Home · 2021 Mazda CX-5 · Complaints

What 137 owners told NHTSA about the 2021 Mazda CX-5

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (137)Crash / fire / injury (8)Engine (76)Transmission & drivetrain (16)Brakes (11)Electrical system (11)Driver assistance (9)Fuel system (8)Speed control (8)Visibility & wipers (7)Lane Departure (6)Airbags (3)

6 of 137 complaints match · Lane Departure · clear filters

Jun 23, 2026Lane Departure

The contact owns a 2021 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH on the interstate and changing lanes, the blind spot warning light was inoperable. The contact stated that the blind spot indicator then became operable. An independent mechanic was notified of the failure and stated that the repair was not covered. The local dealer was contacted, where a prior unknown diagnostic test was completed; however, the blind spot failure had not been addressed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

NHTSA ODI 11745846

Jan 6, 2026AirbagsLane DepartureBackup camera & sensors

I was entering a traffic circle when i slid slightly as there was some ice on the roadway and came to rest against a curb, bumped lightly. There was no damage to the vehicle, but the entire driver side curtain airbags as well as the driver seat airbag deployed. The speed at which I was traveling was roughly 10 mph or less. My wheels never hit hard nor did they leave the pavement.

NHTSA ODI 11709239

Apr 29, 2024Lane DepartureDriver assistance

In under 36 months failure of the front sensing camera disabled parking brake, traction control, emergency braking assistant, traction control, lane keeping assistance and lane departure warning

NHTSA ODI 11585855

Aug 27, 2022Electrical systemSpeed controlLane DepartureCrash

I bought a 2021 Mazda CX-5 from Ramsey Mazda of Des Moines, IA. It offered comparable comfort & features. A selling point was the safety features touted by the salesman. Odd things occurred during the first few months but I attributed it to a learning curve. I saw some odd messages but I really did not think it was relevant until June 28, 2022. I was backing out from a parking space. The Blind Spot Monitoring failed to indicate a car approaching from the right that then stopped in my blind spot. I hit the car behind me. Despite the fact, I understand personal responsibility, I never would have had the BSM worked correctly. I dropped the car off on July 15, 2022 to the Ramsey Mazda Service Center after the BSM failure and a Check Engine Light appeared. I already had the Ramsey Mazda Collision Center look at the car and told them of the of the BSM failure. That man doing the estimate said he had heard of those failures before. On July 15, I dropped the car off at the Ramsey Mazda Service Center to look at the BSM, a Check Engine light, the door locks and the hatch opening on its own. I tried to tell the Service Center that there was something severely wrong with the electrical system in this vehicle. I have a witness to its erratic behavior, but I was continually dismissed. There is more wrong now with my car than when I left it with the dealership. They kept my car for 19 days. During the 19 days, I continually had to call and check on the status of my vehicle. Ramsey Mazda was not and is still not initiating conversation with me or responding to voicemails. The manager of the Ramsey Mazda Dealership on Hickman in Des Moines, IA (JD) is supposed to be handling this issue personally with Mazda Corporate because it now “appears” to be affecting multiple systems in his words. Multiple issues include but are not limited to the BSM, Seat Belt notifications, power driver’s seat, camera system, cruise control system, entertainment system, & hands free communications.

NHTSA ODI 11481503

Feb 24, 2022Lane Departure

BSM Does not see all vehicles in the blind spot. It is very inconsistent. I have taken it to the dealer who told me that they could not repair it because no fault code shows up. Mazda has not been helpful.

NHTSA ODI 11453753

Jan 10, 2022Lane Departure

The blind spot monitoring system does not function properly. While on the freeway some vehicles show up and some do not. I took it to the dealer, and they test drove it and said it was working properly and there were no codes. I contacted Mazda and they made a second appointment for me, and I took it back. I told them that it only does it on the freeway and I sent them a video showing the problem. They said they drove it again (not on the freeway) and told me it worked fine and since there was no code, they could not fix it. I called Mazda again and they told me they could make an appointment at another dealer. The nearest dealer is an hour away and they had my vehicle for 7 days the first time and three days the second time. I don't have the ability to take it an hour away and leave it for days. This is a safety issue and needs to be repaired. I had the same vehicle only it was a 2018 and never had this problem.

NHTSA ODI 11446862

Working with the data? Download all 137 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2021 Mazda CX-5 verdict →