The second-generation CX-5 ranks among the most reliable compact SUVs on the Canadian market: three Transport Canada recalls in nearly nine years, almost all concentrated on the 2017-2019 model years, which also carry the two most serious mechanical issues. Before buying, new or used, check the VIN on the Transport Canada website.
- Powertrain control module (2018-2019): a software error could set the valves incorrectly, cause misfires and, at worst, stall the engine with no immediate restart; fix via a free software update.
- Low-pressure fuel pump (2018-2019): the impeller could crack and deform, enough to stall the engine, a defect affecting more than 20,000 Mazda vehicles in Canada, including the 2018-2019 CX-5; pump replacement.
- Mazda Connect multimedia system, reported on several model years: a screen that freezes or restarts on its own, finicky Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay, sometimes a black screen; correction via a software update or module replacement.
- Hesitation from the 6-speed automatic (2018-2019). Some owners report jerky shifts at low speed, especially when shifting into Drive.
Technical briefing
Launched in Canada in 2012, the first-generation CX-5 established Mazda in the compact SUV segment, before a more refined second generation arrived in 2017: reworked chassis, improved sound insulation and interior finish. The CX-5 quickly became Mazda’s best-selling vehicle in the country.
For the Canadian market, the second-generation CX-5 offered four Skyactiv powertrains over the years, detailed in the table below. The small 2.0 L making 155 hp, reserved for the base GX, disappeared after 2018; the naturally aspirated 2.5 L making 187 hp then became the entry-level engine.
i-Activ all-wheel drive, first offered as an option on FWD GX and GS trims, became standard across the Canadian lineup starting with the 2022 model year. The CX-5 built for Canada is assembled in Hiroshima, Japan.
| Engine | Displacement | Power | Transmission | Drivetrain | Years in Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skyactiv-G gasoline | 2.0 L | 155 hp | 6-speed manual or automatic | Front-wheel drive (AWD optional) | 2017-2018 (GX only) |
| Skyactiv-G gasoline | 2.5 L | 187 hp | 6-speed automatic | Front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive; AWD standard across the lineup since 2022 | 2017-2025 |
| Skyactiv-G turbo | 2.5 L | up to 256 hp (premium gasoline) | 6-speed automatic | All-wheel drive | 2019-2025 |
| Skyactiv-D diesel | 2.2 L | 168 hp | 6-speed automatic | All-wheel drive | 2019 only |
Most common problems
Aside from formal recalls, two irritants keep coming up among second-generation CX-5 owners, along with the particular case of the diesel: they deserve a careful test drive, without stopping you from considering this vehicle a good choice. The details of the recall campaigns appear in the “Recalls” section.
2017 Mazda CX-5 interior | Mazda CanadaMazda Connect infotainment system
The most regularly reported weak point, across all years, remains the Mazda Connect infotainment system: the screen freezes or restarts on its own, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay connections become finicky and, in some cases, the screen goes completely black.
Fixes generally come through a software update or a warranty replacement of the module. Mazda enlarged the centre screen to 10.25 inches and improved Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration starting in 2024. Complaints drop on the most recent models.
Hesitation in the 6-speed automatic (2018-2019)
Several owners report jerky shifts or low-speed hesitation, especially from a stop or in Drive, a recurring topic on specialist forums such as Mazdas247. Mazda responded with technical bulletins aimed at the transmission control module (TCM) logic rather than a mechanical defect, including TSB 05-004-23 (August 2023) on low-speed shudder in locked first gear. This is not a recall, and some dealers still struggle to reproduce the problem in the shop. On a test drive, a low-speed urban loop with several complete stops remains the best filter.
2017 Mazda CX-5 | Mazda CanadaDiesel Skyactiv-D (2019 only)
Offered for a single year and dropped for lack of demand, the diesel version remains extremely rare in Canada: no official count has been published, but Mazda and several specialist sources describe it as a marginal volume. The few examples share the known issues of modern diesels used mainly on short trips: particulate filter clogging and engine-oil dilution by fuel, a problem documented elsewhere on the Skyactiv-D platform, but rarely reported in Canada given the low sales volume.
Recalls
Transport Canada lists three recall campaigns for the second-generation CX-5, plus a 2017 U.S. campaign (NHTSA) covering a dealer-installed accessory. A relatively light tally, concentrated almost entirely on 2017-2019: 2020 and newer models have none in Canada. The two most serious cases specifically affect the 2018-2019 models, detailed below.
Powertrain control module (PCM)
The most serious recall of this generation covers 2018-2019 models (Transport Canada 2019-322 / NHTSA 19V497), shared with the Mazda3 and Mazda6. A software error in the PCM could cause the valve timing to malfunction. Possible result: internal engine damage, misfires and, at worst, a stall while driving with no immediate restart.
