How the 2022 compares
Too new to judge fully
It has been on the road 4 years, so complaints are still coming in. So far it has fewer than a typical older CX-5 year, which is normal for a newer car. The area owners report most so far is the lights, wipers and visibility.
Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other CX-5 years from 2013 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
Owners have filed 65 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Mazda CX-5. The most reported problem area is the lights, wipers and visibility (27, 42% of complaints), followed by the engine and cooling and the electrical system. That ranks 11th of 12 CX-5 years from 2013 to 2024 for complaints. It has 0 recalls.
Complaints65filed with NHTSA
Recalls0for this model year
Crashes51 injury reported
Fires2reported in complaints
1 of these complaints came from Utah owners.
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Start my car searchMost reported problems
Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2022 Mazda CX-5 before you buy.
Lights, wipers and visibility
27 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
- Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.
Tools that help
What owners said
the windshield would not defrost causing visibility issues that was extremely hazardous. mazda found the cause as a evaporator core temperature sensor mazda had a tsb([VIN]) nhtsa id number (10202689) regarding this known defect that they continued to install for 2+years in new vehicles. they redesigned the part 3years ago to remedy the…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, there was a loud banging sound coming from the above. The sun roof glass suddenly fractured into several pieces. The dealer was contacted and informed of the issue, however the vehicle was not taken to be repaired. The manufacturer was…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 77,000 miles
Engine and cooling
13 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
- Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
- Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
- Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.
Tools that help
What owners said
Timing chain cover ended up leaking oil everywhere. Was told this was a known issue with Mazda CX-5 and there was even a service bulletin out.Owner complaint, filed 2026
I am submitting this report to document a persistent ticking noise in my 2022 Mazda CX-5, which appears to be the same issue outlined in Mazda Service Bulletin 01-002/21 for previous model years. This issue is commonly associated with Hydraulic Lash Adjusters (HLAs), which maintain proper valve clearance. The noise occurs most…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Electrical system
6 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
- Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
- Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.
Tools that help
What owners said
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2022 Mazda CX-5. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after purchasing the vehicle. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 26,400. The contact stated that the dealer harassed her to buy the extended warranty. The contact stopped by the dealer and…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 46,000 miles
I have had a system malfunction, that has caused a dead battery in May 2022 and then again Aug 2022. The car was in park and I received a notification on the Mazda app about 5 hours after being in the car that stated "Critical Vehicle Malfunction Alert." I had to have my car towed and serviced at a Mazda dealer but they found no issue…Owner complaint, filed 2022
Transmission and drivetrain
5 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
- Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
- Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
- If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.
Tools that help
What owners said
Transmission failure, currently reproducible but car is at dealer to be evaluated/repaired. I was safe as I was still in my driveway, however if I was in traffic I would be at risk of an accident, by the time you realize you are not moving you have already let off the brake and could be rolling, fear is that if it happens at a traffic…Owner complaint, filed 2025
The timing chain cover gasket failed and is leaking oil at 66,000 miles. It is currently being addressed at Borgman Mazda in Grand Rapids. No crash or safety risk. There were no warning lamps, it was found by an separate inspection not from the dealership.Owner complaint, filed 2025
Fuel system
4 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
- On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
- Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
While driving down highway the car suddenly will stop accelerating. Once this occurs the check engine light will turn on and shortly after the battery light will turn on. The car will not move and the AC will then stop working. The first time the car was brought to dealership (under warranty). They had to replace battery, fuel pump and…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Mazda’s CX-5 engines, particularly in earlier models, have been known to experience issues with Hydraulic Lash Adjusters (HLAs), which are responsible for maintaining proper valve clearance. Many owners have reported a persistent tapping or ticking noise, especially during cold starts. This issue is often caused by air bubbles or…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Brakes and stability control
4 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
- The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
- Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.
Tools that help
What owners said
Brake rotors on all four wheels measured below minimum thickness specification at only 17,000 miles, requiring complete replacement of all rotors and pads. Rotors replaced at Koch Mazda (Easton, PA) on January 7, 2026 and no longer available for inspection. SAFETY RISK: Rotors below minimum spec have reduced structural integrity and heat…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph when another vehicle abruptly stopped causing the contact to need to suddenly stop however, the brake pedal failed. The contact stated that the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard then the emergency braking system began chiming. The vehicle…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 30 miles
Driver assist systems
4 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
- Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
- Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2022 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Forward Collision Avoidance system erroneously activated, and the vehicle came to a complete stop in the middle of a busy intersection. The contact stated that there were no other vehicles or object nearby. The Forward Collision…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Was driving down a road at around 40 MPH and a vehicle ran the light and took a turn in front of me. I applied brakes but car didn't try to apply them harder from the start and no warnings ever came up. Wasn't able to avoid collision and airbags deployed (only steering wheel airbag)Owner complaint, filed 2024
Body, doors and structure
3 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
- Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
- Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.
