The car engine is eating oil. There were no warning lights on the dash to indicate this. I happened to check the oil, and it was 3 quarts low. This could have caused the engine to malfunction while driving if not caught in time. This started around 70K miles. Coffmans Service in Warminster, PA has confirmed the car was spraying oil on [XXX] and performed a clean combustion chamber with iridium spark plugs, replaced intake manifold gaskets and PCV valve, and ow-20 oil and new filter. I contacted the manufacturer on 10/17/2024 case# [XXX] and it was dismissed. I did read online that this mazda has a problem with eating oil around 70K miles. The problem still is occurring at an extremely low rate. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2016 Mazda CX-5 engine complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 39 of 39, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Catastrophic engine failure. Needs a total engine replacement, regular oil changes. We went to get the oil changed within 1,000 miles of the suggested mileage range and it was “out of oil”. The dealership told us we needed a new engine. It hasn’t been driven and sounds like a helicopter when turned on. We have had regular maintenance on the vehicle, one owner. It started acting up and was trying to stall out on the highway. Then seized up and wouldn’t go over 10mph. It’s totaled and we feel strongly that this is an extension of the current lawsuit covering many years of Mazda models.
My daughter was driving her 2016 CX5 when the coolant temperature warning message displayed on the instrument panel, advising her to pull over immediately. She had just driven on to the expressway, but luckily was still in the right lane and was able to pull over safely. If she had been in any other lane of the busy highway when this occurred it could have been a serious safety issue for my daughter and the other drivers on the highway. I contacted AAA to tow the car to my local mechanic. The service tech reported that they began by plugging their diagnostic tool into the car and they received two engine codes: P111A-00 and P011A, and that a software update must be performed first. I had the car towed to Turnersville Mazda. They said that there would be a $215 per hour diagnostic fee. They found that the thermostat needed to be replaced as it failed to open during engine operation. This service incurred a $397.55 cost. After replacing it they noticed that a milky substance was produced, indicating motor oil mixing with coolant. They recommended replacing the engine due to a crack in the cylinder head at a cost of $10,300. For some reason the service tech elected to replace the spark plugs and update the software AFTER the catastrophic engine issue was discovered, incurring an additional $330 in charges. Prior to this incident there were no issues with the vehicle, no warning lamps or symptoms of any kind.
Bolt from inside engine blew out, putting hole in engine block
Car was having trouble with pickup and was making a subtle recurrent noise. Sped up after turning a corner and engine just sputtered out and car came to a complete stop within seconds. The engine light never came on and the engine did not overheat. Car would not turnover to start after that. Car was towed to an independent garage where they stated engine failure. Was then towed to a garage that can handle engine issues where it was declared a total loss and catastrophic engine failure.
Changed my oil and the next day the engine blew, maintained exactly how the manufacturer suggests, but somehow the engine blew.
First symptom, no heat coming out of heater vent took to shop to investigate and found antifreeze in the oil . Cylinder head removed and found a nonreparable crack In the cylinder head. I'll maintenance up todaye, Engine never overheated ,no symptoms, just suddenly Blowing cold air from the heat vent. $7300 estimate 2 fix.
The check engine light came on when I was in my way home. This morning when I started my car, the engine reved on its own and then it went to 0. This is super dangerous. The car could have stopped in the middle of the freeway. I had my car towed to a local mechanic. The error code that came up was p0192. Looks like there is a recall for the fuel pump issue for many mazda, yet mine isn’t part of it.
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.
While driving to the airport suddenly all dashboard lights came on and engine "died" during the drive about 50mph. My wife who was driving, was lucky not to get into a crash and steered the car to the side to a full stop . The tow truck driver tried to restart the engine w/o success. The garage determined it is a catastrophic engine failure and need to be replaced. About 2 weeks prior we had an engine warning light. The car was taken to our regular serviced garage and was inspected w/o any issues and light was reset. All routing maintenance has been performed by same garage. There are similar reports on the web about total engine failure of Mazda CX5 during driving!!!
