NHTSA/EPA public records retrieved through July 2026. Next scheduled review: 2027-01-19. Report v1.0.
2019 Mazda CX-5
Model-year general report. Individual vehicle specs may vary depending on factory options.
Configuration matched
Vehicle configuration matched using available VIN and public vehicle data.
Public Reporting Summary
No signal was computed for this vehicle. The sections below present official NHTSA and EPA records as retrieved, with coverage and limitations disclosed explicitly, including this vehicle's largest finding: a substantial complaint pattern with no recall or investigation, and an adjacent warranty program that explicitly does not cover the target engine.
- Unexplained oil leak, burning smell, or smoke from the engine compartment
- Infotainment touchscreen activating on its own ('ghost touch')
- Sudden stalling or limp mode during a test drive
- Recall completion (19V497000 PCM software, 21V875000 fuel pump)
- Confirming this vehicle's engine before assuming CSP11 applies (it does not, for this engine)
Available Records
Data Coverage
Coverage depth varies by data category, manufacturer reporting, and US market volume.
VIN-Decoded Configuration
Factory configuration decoded from VIN JM3KFACM4K0000001
- Model Year
- 2019
- Make
- MAZDA
- Model
- CX-5
- Trim
- Touring
- Body Type
- SUV
- Engine
- 2.5L SKYACTIV-G (naturally aspirated, with cylinder deactivation)
- Fuel Type
- Gasoline (Regular Unleaded)
- Drive Type
- 4x2/FWD
- Assembly Plant
- Hiroshima, Japan
- Country of Origin
- Japan
VIN decoding vs. vehicle history: decoding identifies how this vehicle left the factory (trim, engine, drivetrain, plant). It does not reveal accidents, title brands, odometer readings, or service history — those require a separate vehicle-history report and cannot be derived from the VIN pattern alone.
Reported Issue Patterns
Recurring themes grouped from public owner-complaint records. Patterns describe reporting activity, not how often issues occur across all vehicles.
Reported Impact & Context
This validation's largest and most consequential finding (91 of 216 complaints, 42.1%). A crack in the cylinder head, engine block, or valve cover develops, most commonly between 30,000 and 90,000 miles, leaking engine oil onto the exhaust manifold and producing a burning smell, visible smoke, and a described fire risk. A recurring, multi-year Mazda parts bulletin series (SA-058-20 through SA-073-24) repeatedly re-establishes a replacement cylinder head assembly for this exact engine's cylinder-deactivation variant — read as circumstantial internal corroboration, though the bulletin text itself never states a crack or fire risk. No recall and no federal investigation address this pattern. A similarly-named warranty program (CSP11) exists but is explicitly restricted by Mazda's own communications to the turbocharged engine and a coolant leak — not this engine's oil leak. One complainant states this exclusion directly in their own words.
Owner-Reported Symptoms
- A crack develops in the cylinder head, engine block, or valve cover, most commonly between 30,000 and 90,000 miles
- Engine oil leaks onto the exhaust manifold, producing a burning smell or visible smoke
- Smoke entering the cabin through the ventilation system in several reports
- Several complainants explicitly describe a fire risk
What to inspect
Check the oil level and inspect closely near the exhaust manifold for oil staining, residue, or a burnt-oil smell. Ask the seller whether an unexplained oil leak, burning smell, or smoke has ever occurred, and whether a Mazda dealer has referenced a cylinder head bulletin.
Reported Impact & Context
25 of 216 complaints (11.6%). The center touchscreen activates functions on its own without being touched, in several cases while driving. Officially corroborated on two fronts: a diagnostic bulletin (SA-041-22) explicitly describing 'Ghost Touch,' and a genuine Customer Service Program (CSP13) resulting from an acknowledged Mazda Connect Infotainment class-action settlement, explicitly covering 2016-2020 CX-5 with no engine-scope restriction.
