Mazda CX-5 overheating problems

Filed Oct 28, 2026 · Engine · WA

My 2018 Mazda CX-5 Touring (2.5L non-turbo engine with cylinder deactivation) developed a burning oil smell that steadily worsened over several days. On XXX, at about 61,300 miles, I saw smoke coming from the engine compartment after driving. The engine had not overheated, and the car was regularly maintained. On XXX, an independent repair shop (A&M Auto Repair, [XXX] a large active oil leak. After steam cleaning the engine and removing the exhaust manifold, they found engine oil leaking from a hairline crack in the cylinder head, directly onto the hot exhaust manifold. The engine was also about one quart low on oil. The shop recommended replacing the cylinder head assembly, at a cost of about $5,700 before tax. Oil leaking onto the exhaust manifold is a fire hazard, and the smoke could reduce visibility for other drivers. Many other owners of 2018–2020 CX-5s with this engine have reported the same cracked cylinder head failure. I contacted Mazda Customer Experience (case number XXX) to request assistance. Mazda declined because the repair was diagnosed and performed by an independent shop rather than a Mazda dealer. I'm submitting this complaint so the federal safety agency can evaluate whether this cylinder head failure is a safety defect that warrants a recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 21, 2026 · Seats · WA

I own a 2016 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring and discovered two brown, burn-like marks on the lower seatback of a heated front seat. I suspect the seat heater overheated and damaged the upholstery. The discoloration is concentrated in the lower back/lumbar area, and I have photographs documenting it. I am concerned that continued use could cause further overheating, burns to an occupant, or a fire. I am reporting this as a seat-heater safety defect and requesting investigation.

Filed Jul 1, 2026 · Transmission · CA

My Mazda 2018, CX-5, Grand Touring, was diagnosed with a cracked cylinder head at 64,599 miles. This issue could posed a safety hazard for not only us but others on the road by: *Engine Failure / Sudden Loss of Power-A crack allows coolant and oil to mix or leak, leading to overheating and potential catastrophic engine seizure. A seized engine can cause sudden, unexpected loss of power — especially dangerous at highway speeds or during lane changes/merges. *Oil and Coolant on the Road-Leaking fluids drip onto the roadway, creating slick surfaces for motorcyclists and other vehicles — similar to a spilled oil hazard. This is especially dangerous on curves and in wet conditions. *White Smoke / Steam Billowing from Exhaust-When coolant enters the combustion chamber, it burns off as thick white smoke. This can instantly reduce visibility for drivers behind the vehicle, potentially causing rear-end collisions. *Fire Risk-If oil leaks onto hot exhaust manifolds or engine components, it can ignite. An engine fire can spread quickly and, in traffic, puts surrounding vehicles and occupants at risk. *Debris from Engine Destruction-In extreme cases, a severely overheated or seized engine can cause internal components to fail violently. Debris from a catastrophic engine failure can damage undercarriages of nearby vehicles or become road hazards. *Stalling in High-Risk Locations-A vehicle that stalls due to engine failure in a tunnel, on a freeway on-ramp, in an intersection, or on a bridge creates an immediate collision risk for surrounding traffic. This is part of why Mazda's handling of the cylinder head defect is so problematic — it's not merely a costly repair, it's a public safety issue that arguably warrants regulatory attention (the federal safety agency). We had NO warning lights, no overheating issues. Repairs have been made to the cost of almost $5400.00 *Please note there are many, many people complaining of this same issue on this model of car in multiple on-line forums.

Filed May 24, 2026 · Engine · WA · fire

My car caught on fire on [CCC] and it's completely burned down, a total loss. Following is information about my car and some summary of what happened. Car information: - Mazda CX5 2024 - Bought in June or July 2024(car payment only made 22 times so far) - Odometer 24,445mi(as of 05/15/2026) What happened: - In [XXX] Friday afternoon, I was in Bellevue and noticed an engine overheat warning. So, I stopped immediately to cool down and called Mazda Dealership(Lee Johnson Mazda) to schedule a service. - Then after 20-30 minutes, I started the car again and the warning was gone. So I drove slowly and got on [XXX] to head home in Kirkland. I was already driving slowly. - After a few minutes, overheat warning as well as engine warning started firing and noticed that smoke coming out of bonnet. - So, I pulled over on the shoulder near [XXX] and called roadside assistance. But even before I get connected to the roadside service, engine caught on fire and I had to call 911. - The car is completely burned down and it's a total loss. - State patrol wrote me a "Exchange of Information" and "Tow/Impound and Inventory Record". Why I am submitting this form: - This car is less than 2years old and has been seeing Mazda service regularly. The odometer checked by dealership on 05/15 is 24,445mi which is slightly more than 24,000 which is stated in the Lemon LAW. But still, the car is pretty brand new and around 24,000 ish. So, I'm wondering if this still qualifies for Lemon Law. - Even before this happened, I had a service history for engine warning and get the engine checked on 05/15/2026 which is exactly a week ago before the accident. Also, they said the engine thermostat had an issue and replaced and covered by Mazda's warranty. - Overheat and engine warning was on and off. As soon as I pull over, it caught on fire. - This happened on [XXX]. It was very dangerous and lucky that we pulled over on right before it caught on fire INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed May 22, 2026 · Engine · 92,000 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2017 Mazda CX-5. While driving the vehicle, the engine overheat warning suddenly illuminated on the dashboard cluster panel. The contact pulled over immediately, restarted the engine, and coasted the vehicle to a local, independent mechanic shop. The independent mechanic diagnosed the issue as a blown head gasket. For a secondary inspection, the vehicle was transported to an authorized Mazda dealership. Dealership technicians determined that the engine cylinder was actually cracked and recommended a full engine replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,000.