I own a 2016 Mazda CX-5 Touring with AWD. I purchased it brand new from a dealer--no miles on it. It's been a great car until this Sudden Unintended Acceleration problem (about 60K miles now). It's happened 5 or 6 times--twice when in a drive thru. It seems that if I am idling (not pressing on gas or brake) the car will sometimes suddenly accelerate. I have used suggestions to brake, then place car in neutral. That seemed to resolve the problem. However, recently I pulled up to my (rural) mailbox and the car tried to accelerate out of control. I had the brake on (was on a downhill) when it happened, so this was scary. I really had to press down more on the brake pedal, then shifted to neutral, then to park. The acceleration finally stopped. I did not observe tachometer readings during this or other events, but will pay more attention if/when this happens in the future. I do not drive with both feet, and as these incidents have occurred I have been able to maintain more composure and analyze what is going on. I am not getting my foot caught in the mat and I'm not mistakenly pressing on the accelerator. I've been to my local Mazda dealer (Sport Durst in Durham) on May 13, 2022 and they were unable to replicate the problem, so could not repair or even troubleshoot it. The car was T-boned about a year ago, with some damage to the passenger front tire. Could that have anything to do with my problems? My partner feels this could be an issue with the Throttle Control Sensor (hardware) or with the software managing throttle control (much more difficult to diagnose, he says). I wanted to ask: for anyone experiencing this problem, did replacing the Throttle Control Sensor or diagnosing software problems resolve the issue? And, do you have any recommendations for me? Since the car is (barely) out of warranty, (just over 6 yrs/60,000 miles) would filing a claim with Mazda be a good approach? Would you suggest I just trade the car in?
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that upon depression of the brake pedal, the engine revved violently without warning. The contact would depress the brake pedal to the floorboard and place the vehicle into park(P) to prevent the vehicle from independently accelerating. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer and was informed that the air box was defective. The dealer repaired the vehicle; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
My problem is with the keyless start system. The problem is that if I forget to push the start button to shut down the vehicle and open the door and leave the automobile and shut the door with the key in my possession the auto will keep running until it runs out of fuel. Wouldn't it make more sense for the vehicle to shut down after 3 minutes if the key is not present. As you know people have died from carbon monoxide poisoning by parking in their garage and forgetting to shut down the vehicle and the vehicle keeps running and filling their homes with carbon monoxide. This happened to a older couple in Sarasota Florida with a new car that they just purchased and were not familiar with the starting system. Just wanted to know just how many people have to die before something is done about this problem. I asked my Mazda dealer and they told me that the vehicle will run until out of fuel and basically said that I was stupid for being concerned.
Original belt tensioner was failing at 50k miles. An oem mazda belt tensioner was installed and is failing again within 1 year at 67k miles. If this fails the belt powering the water pump will fail causing a catastrophic engine failure due to overheating. Mazda has yet to issue a recall with their defective parts. If you hear any squeaking of the belts from your engine and notice any residue leaking from the tensioner get it replaced ASAP or your car could become a hazard.
Dealer identified drive belt tensioner as leaking and in need of replacement on a Mazda CX-5 with less than 30k miles on it. Many owners have reported identical failures at or around 30k. An insufficient part that is failing so frequently, this early on with low mileage is a significant safety issue.
High pressure fuel pump failure. Vehicle mileage 30,020. Check engine light illuminated, vehicle would not start. Replacement cost 920.60.
During a routine inspection by the dealer following an oil change the mechanic discovered that the drive belt tensioner had begun to leak and if not replaced (at $400) will cause the engine to fail and will strand motorist. Current mileage 53, 824. With little effort I discovered that this is a well-known problem with this vehicle with many failing at around the 30k mile mark. Looks like a design flaw that mazda USA is passing onto the consumer.
I went to the dealership and they informed me that the hydraulic belt tensioner was leaking. They quoted me $400 for repair and stated this is a wear item yet the manual and user guide provided by mazda do not state that this is required to be replaced only inspected. My car has less then 46,000 miles and this part was nearly at the point of failure. If this part fails and the belt gets too loose or snaps, your car will shut down. Essentially, if that belt breaks, your alternator will stop charging the battery, the dash will light up like a christmas tree, and the car will sputter to a complete stop. Not to mention the fact that the belt also turns the water pump. So while the car could shut down in order to avoid overheating. Mazda has stated they will not cover this as it's out of warranty for a what should be considered a defective part. If you hear knocking sounds from your engine get your vehicle inspected asap!
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.
