UsedScore

2021 Mazda CX-5: Solid

Owners filed 119 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Mazda CX-5 in its first five years on the road, about 73 for every 100,000 sold: 1.0× the rate of a typical CX-5 year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the engine (60% of complaints, median 19,000 miles).

Complaint index
1.0×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical CX-5 year
Rank
5th of 9
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
119
first five years; 73 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
0
campaigns
2nd generation, 2017–2025 · 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. Engine60% · 71 complaints · median 19,000 miles
  2. Speed control5% · 6 complaints
  3. Brakes7% · 8 complaints
  4. Driver assistance8% · 9 complaints
  5. Powertrain13% · 16 complaints
  6. Electrical8% · 10 complaints
  7. Fuel and propulsion6% · 7 complaints
  8. Body and structure2% · 2 complaints
  9. Visibility5% · 6 complaints
  10. Air bags1% · 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

Brakes

Owners of this model describe premature wear, rust, or warping of brake rotors and pads, sometimes accompanied by vibration, noise, or sudden acceleration when braking. Dealers have replaced parts in several cases, but some owners say the cause could not be found.

Warning signs:
Many report squealing or clicking noises, steering wheel vibration or shaking, a burning smell, or warning lights before the issue was noticed.
What shops did:
Dealers often replaced brake pads and rotors, though some owners say the dealer found no diagnostic codes or could not identify the cause.

“Front rotors are rusty and chipping. Brake pads are chipping and front end has vibrations when brake pedal is applied.”

“when applying the brakes the steering wheel started shaking and the car made noises”

Engine

Many owners of this model report their engine burning or leaking oil well before scheduled oil changes, often confirmed by dealers who point to a service bulletin but say there's no fix. Some also describe stalling, rough running, or timing cover leaks that required repeated repairs.

Warning signs:
Owners report the low oil warning light or app alert illuminating between oil changes, sometimes with check engine light, rough idle, jerking, or a ticking noise.
What shops did:
Dealers often topped off or changed the oil, cited a service bulletin about valve stem seals, and in many cases said no repair was available unless the check engine light was on; some replaced timing covers or gaskets, sometimes more than once.
Mileage:
most between 15,000 and 65,000 miles, among 8 complaints that give it

“Low oil light came on and I stopped to check oil and it was down 1quart.”

“For the third time in 3 years we have had to had the timing cover and gasket replaced due to major oil leakage.”

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

Recalls

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2021 Mazda CX-5.

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 498 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2021 CX-5. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • SSPD5 Parts Warr b · April 2026 · Warranty extensionValve Stem Seals Class Action Settlement Program for Excessive Oil Consumption and Oil Consumption Powertrain Warranty Extension Special Service Program SSPD5.
  • SSPD8 Dlr Ltr a · March 2026 · Warranty extensionSubject: TSB 01-001/26 Warranty and Parts Kit Update INCLUDES: Warranty Extension Program - Special Service Program (SSP) D8 Check Engine Light ON with DTC P0126:00, 2018-2025 CX-5, 2019-2023 Mazda3,…
  • SSPD8 Repair d · March 2026 · Warranty extensionSubject: TSB 01-001/26 Warranty and Parts Kit Update INCLUDES: Warranty Extension Program - Special Service Program (SSP) D8 Check Engine Light ON with DTC P0126:00, 2018-2025 CX-5, 2019-2023 Mazda3,…
  • SSPD5 Repair b · February 2026 · Warranty extensionSPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM - SSPD5 - WARRANTY EXTENSION - MULTI-MODEL - VALVE STEM SEALS CLASS ACTION In conjunction with a Class Action Settlement, Mazda Motor Corporation has decided to conduct an…
  • SSPD8 Repair c · February 2026 · Warranty extensionSSPD8 - Check Engine Light ON with DTC P0126:00 - WARRANTY EXTENSION For certain 2018-2025MY CX-5, 2019-2023MY Mazda3, 2019-2022MY CX-3, 2018-2021MY Mazda6, 2020-2023MY CX-30 that are equipped with…
  • SSPD8 Parts and Warr a · January 2026 · Warranty extensionSSPD8 - Check Engine Light ON with DTC P0126:00 - WARRANTY EXTENSION For certain 2018-2025MY CX-5, 2019-2023MY Mazda3, 2019-2022MY CX-3, 2018-2021MY Mazda6, 2020-2023MY CX-30 that are equipped with…
  • SSPD8 Repair b · January 2026 · Warranty extensionSSPD8 - Check Engine Light ON with DTC P0126:00 - WARRANTY EXTENSION For certain 2018-2025MY CX-5, 2019-2023MY Mazda3, 2019-2022MY CX-3, 2018-2021MY Mazda6, 2020-2023MY CX-30 that are equipped with…
  • SSPD8a Repair · December 2025 · Warranty extensionSSPD8 - Check Engine Light ON with DTC P0126:00 - WARRANTY EXTENSION For certain 2018-2025MY CX-5, 2019-2023MY Mazda3, 2019-2022MY CX-3, 2018-2021MY Mazda6, 2020-2023MY CX-30 that are equipped with…

All 2021 CX-5 bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2021 Mazda CX-5 reliable?
Owners filed 119 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Mazda CX-5 in its first five years on the road, about 73 for every 100,000 sold: 1.0× the rate of a typical CX-5 year. That's close to a typical 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 2021 CX-5 problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the engine (60%), speed control (5%) and the brakes (7%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2021 Mazda CX-5 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2021 Mazda CX-5.

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 2021 Mazda CX-5 on NHTSA.gov · How we rate