Filed May 5, 2026 · Engine · NM

Cylinder head is cracked and leaking oil. The Cylinder head has an active warranty extension but Mazda only applies this to coolant leaks and not oil leaks. The root cause is a casting defect along with a exhaust manifold design issue that imparts undue stress onto the cylinder head causing cracks. The limitation of the warranty to the type of fluid that leaks rather than the failure due to design issues with the exhaust manifold and cylinder head does not make sense given that both components have been redesigned due to the prevalance of both coolant and oil leaks from cylinder head cracks. Problem has been confirmed by Quality Mazda Service departmetn on April 4, 2026 but no warranty coverage extended to repair the failure due to the fluid leak being oil and not coolant. No warnings or messages given prior to leaks. Leaks began at roughly 76,400 miles.

Filed Apr 30, 2026 · Engine · CA

The cylinder head cracked, causing a coolant leak, which then lead to the car overheating. My car was taken into Mazda dealership because there is a warranty extension for this specific part CSP111. The Mazda dealership, corporate, and warranty department all stated the known widespread defect cracked cylinder head will not be replaced on their behalf due to an overheating code. Mazda is using a symptom as an excuse to the problem. Due to the overheating code, Mazda recommended replacing the whole engine for $10,000 with 20 hours of labor. This defect part and Mazda’s unwillingness to provide a proper solution caused my car engine to fail, posing a safety risk. No symptoms other than low coolant were present, which my car was then parked, not driven, and towed to the dealership, in hopes the warranty would be honored.

Filed Apr 10, 2026 · Lights · MA

My 2023 Mazda CX-5 (48,000 miles) is experiencing a loud mechanical whirring/grinding from the driver-side headlight assembly, a documented manufacturing defect involving foreign matter contamination of the internal LED cooling fan bearings (TSB 09-029/25). Despite the manufacturer acknowledging this factory-installed defect, Mazda has refused to proactively remedy the issue because the vehicle is nominally past its 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper period. I have been explicitly advised by service personnel to continue operating the vehicle until the headlight unit 'entirely fails' before further assistance may be considered. This 'fail-first' directive is a reckless disregard for public safety; the internal cooling fan exists specifically to prevent the high-intensity LED from overheating. A failure of this fan leads directly to the sudden burnout of the main headlamp while the vehicle is in motion. Mazda is essentially requiring me to drive a vehicle with a known, ticking-clock lighting defect and wait for a total loss of visibility at night before they will address a part that was contaminated during their own production process. This is a critical safety hazard that places myself and other drivers at risk of a collision due to sudden headlamp failure.

Filed Mar 30, 2026 · Engine · CT

Vehicle Information Year/Make/Model: 2018 Mazda CX-5 Engine: 2.5L Mileage at Failure: Approximately 115,000 miles Component: Engine Complaint Summary: I am reporting a sudden and unsafe engine failure involving a cracked cylinder head in my 2018 Mazda CX-5. This failure occurred without warning at approximately 115,000 miles and resulted in significant oil leakage from the engine. Description of the Failure and Safety Risk: While operating the vehicle, I detected a strong burning oil odor followed by visible smoke coming from the engine compartment. Upon inspection, it was determined that the cylinder head had cracked, allowing engine oil to leak onto hot engine and exhaust components. This condition presents a serious safety hazard, including the risk of fire due to oil contacting high-temperature surfaces. Notably, there were no warning lights, messages, or prior indicators of any issue before the failure occurred. The vehicle has been properly maintained and has not experienced overheating or misuse that would reasonably lead to this type of failure. Repair Information: The vehicle was diagnosed by an authorized Mazda dealership, which confirmed a cracked cylinder head. The estimated cost of repair is approximately $5,130. Additional Information / Defect Pattern: Through independent research, I have identified multiple reports of similar failures involving Mazda 2.5L engines in comparable vehicles. These reports describe nearly identical symptoms, including sudden oil leakage, smoke, and cracked cylinder heads at relatively low mileage. This pattern suggests a potential manufacturing or material defect rather than normal wear and tear. Manufacturer Response: I have contacted Mazda Customer Experience and escalated the matter. Mazda has declined to provide any assistance, citing the vehicle being out of warranty, despite the nature of the failure and associated safety concerns. Summary: This issue involves a critical engine component failure that can le

Filed Mar 13, 2026 · Lights · FL

I am reporting a safety defect in my 2023 Mazda CX-5 involving the right headlight assembly. The internal LED cooling fan has failed, causing loud noise and excessive vibration. This is a confirmed manufacturing defect (documented in Mazda Service Alert SA-013-23). Safety Risk: The cooling fan is essential to prevent the LED from overheating. A failure of this component can cause the headlight to dim or shut off completely without warning while driving at night, creating a severe visibility hazard and increasing the risk of a crash. Repair Details: An authorized Mazda dealer confirmed the internal failure and verified no external damage. Despite being a 2023 vehicle and a known safety issue, Mazda North American Operations has refused to cover the repair.