2022 Mazda CX-5 Problems and Top Complaints – Is Your Car A Lemon?

Brake problems are the most common issue cited in complaints to the NHTSA from vehicle owners

Updated on Author: Brian Jones

Updated on Author: Brian Jones

Is your vehicle burning or consuming oil? You may be eligible to join our Mazda CX-30 oil consumption class action investigation.

Mazda has been manufacturing the CX-5 since 2012. It’s reputedly one of the most reliable SUVs on the market, and the CX-5 is Mazda’s biggest seller in the U.S. But it doesn’t come without problems, and there are consumer complaints about various issues with every model. The 2022 model is no exception, with brake problems topping the list of complaints. But there are other issues too, including electrical system malfunctions, airbags that don’t deploy, and sunroofs that explode.

Click on other model year to view more problems:  2018   2019   2020   2021

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NHTSA Complaints for the 2022 Mazda CX-5

Complaint CategoryNumber of Complaints
Engine
3
Service Brakes
3
Structure:body
3
Unknown Or Other
3
Electrical System
2
Power Train
2
Vehicle Speed Control
2
Air Bags
1
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
1
Fuel System, Gasoline
1

Most Common Problems with the 2022 Mazda CX-5

Consumer complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) relate to 7 components and/or systems. Half of these complaints are about service brakes. And of these, 3 report crashes caused by faulty brakes.

There are also 2 complaints that address electrical issues and 2 that strongly criticize the structure of the SUV. There are also 2 complaints about airbags.

Another complaint is that the sidewall of a Mazda CX-5 tire in California shredded while driving on the highway.

Dangerous Brakes

It stands to reason that if a vehicle’s brakes don’t function correctly, or worse still, fail, this puts people’s lives in danger.

Brakes Failing

An owner from New York experienced brake failure in April 2022. While driving at about 25 mph, another vehicle stopped abruptly. But the driver couldn’t stop because the brakes failed.

The complaint states that “the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard, then the emergency braking system began chiming.” Then the inevitable happened … The SUV didn’t stop and it crashed into the vehicle in front. To make matters worse, the airbags did not deploy. Fortunately, there weren’t any injuries.

Automatic Braking Causes a Crash

An owner from North Carolina experienced the automatic emergency braking system kicking in for no obvious reason. This also resulted in a crash.

Traveling at only about 5-10 mph, when a vehicle in front slowed down. “So I applied brakes and began to slow as well. While I was on the brakes slowing at a normal rate with plenty of distance to the vehicle ahead, my vehicle unexpectedly activated automatic emergency braking. It abruptly applied full brakes and came to a complete stop, even though traffic ahead was still rolling. There was zero chance of collision, with ample following distance, minimal speed differential, and brakes already applied.” This caused a rear-end collision with significant damage to the vehicle in front.

CX-5 Accelerates Instead of Braking

The third crash was caused by a CX-5 accelerating when it should have been braking. The driver had been looking for a place to park and was driving very slowly. While attempting to put the car in Park, it “accelerated abruptly, lurched forward, crossed over the concrete curb at the end of the parking space, and was heading right for I-95, which was straight ahead. I had never taken my foot off the brake.”

Trying to brake harder didn’t help to stop the car, so the driver turned onto a service road to try and avoid a crash. But he couldn’t stop, slammed into a parked car and side-swiped a truck.

“I only took my foot off the brake when the car stopped. The airbags did not deploy.”

Malfunctioning Airbags

In the incident mentioned above where the vehicle accelerated instead of slowing down and stopping, the airbags failed to deploy when it crashed.

Ironically, the second complaint that mentions airbags describes a very different scenario. Unusually, it’s not that the airbags didn’t deploy but rather that the “passenger side curtain airbags randomly deployed.” Fortunately, there wasn’t an accident.

Electrical Issues

Two of the complaints mention electrical problems. One of these is from an owner in Pennsylvania who had a system malfunction that caused a dead battery on two occasions. Both times, “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 with the battery.”

Exploding Sunroofs

There are 2 complaints listed in the Structure category. The one, which also reported faulty brakes and malfunctioning airbags, is mentioned above. The other describes how a Colorado owner experienced the sunroof exploding while driving about 70 mph 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 exploded. There was no warning, just a loud boom when the window gave way.”

What if your 2022 CX-5 is a Lemon? Your Lemon Rights

Nobody can predict whether a car will end up being a lemon. But we’ve had more than enough experience to know that all buyers need to be aware that this is always a risk.

