2018 Mazda CX-5 electrical system problems
29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the electrical system on the 2018 Mazda CX-5 — 8% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“Touch Screen and/or infotainment center causing ghost touch. Available for inspection. Ghost touch (known Mazda issue) with touch screen has been changing radio stations, increasing volume to max. Will go into user settings and change guidance voice to full volume, increasing bass to full volume…”
filed May 27, 2026
“The radio changes stations by itself, speakers/music goes in and out. The screen freezes and cannot change stations. And also the car lags on taking off sometimes. Often smells like fuel when you turn on the car, Assuming a fuel pump issue, not sure. I spoke to the salesman who sold me the car…”
filed Jun 24, 2025
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related service bulletins
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SAs and bulletin(s) listed below: The changes are noted below in red. SA-010/23 02/09/23 DESCRIPTION Some customers may experience one or more electrical malfunctions…
SA-021-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 4, 2026
Electrical System problems in other CX-5 years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 CX-5 | 5 | 20% |
| 2024 CX-5 | 2 | 5% |
| 2023 CX-5 | 9 | 15% |
| 2022 CX-5 | 6 | 10% |
| 2021 CX-5 | 12 | 9% |
| 2020 CX-5 | 30 | 29% |
| 2019 CX-5 | 46 | 17% |
| 2017 CX-5 | 44 | 30% |
| 2016 CX-5 | 71 | 14% |
| 2015 CX-5 | 8 | 6% |
| 2014 CX-5 | 132 | 35% |
| 2013 CX-5 | 58 | 30% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2018 Mazda CX-5
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.