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ProblemsByVin Index / 2023-MAZDA-CX-5 / COMPLAINTS
Full complaint record · NHTSA

2023 Mazda CX-5 owner complaints

66 complaints filed with NHTSA on this vehicle , including 2 reporting a crash, fire, injury, or fatality. 20 of them are reproduced below in full, most recent first, grouped by category.

other 7 complaints shown

12/29/2023 Crash ODI #11562540.0

New 2023 Mazda CX5. We have experienced 2 Unintended Sudden Acceleration episodes. The most recent one was while backing down our driveway, the car suddenly accelerated when the brake was applied causing considerable damage to the car and house. Our front porch camera caught the entire episode showing that the brake lights were in fact on. Mazda needs to take responsibility and recall these vehicles to find out what is going on, as there are numerous other similar complaints for this car on this site and others.

12/22/2024 ODI #11632012.0

The vehicle continues to have safety features malfunctions with its sensors. The forward facing camera sensor and the Blind Spot Monitoring Sensor continues to malfunctions when driving in clear visibility with light to heavy traffic at random times during a day. These features assist the driver to maintain a safe distance from other vehicles while driving. My vehicle has almost crashed several times due to the failures of the features such as the stop and go traffic and forward facing crash detection not working properly.

12/15/2025 ODI #11705058.0

LKA does not work & mazda seems to ignore its many complaints

12/09/2024 ODI #11629742.0

Headlight of the motor keeps rumbling in about 25000 miles of usage. Expense of fixing such a motor is estimated between 2500-2800$. Further, it is unknown how safe it would be for someone to keep driving such a car with a rumbling motor if they dont fix it. This sound and vibration of the motor can be felt even in a standing car when lights are on.

11/18/2024 ODI #11625952.0

Blind spot sensors blocked error messages. This will happen at least a few times a year. Usually on long freeway drives, using cruise control, at night, and when cooler out (less than 60f). Restarting the vehicle makes the error codes go away and the system functions normally afterwards. Seems like either a software glitch or the system detects a guard rail for a while and gets confused and throws a Error message. This shouldn't be happening on a newer vehicle.

10/20/2026 ODI #11772516.0

At approximately 48,000 miles, my vehicle displayed a "Blind Spot Sensor(s) Malfunction" warning message on the dashboard without any prior warnings or symptoms. I contacted the dealership, which recommended having the system inspected by a local body shop, indicating that repairs would likely be less expensive. The body shop diagnosed the issue as a failed driver's side (left) blind spot sensor. However, they recommended replacing both sensors, stating that these components are problematic and prone to failure. $3K repair. My concern is that the blind spot monitoring system is an important vehicle safety feature designed to alert drivers to vehicles in adjacent lanes, particularly when changing lanes. Failure of this system eliminates an important safety aid and potentially increases th

10/19/2023 ODI #11550901.0

I bought a new Premium Plus CX-5 in April of this year. Since I bought the car, occasionally I hear a sharp click or snap from the dashboard, particularly when it's warm outside and I have the AC on. I have video footage of the sound multiple times, but Mazda says they cannot replicate it. It sounds like a rock hitting the windshield type sound, but it's electronic and inside the car. Multiple Mazda dealerships in So Cal confirmed the noise. It is because the vents are chrome, aka plastic wrapped in thin metal. When the car cools, these will snap but not break / do any damage. This has been confirmed by at least 5 others on the internet. Please see this thread: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

lighting 6 complaints shown

11 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $250 · see lighting cluster analysis →
11/10/2025 ODI #11698648.0

Loud fan noise coming from the passenger side headlight. Noise continues when car has been turned off and stops when the light shuts off. Dealer said that replacement of the passenger headlamp assembly needed but would charge because it was not longer under warrant due to mileage. No warning lamps, messages nor other items appeared. The symptoms began around 40,000 miles.

10/20/2026 ODI #11772309.0

Windshield formed a crack after 3 years without any debris hitting it. Headlight leveling motor malfunction after 1 year. Brake caliper failure after 3 years.

10/11/2025 ODI #11692853.0

Humming or moaning noise from the passenger side headlamp. Inspected by dealer mechanic and mentioned the TSB 09-015-23B bulletin. Dealership replaced headlamp covered under warranty.

10/05/2026 ODI #11768904.0

I began hearing a loud engine noise similar to a lawn mower whenever my headlights would come on which includes just when I unlock my car. When I first took it back to the Mazda dealership for servicing and mentioned this to the service manager he told me it was an issue with the headlights that they’ve been seeing. They returned the car to me and said they did not hear it. Then after my warranty ended it got worse and when I brought it back to the dealership they stated they had never heard of this happening before and said that I brought my car for an air-conditioning issue. When identified that a service manager had told me that this is something they’re saying they then agreed to pay to have the headlight fixed. Initially they told me I was gonna have to pay approximately $1500 out-of-

09/28/2026 ODI #11767366.0

At 44,000 miles, a loud whirring noise started to occur that is due to the failing of the internal LED cooling fan in my left headlamp. I cannot use my headlights, which is a safety concern.

