2019 MAZDA CX-5 Engine Problems

The vehicle's cylinder head has developed a structural crack at on the casting, a known manufacturing defect identified by the manufacturer in Service Advisory SA-037/23. This failure is causing pressurized engine oil to leak directly onto the hot exhaust manifold while the vehicle is in operation. The leaking oil is pooling on high-temperature exhaust components, creating a significant risk of fire while driving. The leak generates heavy smoke and noxious burning oil fumes that are entering the passenger cabin through the HVAC system, causing respiratory issues

The vehicle has suffered a crack of the Cylinder Head Assembly which leads to engine oil leaking onto hot exhaust and fire hazard. This defect is officially documented by the manufacturer in Service Alert SA-031/21, which identifies a trend of aluminum heads cracking and leaking pressurized oil directly onto the hot exhaust manifold. Although Mazda has issued a 10-year/120,000-mile warranty extension (Program CSP11) for the exact same casting failure in its Turbo-equipped models, it has refused to provide similar "Goodwill" relief for my vehicle, despite it suffering from the identical engineering flaw. Mazda’s refusal to cover a verified latent manufacturing defect that poses a significant fire hazard is arbitrary and unfair. I am requesting that Mazda North American Operations provide full reimbursement for the $6,788.51 repair

I am being told there is a crack in the cylinder head that is a known issue for these vehicles. I have done some research online and it says that they installed defective cylinders in vehicles that were made between the years 2018-2020 leaving vehicle owners to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket due to a manufacturing defect. My car was smoking and smelling like something burnt even inside the car causing the driver to inhale those fumes, I took it to the shop and it turns out that the cylinder head is cracked and leaking the oil.

1. What component failed, and is it available for inspection? Component: The Engine Cylinder Head. The Failure: The cylinder head failed due to a structural crack caused by overtightened bolts (manufacturing defect), resulting in an engine oil leak. Confirmation: The defect is confirmed and resolved. Wayne Mazda (NJ) acknowledged the failure and replaced the cylinder head under the CPO Warranty last month. The issue has not returned since the replacement, proving this was indeed a hardware defect. 2. How was your safety put at risk? Fire Hazard: Before the repair, for a duration of one year, the vehicle leaked engine oil onto the hot exhaust manifold, creating a persistent fire risk. Toxic Exposure: My family and I were forced to inhale burning oil fumes inside the cabin for months due to the dealer's delayed diagnosis. This posed a significant health hazard. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed? Yes....

Drove 39 miles, around ~55 minutes. Parked the car, realized that I parked a little too far from the spot, car just stalled while rolling. Pressed accelerator, nothing. Turned off the car, tried to start again, it cranked but didn't start. Had to tow it to the nearest mechanic (total of ~2 hrs until my car got picked up and dropped off), mechanic calls me and tells me my car started fine. I'm thinking it could be 5321K recall but not sure as my VIN is not in the recall nor did I get any recall notice. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - No idea. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? - Got stranded for hours in the parking lot. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?...

On 12/10/25, my 2019 CX5 NA had major oil leak after smelling a burning smell for a few days. Took it into local mechanic and he couldn’t find the leak, did an engine wash and additional testing before identifying a crack in the cylinder head; the leak was coming from the exhaust manifold. There was oil all over the engine and the underbelly of the vehicle; according to the mechanic, I was lucky the car didn’t start on fire with the amount of oil. I was informed that this is a common problem with the turbos and the NAs but the extended warranty only included the turbo engines. Contacted Mazda customer experience and set up an appointment. Vehicle went to the Mazda dealership on 12/15 and it was confirmed that there was a crack in the cylinder head and received an estimate of $11,000 needed for repairs. $7000 of that...

