Mazda CX 50 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

I was backing out of a parking spot in a parking lot that backed up to a 2 lane highway. I placed the car in Reverse and then put the car in Drive, so that I could exit the parking lot to a side road. When I placed the car in Drive and pressed gas, the car went into Reverse (towards the 2 lane highway behind me). I placed the car in park, then back to Drive, it went in Reverse again. We were now in the 2 lane highway with oncoming traffic swerving to avoid us. We decided to put the car in park and turn off the car. Then, we restarted and place the car in Drive. It went into drive and we moved forward into the parking lot, off the highway and then we could exit the parking lot and drive home.

At approximately 2,900 miles, during the first oil change/service, the factory-installed spin-on oil filter could not be removed normally. The oil filter required approximately one hour of removal effort and would not spin off in a normal manner. When the filter was finally removed, the oil filter threaded adapter/union came out of the engine-side oil filter housing while still seized inside the oil filter. The adapter threads showed visible damage, including flattened, galled, and torn thread areas. The oil filter was seized tightly enough to the adapter that the oil filter had to be cut away from the adapter to separate the parts. The adapter was removed from the filter without adding further damage. The damaged adapter threads were cleaned/chased only as a temporary repair because the vehicle was needed for work and parts were not immediately available over the weekend. A new correct replacement oil filter was test-fitted to the adapter. It threaded fully onto the adapter by hand but had slight binding in the previously damaged thread area. The filter was installed, the engine was started, and the assembly was checked for leaks. No leak was observed during the temporary service check. However, the adapter remains damaged and should be replaced. This appears to be a manufacturing, assembly, or original filter installation issue, because the vehicle had only approximately 2,900 miles and the factory-installed oil filter was seized to the oil filter threaded union. The filter should not be seized to the adapter at this mileage, and the threaded adapter should not be pulled out of the engine-side housing during normal oil filter removal. The concern is that a damaged or improperly threaded oil filter adapter could cause oil filter sealing failure, oil leakage, loss of engine oil pressure, engine damage, or an oil leak onto the roadway. The damaged threaded oil filter adapter/union should be documented as a factory/dealer assembly defect.

We are having concerning issue with Mazda CX 50, 2026 hybrid. not going into reverse gear or stopping unexpectedly after attempting to shift to reverse. We recently took the vehicle to the Mazda dealership where we bought it.: Luther Mazda in [XXX]. After repeated attempts, they said they had no way to address the problem since they couldn’t re-create it. We reiterated that it just happened several times to us, but we cannot re-create it on demand. I sent the dealership the following information from the Internet, that was posted about the 2025 model having the same issue as our new 2026 is having. Factory Transmission Software Mode     •    Recall Numbers: NHTSA ID 25V487000 (approx.) early production CX-50 Hybrid units were shipped to dealerships with their software accidentally locked in a specialized "factory testing mode". [1 ([XXX])]     •    Safety Impact: When trapped in this mode, a driver can shift the vehicle directly into Drive or Reverse without depressing the brake pedal, which violates federal safety standards and poses a roll-away or sudden acceleration risk. [     •    The Remedy: Dealers must replace the Engine Control Module (ECM), reprogram the Power Control Unit (PCU) and Hybrid Control Unit (HCU), and use a proprietary diagnostic tool to formally deactivate the factory mode at no cost. [1 ([XXX])] We sent our dealer list, but they still say they cannot do anything for now to resolve the situation with our 2026 model. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I am reporting a severe safety defect on a brand-new Mazda CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus involving a complete failure and malfunction of the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), specifically the proximity, forward collision, parking collision, and automatic emergency braking sensors. The safety sensors continuously malfunction, creating an immediate and erratic hazard while driving. The chief concern is the risk of uncommanded, sudden automatic emergency braking at highway speeds, or the complete failure of critical safety warning systems during a real collision event.Upon identifying this safety risk, I contacted an authorized Mazda dealer to arrange an emergency repair. The dealership explicitly promised a loaner vehicle so they could hold my car safely for diagnostic testing. However, when I arrived, the dealership reneged on the loaner vehicle and refused to check the car into service.Instead, dealership sales and service personnel drove my vehicle into the service bay and instructed me to get inside the cabin. A staff member then entered the vehicle settings menu and manually muted the auditory safety alerts to conceal the active sensor malfunction warnings. I immediately protested, stating that muting a critical ADAS safety warning system was unsafe, did not diagnose or repair the defect, and put my life and public safety at risk. Despite my clear objections, the dealership's management instructed me that I must continue to drive the vehicle with the disabled/muted safety systems anyway and to bring it back if anything else happens.When I refused to accept this hazardous vehicle modification and sought alternative resolution, the dealership owner issued a written communication banning me from the property, entirely refusing to honor the manufacturer's warranty or perform mandatory safety repairs. The vehicle remains unrepaired and unsafe to operate on public roads due to random sensor failures, and the primary local dealer has outright refused service.

