What 59 owners told NHTSA about the 2023 Mazda Cx-50

Rear differential failure, and side seat tear on 2023 Mazda cx 50

NHTSA ODI 11747582

My rear differential is going out at only 40,000 miles. Ive heard from many other people that this is a widespread issue, and i feel requires a response from the company.

NHTSA ODI 11747626

The temperature control dial on the climate control system behaves erratically and inconsistently. When turning the dial to increase temperature, the displayed temperature sometimes decreases. When turning it to decrease, it sometimes increases. The dial also jumps multiple units rather than incrementing one degree at a time. The behavior is unpredictable and occurs regardless of whether the engine is warm or cold. This issue has been confirmed by multiple other 2023 CX-50 owners in owner forums, suggesting a manufacturing defect in the encoder mechanism for the temperature control knob. The dealer confirmed the bumper-to-bumper warranty has expired but has not offered a resolution.

NHTSA ODI 11740817

When adjusting the temperature in the car with the dial, it does not respond correctly. It either jumps up or down by multiple degrees. This causes to take your eyes off the road to try to adjust the temperature. No warning lights came on and pushing lighter or harder on the dial does NOT fix it. Only driver side is currently having this issue.

NHTSA ODI 11738212

2023 Mazda cx50 has a leaking panoramic sunroof and was noticed on February 27th, 2026 after a hard rain. Got an appointment with my dealership on March 4th, 2026 I bought my car through, they denied helping me of any kind and diagnosed my car with a cracked sunroof bypass drain plug and the part can’t be replaced, the entire panoramic assembly needs to be replaced. I believe this is a safety issue and Mazda Corporate will not help either. Water should not be coming into my car with electronics at risk!

NHTSA ODI 11737196

1) Climate Control System Malfunction I am reporting a safety-related defect involving the climate control system in my vehicle. Specifically, the temperature control knob is malfunctioning and behaves erratically. When adjusting the temperature, the system does not respond consistently and will unpredictably change temperature settings without corresponding input. This was diagnosed at The Autobarn Mazda of Evanston to be a failure within the HVAC control system. I see it is a common issue discussed in online forums. The issue has been diagnosed and confirmed by a service technician. At this time, the vehicle has not been fully repaired and remains available for inspection upon request. This malfunction creates a potential safety risk because it may cause a distraction while driving. The erratic behavior requires repeated adjustments and attention to the climate control system, diverting focus away from the road. The problem has been reproduced and verified by a dealership technician, who confirmed the abnormal operation of the temperature control knob and system. A repair was recommended, with replacement cost $690.24. The vehicle has been inspected by an authorized dealership, and I also contacted Mazda to request goodwill repair assistance. However, they declined to cover the repair cost. My car has 55,000 miles, but this is an issue that has been present early on if not since day 1. Prior to the failure, there were no consistent warning lights or system messages indicating a problem. Given that this appears to be a known issue with this type of system, I am concerned that other vehicles may be affected by the same defect.

NHTSA ODI 11736004

Transmission Malfunction / Erratic Low-Speed Operation I am reporting a safety-related defect involving the transmission system in my vehicle. The issue appears to have originated as a software-related drivability problem but progressed over time into a more serious mechanical failure affecting the transmission. The vehicle exhibited lurching/hesitation at low speeds, particularly during city driving and while idling or creeping forward in traffic. This malfunction creates a potential safety risk because the vehicle does not respond smoothly or predictably to driver input. The erratic behavior is disconcerting and requires increased driver attention, creating a distraction and reducing confidence in the vehicle’s operation. The issue has been reproduced and confirmed by a service technician, who identified a transmission-related problem and recommended repair or replacement. The failure was not consistent with normal wear and occurred prematurely. The vehicle has been inspected by an authorized dealership and is covered under the 5 year power-train warranty. Prior to the failure, there were no warning lights or messages indicating a major transmission issue. The problem I believe has been there since day 1- initially presenting as mild hesitation that could be mistaken for normal operation (especially with a turbocharged engine), but became increasingly annoying over time. After researching the issue, found similar reports from other owners describing comparable transmission behavior, suggesting this may be a broader defect.

NHTSA ODI 11736010

The contact owns a 2023 Mazda CX-50. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 38 MPH. The contact stated he was approaching an intersection when a vehicle in front of him attempted to make a left turn but slowed down. The contact was unable to depress the brake pedal and turned the steering wheel to the left to avoid the crash, but he crashed into the corner of the passenger side rear bumper of the other vehicle. The contact was not sure of the damage to the other vehicle; his vehicle had damage to the right headlight and the front quarter panel. The contact stated that his vehicle was equipped with a front collision avoidance system, but the system had not engaged. The contact stated that no persons were injured. The contact stated that the police were on scene and wrote a report. The vehicle was driven to a collision center for repair. The contact had not had the vehicle diagnosed. The vehicle had been repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.