09/04/2025 ODI #11684911.0

The adaptive headlight system and motor in 2023 Mazda CX-5 has defect and it makes buzzing noise and vibration. It was recognized by Mazda and its known defect. They should replace the defective headlight system even after the warranty period since this is not normal wear and tear part.

visibility 2 complaints shown

6 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $350 · see visibility cluster analysis →
10/06/2023 ODI #11548627.0

The sunroof spontaneously exploded outward while my wife was driving on the interstate. She was not near other vehicles or under an overpass for flying debris. We have had the vehicle for only 9 months and she works from home so it is kept in a garage for the majority of its life. It has not encountered any hail damage either. The sun shade was closed thankfully so my wife was fine but the anxiety it has caused her is immeasurable. This is a common occurrence as can be seen by any Google search indicating many people experiencing this issue. Most auto makers are not accepting responsibility for defects in manufacturing. The NHTSA has a duty to keep people safe and hold auto makers accountable for problems they are manufacturing. Exploding sunroofs are not safe and it is a major problem i

09/04/2025 ODI #11684928.0

The driver-side power door mirror on my 2023 Mazda CX-5 vibrates excessively at highway speeds above 75 mph, especially on windy days. The vibration is so severe that it causes a blurred and distorted view, making it difficult to clearly see vehicles in adjacent lanes. This poses a significant safety risk, as it impairs my ability to make safe lane changes and monitor surrounding traffic. I brought the issue to the attention of my Mazda dealership during a scheduled service appointment, but they dismissed it as "normal" and quoted approximately $700 to replace the mirror - despite the fact that this appears to be a known issue with Mazda vehicles. Numerous owners of recent Mazda models have reported similar problems online, yet Mazda has not issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) for th

cruise control 2 complaints shown

3 total in this category · severe · avg repair $600 · see cruise control cluster analysis →
10/02/2023 Crash ODI #11547758.0

At 2:00 on a clear afternoon I was slowly coasting into a right hand turn into a parking space, and lightly tapping the brake to finalize the stop, when the car accelerated HARD forward over a curb and a sidewalk into the brick wall of a building. Airbag was deployed. My injuries were a nasty wrist contusion and bloody gashes where the airbag "door" deployed and I also had complete seatbelt brusing on my throat, chest and across my abdomen. This after traveling a mere 7-8 feet. At the time I was very shaken up and incredulous that such a thing could have happened logically, and conceded that perhaps I had made a mistake somehow. As I settled down later I became dubious, especially when I got behind the wheel of my rental car and 100% when I sat in my actual car at the wrecking yard. I

09/04/2026 ODI #11762062.0

When my car starts up, engine rpm is around 1500 or above 1000. If I would switch to reverse, the car sudden jerks back stronger and quicker than I expected even though my foot isn’t on the accelerator pedal and have pressed the brake lightly.

electrical 1 complaint shown

7 total in this category · severe · avg repair $850 · see electrical cluster analysis →
12/23/2025 ODI #11706797.0

The battery died, the car wouldn't start one night. The battery which is the original that came with the car is only about 2 years old. I googled the code from the code reader, it said some mazda cx-5 have a starting problem but then I checked the recall website and there was none.

brakes 1 complaint shown

6 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $450 · see brakes cluster analysis →
10/02/2025 ODI #11691048.0

After driving a few mile, the following two warnings come up * Smart Brake System Malfunction * Forward Radar Sensor System malfunction. If I turn off the car and then restart, the warnings go away. However, it comes back if I drive for a while again. I have visited dealership a few times for the same issue, they replaced the wheel bearing and brake switch. The warning disappeared for days and came back.

engine 1 complaint shown

8 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $3,100 · see engine cluster analysis →
09/13/2023 ODI #11544406.0

Mazda CX-5 Premium Between May and September this year, the MyMazda app has alerted me two times that the oil level was low. I manually checked and it was indeed low. The first time I brought it to a Firestone service center to have it checked and they verified that the level was down considerably to the bottom dot on the stick. They said to bring it to the dealer. I brought it to the dealer and they said they could not find any leaks and to come back in 1000 miles. I did that and they only checked the dipstick to make sure the level was fine and sent me on my way. The same exact thing happened again a week ago and I topped off the oil then made an appointment. The dealer said that I should not have done that and now they could not verify for themselves that the oil was in fact low. They

Showing 20 of 66 total complaints. The full federal record is available at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2023/Mazda/CX-5#complaints.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaint database. Last synced 2026-10-25. Complaints are owner-submitted and unverified — the existence of a complaint is not proof of a defect, but a pattern of complaints around the same component is a signal worth weighing. Verify any specific filing at nhtsa.gov.