YearToAvoid

2023 Mazda CX-5 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

54/100

#7 most-complained of 14 CX-5 years

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 has 62 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 54, ranking 7th worst of 14 model years with a 'Caution' verdict. No recalls have been filed. Electrical System issues lead at 27% of complaints.

Complaints
62
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
8 / 0
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
25
23 city / 28.5 hwy

Top 2023 Mazda CX-5 problems

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

  1. Electrical System17 (27%)
  2. Engine15 (24%)
  3. Brakes11 (18%)
  4. Other10 (16%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras7 (11%)
  6. Visibility & Wipers7 (11%)
  7. Lane Departure4 (6%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain3 (5%)
  9. Fuel System2 (3%)
  10. Seat Belts2 (3%)

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden unintended acceleration while braking to park, in some cases crashing into buildings or curbs.
  • Some drivers describe dashboard warnings, flickering interior lights, and steering or brake lockup while driving.
  • Windshields have reportedly cracked spontaneously while the vehicle was parked, with one failure reported at 2,802 miles.
  • Owners describe brakes feeling weak, requiring hard pressure to stop and causing the car to lurch at stop lights.
  • A sunroof reportedly exploded outward while the vehicle was being driven on the highway.
  • The MyMazda app reportedly alerted an owner to low oil levels on multiple occasions despite recent checks.
2023 Mazda CX-5 complaints: complaints filed per month7Jan 2023Oct 2023Jul 2024Feb 2025Sep 2025Feb 2026Jul 2026
85 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2023 to Sep 2026; peak Jul 2023 (7).

2023 Mazda CX-5 recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2023 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.

2023 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
2021Caution69146025.5
2022Best1563025
2023Caution5462025
2024Good3144025
2025Caution6227025

All Mazda CX-5 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Mazda CX-5 reliable?
NHTSA lists 62 complaints for the 2023 CX-5, giving it a complaint index of 54 and a 'Caution' verdict, ranking 7th worst among the 14 model years with data.
Does the 2023 Mazda CX-5 have any recalls?
No. NHTSA lists zero recalls for the 2023 Mazda CX-5.
What is the top complaint area for the 2023 CX-5?
Electrical System issues are the top problem area, accounting for 27% of complaints (17 total), followed by Engine at 24% and Brakes at 18%.
How does the 2023 CX-5 compare to other CX-5 years?
The 2023 model's complaint index of 54 is worse than the 2022 (15, 'Best') and 2024 (31, 'Good') model years, but far better than 2016 (100, 'Avoid'), the worst year on record.
What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Mazda CX-5?
EPA rates the 2023 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.