NHTSA ODI 11729942

I am reporting a potential airbag system/emergency brake failure in my 2023 Mazda CX-50. I was involved in a rear-end motor vehicle accident at approximately 60 mph while my vehicle was completely stopped. I then hit the person in front of me. At the time of the impact, the airbags did not deploy, and I received a dashboard message indicating an airbag system malfunction. Since then, the emergency brake turns on and off on it's own at any time. Due to the severity of the crash, I am concerned that the airbags should have deployed, and their failure raises a serious safety concern. I sustained injuries (multiple fractures) as a result of the collision. I am requesting a formal investigation into possible defect or malfunction in the airbag system and emergency brake system.

NHTSA ODI 11727435

The driver's door is not opening from the inside. To open the driver's door while I am in the vehicle, I have to roll down the window and use the exterior door handle to exit the vehicle. This is a huge safety concern, as the window cannot be rolled down manually. If the car did not have power, I would have to break open the window. The potential for being trapped in the car with this defect is high. Several other owners of this car have reported this: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11722580

On 1/14/2026, I was pulling into a parking space in a parking garage when the vehicle abruptly accelerated causing the vehicle to hit the concrete wall in front of me. No braking assist or front collision warning issued. Airbags deployed. The car is currently at Joe Myers Collision Center in Houston, Texas to obtain an estimate for repair. The police did not respond to reported incident. Incident was reported to my insurance company immediately.

NHTSA ODI 11711337

Following a professional brake flush at Roger Beasley Mazda Central in Austin, Texas, the left front brake bleeder screw was left loose. This resulted in a significant loss of brake fluid over several days, causing a 'Brake Warning' light to illuminate and a visible reduction in braking performance. A secondary inspection by an independent mechanic confirmed the screw was not tightened, which caused corrosive fluid to leak onto the wheel and compromised the safety of the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11706402

The contact owns a 2023 Mazda CX-50. The contact stated that the steering wheel was loose. The contact was able to move the steering wheel up and down very easily. The contact stated that the vehicle was involved in a crash 7 months ago, and the steering wheel started to become loose one week ago. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,585.

NHTSA ODI 11704754

2023 Mazda cx50 with 28k miles. This vehicle was purchased 3mths ago. The cx50 has locked me out 5 times & had a dead battery each time. Has been to dealership 3 times. No repairs made after dealership doing battery drain extensive testing. Cycle of this happening 3 times. I’ve been in a loaner more than my purchased vehicle. It is a safety concern leaving me locked at of my vehicle 5 times. Then when gaining access to vehicle with manual key. Vehicle has had dead battery 5 times all of this occurred over 3 months. With no repairs made from dealerships. It’s been to two different dealerships. Major safety concerns! The dealership has agreed to buyback the cx50. But it has taken a lot of phone calls with dealerships & Mazda corporate. Vehicle is still currently owned by me & awaiting buyback to occur this week. Not a safe vehicle!!! No warning lights no signs of any kind & battery continues to be dead. Battery changed twice by dealership. No other repairs done.

NHTSA ODI 11700471

Cylinder 3, loss of engine power . Safety feature on and off. Life threatening .in the Middle line, suddenly English loss the power almost car behind me crash on us at the time my wife with me in the car . Yes dealer said fuel injector problem , I believe this is more then that . Yes vehicle inspected by dealer under warranty I saw engine logo and something malfunction, but at the I was hurry to drive car on the safe side after that I turn off engine.

NHTSA ODI 11698754

Wear of Strut Bearing causing crunching sounds at low speed braking and turning. Dealer reports this is due to dirt and debris getting up there. Vehicle has 34,000 miles (out of warranty due to time) and has had only light use off-road on dirt roads (2 camping trips). Not repairing can cause further damage and failure of suspension components. Vehicle marketed as off-road capable but components not protected properly from dirt/debris from driving off-road.

NHTSA ODI 11680836

The contact owned a 2023 Mazda CX-50. The contact stated that while driving 55-60 MPH she crashed into a deer. The air bag did not deploy. The seat belts malfunctioned and failed to secure the occupant. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received an alert on her app. The contact sustained injuries to her eye. The contact lost vision in her eye, and medical attention was provided. There were no reported fires. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was deemed a total lost. The failure mileage was approximately 27,000.