Owner-Reported Symptoms
- The touchscreen selects menu items, scrolls, or changes settings without being touched
- Screen surface peeling or spider-crack cosmetic symptoms reported alongside the touch malfunction in some cases
What to inspect
Touch nothing on the center screen for several minutes while driving and watch for it to activate on its own. Ask whether the screen was replaced under CSP13.
Reported Impact & Context
12 of 216 complaints (5.6%). Sudden stalling or a shift into reduced-power limp mode, plausibly (not confirmed) related to recall 19V497000, a PCM software stall fix.
Owner-Reported Symptoms
- Sudden stall while driving, in some cases on an incline or at highway speed
- Shift into a reduced-power 'limp mode' with a check engine light
What to inspect
Drive at varying speeds, including an incline, and watch for sudden stalling or limp mode. Confirm recall 19V497000 has been completed.
Reported Impact & Context
5 of 216 complaints (2.3%). Forceful automatic braking with no obstacle present. No official record corroborates this pattern.
Owner-Reported Symptoms
- Forward collision/automatic emergency braking activates forcefully with no obstacle present
What to inspect
In a safe setting, note whether adaptive cruise control or forward-collision assist brakes forcefully with no obstacle present.
Complaints & Statistics
How complaint filings for this model year are distributed over time and by system.
Complaint Filing Distributions
Statistical profile of formal complaints submitted to federal highway safety databases.
History: Annual Complaints
Volume of complaints filed on this model year by calendar year.
| Calendar year | This vehicle |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 19 |
| 2023 | 39 |
| 2024 | 48 |
| 2025 | 54 |
| 2026 | 30 |
Category Distribution
Complaint concentration grouped by primary mechanical/electrical systems.
Safety Recalls
Recall campaigns registered with federal regulators for this model year.
A recall listed for a model year may not apply to every individual vehicle. Use the official NHTSA VIN-specific recall lookup to confirm campaigns on a specific car.
Recall Summary
Certain 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.
Potential Consequence
An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. Mazda's number for this recall is 3719F.
Recall Summary
The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.
Potential Consequence
Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Mazda's number for this recall is 5321K.
Manufacturer Service Guidance
Service guidance the manufacturer issued to authorized service centers for specific components or conditions.
Each entry means the manufacturer issued service guidance related to a component or condition. Guidance covers diagnostics, repairs, software updates, and product improvements — it is not, by itself, evidence of a defect.
Guidance Summary
A recurring, multi-year bulletin series establishing a new cylinder head assembly for service parts for the naturally aspirated engine's cylinder-deactivation variant, repeatedly revised over 4+ years. The bulletin text does not explicitly state a crack or fire risk; this validation reads the persistence and revision pattern as circumstantial, not conclusive, internal corroboration of the complaint pattern above.
Applicable Configurations
2.5L naturally aspirated with cylinder deactivation only
The manufacturer issued service guidance related to this component or condition.
Guidance Summary
A genuine Customer Service Program extending the powertrain warranty for a coolant leak at the cylinder head. Mazda's own Owner Letter explicitly restricts coverage to vehicles 'equipped with a SKYACTIV-G 2.5T (Turbocharged) engine' — this program does NOT cover the naturally aspirated target engine, and does not address the oil leak (as opposed to coolant leak) pattern described by target-engine owners.
Applicable Configurations
2.5L Turbo only — explicitly excludes the naturally aspirated target engine
The manufacturer issued service guidance related to this component or condition.
Guidance Summary
Customers reported the infotainment center display exhibiting 'Ghost Touch' with a stored diagnostic code, along with surface peeling and spider cracks. Repair kits are available to replace just the screen.
Applicable Configurations
All configurations
The manufacturer issued service guidance related to this component or condition.
Guidance Summary
A genuine Customer Service Program explicitly resulting from a Mazda Connect Infotainment Class Action settlement, confirmed to cover 2016-2020 CX-5 with no engine-scope restriction.
Applicable Configurations
All configurations, 2016-2020 CX-5
The manufacturer issued service guidance related to this component or condition.
Safety Ratings & Investigations
NHTSA laboratory crash-test ratings and federal safety investigations.
