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Mazda CX-5 won't shift problems

22 of the 2,483 owner complaints about the Mazda CX-5 describe stuck in gear or won't shift, most of them for the 2016 model year.

owner complaints
22
worst model year
2016
typical mileage
18,540
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below

By model year

  • 2020
    1
  • 2019
    4
  • 2018
    2
  • 2016
    8
  • 2015
    3
  • 2014
    1
  • 2013
    3

Often reported together

Jerking 5Check engine light 5Loss of power 4Stalling 3Misfire 3Transmission failure 2Hesitation 2Warning lights 1

Trouble codes mentioned

P2299 1P0506 1P0304 1P0301 1P0300 1P0192 1C1001 1B1303 1

What owners say

Filed Aug 28, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · NJ

2019 Mazda CX-5 developed P0192-00 fuel-pressure-related fault and significant loss of acceleration/limp mode. Mazda dealership diagnosed fuel rail/injector-seal issue and performed approximately $2,836 in repairs. The condition was not corrected. Dealer now diagnoses a high-pressure fuel-pump failure and is requesting an additional $1,459. Vehicle has experienced loss of power while driving. There is an existing Mazda fuel-pump recall affecting some 2018–2019 CX-5 vehicles, but Mazda says my VIN is outside the recall population. I am concerned about a potential fuel-system safety defect.

Filed Aug 10, 2026 · CA

In early 2025, my 2019 Mazda CX5 automatic would not shift always shift when it should - - it would take several seconds. This was especially concerning when I merged onto freeways and when I drove up hills or steep roads, and needed to pass a slower vehicle. The problem was especially noticeable & lasted longer when the engine was cold. I took the car to my mechanic who said it was the TCM, there was a recall notice, & that I needed to take my car to a dealer. (I never received a recall notice.) I took my car to Mazda in Sacramento because my local dealer (Salinas, CA) would not address the issue without me paying a $395 "diagnostic fee" - - even though I had the recall info from my mechanic. Maita Mazda ([XXX]) reprogrammed the TCM XXX, but now 16 months later, my car is exhibiting the exact same symptoms as before the TCM was reprogrammed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jan 6, 2026 · Transmission · 140,000 miles · IN

The contact owned a 2020 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving under 45 MPH, the TCM received a false data sensor warning, causing the vehicle to enter LIMP Mode. The contact stated that during the failure, the smart brake feature, Adaptive Cruise Control, and other unknown ADS features and warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure with the ADS system prompted the vehicle to come to a complete stop while driving 45 MPH. The contact parked and turned off the vehicle to troubleshoot the ECU after the failure had occurred. The contact restarted the vehicle, and the adaptive cruise control warning light, smart brake feature, and ADS radar features returned. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified about the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.

Filed Jul 24, 2025 · Driver assistance, Electrical · KS

When accelerating, the transmission feels jerky/stutters. The check engine light and traction control light are illuminated and on the instrument cluster the messages: "Forward Smart City Brake Support Malfunction", "Smart Brake System Malfunction" and "Front Radar Sensor System Malfunction" appear. The vehicle acts like it doesn't know which gear it should be in, it'll buck pretty hard and then it refuses to accelerate...it feels like it's in a "limp mode". A previous driver of the vehicle complained and said that it actually stalled in traffic on the highway and was of course difficult to steer due to loss of power. I took it to a dealership and they came up with a laundry list of things to fix...most of which wouldn't have any bearing on this issue. I did have the serpentine belt replaced and the belt tensioner replaced due to wear on the belt and loose tension. On 7/16/25, I scanned the vehicle with a code reader, the codes P0301 and P0506 appeared. P0301 is a generic "Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected" message and P0506 is a generic "IAC system RPM Lower Than Expected. The vehicle was taken to a shop where the spark plugs and the cylinder 1 coil was replaces and the IAC cleaned. On 7/24/25 the same vehicle behaviors were observed and the same warning lights and messages were activated. I scanned the vehicle and got "p0300 Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected and P0304 Cylinder 4 Misfire detected. There was a recall on this particular vehicle make, model and year and my vehicle was out of the VIN# range. I firmly believe that the recall needs to be expanded to include a larger number of vehicles...you can google about this vehicle and see many others with similar issues. Usually, the cure is a PCM reflashing/software update that seems to take care of the issue. Please expand the recall before someone dies in an accident because of this problem.

Filed Oct 15, 2024 · Engine, Transmission · TX

The vehicle starting stalling, check engine light would come on, and the vehicle would slipped into “limp mode” while traveling on the freeway. I was amount in two auto collisions because of the vehicle slowing down in the middle of the highway. The problem started in August 2023 and was towed to the dealer on one occasions and towed to my home on another occasion. The dealer ran a diagnostic and said it was the brand new battery I had installed and then the catalytic converter. After repairing both; the vehicle proceeded to not drive over 30 miles per hour. The dealer said it was the engine and then said it was something else. I’ve expressed that the symptoms are those more aligned to the PCM issue recalled on 2019. A actual diagnostic report from Auto Zone supports this. The vehicle has also been inspected by another Mazda dealer and a stand alone mechanic.

