10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
5,378 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2017 Mazda CX-5 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2017 Mazda CX-5 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #30

Jul 082024

CX-5

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle Infotainment Center - the touch screen will automatically select options and click options while driving, causing a distraction and most recently attempting to enable a child lock. It will do it while the car is both driving and while stopped. It will randomly do it on both the Radio Screen and the Navigation screen.

- Middlesex, NJ, USA

problem #29

Apr 172024

CX-5

  • miles
The center screen started self selecting on its own, and randomly choosing options that included going into the setting for Adas system and turning stuff off and on.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #28

Apr 022024

CX-5

  • miles
My touch screen, has been acting up. While driving, the navigation system will automatically change prompts while driving. It will change to music, random dials, consistently change to random dials. I am unable to stop the dials from changing. I have read on the internet people are calling this "ghost touching". The volume will randomly go up high while driving. I am unable to control the volume or prompts. This is dangerous while on the road. I am unable to hear first responders while driving in traffic. This is a huge distraction. Many people I am reading are going through this with their Mazdas... This is costing us more than 3,000 or 4,000 to get fixed. I am unable to get this fixed for this price. I am unable to get a new car.

- Lansing, IL, USA

problem #27

Jan 052024

CX-5

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The vehicle display registers false -??phantom-?? touches, causing it to behave erratically. Mazda issued a service bulletin for 2014-2016 Mazda 3 models but this affects most Mazda models through at least 2020 including our 2017 CX-5. Mazda has not acknowledged this for other vehicles. My 2016 Mazda 3had the repair completed under a service bulletin. Unfortunately the dealer will charge a diagnostic fee for this vehicle. Mazda does offer a repair part for this issue, where they previously required complete CMU replacement, so they know it-??s a problem. This results in sudden and random changes in volume, navigation, radio, etc with no intervention, causing a significant distraction and safety concern.

- Warwick, RI, USA

problem #26

Jan 012021

CX-5

  • miles
I have reported this same issue to NHTSA since 2021, and the issue persists to date. Other model years of Mazdas (2017, 2018) including my vehicle have been experiencing "ghost touch". This is an issue that Mazda addressed under a recall for the 2014-2016 models, however, has failed to extend. This poses as severe safety issue as the vehicle randomly increases the volume and will change settings that can either startle the driver and/or make visibility of the cluster impossible especially while driving at night. Please address this issue. There are numerous complaints with this specific year and model alone; but I am certain if searches were conducted on other models, the same issue will be found.

- Plantation, FL, USA

problem #25

Sep 042023

CX-5

  • miles
This particular Mazda model has a ghost touch issue with the infotainment system. It will start selecting buttons on its own, which includes changing stations, randomly calling people, hanging up on people, dimming back up camera, changing different settings within the infotainment system. This is a major safety hazard as I have almost gotten in several accidents from this distraction. This has happened so many times that I cannot pinpoint one specific date. Mazda is aware of this because there is a service alert currently for this issue.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

problem #24

Aug 062023

CX-5

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

There is an electrical issue with the infotainment system. It changes settings/programmed setup on its own. It is a known issue that mazda owners call -??ghost touch-??. This is becoming a safety concern for me as it has toggled for the smart city brake support and blind spot monitoring to toggle to off randomly. Although it is not relied on by myself, it can cause an accident or death if does not engage. Additionally, it has changed my display (driver gages) to the lowest setting which is extremely difficult to see at night. As well as the head unit (infotainment system). When this happened, I could not safely read the speed I was going nor reset the display brightness. Mazda needs to take responsibility of this as all system settings are located in the infotainment system. It has apparently also been a known issue for Mazda dated back to 2013 from researching online. Thank you.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #23

Jul 272023

CX-5

  • miles
The infotainment system is experiencing 'ghost touch'. It random selects options such as volume, track, adjust bass/treble, etc.... It is very distracting and I don't understand why the recall for this specific issue, is only covered until 2015. This electrical short continues to happening on later models.

