YearToAvoid

2019 Mazda CX-5 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2019 Mazda CX-5 ranks 3rd worst of 14 model years with a complaint index of 85 and 270 complaints, earning an Avoid verdict. Engine problems dominate at 53% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 26,000 miles, plus two recalls covering fuel pump and transmission software issues.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
85/100
#3 of 14 CX-5 years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
270
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
2
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
7
reported in complaints
Fires
2
Injuries
5
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2017
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
27
24.5 city / 30 hwy
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0

Top 2019 Mazda CX-5 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine142 (53%)
  2. Other51 (19%)
  3. Electrical System49 (18%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain32 (12%)
  5. Fuel System21 (8%)
  6. Collision Avoidance & Cameras17 (6%)
  7. Structure & Body10 (4%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers10 (4%)
  9. Airbags7 (3%)
  10. Brakes7 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Engine failure with oil leaking onto the ground, sometimes requiring full engine replacement and producing smoke in the cabin.
  • Sudden unintended acceleration reported both while braking in traffic and while the vehicle was parked and unattended.
  • Brake system malfunction warnings accompanied by unexpected acceleration or the vehicle rolling backward on an incline.
  • Dash and center touchscreen going completely black, killing audio, Apple CarPlay, climate controls, and gauges, requiring a restart.
  • Electrical system shutting off all lights, gauges, and infotainment features at very low mileage.
  • Airbag-area electrical fire reported as originating near the passenger door speaker components.
2019 Mazda CX-5 complaints: complaints filed per quarter232019 Q32020 Q32021 Q32022 Q32023 Q32024 Q32025 Q32026 Q3
270 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2019 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q1 (23).

2019 Mazda CX-5 recalls

2 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.

2019 Mazda CX-5 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24.5 MPG
Highway
30 MPG
Combined
27 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,650
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.

2019 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
2017Best15148126.5
2018Avoid92349328
2019Avoid85270227
2020Caution62106026
2021Caution69146025.5

All Mazda CX-5 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Mazda CX-5 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2019 CX-5 ranks 3rd worst among 14 model years, with a complaint index of 85 and an Avoid verdict. Engine problems make up 53% of its 270 complaints.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Mazda CX-5?
Engine issues account for 53% of complaints, followed by electrical system problems at 18% and transmission/powertrain issues at 12%, according to NHTSA data.
Does the 2019 Mazda CX-5 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists two recalls for the 2019 CX-5: one for a fuel pump impeller that may crack, and one for a powertrain control module software error that could cause the engine to stall. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
At what mileage do 2019 CX-5 engine problems usually show up?
NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage of 26,000 miles for engine-related failures in the 2019 CX-5.
Which CX-5 model years are better than 2019?
Among CX-5 years, 2017 and 2022 earn Best verdicts with complaint indexes of 15 and 8, while 2013 and 2015 earn Good verdicts, all far lower than the 2019 model's index of 85.

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.