2021 Mazda CX-5 engine problems
82 of the 147 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Mazda CX-5 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 155 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 database1 of the 82 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2021: 4 · 2022: 32 · 2023: 18 · 2024: 14 · 2025: 5 · 2026: 9
Too few of these complaints carry an odometer reading to say when the problem shows up.
147 complaints in all about the 2021 Mazda CX-5, 9 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.
Excessive oil consumption. After 3,000 miles driving, need to add a quart of oil as ‘oil low’ light comes on. Vehicle is 1 year old, and this happened at 3,700 miles on the odometer. Has happened after every oil change at around 3,700-4,200 miles driven
Excessive oil consumption NEW 2021 MAZDA CX-5 CARBON ADDITION TURBO - At approximately 7000 miles the low oil light came on, I added oil and got an oil change 2/11/22. At 11000 miles got low engine oil light had to add a full quart on 7/20/22. There are no oil leaks or obvious damage anywhere.
July 6, 2021 Low oil light came on and I stopped to check oil and it was down 1quart. Then added oil. Miles on car 28,734. I always have oil changed every 5k miles and this was between oil changes. Happened 3200 miles into my next oil change.
On July 4th when car had only 10,300 miles driven on it, oil light came on. Oil level was down over 1.5 quarts. Car was not due for an oil change for another 1800 miles
Low engine oil level light & status is coming on for our 2021 Mazda CX-5 turbo. It has 9115 miles and still 1300 miles away from needing oil change. I called our dealership today & was informed we were the 2nd to call today with message. They provided no further info. I have since found there are technical bulletins regarding this issue.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications155 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
The 1 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 P250F P2B61 P0524 P055F B112A P0171 P0615
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2021 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 2021 Mazda CX-5?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 82 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (56% of everything owners filed about it), and 155 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 2021 Mazda CX-5?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the 2021 Mazda CX-5?
Too few of the complaints carry an odometer reading to say. The model year's page shows the mileage curve across every system where it can.
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.