- Lexington, KY, USA

problem #22

Sep 012022

CX-5

  • miles
The display operates by itself. This is a known issue commonly called -??ghost touch-?? and Mazda has issued service bulletins for 2014-2016 model year cars. Unfortunately other cars including my 2017 CX-5 are also affected. This is a safety issue as the navigation will stop working and the constant beeping from the ghost clicking is very distracting and can lead to the driver not focusing on the road. Mazda should be required to recall all affected model years, not just the 2014-2016.

- Carmel, IN, USA

problem #21

Nov 272022

CX-5

  • miles
I have made carmax aware of the issue I was driving on the interstate in PA, when out of nowhere the check engine light turned on and the car stalled and stopped working the speedometer went down drastically almost causing me to get into a car accident, I was able to continue going slowly on the emergency lane until the car stopped it was freezing weather and there was no one in sight to help not even an emergency vehicle they told me it was an 02 sensor that they fixed it and once again I am driving and pulling into my driveway the car shut off mid drive and the brake would not work I had to pull the emergency brake i almost got into an accident I would've driven the car into my neighbor's property this 02 sensor is bad there's a bad scent and also now all the electrical has gone haywire i have also made them aware of this since May i have videos of everything shutting on and off please help me I dont want to die because of this car and no one is helping

- Rockaway, NJ, USA

problem #20

Nov 212022

CX-5

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Check engine light went on at 56mph and stalled the vehicle. Almost causing and accident all lights on dash went on and off. I stopped turn the vehicle off then on and only the check engine light went on but started stalling after accelerating again the after about 3 mile the lights and stalling happened again. This can cause a major accident

- Bushkill , PA, USA

problem #19

Oct 012022

CX-5

  • miles
The infotainment display operates by itself. This is a known issue commonly called -??ghost touch-?? and Mazda has issued service bulletins for 2014-2016 model year cars. Unfortunately other cars including my 2017 CX-5 are also affected. This is a safety issue as the navigation will stop working and the constant beeping from the ghost clicking is very distracting and can lead to the driver not focusing on the road. Mazda should be required to recall all affected model years, not just the 2014-2016.

- Suffolk, VA, USA

problem #18

Jul 182022

CX-5

  • miles
The navigation display turns fails / turns off and on throughout the drive. It turns on then goes off while backing out with the rearview camera in use. It goes off during drives, while directions are in use, while calls are in session, and with no active use at all. After checking online I found that numerous Mazda owners experience the same with thief CX5-s but there is no collective effort by Mazda to find a solution. I paid for extended warranty with Navigation Display covered and they still cannot find a solution. This is more than inconvenience. It is a serious safety issue when physical distraction is caused by manufacturer defect which can lead to accidents on the highway at high speeds relying on the navigation, while backing up viewing the camera, while driving on windy roads and the screen goes out. The auto response for most drivers is to try and reach for the phone to continue directions, stop abruptly if backing up and the screen goes out, reach for the phone to take it off blue tooth so the hands free conversation is not dropped. It is not to much to expect a major auto manufacturer to have a stable navigation screen. The local dealerships do not take it seriously. How can this matter be escalated as a matter of safety?

- Pittsburg, CA, USA

problem #17

Jun 152022

CX-5

  • miles
The main screen in the middle of the vehicle experiences -??ghost touches-?? or acts like it-??s being controlled sporadically without any buttons or the screen being touched. It does it so aggressively that it causes major distraction while driving and will even change navigation routes while driving and make calls while trying to navigate. This is a huge safety issue especially for younger drivers that can-??t handle this well. It makes beeping sounds and changes the screens very quickly and many times I-??m unable to stop it. I-??ve researched ways to fix it online with no success without spending a large amount of money at a dealership. I-??ve seen many many people online with the same issue. I bought the vehicle new, and it began doing this within the first year.

