YearToAvoid

2021 Mazda CX-5 Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 88 engine complaints for the 2021 Mazda CX-5, 60% of all 146 complaints filed for the year. There are no related recalls on file. Median mileage at failure was 40,182.5 miles.

Engine complaints
88
60% of 146
Crashes reported
6
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
5
Median mileage
40,183 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the low oil level warning light illuminating well before the scheduled oil change interval, sometimes requiring extra oil to be added between changes.
  • Some owners describe the engine consuming oil noticeably, with the low oil light triggering more than once between service intervals.
  • Owners describe the cylinder deactivation system causing the engine to shake, stutter, or vibrate as if driving over an uneven surface.
  • Some owners report the vehicle briefly failing to accelerate when the pedal was depressed while stopped, requiring a restart to correct.
  • One owner reported all electrical systems failing after the vehicle sat unused, leaving it unable to start.

When 2021 Mazda CX-5 engine complaints were filed

First complaint May 17, 2021, latest Sep 23, 2026.

2021 Mazda CX-5 engine complaints: complaints filed per month13May 2021Jun 2022Nov 2022Apr 2023Sep 2023May 2024Jan 2025Mar 2026
88 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Aug 2022 (13).

Engine recalls for the 2021 Mazda CX-5

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by CX-5 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20121 (100%)
  2. 201356 (29%)
  3. 201446 (12%)
  4. 201526 (20%)
  5. 201649 (10%)
  6. 201720 (14%)
  7. 2018190 (54%)
  8. 2019142 (53%)
  9. 202022 (21%)
  10. 202188 (60%)
  11. 202214 (22%)
  12. 202315 (24%)
  13. 202411 (25%)
  14. 20259 (33%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2021 Mazda CX-5 have engine problems?
NHTSA lists 88 engine-related complaints for the 2021 CX-5, which is 60% of the 146 total complaints filed for that model year. Owners most often describe low oil warnings, oil consumption, and rough running tied to cylinder deactivation.
Is there a recall for the 2021 Mazda CX-5 engine?
No related recalls are listed in the NHTSA data for the 2021 CX-5 engine complaints.
At what mileage do 2021 CX-5 engine problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure among the reported engine complaints is 40,182.5 miles.
How serious are the reported engine issues?
Among the complaints in this area, NHTSA records 6 crashes and 5 injuries and no fires.

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.