The 2019 CX-5 AWD with the 2.5L NA engine (with Cylinder Deactivation) has an engine oil leak coming from the cylinder head area. The Mazda dealer confirmed the leak source and found burnt oil on the exhaust. The component is available for inspection. The leak location and symptoms are consistent with the known porous/cracked cylinder-head defect documented in this engine family. Full confirmation requires teardown. In early Dec 2025, a burning oil smell began, then thick white smoke came from under the hood while driving and after stopping. This created an immediate fire risk, and rapid oil loss could cause sudden engine failure or stall in traffic. The issue was inspected and confirmed by an independent mechanic, who noted the leak could only be traced after removing the exhaust manifold. The Mazda dealership then inspected it and confirmed the leak source at the cylinder-head area and the burnt oil residue....

While driving a short distance, my engine overheated and there was a strong burning smell. The cylinder head was cracked, causing a significant oil leak. The car is currently at the dealership but is available for inspection upon request. The defective cylinder head is leaking engine oil directly onto hot exhaust components. This creates an immediate risk of engine fire and causes smoke to enter the vehicle cabin, impairing visibility and driver health. The vehicle was diagnosed by an authorized Mazda dealership. They confirmed the cylinder head is cracked and requires replacement. My mechanic advised this type of leak could lead to engine overheating, sudden power loss, or potential fire risk and should not be driven. Mazda has issued prior Technical Service Bulletins and warranty extensions for similar cylinder head/manifold cracking issues on the 2.5L turbo engine, but no program exists for the non-turbo engine, despite identical problems. Mazda should...

Question 1 - What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Answer 1 - The Engine Cylinder Head. The cylinder head developed a crack, causing a significant oil leak. The car is currently at the dealership but is available for inspection upon request. Question 2 - How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Answer 2 - The defective cylinder head is leaking engine oil directly onto hot exhaust components. This creates an immediate risk of engine fire and causes smoke to enter the vehicle cabin, impairing visibility and driver health. Additionally, the loss of engine fluids creates a risk of sudden engine failure or stalling at highway speeds. Question 3 - Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center Answer 3 - Yes. The vehicle was diagnosed by an authorized Mazda dealership....

What component or system failed: The cylinder head failed due to cracking around the exhaust manifold, resulting in exhaust and coolant leakage. My independent mechanic and the Mazda dealer both confirmed this was the source of the burning smell and engine risk. The failed parts are currently in the possession of the Mazda dealership and available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: The failure created a strong burning rubber smell inside and outside the vehicle while driving. My mechanic advised this type of leak could lead to engine overheating, sudden power loss, or potential fire risk if not caught early. I frequently transport children in the vehicle, and the unexpected engine damage posed a significant safety concern. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed: Yes. The issue was first diagnosed by an independent, certified mechanic and then confirmed by the Mazda dealership, who determined the cylinder head had to be...

The Cyclinder Head cracked. This could cause the engine to fail, and leaving the driver on the highway or other unsafe locations of travel. The certified repair shop along with the insurance adjuster advised it was a manufacturing defect. The warning sign was an oil burning smell inside the vehicle while stationary and inside the garage.

Confirmed cracked cylinder by dealership, led to dumping of oil while vehicle was in motion on the highway. Vehicle/engine could have caught fire at any moment. There were no engine warnings that appeared on the dash. This is consistent with other CX-5 complaints on NHTSA. Vehicle had 55,000 miles on it at time of incident, and needed $8,000 worth of repair. Please recall!!

In August 2025, we brought our Mazda CX-5 (non-turbo engine) to a Mazda service center and paid nearly $3,000 for repairs, including replacement of belts and other related service. Despite this, we continued to experience a burning smell from the vehicle. Shortly thereafter, the problem escalated — the burning smell persisted and smoke began to appear. Mazda is now demanding an additional $4,500 to replace a cracked cylinder head. This defect must have been present when the car was serviced in August, and the initial repairs failed to identify or correct it. While there is an NHTSA Technical Service Bulletin for the turbo version of this engine, there are numerous complaints online about the same defect in the non-turbo model, which is what we own. This indicates that the problem is not isolated. Mazda should be held responsible for this safety issue. A cracked cylinder head that leads to burning...

