Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 148 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Mazda CX-5, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 25 | 17% |
| Unknown or other | 25 | 17% |
| Visibility/wiper | 11 | 7% |
| Power train | 10 | 7% |
| Structure | 10 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 4% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 6 | 4% |
| Engine | 5 | 3% |
| Engine | 3 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The radio is uncontrollable by driver. The radio the self dial from Bluetooth. Even if not connected, the radio surprises this driver by playing the radio unexpectedly at the highest rate. Due to the buttons not working
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
There is a consistent issue with the “ghost touch“ and the electrical system so when you’re going down the road, the musical will change. The music will blast up or down randomly it’ll get stuck and it’s very distracting
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
Infotainment system randomly makes its own selections. Turns volume up and down, changes settings, changes stations... etc. Anything that can be controlled on the screen is at risk of being randomly hijacked. Once, my dr
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The contact owns a 2017 Mazda CX-5. While driving the vehicle, the engine overheat warning suddenly illuminated on the dashboard cluster panel. The contact pulled over immediately, restarted the engine, and coasted the v
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
Last week, the airbag warning light illuminated on my dashboard. Please be aware that this marks the fourth occurrence of this issue. Each time I bring the vehicle to the dealership, they provide a different explanation,
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
My car only has 65k miles on it and the rear differential failed and needs to be replaced. I am seeing this posted online by many Mazda CX-5 owners well under the mileage this typically happenes but out of the warranty p
NHTSA complaint: Power train
During a one-hour car ride, the front passenger side seat heater burned a hole through the seat, damaging my wife's skirt and leaving a hole in the upholstery. The overheating definitely originated within the seat. We im
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
UNKNOWN The infotainment system started malfunctioning on its own. Changes channels on radio, goes into settings and makes changes. Calls phone numbers etc. Does it more in the cold weather
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2017 Mazda CX-5. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2017 CX-5 vehicles equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness. This harness may be routed such that there is insufficient clearance between the harness and the exhaust muffler, allowing the wiring harness to contact the muffl
Risk: Contact with the muffler may damage the trailer wiring harness, potentially resulting in the trailer lighting being inoperative, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the trailer hitch harness away from the muffler, replacing the harness if it is damaged, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20,
| Reliability raw | 72 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | good |
| Maintenance | 87 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 78 | good |
| Performance | 60 | average |
| Efficiency | 47 | below average |
| Safety | 80 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 148 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 25 of them (17%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 72/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2017 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 74/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.