gasket replacement due to oil leakage; repair failed a second time. Dealers refuse warranty work unless check engine light is simultaneously illuminated alongside low oil light.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mazda Technical Service Bulletin TSB 01-012/21 (October 2021) acknowledges the issue on 2021 CX-5, CX-30, CX-9, Mazda3, and Mazda6 turbo engines. TSB states root cause has not been identified and that a repair procedure will be announced at a later date. TSB notes valve stem seal modification may be linked. As of complaints submitted, no recall issued and no repair procedure released. Class action lawsuit filed (Heinz vs. Mazda, November 2022, case 8:22-cv-01055).
Check engine light / P0126 code (Coolant control valve)
Check engine light illuminates without blinking, generating P0126 diagnostic code related to coolant control valve. Separate from oil consumption issue but reported on same vehicle platform. Problem recurs: one owner had it twice on the same car.
When: Timing not specified by mileage; one occurrence noted far from home, another reported on Facebook CX-5 group as recurring problem.
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light (non-blinking) illumination on dashboard
Codes mentioned: P0126 (covered under TSB 01-005/23 Coolant Control Valve)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnostic and repair completed under warranty at approximately $75 cost to owner for code reading and diagnosis. Safe to drive after diagnosis.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 01-005/23 covers this issue. Repair performed under warranty.
Gasoline vapor and oil contamination in engine compartment and cabin
High concentration of combustible gasoline vapors detected in engine compartment and passenger compartment. Manufacturer acknowledged gasoline leaking into engine oil. Issue exacerbated by failed oil engine filler cap (cracked). Presents fire/explosion risk.
When: Timing not specified.
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive combustible gasoline vapors in engine compartment; Combustible gasoline vapors in passenger compartment; Gasoline odor in cabin
Repairs/costs cited: Oil engine filler cap replacement performed. No further repair details provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer acknowledged gasoline leaking into engine oil; did not perform full inspection despite being apprised of problem.
Engine ticking / hydraulic lash adjuster noise
Lifter tick sound emanating from engine, described as coming and going over months. One owner suspected faulty hydraulic lash adjusters based on online search.
When: Reported present since February; occurs episodically with no fixed pattern.
Symptoms owners cite: Intermittent lifter ticking sound from engine; Ticking gets louder then quieter; Noise present despite oil level at normal mark
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented. Dealer unable to duplicate issue.
Synthesized from 62 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
Engine is either burning or leaking oil. The low oil light flashed after a 2hr highway trip (traveling to my parent's house for Christmas with my wife), low oil was confirmed the following day via dipstick. Oil was changed at the dealership about 4 months ago, mileage is under 24k miles. Looks to be related to this service bulletin, which still does not appear to have a fix or recall associated…
Check engine oil light came on after only 2K miles from last oil change. Upon inspection there was practically no oil in my engine!!! I see there is an ongoing issue since 10/21 with 2021 Mazda CX-5 turbo engines. Despite Mazda’s awareness of the problem, they have yet to issue a recall to fix this issue!!!
ON Nov 4th my Mazda CX5 alerted me to low engine oil level by illuminating dashboard symbol and app notification. I attached a file containing an explanation of the issue, emails directed to Mazda corporation and Napelton Mazda in Naperville IL. I also attached screenshots of the in app notification and the Mazda TSB which I had to find on my own because Mazda coporate and both the…
New vehicle at approximately 6,000 miles and again at 9,500 turned on low oil light dashboard. Added one quart oil each time (twice) to restore oil level. Vehicle currently has approximately 10,500 miles. McDonald Mazda West slow to respond to performing warranty service related to TSB 01-012/21. Thank you.
New vehicle at approximately 5,500 miles turned on low oil light dashboard. Added one quart oil each time to restore oil level. Vehicle currently has approximately 7,000 miles. McDonald Mazda West slow to respond to performing warranty service related to TSB 01-012/21. Thank you.
Excessive oil leak after 11,000 miles/car purchased new from dealer. There is currently a class action suit regarding this issue. Dealer denies problem, offering to top off oil only.
The contact owns a 2021 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the contact became aware that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The low oil warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was made aware that the vehicle was leaking oil. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure had recurred. The…
Had engine trouble with your 2021 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 2021 Mazda CX-5?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 62 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 62 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 45,728 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/2021/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.