YearToAvoid

2018 Mazda CX-5 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

92/100

#2 most-complained of 14 CX-5 years

The 2018 Mazda CX-5 ranks 2nd worst of 14 model years, with a complaint index of 92 and 349 complaints, most tied to the Engine (54% of complaints). Three recalls cover fuel pump, powertrain software, and side airbags.

Complaints
349
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
19 / 1
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
28
26 city / 30.5 hwy

Top 2018 Mazda CX-5 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine190 (54%)
  2. Other62 (18%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain41 (12%)
  4. Fuel System39 (11%)
  5. Brakes35 (10%)
  6. Electrical System34 (10%)
  7. Collision Avoidance & Cameras17 (5%)
  8. Structure & Body14 (4%)
  9. Airbags9 (3%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (2%)

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden unintended acceleration while slowly approaching a parking spot, even with the brake pedal depressed.
  • Several drivers describe the brakes failing to respond or the car lurching forward instead of stopping during low-speed maneuvers.
  • One owner reported the vehicle catching fire while driving on the highway, suspecting an electrical or fuel system cause.
  • A blind spot sensor malfunction light came on after a minor parking lot bump, prompting a dealership visit.
  • One report describes a side curtain airbag failing to deploy properly during a crash after unintended acceleration.
2018 Mazda CX-5 complaints: complaints filed per quarter342018 Q12019 Q22020 Q32021 Q42023 Q12024 Q22025 Q3
464 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q2 (34).

2018 Mazda CX-5 recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V875000Nov 12, 2021Fuel System121,038 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.

    Risk: Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5321K.

  2. NHTSA 19V497000Jun 27, 2019Transmission & Powertrain262,220 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission:control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)

    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.

  3. NHTSA 18V426000Jun 25, 2018Airbags682 vehicles

    Air bags:side/window

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda CX-5 vehicles. In the event of a side impact or rollover crash, the side curtain air bags may not properly unfold during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."

    Risk: If the air bags do not deploy properly in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2718F.

2018 Mazda CX-5 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
26 MPG
Highway
30.5 MPG
Combined
28 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,875
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2018 compared with other CX-5 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Avoid100510429
2017Best8148126.5
2018Avoid92349328
2019Avoid77270227
2020Good38106026

All Mazda CX-5 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Mazda CX-5 reliable?
Compared to other CX-5 model years, 2018 ranks 2nd worst out of 14 years tracked, with a complaint index of 92 and 349 NHTSA complaints. The Engine is the top problem area, accounting for 54% of complaints.
What recalls affect the 2018 Mazda CX-5?
NHTSA lists three recalls: a fuel pump impeller that may crack (campaign 21V875000), a powertrain control module software error that may cause engine stall (19V497000), and side curtain airbags that may not deploy properly (18V426000). None are do-not-drive recalls.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 CX-5?
Engine issues make up 54% of complaints (190 of 349), with a median mileage at failure of 20,900 miles. Transmission & Powertrain and Fuel System complaints follow, at 12% and 11% respectively.
How does the 2018 CX-5 compare to other years?
The 2018 CX-5 has a complaint index of 92, worse than 2017 (8), 2015 (23), and 2020 (38), but slightly better than 2016 (100), which ranks worst of all 14 years.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.