2018 Mazda CX-5 engine problems
181 of the 350 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Mazda CX-5 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 186 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database4 of the 181 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 4 · 2019: 7 · 2020: 5 · 2021: 8 · 2022: 17 · 2023: 20 · 2024: 50 · 2025: 41 · 2026: 29
Half of the 29 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 5,000 and 76,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
350 complaints in all about the 2018 Mazda CX-5, 29 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Mazda CX-5 engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
2018 Mazda Cx-5 grand touring. Alternator/ac serpentine belt tensioner leaks oil (its hydraulic) and if fails could cause belt to come off without warning and leave you stranded. Dealership indicates this is not warranted
On may 9, 2020, our Mazda Cx-5 lost thrust, stalled and came to a complete stop while driving on a highway going 55 MPH on a straight 3 lane road. This occurred despite the PCM programming was re-calibrated due to a manufacturer recall in september 2019 (NHTSA recall no. 19v497000).
The engine in my Mazda Cx-5 was required to be replaced recently due to a known issue in the car that causes the rear head to leak. My car has less than 12,000 miles on it so the engine should not have this issue. My dealer explained to me this is a known issue by Mazda and he had seen 5-10 other cars just at his dealer.
Mazda Cx-5. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle being totaled as a result of loss of engine power
The contact owns a 2018 Mazda Cx-5. While driving 20 MPH and below, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact had to depress the accelerator pedal with force to increase the speed. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer, but they were unable to locate any failure codes. The vehicle was not repaired.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications186 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 01-010-26 Service bulletinAug 10, 2026
- This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. 01-012/22 10/06/22 DESCRIPTION Some vehicles may exhibit accumulation of dried coolant (1) around the water pipe (2). This is caused by a gap between the housing and pipe due to a press fitting during the manufacturing process. The accumulated coolant is solidified and plugs the gap in high
- SA-026-26 Service bulletinApr 16, 2026
- This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued M-Tip(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. MT-002/19 09/30/19 and 12/19/19 DESCRIPTION If an engine assembly is replaced after a catastrophic internal mechanical failure, clean the intake manifold internally before installing a replacement engine assembly. If the intake manifold is not cleaned properly, the replacement engine may f
The 2 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0126 P061B P0524 P055F P2B61 P3400 P0780 P0842
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2018 Mazda CX-5 names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2018 Mazda CX-5?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 181 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (52% of everything owners filed about it), and 186 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2018 Mazda CX-5?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 3 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the 2018 Mazda CX-5?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 28,000 miles; half of them between 5,000 and 76,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.