- Oneonta, AL, USA

problem #16

Jan 302021

CX-5

  • miles
Blind spot monitoring system warning appears on dashboard of vehicle after driving for about 50-60 miles. This occurs only when I drive >50-60 miles in one trip without shutting off my vehicle. Speed does not matter. My sensors will not work until I turn off my car and turn it back on. This started as soon as I purchased my vehicle in July 2020. 1 previous owner (lease) before I purchased the vehicle. No prior accidents. Got the vehicle at ~30,000 miles. In January 2021, I drifted off the freeway and hit a tree going 35 mph during a snow storm. It was only myself (driver) and a passenger in the front seat at the time of the incident. Both were wearing seatbelts. The seat belts locked up, but airbags never deployed for myself or the adult passenger in the front seat. Driver sustained no injuries, but the passenger smashed their knee into the glove compartment and smacked their head on the window/seatbelt holder on the side of the interior wall. The passenger was asleep during the incident, which may have explained why they did not brace themselves. One minute we were on the freeway, then we hit a slippery spot, and within seconds we were head on with a tree. Drove away to avoid the possibility of any vehicles following my path and smashing into us. Car was still driveable somehow. Car was repaired after 3 weeks at Caliber Collision and looked great. Sensor issue persists still, but unrelated to accident. Mentioned it to Caliber Collision when vehicle was being repaired and they had a Mazda service person come out with a sensor machine and they could not find the issue.

- Greenfield, WI, USA

problem #15

Feb 012022

CX-5

  • miles
Connectivity Master Unit controlling the infotainment system has failed. Infotainment system continuously rebooting, freezing, change radio presets on its own and changing to home screen, and navigation starts speaking while listing to music.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #14

Apr 222022

CX-5

  • miles
Mazda has termed the issue Ghost Touch in their CX-3 models, which the NTSB issued a Technical Service Bulletin. It is dangerous as the infotainment system begins to switch between functions on its own, without driver or passenger input, and while the cars is in motion; changing radio stations, dialing phone numbers, turning the system display to Night Mode making it impossible to read while using the vehicle navigation system, exiting navigation maps altogether. The part number given to me by Mazda is K123611J0C. The dealer diagnosed and confirmed this issue in April 2022. They stated it is a common problem but it is not covered under warranty. Replacement costs quoted was over $1400, plus $180 to diagnose the problem.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #13

Jan 012022

CX-5

  • miles
The Mazda connect touch screen in the center display doesn't always accept touch commands properly and regularly operates by itself (ghost touch) while in drive.

- Plantation, FL, USA

problem #12

May 012017

CX-5

  • miles
The car battery does not get fully charged even after long trips and continuous use of the vehicle. It has been so ever since the vehicle was purchased brand new and maintained meticulously with all service performed on-time at the dealership. Even after long trips exceeding 350 miles, the battery would charge only up to 50% (12.2 volts) and never to 100% (12.7 volts). Thereafter it would quickly discharge to Low (<11.9 volts) if a few shorter trips were made. Upon bringing this to the dealer-??s attention while the car was still under warranty, they ran a battery and alternator test and quickly dismissed the issue saying that both the battery and alternator were working fine. Nevertheless, in just two years the OEM battery failed from constantly being in a state of low charge, despite using the vehicle regularly for long trips. Because the dealer refused to honor the warranty, I had to replace with a new battery at my own cost. Now the new battery doesn-??t charge beyond 50% (12.2v) either, and I have to routinely charge it every few days to full (12.7v) with an external battery charger just so the battery doesn-??t die and either gets me stranded on the road (safety issue for myself and others) or damages computers/other electrical components (reliability and repair issue).

- Pleasanton, CA, USA

problem #11

Jul 052020

CX-5

  • miles
The Mazda Connect touch screen in the center display doesn't always accept touch commands properly and regularly operates by itself (ghost touch) while in drive.

- Plantation, FL, USA

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