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2018 Mazda CX-5 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
93% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2018 Mazda CX-5 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 99% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2018 Mazda CX-5 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 111 of 119 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Mazda CX-5 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (93%), and the largest group is filed under engine (96). For comparison, the 2017 scores 23% and the 2019 scores 59%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2018 compares with other Mazda CX-5 years
Of the 11 Mazda CX-5 years with enough complaints to score, the 2018 is the worst on engine and transmission share (93%). The best is the 2017 (23%). By volume, the 2018 drew 119 complaints (111 drivetrain), against 148 for the 2017 and 270 for the 2019.
Mazda CX-5 years to avoid and best years →
2013 CX-5 problems · 2014 CX-5 problems · 2015 CX-5 problems · 2016 CX-5 problems · 2017 CX-5 problems · 2018 · 2019 CX-5 problems · 2020 CX-5 problems · 2021 CX-5 problems · 2022 CX-5 problems · 2023 CX-5 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2018 Mazda CX-5
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2018 Mazda CX-5 said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 111 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2018 Mazda CX-5 engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2018 Mazda CX-5 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Fix: 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.
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.
Fix: 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…
1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2018 Mazda CX-5? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2018 Mazda CX-5 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 111 of 119 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Mazda CX-5 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (93%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Mazda CX-5?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2018 Mazda CX-5 is engine: 96 of 119 complaints (81%) name it, followed by power train (18) and engine and engine cooling (3). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2018 Mazda CX-5 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 93% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 99% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 11 Mazda CX-5 years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2018 Mazda CX-5?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2018 Mazda CX-5 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total: 21V875000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), 19V497000 (engine). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Mazda CX-5 years are better?
Among the Mazda CX-5 years we track, the 2014 (23%), the 2017 (23%) and the 2023 (23%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2018 (93%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/mazda-cx-5
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.