Cracked/Leaking Cylinder Head on my 2019 Mazda CX5. It is understood that Mazda has extended warranty for the Turbo Model (CSP11) of this car, but not the standard engine, even though they both are displaying the same issue in many 2019 CX5s. Quoted at $6000 for a vehicle under 90K Miles. Issue needs to be escalated.

Cracked Cylinder Head.

Dealership service department found a cracked cylinder head. This issue has been reported to NHTSA by Mazda. The car is being serviced and this issue was found. I’m attaching photos and also report from dealership l.

Timing cover oil leak. This is the same issue reported in technical bulletin #01-006/23 issued on 04/26/2023. There is oil leaking and the engine is smoking. No engine warning lights or other messages appeared. My car is a 2019 mazda CX-5 and has 31,954 miles. This problem has been confirmed by both an independent mechanic and the dealer service center. On 08/22/2025, I took my vehicle to dealer service for the repair. I also submitted a ticket to Mazda care for review of the case.

For the 3rd or 4th time since I have own this car I experienced a loss of acceleration when attempting to make quick acceleration while attempting to merge with traffic. Acceleration is fine around town where quick acceleration is not appropriate. But the first attempt to merge with flowing traffic the car will slowly accelerates to about 30 mph and no more regardless as to position of accelerator pedal. On all occasion this bad behavior has this first drive of the day - going to work in the a.m. There is often a warning message indicating the safety radar is not working due to limited visibility which is a very common warning in the a.m.

I am the owner of a 2019 Mazda CX-5 (non-turbo) which experienced a cylinder head leak requiring full replacement. The repair was done by Riley Mazda of Stamford on July 28, 2023, at a personal cost of $4,074.34. Mazda has acknowledged this defect in turbocharged CX-5 models from the same year and issued a reimbursement program. However, Mazda has declined reimbursement for non-turbo models, even though the failure is the same, and the repair used identical part numbers and labor hours as listed in Mazda’s own TSB for the turbo reimbursement. This indicates a broader issue affecting both engine variants. Mazda’s refusal to extend reimbursement to non-turbo owners is unfair and leaves affected customers with no support for a known manufacturing flaw. I urge NHTSA to investigate this recurring engine defect in non-turbo 2019–2020 Mazda CX-5 models and encourage Mazda to offer equal reimbursement.

My vehicle has 64k miles and has had regular maintenance - oil changes, etc. it has recently developed an oil leak. I took it to the dealer today & they said the cylinder head and gasket needs to be replaced. My car has not overheating or even run warm. I understand there are 2019 CX-5S that have had a casting issue with cylinder heads. I feel sure that’s what the issue is here yet they want almost $6k to repair my vehicle!

The contact owns a 2019 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message that the engine oil level was low was displayed. The contact stated that oil was added to the engine; however, the next day the message reoccurred. The contact stated that later while the vehicle was parked, the contact discovered an oil leak underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was driven to the local mechanic who confirmed oil leaking from the engine, but the cause of the oil leak was not yet determined. The local dealer was contacted, and a service appointment was scheduled. The cause of the failure was not yet determined, and the vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 96,600.

Just got diagnosed with cracked cylinder head. After looking on social media, it appears this is a thing for the model years 2018 and 2019. Bad casting? Anyway I believe this should be a voluntary recall to correct such a flawed engine. I bought this new from a Mazda dealership and kept it up to date with service only through the dealer. The 60 month/60,000 mile drive train warranty ran out last July. However I only have 50,000 miles on the car...babied.

At 30,000 miles car began leaking oil severely and was told that the engine block was cracked and needed to be replaced. There are numerous complaints of this same issue online happening just after the warranty has expired. The cost of repair is $6000.

Unknown. Ticking noise on engine.

