UsedScore

2022 Mazda CX-5: Best bet

Owners filed 63 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Mazda CX-5 in its first five years on the road, about 40 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 lights (37% of complaints).

Complaint index
0.5×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical CX-5 year
Rank
1st of 10
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
63
first five years; 40 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
0
campaigns
2nd generation, 2017–2025 · Updated November 9, 2026 · How we rate
2024 Mazda CX-5 2.5 S Select (facelift)

Photo: 2024 Mazda CX-5 2.5 S Select (facelift) · Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Lights37% · 23 complaints
  2. Engine21% · 13 complaints
  3. Electrical10% · 6 complaints
  4. Driver assistance6% · 4 complaints
  5. Brakes6% · 4 complaints
  6. Air bags3% · 2 complaints
  7. Fuel and propulsion6% · 4 complaints
  8. Powertrain8% · 5 complaints
  9. Body and structure5% · 3 complaints
  10. Visibility5% · 3 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

Engine

Owners of the 2022 CX-5 report a range of engine problems including stalling or sudden acceleration, cracked cylinder heads with oil leaks, cold-start ticking noise, and timing chain cover leaks. Some describe warning lights, smoke, or repeated dealer visits before repairs were completed or the issue recurred.

Warning signs:
Owners report warning lights (check engine, battery, oil, critical malfunction alerts), high RPM fluctuation, burning or fuel odors, smoke, and loud ticking noises at cold start.
What shops did:
Dealers replaced control valve bodies, transmissions, cylinder heads, batteries, fuel pumps, and timing chain cover gaskets; some issues recurred or couldn't be duplicated.

“They discovered oil sprayed everywhere in the engine compartment, and discovered the cracked cylinder head.”

“The engine on my 2022 naturally aspirated Mazda CX5, is making a loud ticking noise when cold started.”

Lights

Owners describe the cooling fan inside the LED headlight assembly wearing out, producing a noticeable whine or hum and sometimes causing the headlight to dim or fail. Many say dealers point to a known service bulletin but the full assembly, costing well over a thousand dollars, must be replaced once warranty coverage ends.

Warning signs:
Owners report a whining, humming, grinding, buzzing or rattling noise from one or both headlights, sometimes continuing briefly after the lights are turned off.
What shops did:
Dealers typically diagnosed a failed cooling fan or headlight motor and replaced the entire headlight assembly, often at significant out-of-pocket cost once the vehicle was outside warranty.

“dirt gets into the bearings on the fan meant to cool the lamp DURING MANUFACTURING. This causes the fan to fail and the light to overheat”

“Humming sound coming from driver's side headlight as soon as unlock bottom pressed in key fob.”

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 2022 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 356 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2022 CX-5. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 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 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…
  • 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…
  • SSPD8 FC · March 2025 · Warranty extensionSSPD8 - SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM WARRANTY EXTENSION - MULTI-MODEL - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON WITH DTC P0126:00.Mazda Motor Corporation has decided to conduct a Special Service Program (SSP) to extend the…
  • SSPD8 Owner Letter · December 2024 · Warranty extensionMazda Motor Corporation has decided to conduct a Special Service Program (SSP) to extend the warranty coverage for a specific repair of the fail-safe thermostat installed inside of the suspected…
  • SSPD8 Dealer Letter · October 2024 · Warranty extensionMazda Motor Corporation has decided to conduct a Special Service Program (SSP) to extend the warranty coverage for a specific repair of the fail-safe thermostat in the coolant control valve on…
  • Dlr Claim Resp · October 2026Subject: Update – Campaign Warranty Claim Response Enhancements – Modules Not Repaired for Certain Campaigns Dear Mazda Dealer Colleagues, On October 28, 2026, a change was implemented in the…
  • SA-038-26c · October 2026Some customers may complain about any of the following 1.

All 2022 CX-5 bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2022 Mazda CX-5 reliable?
Owners filed 63 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Mazda CX-5 in its first five years on the road, about 40 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 2022 CX-5 problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the lights (37%), the engine (21%) and the electrical system (10%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2022 Mazda CX-5 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2022 Mazda CX-5.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of November 9, 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 2022 Mazda CX-5 on NHTSA.gov · How we rate