10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
8 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2022 Mazda CX-5:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

Get free help with your lemon!
close ad
problem #4

Dec 012025

CX-5

  • miles
Brake rotors on all four wheels measured below minimum thickness specification at only 17,000 miles, requiring complete replacement of all rotors and pads. Rotors replaced at Koch Mazda (Easton, PA) on January 7, 2026 and no longer available for inspection. SAFETY RISK: Rotors below minimum spec have reduced structural integrity and heat dissipation capacity, creating risk of warping, cracking, or failure during emergency braking or sustained braking. Under-spec rotors can cause brake fade, increased stopping distances, and potential catastrophic failure. At 17,000 miles, this represents premature failure of a critical safety system. DEALER CONFIRMATION: Koch Mazda initially charged $89.99 for diagnostics claiming "nothing wrong" despite customer providing TSB 04-003/24 documentation. After formal complaint, dealership measured rotors below minimum spec and replaced all four rotors and pads as "non-warranty goodwill repair" (value $1,184.97). Calling it "goodwill" rather than warranty avoids documenting as defect claim. Dealership stated Mazda corporate approved the goodwill repair, indicating manufacturer awareness of widespread defect being managed case-by-case rather than through recall. WARNING SYMPTOMS: Popping/clicking noise when first moving forward or reverse after sitting idle. This symptom is specifically described in Mazda TSB 04-003/24 as caused by deteriorated grease between brake pads and shims. SYSTEMIC PATTERN: Research reveals hundreds of similar complaints across 2013-2025 CX-5 model years involving premature rotor/pad failure at 11,000-35,000 miles. TSB 04-003/24 addresses this exact pattern across multiple model years, confirming manufacturer awareness. Normal rotor life is 50,000-70,000 miles; failure at 17,000 miles suggests manufacturing defect, improper heat treatment, or design flaw affecting entire CX-5 brake system across 12+ model years.

- Bethlehem, PA, USA

problem #3

Sep 252022

CX-5

  • miles
When coming to a stop, car accelerated and went over curb. From a search of the internet I found examples with this and other cars where people with larger shoes had the same problem of pressing the brake and unintentionally pressing the accelerator pedal at the same time. I read of one manufacturer that programed the car to brake if both pedals are pressed at the same time and ignore the accelerator. The same thing happened in my 2015 Mazda CX5. In that case I had it checked at the dealer. The technician found nothing wrong but was able to reproduce the problem when his boot pressed both the brake pedal and accelerator because both pedals were so close together. Since this would probably be an inexpensive software change, it would be prudent for a safety recall by manufacturers that have pedals that are close to one another.

- Nazareth, PA, USA

problem #2

Jul 222022

CX-5

  • miles
On July 22, my sister and I were traveling on I-95 going south. We stopped at the Maryland House near Aberdeen, MD. I was looking for a parking place and was driving very slowly. I slowed further to turn into a place on the right, near the south end of the parking lot and was attempting to put the car in park when the car accelerated abruptly, lurched forward, crossed over the concrete curb at the end of the parking space, and was heading right for I-95 which was straight ahead. I had never taken my foot off the brake. I tried to brake harder but that did not stop the car. I therefore turned right onto a service road to avoid crashing onto I-95. I then noticed a car coming toward me and swerved to the right back toward the parking lot, crossing over the curb at that parking spot, and slamming into a parked car and side swiping a truck. I only took my foot off the brake when the car stopped. The airbags did not deploy. After the car stopped, I was unable to turn the engine off. When I returned home, I looked on line to see if anyone else had reported a similar experience. Apparently there have been a number of similar occurrences with Mazda CX-5s (see https://) including a description of almost the same event with a car that also had low mileage. In several of the cases listed, the airbags likewise did not deploy. Note also that the police report may not include the origin of the incident but only the crash into the other car. I was in shock and was not able to give full information. I have asked for the complete information to be added to the report. Also of note, and possibly related: Earlier in July, an alert -??brake, brake, brake-?? sounded and there was a flashing on the dashboard that said -??-??brake-??. I took the car to Mazda, who could not find a problem and told me to return if it happened again.

- Durham, NC, USA

problem #1

Apr 102022

CX-5

  • 30 miles
The contact owns a 2022 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph when another vehicle abruptly stopped causing the contact to need to suddenly stop however, the brake pedal failed. The contact stated that the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard then the emergency braking system began chiming. The vehicle failed to stop causing the contact the crash into the vehicle in front. The air bags did not deploy. There was no police report. There were no injuries reported. The contact had contacted the dealer however the vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 1,546.

- Spring Valley, NY, USA