2018 Mazda CX-5 reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2018 Mazda CX-5 — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 468
- 362 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 174 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 30 reported crashes · 7 injuries · 3 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#1,115
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Mazda median
+272
median 196 across 81 Mazda records
Vs 2016-2020
+181
median 288 complaints in 538 records
Top component share
37%
Engine: 174 complaints
What owners report fails — 2018 Mazda CX-5
- ENGINE 174
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 58
- POWER TRAIN 39
- SERVICE BRAKES 32
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 29
3 recalls on record for the 2018 Mazda CX-5
- NHTSA 21V875000 · 2022 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 19V497000 · 2019 · ENGINE An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 18V426000 · 2018 · AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW If the air bags do not deploy properly in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2018 Mazda CX-5
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2018 Mazda CX-5 units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Mazda CX-5 reliable?
NHTSA has 468 consumer complaints on record for the 2018 Mazda CX-5 and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (174 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2018 Mazda CX-5 units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Mazda CX-5?
Owners most often report problems with: engine (174), unknown or other (58), power train (39), service brakes (32). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2018 Mazda CX-5?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.