UsedScore

2017 Mazda CX-5: Best bet

Owners filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Mazda CX-5 in its first five years on the road, about 48 for every 100,000 sold: 0.5× the rate of a typical CX-5 year. That's among the fewest of any CX-5 year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the brakes (20% of complaints, median 7,000 miles).

Complaint index
0.5×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical CX-5 year
Rank
1st of 9
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
59
first five years; 48 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
1
campaign
2nd generation, 2017–2025 (first year of the generation; redesign years often run worse) · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2019 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring Reserve

Photo: 2019 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring Reserve · HJUdall, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Brakes20% · 12 complaints · median 7,000 miles
  2. Electrical19% · 11 complaints · median 4,000 miles
  3. Body and structure15% · 9 complaints · median 19,000 miles
  4. Speed control8% · 5 complaints · median 7,000 miles
  5. Visibility14% · 8 complaints · median 30,000 miles
  6. Engine7% · 4 complaints
  7. Fuel and propulsion7% · 4 complaints
  8. Powertrain5% · 3 complaints
  9. Seats and belts2% · 1 complaints
  10. Driver assistance2% · 1 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Body and structure

Owners most often describe the Soul Red paint chipping easily from routine road debris, exposing bare metal, with dealers calling it normal wear. Several also report the sunroof glass suddenly shattering or exploding while driving at highway speed.

Warning signs:
Some describe a loud pop or bang before the sunroof shattered; paint chip complaints describe small chips appearing after minor road debris contact without other warning.
What shops did:
Dealers reportedly told owners the paint chipping was normal or from road debris and offered no repair; one owner had a mechanic temporarily wire the detached part back on.
Mileage:
most between 10,000 and 20,000 miles, among 8 complaints that give it

“The moonroof exploded outward. Some glass pieces fell into the vehicle, but the majority exploded outward.”

“Have lots of chips on the hood, fenders, roof and doors.”

Brakes

Owners of this CX-5 describe automatic braking warnings that trigger unexpectedly and brake components that wear out or need repeated repair well before expected. Some say dealers found nothing wrong or called the wear normal, leaving the issue unresolved for them.

Warning signs:
Owners report dashboard warnings for Smart City Brake Support, forward camera, or smart brake system malfunctions, vibration or shaking while braking, burning smells, and pedals that feel soft or sink low.
What shops did:
Dealers sometimes replaced the front camera or performed software updates, resurfaced or replaced rotors and pads, or told owners the brakes were normal wear and could not replicate the fault.
Mileage:
most between 0 and 10,000 miles, among 9 complaints that give it

“My brake pedal tends to 'bleed' downward, to the point where it is below the level of the gas pedal”

“It kept a slow glide for a few yards thus crashing into our garage door”

Electrical

Many owners of this CX-5 report the touchscreen and infotainment system acting on its own, changing volume, stations, or navigation while driving, which they find distracting. A smaller number describe stalling, warning lights, camera failures, or seat-heater issues, with mixed dealer responses.

Warning signs:
Owners notice the screen or radio changing volume, stations, or settings, unprompted beeping, dashboard warning lights, camera images failing, or check-engine lights before stalling.
What shops did:
Some dealers replaced the display screen or camera, ran diagnostics without finding faults, or told owners the behavior was normal; others declined repair or charged fees.
Mileage:
most between 0 and 25,000 miles, among 8 complaints that give it

“doesn't always accept touch commands properly and regularly operates by itself (ghost touch) while in drive”

“acts like it's being controlled sporadically without any buttons or the screen being touched”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (1)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 17V744000November 20171,076 vehicles

    Trailer hitches · Electrical system: wiring

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2017 CX-5 vehicles equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness. This harness may be routed such that there is insufficient clearance between the harness and the exhaust muffler, allowing the wiring harness to contact the muffler.

    Risk: Contact with the muffler may damage the trailer wiring harness, potentially resulting in the trailer lighting being inoperative, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the trailer hitch harness away from the muffler, replacing the harness if it is damaged, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Mazda sent NHTSA 571 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2017 CX-5. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • CSP13d Dealer Ltr · July 2025 · Warranty extensionCSP13 - CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM - MAZDA CONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION As a result of a Mazda Connect Infotainment Class Action settlement, Mazda Motor Corporation has…
  • CSP13c Dealer Ltr · June 2025 · Warranty extensionCSP13 - CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM - MAZDA CONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION As a result of a Mazda Connect Infotainment Class Action settlement, Mazda Motor Corporation has…
  • CSP13a Parts and Warranty · May 2025 · Warranty extensionCSP13 - CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM - MAZDA CONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION.
  • CSP13b Dealer Ltr · May 2025 · Warranty extensionCSP13 - CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM - MAZDA CONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION.
  • CSP13a Dealer Ltr · May 2025 · Warranty extensionCSP13 - CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM - MAZDA CONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION.
  • CSP13 Dealer Letter · April 2025 · Warranty extensionCSP13 - CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM - MAZDA CONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION As a result of a Mazda Connect Infotainment Class Action settlement, Mazda Motor Corporation has…
  • CSP13 FAQs · April 2025 · Warranty extensionCSP13 - CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM - MAZDA CONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION.
  • CSP13 Parts and Warranty · April 2025 · Warranty extensionCSP13 - CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM - MAZDA CONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION.

All 2017 CX-5 bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2017 Mazda CX-5 reliable?
Owners filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Mazda CX-5 in its first five years on the road, about 48 for every 100,000 sold: 0.5× the rate of a typical CX-5 year. That's among the fewest of any CX-5 year. Ratings compare CX-5 years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2017 CX-5 problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the brakes (20%), the electrical system (19%) and the body and structure (15%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2017 Mazda CX-5 been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2017 Mazda CX-5, the most recent in November 2017 (trailer hitches). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Mazda. The 2017 Mazda CX-5 on NHTSA.gov · How we rate