Tools that help
What owners said
The sunroof exploded while driving 70mph on a rural highway. There were no other cars nearby that could have kicked up a rock nor anything that could have fallen on the sunroof. The window buckled outward, not inward. The glass shattered and flew everywhere endangering the driver, passengers, and the car behind me when the window…Owner complaint, filed 2022
When driving in the wind at speeds greater than 50mph , there is an extremely loud high pitched reedy noise. I have many videos of this and Mazda won’t address it/says it’s not an issue. I travel for work in SD, a very windy state, and often listen to this sound 2+ hours straight and can’t hear any music/phone calls/audiobooks over the…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Cruise control and acceleration
2 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
- Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.
Tools that help
What owners said
Unexpected acceleration ___ While stopped on a slight downgrade, RPM suddenly increased and vehicle lurched forward. Applying more pressure to brake stopped movement. I forced transmission into park. Took foot off brake, RPM still high. Tapped accelerator, RPM dropped to normal idle. Fortunately, there were no vehicles in front of mine…Owner complaint, filed 2023
When coming to a stop, car accelerated and went over curb. From a search of the internet I found examples with this and other cars where people with larger shoes had the same problem of pressing the brake and unintentionally pressing the accelerator pedal at the same time. I read of one manufacturer that programed the car to brake if…Owner complaint, filed 2022
Air bags
2 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
- Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.
Tools that help
What owners said
Owner of the car was driving, baby in the back seat. Passenger side curtain airbags randomly deployed. No outside damage to the car, was not caused by an accidentOwner complaint, filed 2022
I was driving to Home Depot after work around 6PM PST on [XXX] and must have fallen asleep at the wheel about a.1/4 of a mile from my house and left the road way after a turn. I hit my head so hard I had to be treated for a head injury and the car dialed 911 for me to report a crash. The airbags nor any other safety system triggered…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Wheels and tires
2 complaintsTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
- Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
- The tire pressure light should go out after startup.
Tools that help
What owners said
The four 225/55 R19 tires’, purchased 05/02/25 and available for inspection upon request, asymmetrical tread design has 5 treads & 4 troughs across its width. The center tread and the adjacent one to its outside both have varied design water dispersal slots. When the tires are properly mounted with the word “outside” viewable on the…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Steering
1 complaintLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
- On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
- A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2022 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving from a stationary position, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact indicated that the vehicle would not immediately respond and would drive very slowly before accelerating. Additionally, while driving around…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 100 miles
Mazda CX-5 complaints by year
Compare the 2022 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2022 compact SUVs
Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.
| Car | Vs. its other years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Mazda CX-5 | Too new to judge | 0 |
| 2022 Toyota RAV4 | Too new to judge | 1 |
| 2022 Honda CR-V | Too new to judge | 3 |
| 2022 Subaru Forester | Too new to judge | 1 |
2022 Mazda CX-5 recalls
NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.
2022 Mazda CX-5 questions
What are the most common problems with the 2022 Mazda CX-5?
The most reported problem areas on the 2022 Mazda CX-5 are the lights, wipers and visibility (27 complaints), the engine and cooling (13 complaints) and the electrical system (6 complaints).
Is the 2022 Mazda CX-5 a good year to buy?
Too new to judge fully. It has been on the road 4 years, so complaints are still coming in. So far it has fewer than a typical older CX-5 year, which is normal for a newer car. The area owners report most so far is the lights, wipers and visibility. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other CX-5 years from 2013 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
How many recalls does the 2022 Mazda CX-5 have?
NHTSA has no recalls on file for the 2022 Mazda CX-5.
Which Mazda CX-5 years should I avoid?
The CX-5 years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2016. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2015 and 2020. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.
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Where these numbers come from. Complaints are reports that owners filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), counted from NHTSA’s complaint database as of November 5, 2026. Owners do not have to prove a problem to file one, so a complaint is a report, not a confirmed defect. Models that sell in big numbers get more complaints, and newer model years have had less time on the road, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Recalls come from NHTSA’s recall database and cover every vehicle of that model year, not one particular car. Quotes are trimmed, and anything that looks like a VIN is hidden.
- Check a specific car for open recalls at NHTSA
- Decode a VIN to see recalls, safety ratings and complaints for that exact year, make and model