NHTSA ODI 11666000

I have had my 2023 Mazda CX-50 for almost two years. Since I got the car, I have had no issues with the i-Activsense until June 2025. The reason I got the newer car was to ensure the safety of my family; however, Mazda failed to do their part. My car was recently involved in a car accident due to a faulty system. It appears that the newer Mazda CX-50s were included in a recall, but the 2023 model was not and it should be. On the day of the accident, my daughter was driving my car. The traffic was slowing down, and two lanes of traffic had to merge to one lane due to construction and all of a sudden, the car in front of her slammed on their breaks and the car could not stop in time before hitting them. My car never sent an alert until contact was made with the other car, and the emergency breaking did not activate. After my car hit the other car, an alert came on screen that indicated the i-Activsense was disabled. Once the car was turned off and then back on the alert disappeared. Additionally, I am now having issues with the rear camera not alerting if someone is behind me (car or pedestrian). I have a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee that will slam on the break for you if you get too close to an object when you are in reverse. Isn't that what the Mazda CX-50 should be doing?

NHTSA ODI 11665874

On [XXX], our 2023 Mazda CX-50 experienced a failure of the control arm, which was confirmed by Auffenberg Mazda of O’Fallon, IL, to be a manufacturer’s defect. Despite this, the dealer informed us that the vehicle was safe to drive. However, Mazda corporate contradicted this, stating the vehicle is unsafe to drive and instructed us not to operate it. We were informed that the replacement part will not be available until sometime in July 2025, leaving us without a safe vehicle for nearly two months. Both Mazda corporate and Auffenberg Mazda of O’Fallon, IL, have refused to provide a loaner vehicle or commit to reimbursing rental car expenses during this period. Additionally, Mazda corporate has failed to maintain consistent communication, not returning calls when promised and leaving us without timely updates or resolution. This situation poses a significant safety concern and financial burden, as we are left without a reliable means of transportation due to a confirmed manufacturing defect. We request that the NHTSA investigate this issue, including the conflicting safety assessments provided by the dealer and Mazda corporate, the delay in part availability, and the refusal to provide a loaner vehicle or rental car reimbursement. We also urge an evaluation of the control arm defect to ensure other Mazda CX-50 owners are not at risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11662469

The stock manufacturer brakes on this vehicle have been known for issues. There is a open recall on some models but according to records my vehicle does not fall under the listed VIN numbers associated with the recall. Although my vehicle experiences the same concerns the recall list stats. The brakes seem to intermittently have trouble slowing the car down while ascending slopes and coming to a immediate stop. Often you are forced to use excessive force on the pedal and it still does not come to a complete stop.With the amount of forced iv had to use in the past the brakes should lock up and and create a slide but iv never experienced it. If im am not careful and maintain all attention to what its front of me i fear i will create a accident some day. To often in stop and go traffic or abrupt braking situations i have not been able to assure the vehical will stop . This causes concerns due to always having to travel at slower speeds and politically car repair bills. The life expectancy on the brakes are wearing out quickly. I am not a aggressive driver so i should have no problems with premature brake wear. Iv had the brakes inspected by the same dealership multiple times but they always say there's nothing wrong. The brakes have felt the same since purchasing date. Now we are two years into own the vehicle. The dealership is no help and the manufacture is not as well.

NHTSA ODI 11659731

On the freeway going 60 MPH, the safety system malfunctioned and applied maximum braking - as if I was going to collide with something in front of me. It was frightening. There was a 1/4 mile of open road in front. It happened 2 more times in the next 2 miles on the interstate. Background: I had been driving through a snow storm for a couple hours prior to the incident and I received a forward camera dirty warning. I was in the left lane (of 3 lanes) with a concrete barrier about 15 ft to my left. All 3 times, there was a semi truck & trailer on the right. I was in no danger of collision. I took the CX50 to the Mazda Dealer and the issue was escalated to the regional service techs who said the auto was "working as intended" I vehemently disagree. I am lucky there was no one driving close behind me, otherwise there would have been a terrible accident

NHTSA ODI 11649142

Several times in the past 2-3 weeks. I have placed my car from park to reverse or drive and when I release my foot from the brake. The car doesn’t move. A loud pop occurs and then the car begins to move.

NHTSA ODI 11645359

Turning steering wheel to the left seems to stick somewhat between 9 and 11 o'clock position. It seems more likely happening in cold weather and more obvious at lower speeds.

NHTSA ODI 11643917

Both front driver and passenger seats have ~1-inch rips on the side. This appears to be a common issue among CX-50 owners, with multiple reports online. The premature tearing raises concerns about material durability and potential safety risks over time.

NHTSA ODI 11640460

There was an airbag malfunction. The whole air vent came off and the airbag bursted. Smoke was everywhere. It was awful.

NHTSA ODI 11633503