Federal Crash Ratings
Driver-Assist Features to Verify
- Forward Collision Avoidance
- Lane Departure Warning
- Electronic Stability Control
Confirm each equipped feature operates without warnings during the test drive.
Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) Status
No NHTSA investigation exists for the CX-5 nameplate across any model year — confirmed via a full search of the national investigations dataset and independently corroborated by the Safety Ratings API (InvestigationCount=0). This absence does not confirm the absence of a real underlying pattern; investigation-opening criteria are outside this report's visibility.
Limitations & Data Integrity
What this report cannot tell you, and where the data comes from.
Report Limitations
- This report compiles official NHTSA and EPA public records for the 2019 Mazda CX-5 naturally aspirated 2.5L configuration. It does not assess, guarantee, or verify the actual condition of any individual vehicle.
- Complaint counts reflect reporting activity, not a failure rate.
- The original 'CX-5 2.5L' target was genuinely ambiguous across 3 real engines; this report explicitly defines and excludes the Turbo and Diesel variants — see the main report's Vehicle Identity section.
- 83.1% of 2019 CX-5 complaints (216 of 260) could be attributed to the naturally aspirated engine via VIN parsing; 1 complaint (0.4%) could not be attributed.
- No recall or federal investigation addresses this report's largest complaint pattern (cracked cylinder head). The absence of official action does not confirm the pattern is unfounded, nor does the pattern's size confirm a defect exists.
- A warranty-extension program (CSP11) exists for a similarly-named condition but is explicitly restricted to a different engine and a different leak type — it does not cover this report's target vehicle.
- This report does not compute or imply a Reported Issue Signal, reliability score, or purchase recommendation. Always obtain a professional pre-purchase mechanical inspection before finalizing a used-vehicle purchase.
Data Source Attribution
NHTSA vPIC (Vehicle Product Information Catalog)
Vehicle Identity / Configuration10 real VIN patterns decoded; 3-engine structure (NA/Turbo/Diesel) empirically confirmed and EPA-corroborated.
Limitations: vPIC lists only 1 CX-5 model; the 2.5L ambiguity required VIN-level resolution.
NHTSA Complaints API (complaintsByVehicle)
Owner Complaints260 complaints; 216 (83.1%) attributed to the naturally aspirated target engine.
Limitations: Self-reported; 1 complaint lacks a VIN.
NHTSA Recalls API (recallsByVehicle)
Safety Recalls2 recalls; neither addresses the cylinder-head pattern.
Limitations: Neither is engine-scoped in its own text.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — Investigations dataset (FLAT_INV)
Safety InvestigationsZero investigations found for the CX-5 nameplate across all model years.
Limitations: Absence of an investigation does not confirm absence of an underlying issue.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API
Safety Ratings5-star overall for both FWD/AWD; exact cross-verification, zero discrepancy.
Limitations: Not engine-specific.
US EPA fueleconomy.gov API
Fuel EconomyAll 6 engine/drivetrain configurations retrieved, corroborating the 3-engine finding.
Limitations: None material.
NHTSA Manufacturer Communications (Technical Service Bulletins) bulk dataset
Service Guidance559 documents; 4 individually cited here, including 2 genuine Customer Service Programs with sharply different engine scopes.
Limitations: Only a curated sample was individually detailed.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
A practical, phase-by-phase companion built from the reported patterns above. Progress is saved on this device only.
Inspection Progress
Check items off as you inspect. Progress and notes are saved on this device only — no account needed.
Before meeting the seller
Ask about oil leaks, burning smell, or smoke from the engine
This validation's largest pattern (91 of 216 complaints, 42.1%) describes a cracked cylinder head causing an oil leak onto the exhaust manifold, with a described fire risk.
Any history of unexplained oil leaks, burning smell, or visible smoke from the engine compartment.
Ask whether a Mazda dealer has referenced a cylinder head bulletin
A recurring, multi-year Mazda parts bulletin series exists for this exact engine's cylinder head.