Gradually increasing knocking and clicking sounds from front end suspension through first 400 miles of new car miles was observed. Researched this issue and found known recall for this specific problem for same model/year but VIN was not identified within the known range. Reported to dealer/mazda service center and told to bring vehicle in for inspection with reported confidence that this is the same known problem.

I was pulling into a parking spot and the emergency braking system applied the brakes very forcefully as if a collision was imminent. I backed up and saw nothing in the parking spot and then proceeded to pull back into the same spot with no issue. There was a loud and rhythmic thumping sound that I perceived as the abs system engaging. This is a rental car so I am returning it to the company, National rental car, and swapping out for a new vehicle. I contacted Mazda about this and was given a case # 00434431.

This is the 2nd time I’m reporting that I was severely burnt on my thigh from my drivers seat heater, overheating. There are on going glass action law suits against Mazda for this issue. My 2024 CX-50 has not been in service at Olympia Mazda with no updates on repairs and when I will get my car back. Please help me!

I'm curious how many other Mazda owners are dealing with the same battery drain issue. I'm now on my third battery since 2024: Factory battery replaced under warranty in 2025. Second replacement purchased in March 2026. Within a month, the "Battery Low - Drive Vehicle to Recharge" warning was back. The dealer kept my vehicle for four days to monitor it, but they couldn't find anything abnormal. This started long before I had a dashcam professionally installed, so that's not the cause. I've read numerous posts on Facebook from other owners mentioning: A door module that can get wet after heavy rain and cause a parasitic battery drain. The key fob constantly communicating with the vehicle when it's within about 20 feet, potentially contributing to battery drain. I mentioned the door module issue to my dealer, but they said they had never heard of it. At this point, it's becoming incredibly frustrating. A modern vehicle shouldn't be going through batteries like this, especially when the dealer can't identify the root cause. I started to document the times that my dashboard warning pops up that the battery is low.

I was attempting to mount my bike rack. To get the clips to properly fit I needed to partially open the liftgate. Upon triggering the door release the power liftgate and began opening the door. The anti pinch system did not detect the pinch and it crumpled the roof and liftgate at the seam. I tried to stop it but there was too much pressure and by the time it stopped lifting under my body weight significant damage had occurred. If a finger had been there it would have been chopped off.

On 02/27/2026, a 2024 Mazda CX-50 (20700 miles) exhibited a severe burning smell following a 3-hour highway drive and a subsequent steep, 2-mile mountain climb to a restaurant in Jasper, TN. The smell was strongly observed by multiple occupants upon exiting the vehicle. On 03/02/2026, a technician at Mazda of Knoxville confirmed via video a 'flat grease ring' slung onto the undercarriage, indicative of a centrifugal lubricant leak from the driveshaft/CV assembly. The proximity of this flammable grease to the hot exhaust system during high-torque operation (mountain climbing) presents a critical fire hazard. Despite visual confirmation of the slinging grease, the dealership issued a blank service invoice, omitting the defect from the official record and returning the vehicle in an unsafe condition. This represents a documented safety defect being suppressed by the manufacturer, posing an unreasonable risk of vehicle fire or catastrophic driveline failure.

The vehicle had the original OEM battery fail at 15 months. It dropped to 7v under light load. It's a bad battery. Upon being jump started, the power steering went in and out while driving and the dashboard blinked on and off...throwing a lot of errors that are unrelated to the battery problem. The failure state of the vehicle with a bad battery is unlike any vehicle I have ever seen and it is extremely dangerous. Furthermore, Mazda roadside assistance does not know about this issue and only offers jumpstarts, putting customers into danger by suggesting that the vehicle is safe to drive with a battery that is not stable.