The fix is a no-charge PCM reprogramming at the dealer. On a used 2018-2019, confirm the campaign has been applied.
Low-pressure fuel pump
A second major recall also covers 2018-2019 models (Transport Canada 2021-696 / NHTSA 21V875). The low-pressure pump impeller could crack and deform. The engine can then run roughly, refuse to start or suddenly lose power while driving.
In Canada, more than 20,000 Mazda vehicles were affected (Mazda3, Mazda6, CX-3, CX-9, MX-5 and 2018-2019 CX-5). In the United States, NHTSA extends the same campaign to certain 2020 CX-5s; in Canada, only 2018-2019 models are covered, which is why the VIN matters. The repair is a complete fuel-pump replacement.
2025 Mazda CX-5 interior | Mazda CanadaTwo older recalls, limited scope
Two older campaigns round out the picture: a 2017 recall (NHTSA 17V744, about 1,000 vehicles in the United States) covers Mazda’s accessory trailer-tow harness, whose routing could put it in contact with the muffler; the harness is rerouted or replaced. A 2018 recall (Transport Canada 2018-341 / NHTSA 18V426, a few hundred vehicles) covers side curtain airbags that may not deploy properly in a side impact or rollover; the airbags are replaced.
Here is the picture of the four campaigns that affect this generation; the volumes give an order of magnitude, but a VIN remains the only reliable individual check.
| Recall (TC / NHTSA) | Defect | Model years | Units (order of magnitude) | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-322 / 19V497 | PCM software: incorrect valve timing, misfires, risk of stalling without an immediate restart | 2018-2019 | Multi-model campaign (Mazda3, Mazda6, CX-5) | PCM reprogramming, at no charge |
| 2021-696 / 21V875 | Low-pressure fuel pump impeller that can crack and deform | 2018-2019 | More than 20,000 Mazda vehicles in Canada (several models, including the CX-5) | Pump replacement |
| NHTSA campaign (accessory) / 17V744 | Accessory trailer-hitch harness wiring that can contact the muffler | 2017 | About 1,000 vehicles (U.S.) | Rerouting or replacement of the harness |
| 2018-341 / 18V426 | Side curtain airbags that may not deploy properly | 2018 | A few hundred vehicles | Replacement of the curtain airbags |
What owners say
On owner forums (Mazdas247 foremost) as well as in reviews posted by Canadian buyers, CX-5 owners almost unanimously praise the build quality, handling, and driving enjoyment. Those qualities partly explain its title as Mazda’s best-selling SUV in the country. All-wheel drive inspires confidence in winter. Sound insulation is judged superior to that of several direct rivals. After-sales service at Mazda dealerships generally receives good comments.
The main irritant remains Mazda Connect infotainment, especially on 2017-2022 models, before the new screen. Cargo space, adequate without being generous for the class, and the premium fuel recommended for the turbo engine are also mentioned by some. A few 2017-2019 owners report a windshield that cracks from a minor impact; the phenomenon remains anecdotal, but a windshield already replaced is worth a question to the seller.
Land Rover’s Defender Pickup Could Be Built in the U.S. by Stellantis
To conclude
The second-generation CX-5 posts one of the best reliability records in the segment: the recalls affect almost exclusively 2017-2019, and the Canadian file remains clean from 2020 on.
What to check (2017)
Confirm the trailer-hitch harness recall (NHTSA 17V744) if the accessory is present or may have been.
What to check (2018)
In addition to the possible wiring harness, confirm the side curtain airbag recall (Transport Canada 2018-341 / NHTSA 18V426).
What to check (2018-2019)
Top priority: the control module (2019-322) and fuel pump (2021-696) recalls. Once those are done, the only known serious mechanical risks for this generation are practically eliminated. On a test drive, also feel the transmission at low speed.
What to check (2019, diesel)
Good news if you find one: offered for only one year in Canada, the Skyactiv-D almost qualifies as a collector’s piece. That said, ask for the service history and favour an example that has done real trips, not just short urban runs.
What to check (2020-2025)
The Canadian recall record remains clean; a 2020 still deserves a VIN check, as the U.S. fuel pump campaign extends to that model year. On pre-2024 versions, expect infotainment that can be finicky; on 2024-2025, the 10.25-inch screen eases that irritation. All-wheel drive has been standard since 2022.
A well-maintained CX-5, regardless of the model year between 2017 and 2025, remains one of the safest choices in the segment. Always validate the VIN on recalls-rappels.canada.ca.
Safe travels!
