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2021 Mazda CX-5 problems

What owners report to NHTSA, grouped by component, with the recalls that cover them.

NHTSA has 146 owner complaints on file for the 2021 Mazda CX-5, filed between 2021-01-09 and 2026-09-23. The most common problem areas are the engine (79, 54%), power train (17, 12%) and electrical system (12, 8%). Owners reported 9 crashes and 7 injuries in these complaints. NHTSA lists 0 recalls for this model year.

Last updated: 2026-09-29 · Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases

2021 Mazda CX-5 complaints by component

Component	Complaints	Share	Crashes	Injuries
Engine	79	54%	1	1
Power train	17	12%	0	0
Unknown or other	17	12%	3	3
Electrical system	12	8%	2	1
Forward collision avoidance	11	8%	3	3
Service brakes	11	8%	3	3
Vehicle speed control	8	5%	5	4
Fuel/propulsion system	7	5%	1	2
Lane departure	7	5%	2	0
Air bags	4	3%	0	0
Visibility/wiper	4	3%	0	0
Tires	3	2%	0	0
Visibility	3	2%	0	0
Back over prevention	2	1%	0	0
Engine and engine cooling	2	1%	0	0

A complaint can name several components, so shares can add up to more than 100%. Crashes, fires and injuries are as reported by owners.

The top problem areas, in plain English

Each summary is built from the complaint counts and NHTSA recall notices, not from individual owner stories.

Engine: 79 complaints

79 complaints of 146 (54%) name the engine.
11 of them also name the power train; owners reported 1 crash and 1 injury in these complaints.
No NHTSA recall for the 2021 Mazda CX-5 covers this system.

Power train: 17 complaints

17 complaints of 146 (12%) name the power train — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts and axles.
11 of them also name the engine; none of these complaints reports a crash, fire or injury.
No NHTSA recall for the 2021 Mazda CX-5 covers this system.

Electrical system: 12 complaints

12 complaints of 146 (8%) name the electrical system — wiring, battery and charging, fuses, control modules and in-car electronics.
3 of them also name the engine; owners reported 2 crashes and 1 injury in these complaints.
No NHTSA recall for the 2021 Mazda CX-5 covers this system.

Forward collision avoidance: 11 complaints

11 complaints of 146 (8%) name the forward collision avoidance — forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking.
4 of them also name the vehicle speed control; owners reported 3 crashes and 3 injuries in these complaints.
No NHTSA recall for the 2021 Mazda CX-5 covers this system.

Service brakes: 11 complaints

11 complaints of 146 (8%) name the service brakes — the foot-brake system: pads, rotors, calipers, lines and ABS.
4 of them also name the vehicle speed control; owners reported 3 crashes and 3 injuries in these complaints.
No NHTSA recall for the 2021 Mazda CX-5 covers this system.

Vehicle speed control: 8 complaints

8 complaints of 146 (5%) name the vehicle speed control — cruise control and accelerator/throttle control.
4 of them also name the forward collision avoidance; owners reported 5 crashes and 4 injuries in these complaints.
No NHTSA recall for the 2021 Mazda CX-5 covers this system.

When the complaints were filed

Year filed	Complaints
2021	15
2022	46
2023	26
2024	22
2025	17
2026	20

What is counted

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the model names CX-5, model year 2021. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is NHTSA's confirmed safety defect. See the 2021 Mazda CX-5 recalls.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2021 Mazda CX-5?

By NHTSA owner complaints, the 2021 Mazda CX-5's most common problem areas are the engine (79 of 146 complaints), power train (17 of 146 complaints) and electrical system (12 of 146 complaints).

How many complaints does the 2021 Mazda CX-5 have?

NHTSA has 146 owner complaints on file for the 2021 Mazda CX-5, including 9 reported crashes.

Is there a recall for the 2021 Mazda CX-5's problems?

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2021 Mazda CX-5. Complaints alone do not trigger a free repair.