2016 Mazda CX-5: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Feb 12, 2026 · Electrical, Seats · WV · fire

I noticed smoke filling the inside of my car. I looked over at the passenger seat, and my coat was on fire. I poured my drink on it, pulled over, and threw the coat out of the car. I saw a large hole in the lumbar area of the passenger seat, and it was glowing red and putting out a lot of heat. The seat heater was on, so I immediately turned it off. It was obvious that the fire has started inside the seat, and there was no other fire source in car--ie. lit cigarette, lighter, etc. If someone had been sitting there, they would have serious burns. The seat will need to be replaced.

Filed Dec 29, 2025 · Electrical, Seats · NC · fire

I was driving down the road and started smelling smoke then looked over and my passenger seat was in flames.

Filed Nov 6, 2025 · Electrical, Seats · CT · fire · 1 injury

The front passenger seat heating system caught fire and burned through the fabric and my dog's seat. The fumes made me and my dog nauseous.I had to swerve across the highway and stop on the shoulder to extinguish the seat fire/burn. The fuse was pulled for safety. The seat is in storage for inspection. Mazda will be contacted.

Filed Mar 3, 2025 · Seats · ME · fire

The front passenger seat warmer caught fire as i was driving the vehicle. No fuse tripped or anything when it over heated. The seat not just melted but actually caught fire and filled the vehicle with smoke.

Filed Jun 2, 2023 · Electrical, Seats · AK · fire

Front passenger seat caught fire when seat warmers were on. I was travelling in a rural area in alaska when I had to stop because my passenger caught fire on her jacket.

Filed Feb 21, 2023 · Airbags, Seat belts · 58,000 miles · VA · crash · 1 injury

The contact owned a 2016 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, another vehicle going 110 MPH crashed into the rear of the vehicle. The air bags failed to de[ploy. The contact hit his head against the front driver's side window and he became unconscious. The contact stated upon regaining consciousness, he noticed that he was laying flat on his back as the seat had fractured. The contact also noticed that the seat belt had fractured into two. The front of the other vehicle caught on fire and the fire expanded to the rear of the contact's vehicle. The emergency units and State police patrol assisted the contact out of the vehicle through the driver's side door. The emergency units transported the contact to the hospital, where he was informed that he had sustained head, neck, and back injuries. Additionally, the contact was informed that he had sustained a stroke on the left side of his body. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Oct 11, 2022 · Engine, Transmission · NJ

Car: 2018 Mazda CX-5 Touring with approximately 39,000 miles. Issue: Burning smell coming from engine compartment- Oil leaking from engine. Problem: Cracked cylinder head as diagnosed by dealer and to be replaced under Mazda Power Train Warranty. Safety was a concern not knowing the issue. Concerned of engine failure, fire, and overall safety. Warnings: No warnings or check engine light was also concerning. Time frame: 10/1/22 evening- noticed slight burning smell which lasted only a few minutes. No evidence of oil leaking. - 10/2/22: Slight burning smell occurred briefly on and off through out late afternoon. No evidence of oil leaking. Smell dissipated. - 10/3/22: Stronger presence of burning smell. Started to notice oil leaking from under car. - 10/4/22: Car inspected by local mechanic and advised to bring to dealer for further assessment. Mechanic observed increased oil leakage and stated oil was coming from within engine. Car towed to dealer, evaluated with a cracked cylinder head. Repair to be covered under Mazda Power Train Warranty. Additional concern: Short and Long Term residual effects on other engine components. Other reports: none. Awareness: I’ve come to understand that there seems to be similar issues with certain model years/production runs that might not be reported due to being covered under warranty. The consumer provided the correct VIN for the vehicle.

Filed Oct 29, 2020 · Brakes · 72,300 miles · PA

While driving approx. 40 MPH on a state road, my TPMS warning light went on. At first I thought it was a simple tire pressure issue, but then I began to smell burning. I stopped my car and saw smoke coming from my rear right (passenger side) wheel. I promptly brought the car to a 3rd party mechanic and they informed me the caliper remained engaged and my rotors were overheating. They tried contacting mazda dealerships and 3rd party sources for either new or rebuilt caliper but the part was out of stock and on backorder with no estimated date when it would be replenished. My car is still unrepaired and I cannot drive it as the excessive heating of the rotor could disable my braking ability. This seems to be a common issue with other cx-5 models.

Filed Nov 26, 2019 · Brakes · 40,000 miles · MI

Intermittently, the rear electronic parking brakes do not fully release. This causes the rear brake pads to wear on the rotors. This in turn results in premature brake wear, excessive heat, and a burning smell. This has happened multiple times in all different weather conditions.

Filed Jul 20, 2019 · Brakes · 60,000 miles · NJ

On 01/10/17 at 11656 miles I reported a burning smell present consistently for several months. Lester glenn mazda said they couldn't detect anything. I went for service 19may 18 and was told that my rear brakes were bad. Report I have from that service shows red for rear and green for front brakes at 36865 miles. 26 may 18 mazda lodi told me all 4 brakes and rotors were bad. I asked how the front brakes were bad 1 week afterlester glenn told me the front brakes were green. I was told that most shops have inexperienced people but lodi has all their people trained as master technicians. I was told lester glenn probably didn't measure. Lodi said rears were really really bad and that I should replace all 4 brakes and rotors and all 4 tires for even wear. I was told car was not safe to drive without the work. I got the work done. Repairs were completed at 37354 miles. 24may19 I am told all brakes are good. I call 06 jun 19 and complain that I am hearing squeaking. I call& I'm told that it's probably nothing but best to see if it persists.sound persists. I go in24 jun19 and complain of noise and vibration through steering wheel and floor board. The service manager drives the car with me and hears the squeak faintlybut says he doesn't feel the vibration and that the brakes are working well. I let them check and am told the left rear caliper is seized. The caliper went through the pad to the rotor and rear pads and rotors were replaced. I am still hearing squeaking and I fear it the right rear caliper since it wasn't changed. I've changed my rear pads and rotors twice in 1yr/20000 mi. I found out my car is affected by tsb r052/16c (04-001/18) and 04-002/19. R052/16c resulted in a production change in rear calipers starting in september 9 2016. Mazdausa won't acknowledge that their dealers should have replaced my rear calipers or that they should have issued a recall.

Filed Mar 21, 2019 · Engine · 62,000 miles · AZ · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 mazda cx-5. While driving 65 MPH, there was a popping noise and black smoke coming from the engine compartment. All the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact coasted the vehicle over to the side of the road and heard another popping noise. The contact then noticed flames under the hood. The contact extinguished the fire himself. The vehicle was towed to capitol mazda (located at 980 capitol expressway auto mall, san jose, ca 95136, (408) 763-4018) where it was diagnosed that the engine block failed and the engine rod was fractured. The dealer stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: 1-1844061638. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000.

Filed Sep 12, 2016 · Fuel system · 524 miles · TX · fire

Within two months of purchasing the vehicle it broke down (in motion) on the highway, towed it to a mazda dealership who diagnosed the problem as water in the fuel. After a week the vehicle was returned, this time the fuel gauge was inoperable and it continued to sputter, took it to a second dealership who kept it for another week who apparently fixed the problem. The vehicle seemed ok and exactly one week later after parking it (stationary) and walking away it burst into flames, the flames incinerated three adjacent vehicles.