The engine cylinder head cracked before the vehicle hit 50,000 miles. This caused oil to leak and burn in the engine compartment, leading to a burning smell coming into the cabin. Once enough oil had been lost, I got a low oil pressure light. I immediately pulled over and noticed white smoke was coming out from under my hood, and the smell of burning oil was quite strong. The problem has been confirmed by my mazda dealer. The vehicle has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance. Just the dealer. The vehicle is currently at the dealer, and the cylinder head would need to be removed for inspection if requested. The smell of burning oil was the only early symptom, though I did not recognize it at the time.

The contact owns a 2019 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving up on incline at 45 MPH, the engine shut off with the check engine warning light flashing on the instrument panel. Despite the failure, the contact was able to pull the vehicle off to the shoulder of the road. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the residence. The following day the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic; however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The mechanic replaced the spark plugs and the ignition coil. The mechanic referred the contact to the dealer for additional assistance. The contact drove the vehicle to the dealer with an abnormal rumbling sound coming from the vehicle. While at the dealer, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact was provided an estimate for repairs unrelated to the failure. The manufacturer...

Valve cover develops crack causing significant loss of oil resulting in seizing of engine with the potential of serious accident and potential loss of life.

I had my vehicle looked at and found a cracked cylinder head on #3 and did some research of people having the same issues. I was driving when the vehicle started smoking it turns out the oil coming out of cylinder #3 flows down the driver and passenger side behind the exhaust manifold which can lead to a fire. My car only has a little over 80,000 miles and this should not happen around that low of a mile vehicle. I believe this is an issue that needs attention.

The contact owns a 2019 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact discovered an abnormal odor coming from the engine compartment. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was a cracked cylinder head and that the cylinder head needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 26,000.

Cracked cylinder head. Major oil leak. Oil light came on but then turned off. No other warning light. No engine light came on. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis.

The cylinder head in the engine cracked while I was driving. The vehicle was leaking oil profusely and was down a quart after the oil had been changed the week prior. There were no warning lights or indication and I had just had the vehicle in the dealership the week before. I'm a disabled driver that requires hand controls so if I needed to exit the vehicle and move away from it it would not be possible. It's been at the dealership since 2/24/25. I have found numerous other people that have experienced the same issue online.

The cylinder head on my 2019 Mazda CX-5 failed prematurely due to a known defect. The vehicle is currently at Fred Beans Mazda in Mechanicsburg, PA, where the issue has been diagnosed and confirmed. The defective component is available for inspection upon request. This failure created a serious safety risk due to an oil leak, which led to smoking from the engine bay and a potential fire hazard. If the oil had ignited, this could have caused severe vehicle damage or injury. Additionally, the failure could lead to a sudden loss of power while driving, increasing the risk of an accident. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by the dealership, and Mazda has been contacted regarding assistance. They have acknowledged the issue but have not provided full coverage for the repair. Prior to the failure, there were no warning lights or messages. The only symptom was an oil leak,...

While driving the vehicle, I started smelling a burning smell about 10 days ago (2/17). I also felt a slightly reduced engine performance and could see the car emitting smoke from the engine bay. I had no warning lights on my dash. For all I know, the engine could've blown while I was driving on the road. Upon taking the vehicle to the dealership 2 days ago (2/25), they informed that my car has a cracked cylinder head, and there was no apparent reason why this would happen. The vehicle has only been inspected by the dealership thus far and I was quoted $5,700 to fix the issue. Upon looking up the problem, I see this is a common issue, with many having experienced it before, but no TSBs issued for this. There is a CSP issued for vehicles of the same year, but limited to the Turbo version on...

This concerns a 2019 Mazda CX5 with approximately 52,000 miles - the engine of this vehicle is the 2.5L naturally aspirated version. Driving the vehicle with the HVAC system on resulted in a burning oil smell coming through to the cabin. Upon owner inspection, engine oil was seen as coating the underside of the vehicle in various areas. The oil pan drain plug and oil filter were both found to be tight and not leaking oil. The vehicle was taken to a nearby Mazda dealership for inspection on 2/26/2025. On 2/27/2025, Mazda technicians state that the cylinder head on the vehicle engine requires replacement. Replacement is quoted to be in excess of $5000. Reviewing the issue online shows numerous similar cases of engine cylinder head failure. This vehicle comes equipped with cylinder deactivation which seems to have a higher rate of failure regarding cylinder heads and a potential design flaw...

