2016 Mazda CX-5 transmission problems

Filed May 23, 2026 · Transmission · CA

Any time the vehicle has been sitting with the engine off and has been given enough time to “cool down”, upon starting the vehicle and switching from PARK to DRIVE, the vehicle will violently lurch forward while attempting to reach 2nd gear. This is dangerous behavior that is not normal for any vehicle. There is clearly something wrong with either the transmission or the way the software communicates with the transmission. When the engine is within normal temperature it doesn’t display this dangerous behavior. A similar TSB was issued for the 2nd generation of CX5s but not for this generation of CX5s

Filed Apr 9, 2026 · Brakes, Transmission · 125,385 miles · SC

The contact owns a 2016 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle, and the message “Smart Brake Malfunction” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with catastrophic brake caliper failure. The contact was unsure if the vehicle needed to be repaired. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the passenger’s side inner CV joint had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle could not be driven due to the severe failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,385.

Filed Jan 7, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · CA · crash

I was driving on a city street and slowed to turn right onto a driveway at at a private residence. As my car entered the driveway and near the end of the right turn, my car had a sudden unintended uncontrolled acceleration, continued the turn, went over a low hedge of shrubs on the right side of the driveway, continued down a short rocky incline, and landed on a large rock where the car stopped.

Filed Oct 28, 2024 · Transmission · OR

About a month ago, started hearing a whining noise from the automatic transaxle when driving at different speeds. The more speed, the more noise you hear inside the vehicle. It occurs with all types of driving, acceleration, deceleration and steady speed. Took my Mazda CX-5 into auto experts and found there is a Service Bulletin regarding this issue in 2013-2016 Mazda CX-5's. There is a damaged bearing in the transaxle due to improper configuration of the transaxle case. There needs to be a recall for this issue, not just a service bulletin. I cannot afford a new transmission and replacing the transmission with a like for like or used transmission, there is no guarantee the issue won't come back.

Filed Dec 2, 2022 · Transmission · CA

I was driving on the freeway, going 60-65mph for about 10 minutes. All of a sudden, the engine went from ~2k RPM to ~4 RPM. The speed stayed the same. And then it happened again a few minutes later. A few days after this incident, while driving on the freeway, going 60mph, the car refused to go past 60mph. This also happened ~2 weeks prior. This would have caused an accident had I needed to speed up to avoid an issue but my car refused to go any faster on a flat road.

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 Aug 12, 2022 · Brakes, Electrical · DE · 1 injury

Parked by the curb at the Ft. Lauderdale International Airport. I put the car in Park and left the car idling with the air-conditioning running.as it was 95 degrees and about 100 at around 8:00 AM. There was a shuttle van parked by the curb about 11 feet in front of me. I had to exit my car to talk to the driver in the car behind me. I walked to the car behind me and started talking to the driver. I glanced back at my Mazda CX5 and it started rolling forward. I ran up to the car and got the door open and stepped on the brake. The brakes did not engage. I repeated stepping on the brake several times and the car would not stop. I got in the drivers seat to shift the car into reverse and keep my foot on the brake pedal. The car would not shift into reverse. and by this time the Mazda had pinned to the shuttle van a lady who was trying to unload her luggage. On the sixth attempt to shift into reverse the shifter finally moved into reverse and by standers came to the aid of the lady that had been pinned to the shuttle van. Airport security and the Broward County police took the statements. The lady retrieving her baggage declined medical attention. When I checked to see what the police were reporting they did not acknowledge that I was attempting to stop a runaway vehicle. The report said that I failed to put the car in park and left it in drive. It is not possible to get out of a car that is idling and in gear without the car moving forward or backward before you can even get all the way out of the car. This incident happened about mid July in 2017. Near the end of June this year while in my driveway I left the car idling and in park, exited the car walking to the rear of the car and it dropped into reverse. Got back in the car and shut off the engine. July 2017 the local Mazda dealer inspected the vehicle and could not find as problem. Not unlikely with an intermittent electrical anomaly. There were no prior warning lamps in either incident.

Filed Jun 15, 2021 · Engine, Transmission · CA

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.

Filed Oct 21, 2020 · Transmission · 27,300 miles · CA

While getting off a freeway exit suddenly there was some noise in the engine area followed by major rattling every time the car slowed down or sped up, making it undrivable. The professional diagnostic was that something within the transmission was broken/coming apart. The car had only around 27000 miles on it and this happened within months of drive-train warranty expiring.

Filed Aug 17, 2020 · Transmission · 38,000 miles · NY

When the car is cold and parked the transmission will lurch into drive sometimes and everytime when the car is cold the transmission will get stuck in third or fourth gear and the car will not accelerate until I floor it until then the car won't shift out of gear for a few hundred feet and continue to big down the engine, then after that the transmission will downshift and the car will start to accelerate. If I manually shift the car into first the problem won't occurre as badly. This sofar only happens once when the transmission and engine are cold. But even if I let the car sit and idle for a few minutes it'll still happen.