Mazda CX-5 Years to Avoid — the cracked-head years, counted.
The CX-5 years to be most careful with are 2018 and 2019: 98 of the 125 complaints on the 2018 and 95 on the 2019 describe a cracked cylinder head or oil leaking onto the exhaust. The 2016 drew the most complaints of any year, mostly about its lights.
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Quick Answer
- What Mazda CX-5 years should you avoid?
- Be most careful with the 2018 and 2019. 98 of 125 complaints on the 2018 and 95 of 273 on the 2019 describe a cracked cylinder head or oil dripping onto the exhaust, mostly on the non-turbo 2.5-liter by owners' accounts. The 2016 drew the most complaints overall (512), led by failing daytime running lights, which recall 20V063000 covers.
- What is the best year for a used CX-5?
- The 2017 stands out: 150 complaints and none that mention the cylinder head, against 98 on the 2018. The 2015 drew 133. The 2020 drew the fewest of any older year (110), though owners report heads and oil burning on some. Owners in the comments below report 2016 and 2017 CX-5s past 150,000 miles.
- Did Mazda fix the cracked cylinder heads?
- Complaints describing the head fall from 95 on the 2019 to 3 on the 2020 and 2 on the 2021. One Reddit owner believes Mazda corrected the casting, while others report goodwill or warranty repairs. No recall covers it, so ask for service records on any 2018–2021.
Four checks for any CX-5, and one more for a 2018–2021
Most CX-5 problems leave clues you can find on a test drive and in the paperwork.
- 1Confirm the year from the VINThe 10th character gives the model year; the seller's listing may not.
- 22018–2021: look for oil at the back of the engineA cracked head leaks oil onto the exhaust; a burning smell is the clue.
- 3Clear the recallsDaytime running lights, fuel pump and engine-stall campaigns are tied to the VIN.
- 4Test every light and the screenFailed LED running lights and a screen that taps itself are common complaints.
- 5Check title and mileage recordsA head replaced after a crash or a rolled-back odometer won't show on the car.
The CX-5 Years to Be Most Careful With: 2018 and 2019
On raw counts the 2018 looks harmless: 125 NHTSA complaints, fewer than most CX-5 years. Read them and 98 (78%) describe the same fault: a crack in the cylinder head, on the non-turbo 2.5-liter in most owners' accounts, leaking oil onto the exhaust manifold, often noticed as a burning smell or smoke from under the hood.
The 2019 drew more complaints (273) and 95 of them describe the head. Owners report it anywhere from about 35,000 to well over 100,000 miles, and describe the fix as a replacement cylinder head. Some had it covered under warranty or as a goodwill repair; others paid for it themselves.
The 2018 and 2019 also share two recalls: 19V497000, a powertrain software error that can stall the engine, and 21V875000, a low-pressure fuel pump whose impeller can crack. Both are free at a dealer and both are worth confirming on any car you look at.
Cylinder-head complaints by year
- 2016: 3 of 512 complaints (1%)
- 2017: 0 of 150 complaints (0%)
- 2018: 98 of 125 complaints (78%)
- 2019: 95 of 273 complaints (35%)
- 2020: 3 of 110 complaints (3%)
- 2021: 2 of 150 complaints (1%)
Every CX-5 Model Year by NHTSA Complaints
Complaints and recall campaigns for each CX-5 model year sold in the US, read from NHTSA's records on 12 November 2026. The last column is the share of that year's complaints naming its most-cited component.
| Year | Complaints | Crash · fire reports | Recalls | Most-cited component | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 194 | 6 · 1 | 1 | Electrical System | 30% |
| 2014 | 377 | 7 · 0 | 4 | Electrical System | 35% |
| 2015 | 133 | 11 · 0 | 4 | Structure | 20% |
| 2016 | 512 | 31 · 10 | 5 | Exterior Lighting | 31% |
| 2017 | 150 | 5 · 0 | 1 | Electrical System | 29% |
| 2018 | 125 | 1 · 0 | 3 | Engine | 81% |
| 2019 | 273 | 7 · 2 | 2 | Engine | 48% |
| 2020 | 110 | 10 · 0 | 0 | Electrical System | 28% |
| 2021 | 150 | 10 · 0 | 0 | Engine | 54% |
| 2022 | 65 | 5 · 2 | 0 | Exterior Lighting | 35% |
| 2023 | 67 | 8 · 0 | 0 | Service Brakes | 18% |
| 2024 | 47 | 4 · 1 | 0 | Service Brakes | 17% |
| 2025 | 29 | 4 · 0 | 0 | Service Brakes | 38% |
| 2026 | 19 | 1 · 0 | 0 | Electrical System | 26% |
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales; a year with more cars on the road collects more of them. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
Other CX-5 Years and What Went Wrong
The cylinder head gets the attention, but it isn't the only pattern in the CX-5's record.
2016: daytime running lights
145 complaints mention the headlights or LED running lights; recall 20V063000 inspects and replaces them.
2014: dead batteries
25 of 377 complaints describe a drained battery or a car that won't start.
2021: oil consumption
31 of 150 complaints describe the engine burning or losing oil between changes.
2014–2018: the screen
37 complaints on the 2017 alone describe the touchscreen pressing itself or the infotainment rebooting.
2014–2016: fuel filler pipe
Recall 16V064000: a filler pipe that may rupture in a crash.
2022 onward: quiet so far
No year from 2022 on has drawn more than 67 complaints, though newer cars have had less time.
What CX-5 Owners Say on Reddit and YouTube
The CX-5 has a loyal following, and the comments show both sides: owners running early CX-5s well past 150,000 miles, and owners of 2018–2019 cars dealing with the head. Here is a cross-section, each linked below.
