YearToAvoid

2022 Mazda CX-5 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

15/100

#12 most-complained of 14 CX-5 years

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 has a Complaint Index of 15 and ranks 12th out of 14 model years, earning a "Best" verdict relative to other CX-5 years. It has 63 complaints, no recalls, and its top problem area is the Electrical System at 46% of complaints.

Complaints
63
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
5 / 2
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
25
23 city / 28.5 hwy

Top 2022 Mazda CX-5 problems

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

  1. Electrical System29 (46%)
  2. Engine14 (22%)
  3. Other10 (16%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain5 (8%)
  5. Brakes4 (6%)
  6. Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (6%)
  7. Fuel System4 (6%)
  8. Structure & Body3 (5%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers3 (5%)
  10. Airbags2 (3%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the brake pedal traveling to the floor and failing to stop the vehicle in time despite the emergency braking system chiming.
  • Some drivers describe the automatic emergency braking system engaging unexpectedly during normal, controlled braking in slow traffic.
  • Electrical system complaints include the windshield heating element smoking and cracking the glass, and separate reports of the vehicle catching fire.
  • Several owners describe unexplained dead batteries accompanied by a "Critical Vehicle Malfunction Alert" notification, even though dealers found no fault.
  • One owner reported the sunroof shattering outward while driving at highway speed with no apparent cause.
  • Curtain airbags were reported to deploy randomly while driving, with no collision involved.
2022 Mazda CX-5 complaints: complaints filed per month7Feb 2022Sep 2022Mar 2023Feb 2024Dec 2024Jul 2025Jan 2026May 2026
82 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2022 to Aug 2026; peak Dec 2024 (7).

2022 Mazda CX-5 recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2022 Mazda CX-5 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
23 MPG
Highway
28.5 MPG
Combined
25 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,600
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.

2022 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
2020Good38106026
2021Caution69146025.5
2022Best1563025
2023Caution5462025
2024Good3144025

All Mazda CX-5 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2022 Mazda CX-5 reliable?
Among the 14 CX-5 model years with data, 2022 has a Complaint Index of 15, the second-lowest in the lineup, and carries a "Best" verdict relative to other CX-5 years.
What problems does the 2022 Mazda CX-5 have?
NHTSA lists 63 complaints for the 2022 CX-5, with the Electrical System being the top problem area at 46% of complaints, followed by the Engine at 22%.
Does the 2022 Mazda CX-5 have any recalls?
NHTSA shows 0 recalls for the 2022 Mazda CX-5, including 0 do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2022 CX-5 compare to other CX-5 years?
The 2022 CX-5 ranks 12th worst out of 14 model years, meaning only two years have fewer reported problems, unlike years such as 2016 (Complaint Index 100) and 2014 (Complaint Index 85), which are rated "Avoid."
What is the fuel economy of the 2022 Mazda CX-5?
EPA rates the 2022 CX-5 at 25 mpg combined (23 city / 28.5 highway), with an annual fuel cost of $2,600.

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.