MAZDA CX-5 · model year

2020 MAZDA CX-5

136 NHTSA complaints, 14 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

5 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2020MAZDACX-5 carries 136 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 14 crashes, 0 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 5/5 rating, with 5/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2020 CX-5 is electrical system with 25 filings, followed by unknown or other (22) and engine (14). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 21 investigation files overlapping the 2020 CX-5, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

136
Complaints
14
Crashes
0
Fires
9
Injuries
0
Deaths
2020 MAZDA CX-5 — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2020 MAZDA CX-5. Overall composite: 5.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 5.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 5.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 4.0 ★
NHTSA overall 5.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

136 filings

Crashes Reported

14 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 5/5 — Top NCAP rating · Front: 5/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 4/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM25
UNKNOWN OR OTHER22
ENGINE14
SERVICE BRAKES11
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING7
POWER TRAIN7
STRUCTURE:BODY5
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING4
AIR BAGS4
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION4
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
VISIBILITY/WIPER3
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL3

Recent Complaints

20260217POWER TRAIN

Started smelling burning oil in 2020 Mazda CX-5 non turbo with 34,000 miles. Auto shop states it is a cracked cylinder that will cost over $7,000 to repair. A Google search shows it is a known issue but Mazda has not extended the warranty for non-turbo models.

20260106POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

The contact owned a 2020 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving under 45 MPH, the TCM received a false data sensor warning, causing the vehicle to enter LIMP Mode. The contact stated that during the failure, the smart brake feature, Adaptive Cruise Control, and other unknown ADS features and warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure with the ADS system prompted the vehicle to come to a complete stop while driving 45 MPH. The contact parked and turned off the vehicle to troubleshoot the ECU after the failure had occurred. The contact restarted the vehicle, and the adaptive cruise control warning light, smart brake feature, and ADS radar features returned. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified about the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.

Mileage: 140,000

20251104POWER TRAIN

Vehicle suffering from Mazda TSB 05-005/23 Chirping noise from Transaxle on 3rd to 4th gear upshift. Vehicle diagnosed by dealership as needing new Transaxle on 17OCT25. Diagnosis stated issue started ~32k miles.

20251101UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE SUNROOF EXPLODED NORMAL TEMPS in CHICAGO IL Halloween Hight 60 desgres on while driving on HWY

20251101STRUCTURE

SUNROOF EXPLODING - 2020 Cx5 I've seen other reports on mazda forums happending on cx the sunroofs RANDOM normal temp in chicago IL on Halloween night

20251001POWER TRAIN

The issue is iron is depositing in the transmission due to a bad torque converter, this is a known issue with mazda and it doesn't seem to be something they are willing to cover and many people are experiencing this especially with the cx5 models. It causes jerking and chirping noise, plus will eventually ruin the transmission and will cause serious safety issues. Just look into the reddit threads

20251001ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I purchased this vehicle as a used car from a dealership. On my way home, the infotainment panel began to shout at top volume that this is the volume that navigation would be set at. The volume was so loud that it was startling, and it continued on until I had to pull over. I contacted the dealer, but they offered no assistance. The car continues to control itself at the panel ferning with the use of android auto so that you can't use your phone GPS for directions. The radio will control itself, changing stations, making loud beeps, and turning the volume up. There is no way to stop this feature because you can't turn the system completely off while the car is on. I can find no way to fix this on my own. I have tried resets, but have seen ample information about other people having this problem online. This does not seem to be an unknown problem and I don't know why there has not been issued a recall because it's very dangerous.

20250930POWER TRAIN

Driving about 20 to 35 mph accelerating I would get a distinctive one time chirp noise with a little bit of a stutter It happens every time I go about that speed accelerating. Thankfully my car was under pre-owned warranty but I have to get now. Three transmission flushes I have to pay $400 for and they have to replace a torque converter. I just got the car 10 days ago and only has 61,000 mi on it. Over the long term this could damage the transmission cause more and more issues