A point owners raise again and again: the CX-5's conventional automatic, rather than a CVT, is a reason they bought it.
In owners' words (paraphrased)
- r/CX5, 2019 CX-5: an owner smelled burning oil at about 35,000 miles; the dealer found a cracked cylinder head and covered it under warranty.
- r/mazda, 2016 CX-5: an owner's car cracked its head at 120,000 miles; facing a $6,000 bill, they bought a different car instead.
- r/CX5, 81,000 miles: an owner whose head turned out porous says Mazda USA paid a little over half as a goodwill repair.
- r/CX5, years to skip: a commenter says they'd avoid 2018–2020 for the heads, and some 2020-on cars for oil burning past the valve stems.
- r/CX5, a counterpoint: another believes Mazda corrected the casting problem and says they haven't seen a replacement head crack.
- YouTube, 2017 CX-5 at 154,000 miles: the owner is getting new tires and rear brake pads and plans to drive it until it gives out.
- YouTube, 2018 CX-5 GT: an owner had the hydraulic lash adjusters replaced for noisy cold starts and a motor mount for vibration, both under Mazda service bulletins, they say.
- YouTube, 2017 CX-5 at 130,000 miles: an owner unplugged the touch panel after ghost clicks and uses the control knob instead.
CX-5 Complaints at a Glance
The CX-5's record has three clusters: lighting on the 2016, the cylinder head on 2018–2019, and oil consumption on the 2021. The 2017 sits between them with 150 complaints.
Fewest vs. Most CX-5 Complaints
Through the 2021 model year, so every car has had a few years on the road.
Fewest complaints (2013–2021, head years left out)
- 2020: 110 complaints
- 2015: 133 complaints
- 2017: 150 complaints
- 2021: 150 complaints
Most complaints
- 2016: 512 complaints
- 2014: 377 complaints
- 2019: 273 complaints
- 2013: 194 complaints
Left out of the first list: 2018, 2019, where at least a quarter of complaints describe the cylinder head.
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The CX-5s Our Visitors Look Up
From 11 June 2026 to 11 November 2026, 671 different Mazda CX-5 VINs went through our free preview. 205 of them (31%) were 2018–2021 models, the years with cylinder-head or oil-consumption complaints. The most-looked-up year of all was the 2016, with 95 VINs.
That is a lot of shoppers looking at the years with the most to check. A 2018–2021 with records of a replaced head, or a clean bill from a mechanic who looked for the leak, is a different car from one that hasn't been checked.
What to Check on a Used CX-5
Matched to the year you are looking at.
2018–2021: back of the engine
Oil on the exhaust manifold or a burning smell after a drive.
2019–2021: the oil level
Ask how often it needs topping up between changes.
2016: the running lights
Both LED running lights on, and recall work on record.
2013–2015: battery and starting
A new battery every year or two is a clue to a drain.
Any year: the screen
Watch it for a few minutes for presses you didn't make.
Any year: VIN records
Open recalls, title brands and odometer history.
Reading CX-5 Complaint Numbers Fairly
The CX-5 collects fewer NHTSA complaints than the CR-V or RAV4 in most years, but that alone doesn't make it more reliable: complaint counts rise with the number of cars on the road, and NHTSA does not adjust for that. Compare CX-5 years with each other, not with other models.
What a total hides is concentration. The 2016 drew 512 complaints spread across lights, brakes and electrics. The 2018 drew 125, and 78% of them are about one expensive fault. That is why this page counts the head complaints separately.
The fault counts come from searching the words owners wrote, so they are a minimum. Someone who described the leak without naming the head or the exhaust isn't counted.
Related Checks and Guides
Recalls, history and the CX-5's rivals.
Where These Facts Come From
Complaint and recall figures are NHTSA's own records; owner experiences are linked so you can read them in full.
NHTSA records read 12 November 2026. Written by the CarCheckerVIN editorial team with AI assistance, from NHTSA's complaint and recall records, our own preview logs and the owner posts linked above; figures checked November 2026. CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with Mazda.
Mazda CX-5 Years to Avoid — Frequently Asked Questions
The cylinder head, the best years and what to check.
What is the worst year for the Mazda CX-5?+
By total complaints, the 2016 (512). By the most serious single fault, the 2018 and 2019, where 78% and 35% of complaints describe a cracked cylinder head.
Which CX-5 years have the cracked cylinder head?+
Owner complaints describing it are concentrated on the 2018 (98) and 2019 (95), with 3 on the 2020 and 2 on the 2021. Owners mostly link it to the non-turbo 2.5-liter.
Is the 2017 CX-5 a good year?+
On NHTSA's record, yes: 150 complaints and none about the cylinder head. 37 describe touchscreen or infotainment faults, which are annoying rather than dangerous.
Are CX-5s reliable at high mileage?+
Owners in the comments linked above report 2016 and 2017 CX-5s at 150,000 miles and more on routine maintenance. Individual cars vary, which is why a mechanic's look matters more than the badge.
Is there a recall for the CX-5 cylinder head?+
Not among the campaigns NHTSA lists for the CX-5. The recalls on the 2018–2019 are 19V497000 (engine-stall software) and 21V875000 (fuel pump).
Will your report show a cracked head?+
No vehicle history report can see inside an engine. Ours lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos for the VIN. A mechanic finds the head; the report finds the paperwork.
Check the CX-5 in Front of You
The year narrows the risks; the VIN and a mechanic settle them. Free preview first; the full report is $14.99 and lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos.
Complaint and recall figures are NHTSA's public records as read on 12 November 2026; complaints are unverified owner reports. Owner comments are paraphrased from the linked posts. CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with Mazda. Records in our reports reflect what was reported to our data providers. Our reports do not include police or repair-shop accident entries.
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