Cruise control, electrical system and engine issues among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
Mazda has grown to be an automaker that many busy families trust. With the 2019 Mazda CX-9, many customers got excited hearing that this SUV was “engineered to exhilarate & inspire.” However, the only inspiration many customers are receiving is to choose another brand. Dealing with the defective electrical system, engine, structure and vehicle speed control proves to be too much for most.
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What happens when a vehicle’s electrical system stops working the way it should? These malfunctions can lead to small inconveniences and larger handling concerns.
Here is one result, as documented on the Edmunds website. “I bought the signature edition and I am regretting buying this car. The infotainment system crashes every time I drive the car. It’s is a real piece of junk. The car is in the dealership for an extended period of time while they try to figure this out. There are apparently other CX-5s that have same issue. It’s definitely defective. The lane keep assist is very weak as well and the option to have it buzz with lane deviation does not work. I would not buy this car again.”
While it’s no laughing matter to deal with electrical problems, once issue is quite humorous. According to Service Bulletin #SA-041-20, the automaker is even having trouble figuring out how to get the correct MAZDA CONNECT clock time to appear in vehicles. It turns out that an incorrect clock GPS Sync setting is getting in the way. The only question is – how many bosses are going to accept this as a reason for being late to work?
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Electrical System | |
| Power Train | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | |
| Visibility/wiper | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Structure:body | |
| Air Bags |
When discussing the power of a vehicle, the engine is by far the most critical component. In a newer vehicle, there should be no engine concerns, but that’s not the case with the CX-5.
Here is another Edmunds review to read. “I recently bought a new 2019 Mazda CX-5 back in July. The car only had 6,500 miles on it and the motor is already having to be replaced. I am very upset that I spent 30,000 on a vehicle and already having to replace the motor.”
It turns out that Mazda had to deal with a massive recall related to the engine and the powertrain. NHTSA Campaign Number 19V497000 applies to more than 260,000 vehicles. It states that the powertrain control module might have a software error that leads the engine to stall. If this Mazda SUV stalls in the middle of the road, an accident could follow. This defect makes it difficult to convince customers that the Mazda vehicle is “exhilarating” to drive, especially when it won’t run at all.
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Any modern vehicle should be made with structural integrity, ensuring a safe ride. However, the Mazda CX-5 is suffering from these concerns as well.
One more Edmunds review states, “The trunk makes a popping sound when the latch automatically unlocks, which feels really cheap.”
Beyond this, Mazda has acknowledged other structure-related problems. Service Bulletin #09-034-19-3617 says that some of the vehicles have cracking occurring at either the rear door garnish or lower part of the rear. It appears that the problem is caused by excessive stress to the garnish, requiring a new design to reinforce the body. Driving a vehicle that is cracking is not inspiring in any way. It’s downright depressing.
When discussing modern vehicle speed control systems, it’s important to note that a defect can lead to serious danger.
That’s what is seen with this NHTSA review. “MRCC (Mazda Radar Cruise Control) will unexpectedly decrease vehicle speed when in a turn even if not following another vehicle. Speed decrease happens regardless of vehicle speed. Amount of decrease is severe depending on ‘sharpness’ of the turn but will happen even on gently sweeping turns on an interstate highway. Behavior is reproducible during all variety of driving conditions.”
With this final issue, Mazda has chosen not to admit to any more problems. There are no communications regarding the vehicle speed control, so there’s no way to tell what’s wrong. The bottom line is – Mazda can’t claim that this vehicle is going to provide any inspiration. All it is causing people to do is run out and get another vehicle. The Mazda CX-5 is an inspiring lemon, to say the least.
Think you have a Mazda CX-5 lemon? Sit back and let the experts work out your lemon case at no cost to you. The law makes Mazda pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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These cars have bad erratic shifting problems with the transmission but the dealership won’t acknowledge anything. My last Mazda.
I’m unhappy with my 2019 Mazda CX5 due to interior noise and poor fuel economy.
My cx5 just started to leak oil, went into dealer , was told cracked head!!!!
At 30k my 2019 Mazda CX5 leaks engine coolant. My confidence in its reliability has dropped significantly.