Mazda CX-5 key fob problems

Filed Oct 2, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · VA

2025 Mazda CX-5. The vehicle experienced a severe, dynamic charging system failure that creates an active safety hazard on public roads. A dealership service department attempted a software update, which turned off the active dashboard layout indicator but completely failed to resolve the root hardware issue. The system failure remains active and has thrown consecutive advanced safety system faults. VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC TIMELINE & BRIEF •Vehicle: 2025 Mazda CX-5 •Warranty Status: Active (Under Bumper-to-Bumper New-Vehicle Limited Warranty) •Modifications: None (100% Factory Standard; No aftermarket accessories) On the evening of [XXX], while preparing to leave on a cross-country trip, the car would not start. It was originally believed it was because while loading the car we left one of the key fobs in the car and tried to lock the doors. We reset the fob and tried the manual override to get the car to start with no luck. There were several warning lights coming up on dash to include an istop warning. Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures of the original incident. We contacted AAA and they came and jump started the car. We left on our trip the morning of [XXX]. The car started with no issue. That afternoon as we were driving through a small town, we stopped at a traffic light and received the "Battery Malfunction" warring light. We headed to Auto Zone, they checked the battery and said it had low charge, even though we had just driven the car over 400 miles. We parked the car at the hotel fulling expect to have to call AAA again but the next morning the car started without a problem. On [XXX], we continued our trip. When we stopped for gas that afternoon the car would not start. We again had to jump it. When we left the gas station the check engine light came on (amber). We were close to Wichita Falls, TX so we stopped for the day and made an appointment with the dealership there for the nINFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 23, 2026 · Lights · TX

Humming sound coming from driver’s side headlight as soon as unlock bottom pressed in key fob. This sound comes from a faulty cooling fan inside the headlight and is a known defect. Humming sound progressed to very slow pitch indicating that fan function is diminishing over time. Mazda will replace the headlight but required me to pay $200 toward it. This should be a recall with replacement at no cost to the consumer as they are aware of the defect.

Filed May 5, 2026 · Driver assistance, Transmission · NJ · crash · 1 injury

Life-threatening, unoccupied rollaway vehicle with personal injury. Possible and/or suspected issues: "Not-P" switch circuit malfunction; "false park"; lack of cross-module redundancy; lack of BCM and PCM redundancy; Diagnostic Blind Spot; lack of Occupancy-Brake interlock; systematic safety failure culminating in unintended, driverless, runaway Zombie vehicle with personal injury. Background Info: * Low mileage, mainly in-town errands driving. * Not previously reported quirks, possible latent defects: liftgate opening that was hit-or-miss requiring multiple unlock trunk-unlock doors + get out of the car manual attempts; intermittent off-shutdown double-tap issue to power off car; ill-timed "rear seat alert". * Reported "engine won't start" resulting in three key FOB battery replacements and a locked key FOB. Day of Incident: * Auto-lock and the EBS were not used. * Driver intent was to park and unload, then permanently park. Car was in-park twice before ultimately placed in reverse and backed into position, facing downhill on a slight slope and along a left-side stone retaining wall. * Driver thought vehicle was fully in Park. * Attempted open liftgate via "open trunk, open door" routine, which did not work, so I exited the vehicle to try the manual liftgate button, which also did not work. * Three back-and-forth "unlock trunk/doors + manually press liftgate button" did not work. * Note: Upon opening the door or anytime after, I did NOT hear an audible warning that the car was not fully in Park. Nor did the car move/creep in any direction. * Deducing I must need to shut off the car to open the liftgate -- I leaned in and depressed the on/off button. * This caused the car to move forward, driverless, door open and scraping the stone wall, across a secondary road, over an 11" curb, and down a hill before stopping due to a tree. * I was injured. Pinned between a narrowing door and the car, I tried to turn the wheel right before being knocked down/falling

Filed Mar 9, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · PA

I purchased this vehicle new in June 2025. About a month after the dealer service inspection, the vehicle suddenly would not start at all. The key fob sometimes cannot unlock the door, and I have to use the backup key to open it. After entering the vehicle, the engine will not start. I previously brought the car to the dealer for inspection, but they said no issue was found. Now the problem has happened again and the vehicle cannot start. This is a serious reliability and safety concern for a new vehicle.