Documentation of a cylinder head bulletin reference (SA-058, SA-031, SA-013, SA-037, or SA-073) or repair.
Confirm this vehicle's engine before assuming CSP11 applies
CSP11 explicitly covers only the turbocharged 2.5L engine's coolant-leak condition — not this engine's oil-leak pattern. Confirming engine identity avoids a costly misunderstanding either direction.
The VIN's 8th character or a dealer parts lookup confirming naturally aspirated vs. turbo.
Ask whether the infotainment screen was replaced under CSP13
CSP13 explicitly covers 2016-2020 CX-5 and directly addresses the ghost-touch pattern.
Documentation of a CSP13 screen replacement.
Confirm recall 19V497000 (PCM software) has been completed
Directly addresses the stall/limp-mode pattern's most plausible official corroboration.
VIN-specific NHTSA recall lookup showing completion.
Confirm recall 21V875000 (fuel pump) has been completed
A confirmed recall for this exact model year addressing a stall-causing fuel pump defect.
VIN-specific NHTSA recall lookup showing completion.
Ask about prior rollaway, unintended acceleration, or fire/smoke incidents
This validation found 7 severe complaints, including a rollaway, two unintended-acceleration reports, a shattered sunroof, and an electrical fire.
Any history of the vehicle rolling while parked, accelerating unexpectedly, or a fire/smoke/electrical incident.
Cold startup
Inspect near the exhaust manifold for oil residue at cold start
Same evidentiary basis as CK-01 — the specific visual/olfactory check for the dominant pattern.
Oil staining or residue near the exhaust manifold; a burnt-oil odor.
During the test drive
Watch the touchscreen for unprompted activation
25 of 216 complaints (11.6%) describe a 'ghost touch' malfunction, officially corroborated by a diagnostic bulletin and a class-action warranty program (CSP13).
The touchscreen selecting menu items or changing settings without being touched.
Watch for sudden stalling or limp mode during the test drive
12 of 216 complaints describe sudden stalling or limp mode, plausibly related to recall 19V497000.
Sudden stall, limp mode, or a check engine light with reduced power.
Watch for unexpected automatic braking
5 complaints describe forceful automatic braking with no obstacle present.
Forceful automatic braking with nothing in front of the vehicle.
Test-Drive Plan
A structured driving sequence covering the phases where reported conditions for this model are most observable:
Touch nothing on the center screen for several minutes
The touchscreen should never activate on its own.
Accelerating through varying speeds, including an incline
Sudden stalling, limp mode, or a check engine light.
With adaptive cruise control or forward-collision assist active
Forceful automatic braking with no obstacle present.
Questions for the Seller
Copy these targeted questions to ask the seller by message or in person. They address the reported patterns for this model range:
"Has this vehicle ever had an unexplained oil leak, burning smell, or visible smoke from the engine compartment?"
Why ask: This validation's largest evidence-backed pattern.
"Has a Mazda dealer ever mentioned a cylinder head bulletin (SA-058, SA-031, SA-013, SA-037, or SA-073) for this vehicle?"
Why ask: A recurring, multi-year Mazda parts bulletin series exists for this exact condition.
"Has this vehicle's infotainment screen ever been replaced under Mazda's CSP13 program?"
Why ask: A confirmed class-action-settlement warranty program directly applicable to this vehicle.
"Has this vehicle ever rolled while parked, accelerated unexpectedly, or had any fire, smoke, or electrical incident?"
Why ask: This validation's most severe complaint pattern.
For Your Mechanic
Full OBD-II diagnostic scan
Scan for DTC P3400 (cylinder deactivation malfunction), P061B, and oil-pressure-switch codes.
General pre-purchase inspection: brakes, suspension, undercarriage
Standard due diligence for any used-vehicle purchase.
Documents to Verify
Read this before acting on the report
- Complaint volume does not prove failure prevalence.
- This report does not predict whether an individual vehicle will experience a problem.
- This report does not replace a professional pre-purchase inspection.