20250927UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The ongoing “ghost touch” defect in Mazda infotainment systems is a serious safety hazard that should have triggered a recall. This issue affects vehicles from model years 2016 through 2023 and stems from a design flaw present from the beginning. While driving, the system can suddenly take control of the screen—changing settings, switching stations, adjusting navigation, and even blasting the volume to maximum without driver input. On multiple occasions, I have been driving at freeway speeds when the system suddenly raised the volume to its highest level, jolting me and creating a dangerous distraction that nearly caused an accident. Mazda previously settled a lawsuit regarding this defect but only offered a free software update as a remedy. When I visited a dealership, I was told I already had the latest update—and that it does not resolve the ghost touch problem. The dealership acknowledged that it is a known design flaw, yet Mazda is charging customers around $800 to repla

20250925ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2020 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while the cruise control was activated and driving 65 MPH in the middle lane of a busy six-lane highway, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle was suddenly stalled and coasted to a complete stop in the middle of the highway. The contact was able to restart the vehicle to continue driving. The vehicle was later taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure and was unable to confirm that the failure had occurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 32,000.

Mileage: 32,000

20250925VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

The contact owns a 2020 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while the cruise control was activated and driving 65 MPH in the middle lane of a busy six-lane highway, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle was suddenly stalled and coasted to a complete stop in the middle of the highway. The contact was able to restart the vehicle to continue driving. The vehicle was later taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure and was unable to confirm that the failure had occurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 32,000.

Mileage: 32,000

20250827FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

While driving my vehicle the systems sensors are affected by nearby drivers which cause the car to stall in the middle of traffic going between 40 and 75 miles per hour.

20250827LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

While driving my vehicle the systems sensors are affected by nearby drivers which cause the car to stall in the middle of traffic going between 40 and 75 miles per hour.

20250827FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

While driving my vehicle the systems sensors are affected by nearby drivers which cause the car to stall in the middle of traffic going between 40 and 75 miles per hour.

20250822AIR BAGS

While traveling on an Interstate highway, my passenger side curtain airbag suddenly deployed without any warning while I was driving. There was no collision or impact, there was no debris on the road, or any significant bumps in the road. There was a very loud explosive sound and then my entire passenger side was covered in blue. The sound was so loud that it left my ears ringing and left me badly shaken up. I lost all visibility out of my passenger side as all of my side windows and mirrors were obscured, and I knew there was traffic in that lane along side of me. It felt very dangerous and I had to rely on my lane change sensors to safely pull to the side to assess any damage. There was no evident sign of any impact to my car. All of the glass was intact, there were no scratches, dents or missing paint. The airbag fully deployed for no apparent reason and I was extremely lucky that I was not injured and that my reaction did not cause an accident when this happened. The car

20250815UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Display screen (Infotainment system) will randomly change the settings of my vehicle and call people or change display features or volume control or directions that is distracting and dangerous to me as I drive.

20250801ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The infotainment screen in the vehicle suffers from Phantom/Ghost touching, rending a safety hazard as while following navigation it can act on it's own, becoming a large distraction.

20250801UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The infotainment screen in the vehicle suffers from Phantom/Ghost touching, rending a safety hazard as while following navigation it can act on it's own, becoming a large distraction.

20250730UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Mazda has a known issue with their infotainment system and ghost touch. There was a recent lawsuit but ghost touch is not covered under the class action lawsuit. The screen will call people, change setting, and just click a bunch of things. This is extremely distracting when driving if I’m constantly having to fight to stay on my navigation screen and make sure it is not calling people. It’s a very well known issue that Mazda will not fix it and quotes around $500-700 to fix with a part that will eventually have the same issue. I have tried pleasing with Mazda and basically been told too bad. I just want my screen to work and not have to fight it constantly

20250729ENGINE

I noticed an oil leak. I had it diagnosed and its a crack in the cylinder head, right above the exhaust manifold. This is known issue for Mazda's online. There is oil spilling everywhere. The oil burns off as it is driving. Smoke fills my car.

Compare 2020MAZDACX-5 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2020 MAZDA CX-5 have?
The 2020 MAZDA CX-5 has 136 NHTSA complaints, 14 crashes, 0 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2020 MAZDA CX-5?
The 2020 MAZDA CX-5 received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 5/5, front crash rating of 5/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 MAZDA CX-5?
The most-complained component for the 2020 MAZDA CX-5 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 25 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and ENGINE.
Is the 2020 MAZDA CX-5 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2020 MAZDA CX-5 has an NHTSA safety rating of 5/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.