Filed Sep 10, 2025 · Driver assistance, Electrical · NC

With a heavy downpour of rain the bsm flashes off, then after sitting for a few hours the car battery dies and the key fob is not recognized in the vehicle. Took it to a dealership and it stopped doing it. Code that are thrown have to do with some computer communication failing. I have had the car die on me 4 times in the last year that I’ve had it.

Filed May 29, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · VA

Keyless entry stopped working, key fob battery replaced as well as car battery. Coolant issues. Heater core and sensors

Filed Jan 20, 2025 · Electrical · NJ

I have a sensitive key fob that releases my hatch without my knowledge or intention. Twice my hatch opened causing damage to my hatch inside my garage. I’ve have read many complaints about the same issue, dating back years and some having their hatch open while parked outside. I have contacted the dealership and the corporation all saying there was a nothing that can be done. This is a major concern since the key fob is so sensitive and can activate in only a second to touch

Filed Jan 7, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · 4,000 miles · MS

The contact owns a 2023 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while the temperature was 45 degrees or lower, the vehicle failed to start properly, and the engine failed to warm up properly. The coolant light was illuminated, and the engine temperature gauge failed to rise above COLD. The vehicle occasionally failed to start or while started and driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled while and engine temperature failed to reach the normal operating temperature. The check engine light was illuminated. The contact would shift to SPORT Mode to prevent the cylinder activation from occurring and causing the vehicle to stall. The contact stated that the failure persisted, and the vehicle was hesitating while driving in temperatures of 50 degrees or less. Additionally, the key fob intermittently failed to unlock the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and had to be towed. The contact stated that during the recent failure, the battery was disconnected, and the vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact stated that the key fob battery had been replaced 6 times; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired for the engine failure. The contact called another dealer, J. Allen Mazda (15150 Airport Rd, Gulfport, MS 39503); however, only an appointment to inspect the vehicle was made but the vehicle was not yet inspected. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The manufacturer referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 4,000.

Filed Jun 7, 2023 · CA

Key fob accidentally left inside vehicle when exiting and all door’s automatically locked with 3 year old child inside. No recourse other than breaking window to enter vehicle as it was in direct sunlight on 80 degree day. This dangerous scenario should not be possible and needs to be fixed.

Filed May 26, 2023 · Electrical · SC

The power liftgate on the 2023 Mazda CX-5 SUV closes with sufficient force that the vehicle owner's manual warns of possible serious injury or even death, and cautions the operator to be sure that people or objects are not in the way of closure. However, the actual design of the overall system permits accidental closure by way of the key fob even when the operator is out of sight of the vehicle. This effectively renders the warnings meaningless, and disregards the safety of people or objects that might be in the way. The vehicle electronics/computer system uses dual purpose switches in or on the vehicle to activate the liftgate; if closed, a press of the switch will unlock and open it, and if open, the same switch will close and lock it. The system also provides the same feature with an exposed, raised button on the key fob which can easily be accidentally pressed to activate closure. Who then assumes liability for the possible resulting tragedy? During my first month of ownership (April 2023), I have experienced the liftgate opening by accident at least twice and it obviously could have been both opened and closed numerous times by accident totally without my knowledge. In a similar fashion, I have experienced the susceptibility of the other fob switches to accidental activation; the car has been locked by accident as least once, and the horn accidentally activated at least three times when I have been inside the house while the car is out of sight in the garage and the key fob was in my pocket. I am obviously making the reasonable assumption that accidental pressure on the various fob switches is the cause for activation. The attached PDF document describes in more detail some of the hazards posed by the existing design, and possibly applies to other car makes and models