Started car in driveway 2/10/19, 4 pm 'engine sounded like timing was obviously abnormal. Random automatic braking noted when car in motion, within one block of leaving driveway. Immediate inability to accelerate beyond 10-12 MPH experienced. Error messages then observed on car dashboard warning sectors: check engine; traction control: tire pressure monitoring; smart city brake support malfunction-forward scbs disabled. Car unsafe to drive to dealer 12 miles away. Car towed to dealer site 2/11/19 monday am. Car has 28,330 miles per odometer; service maintenance up to date, as manufacturer recommended. Dealer assessment of cause on 2/11/19 reported as 'rats nesting in engine and eating through soy insultation on wiring on engine harness.' repair costs of > $1,500 estimated. It seems that insulating engine component with nutrients attractive to nesting, ubiquitous vermin is a serious safety concern for car owners and users. Any the federal safety agency guidance on this critical issue?
In a parking space, foot on brake, moving gearshift to park, engine revved and car lunged forward with car in park and my foot on the brake. It jumped the concrete bumper, ran over handicap parking sign and hit car in adjacent parking space hard enough to move it back into the driving lane of parking lot. At that point the car stopped. We pulled it back into parking space to help move other hit car out of traffic
I was pulling into a parking space at natural grocers. When the car was going 2-3 MPH into the space getting ready I thought to stop, the engine revved up like a jet engine. The car then jumped a concrete side walk, hit the brick building, and broke a gas line. The car then came to rest back in the parking spot. The air bag deployed, my first reaction was "what the hell just happened". A man walking out of a store heard the hiss of the gas line and then called 911. He came to the car and told me to move away because the gas line could blow up. He noticed that my glasses were backwards on the back of my neck and asked if I was hurt. Shortly a firetruck arrived, two police cars, and a store manager. The firemen shut off the gas line. The policeman interviewed me and observed the setting. After some time the policeman said "this was not your fault" and "I am not issuing a citation". Something clearly went wrong with the car. He encouraged me to take pictures of both the sidewalk and the car for my records. I had the car towed to the dealership from whom I had leased the car.
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 mazda cx-5. While driving 25 MPH, the emergency indicator illuminated and beeped. The contact noticed an abnormal burning odor and observed smoke from the rear passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer (mazda of olympia, 2201 carriage st sw, olympia, wa 98502) where it was diagnosed that the caliper needed to be replaced; however, the parts were on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 5,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 mazda cx-5. While the vehicle was at a complete stop, the engine revved. The contact's vehicle independently surged forward and crashed into the preceding vehicle. The contact's vehicle continued to surge and crashed into a pole. The driver and passenger frontal air bags deployed. The contact sustained injures to the chest and arms, which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent body garage. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 28,000.
Body: about one month after I purchased the vehicle, the paint became brittle. There is a large rock chip, scratches on the hood, and chips on the door. Electrical: the seat heater on the driver's side turns on intermittently without the power being turned on. Transmission: the rmss continue to increase when I take my foot off of the gas at high speeds (interstate). I do not have the cruise control on. They rev about 10,000 and then come back down.
The problem is that this vehicle allows you to turn it off being still in "d" (without even shifting it to "p"). It doesn't warn you at all if you forget to shift to "p". It has happened to me that a couple of times I have turned off the vehicle, got off of it and vehicle remains in "d", without giving you any beep of warning. The other day, I stopped/parked my vehicle in a parking slot and turned it off and I forgot to shifted to "p". It passed a couple of minutes, while I was doing my makeup and hair that the car started moving. When I realized what was happening, vehicle had already moved about 3 yards (almost out of the parking slot) luckily I was still inside the car and could brake. Should I have left the car immediately after turning it off, it has caused an accident hitting people/cars bypassing.
On 8/4/2016 in miami fl at 3:45 pm. I was waiting at a stop my foot on the breaks when the engine started self accelerating. It stopped once I put my car on neutral
After pulling into a parking and entering parking space my wife attempted to stop car, with her foot on the brake the vehicle jerked forward jumping a parking bumper at an accelerated rate of speed. After jumping the bumper our cx-5 headed toward two parked cars, she was able to turn the wheel to the right where she was then headed toward a crosswalk, between two parking lots, with a hand rail. The vehicle finally came to a stop after becoming wedged under the hand rail and bumping a parked car. Damage was to the r fender, front bumper and hood a total of $5,100 worth of damage. Vehicle was towed to dealer. Mazda would no look into what or why it happened, our insurance company sent out a member of their forensic group to investigate the problem. Nothing was found to be wrong at the time that he checked and could not duplicate as he could not drive the vehicle. This was our second mazda and our last, moving on.
When reversing out of driveway, going from reverse to drive, the car aggressively goes forward. A jerking forward motion that causes the tires make a brief skid sound. This has happened multiple times.
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