Filed Aug 21, 2024 · Acceleration, Engine · FL

The issue started happening [XXX]. I was driving home and the car went into limp mode. Several errors came on the heads up display and on the dashboard. At first I could not go faster than 31mph, then it dropped down to 17mph, then to 7mph by the time I got home. 1.When accelerating from a stop light, car goes into limp mode and won’t accelerate almost stalling in the road. You must pull over, turn off the car and wait 5 minutes so error clears so you can drive again. 2.Car goes into Limp mode when going up a hill 3.Between 46-48 mph, car hesitates when accelerating 4.Between 56-60 mph, car hesitates when accelerating 5.Error Codes received per Lake Car Care: P2299, C1001, B1303 I brought the car to Lake Car Care and they replaced the spark plugs and coils as the codes said it was a misfire on Cylinder 1 & 2. This cost me $ 947.57. This did not fix the problem. The mechanic Todd took the car for a ride and it went into limp mode for him also. He could not figure the issue out after having the car for a couple weeks so suggested I take it to Mazda in Clermont. Mazda has had the car twice for over 2 months now and cannot figure it out. They replaced the ABS Module for $ 1284 which did not fix the problem. Replaced the injectors for $ 1426 which didn't fix the problem. They did a fuel compression test which came back fine and cleaned the catalytic converter which they said was clogged and this didn't fix the issue either. It is unsafe to drive this vehicle on the road as it does not accelerate so it is putting myself and others at risk. Mazda corporate has been called and case manager has been assigned but has been NO HELP to me at all. Photos are attached of all error messages, text messages with Mazda, repair receipts, etc. August 9th, Mazda told me they are at a loss and don't know what else to do, I haven't heard from them since. Please help. I am at a loss and don't know what my options are. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 8, 2022 · Acceleration, Engine · FL

2015 Mazda CX-5 with 91,000 miles on it. Automatic transmission has failed. When I attempted to pull out into traffic the vehicle would not shift into 2nd gear and instead jerked hard and the engine RPMs revved up. I was not able to get the vehicle past 10mph. This failure with the transmission resulted in the oncoming traffic having to swerve and break to avoid a collision with me. The vehicle was taken to a Mazda dealership who did a diagnostic on it and found that the Mazda had an "internal transmission failure" and would require a full replacement. I asked if it would be replaced with the same exact transmission and was told "no, the defect was discovered by Mazda and has been correct for new transmission models." The manufacture knows about this issue. Luckily I escaped serious bodily injury. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer as well as an independent 3rd party transmission repair specialist. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to this incident to give warning.

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 Apr 25, 2022 · Fuel system · CO

My son was driving the car when it suddenly lost power and would not shift correctly. This occurred without warning while in moderately fast traffic that was moving at 40-50 mph. There were no warning lights illuminated prior to the problem occurring. Upon reviewing trouble codes, it is likely that the low pressure fuel pump located in the fuel tank has begun to fail. When the tank gets low on fuel, about 1/4 tank, the low pressure fuel pump is unable to supply enough fuel to the high pressure fuel pump. This results in sudden loss of power, and also hard starting. I believe the fuel pump is the problem because it was manufactured by Denso, who recalled 2,000,000 similar fuel pumps two years ago. Those pumps were recalled because they created the exact problem we experienced. Toyota recalled vehicles using these pumps as far back as 2013. However Mazda and other OEM's were allowed to only recall vehicles going back to 2018. EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME PUMP. When the manufacturing defect that causes a safety problem is well known, why are some manufacturers allowed to limit their recall? Why aren't all cars using the pump forced to be recalled? If a recall is excessive, why aren't manufacturers required to provide an extended warranty? the federal safety agency, you dropped the ball on this, and you need to fix it.

Filed Aug 13, 2021 · Transmission · PA

The transmission quit on my at 59K miles. Wont go into drive, but will in reverse. I took the care to a transmission shop, and it needs rebuilt. No warning lamps, messages, etc. I was stopped at a red light, luckily I wasn't driving at it just stopped.

Related recalls

Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)Reported June 27, 2019 · 262,220 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.
Risk
An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1‑800‑222‑5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3719F.

Recall number 19V497000 · Recall details

Questions about the Mazda CX-5 won't shift

Which Mazda CX-5 years have stuck in gear or won't shift problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2016 (8 complaints), 2019 (4 complaints) and 2013 (3 complaints).

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