If you suspect you have bought a lemon, contact Lemberg Law as soon as you can. We will assess your problems and advise whether you have a case and whether you should ask for a buy-back, cash settlement, or a replacement vehicle.

It’ll cost you nothing because the law holds Mazda responsible for legal fees.

What’s New for 2022?

The Mazda CX-5 hasn’t had a redesign since 2017. Every year, though, Mazda adds a few new features, makes trim level changes, and upgrades engines to make it look fresh and new.

The most noteworthy changes for this year’s model include an across-the-board change to standard i-Activ all-wheel drive (AWD) with no option of a front-wheel drive (FWD). The  Grand Touring Reserve trim is now Turbo, and the exterior design has significant changes.

The front and rear ends of this car have updates including reflective body surfaces and:

  • A new front bumper and signature wing that extends out from the front grille
  • Updated front grille with a 3D texture
  • New tailgate and rear bumper design complemented by larger dual tailpipes
  • Redesigned headlights and tail lights that feature horizontally spaced, rectangular-shaped LED lights with high-beam control

Seats also feature a redesign that improves stability and helps to create a more comfortable ride. Improved suspension also helps to create a smoother ride. This will also reduce road noise and improve ride comfort.

Other features include automatic  rain-sensing windshield wipers, a rear roof spoiler, and roof-mounted shark fin antenna.

What’s the fuel economy for the 2022 Mazda CX-5?

The CX-5 has two fuel-economy ratings based on the engine capacity.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fuel Economy website, the automatic 2.5-liter is rated 24 MPH for city driving and 30 MPH on the highway. If you combine city and highway driving you’re likely to get about 26 MPG. The turbo engine uses more fuel: 22 MPG in the city, 27 on highways, and 24 in a combined driving environment.

Car and Driver, which undertakes its own comprehensive car testing procedures, came up with the same ratings independently.

What are the Trim Packages & Pricing for the 2022 CX-5 ?

There are eight 2022 Mazda CX-5 models. These are the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRPs) excluding taxes, various additional fees, and the standard $1,225 destination and handling fee:

  • Base model: $25,900
  • Select: $27,900
  • Preferred: $29,160
  • Carbon Edition: $30,280
  • Premium: $32,310
  • Premium Plus: $33,950
  • Turbo: $36,400
  • Turbo Signature: $38,650

Three premium paint colors add between $395 and $595 to the basic price of each model.

  • Soul Red Crystal Metallic: $595
  • Machine Gray Metallic: $595
  • Snowflake White Pearl Mica: $395

What Technology does the 2022 Mazda CX-5 Have?

There are some great safety and driver-assistance features as well as high-tech infotainment and connectivity features and services.

Driver-Assistance Technology

Key safety features include several that come standard:

  • Automated emergency braking that incorporates pedestrian detection
  • Lane-keeping assist and lane-departure warning
  • Adaptive radar cruise control with a stop-go system
  • Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert

Turbo Signature incorporates the top i-Activsense safety features for city driving, including a 360-degree view monitor that has front and rear parking sensors. There is also Rear Smart City Brake Support, Driver Attention Alert, and Traffic Jam Assist. Mazda Navigation System enables the use of Traffic Sign Recognition with the Active Driving Display.

Infotainment & Connectivity

All the 2022 Mazda CX-5 models have a 10.3-inch infotainment display that has a rotary controller and volume knob on the center console. You can also operate it via buttons on the steering wheel and through voice commands.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard with all models.

The Premium Package comes with a Bose 10-speaker audio system, a 3-month trial of SiriusXM satellite radio, paddle shifters, and a 7-inch LCD multi-information gauge display.

Turbo Signature offers a 3-year SiriusXM Traffic & Travel Link subscription. This provides useful information about fuel prices, nearby parking, traffic conditions, the weather, and even sports scores!

Mazda’s Connected Services enable access to various remote vehicle functions using a smartphone app and a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot. These services are free for the first three years.

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Lemberg Law is a consumer law firm helping victims of bad manufacturing and run-arounds from auto companies. We are ranked A+ by the BBB. Call our Helpline today!  There is no charge unless we win.

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Brian Jones

About the Author:

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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1 COMMENT
  • Edward S

    the dust or belly pan has failed, and they want me to pay for the repair. it came loose and was dragging on the ground. It was sitting overnight, and the next day went to drive it and it was dragging. Going today to get replaced by the dealer $300. 20000 Miles on car. Not happy. This in at least my 6th car from this dealer.

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