I hope this message finds you well. My name is [XXX] , and I am the owner of a 2019 Mazda CX-5 purchased as part of the Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program. I am writing to formally address two concerning issues related to my vehicle’s warranty coverage and its safety. 1. Warranty Coverage for Drive Belt Tensioner: During a recent visit to your dealership, I was informed that the drive belt tensioner on my vehicle is not covered under the warranty. This contradicts the coverage listed on your official Mazda CPO Warranty, which specifies that the Limited Powertrain Warranty includes the engine, timing chain, tensioner, and associated components. The drive belt tensioner is clearly referenced in this section, yet I was told it falls under wear and tear and is not covered. I kindly request a detailed explanation regarding this discrepancy. I believe the information I was given does not align...

Oil started leaking while car was idling causing smoke to enter the cabin as well as all under the hood. Car was undriveable at this point. She was lucky there was no traffic. Car had to be towed and cylinder head was cracked. Mazda has a known faulty cylinder head problem they have refused to fix and this caused a safety issue. Vehicle will not be able to be inspected as we had it towed to get fixed immediately. The service center did confirm this is the issue and there were no prior issues before this.

I own a 2019 Mazda cx 5 and it has 78,000 miles. I noticed smoke coming from the engine and a lot of oil leaking on the ground. I brought the car into my independent service center and they confirmed that there was a crack in the engine cylinder head. There is a TSA # SA-031-21 on this problem. I feel that my safety was at risk, since the engine could have seized while driving. This vehicle is available for inspection upon request. No warning lamps or messages were displayed, however there was a strong odor of burning oil. This problem occurred on 1/9/25 and it has been in the service center since.

As I was driving, a burning smell emanated from the car. There were no check engine lights on. When I pulled over, I saw a lot of smoke coming from the engine. I checked the oil level and it was above the minimum line bit just barely, even though my husband had just done an oil change on it. I refilled the oil and continued on my trip. The problem repeated for several dqays until I got home and took it to the Mazda dealership. They reported the following: "Cylinder Head Assembly: oil leaking out of back of head, recommend replacing cylinder head and related gaskets. The cylinder head sits above the cylinders on top of the cylinder block. It closes in the top of the cylinder, forming the combustion chamber. This joint is sealed by a head gasket. In most engines, the head also provides space for the passages...

Car was purchased in June 2019. Car started smelling like burning oil and started finding oil pooling under the car around November 2024. At time the incident was discovered, car only had 38k miles. There was no warning lights or indication there was an issue other than the smell and small pool of oil under car. The Mazda service manager immediately knew what the issue was and told me they were going to confirm with a full inspection and diagnosis. I was told that I have a cracked cylinder head and I will need to have it replaced. Warranty ended few months prior so they will not cover. I was told it would cost $4589.76. The Mazda service department told me that this is a common issue and to hold off on repair and contact Mazda corporate since warranty just ended. They topped off my oil and told me to...

Engine block cracked, passenger cabin filled with noxious odder. Vehicle was suddenly leaking oil at high rate.

My 2019 Mazda CX-5 suddenly developed a major oil leak within the last 7 days. My car has only 44,350 miles and I have had all scheduled and required maintenance completed timely, including oil/filter changes, coolant level checking and maintenance, etc. I took the car to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the problem as a cracked cylinder head. I then took the car to a local Mazda dealer who confirmed the diagnosis and informed me that there would be no warranty coverage as my 60,000 mile/60 month powertrain warranty had expired 60 days earlier. Some two years earlier my car's check engine light came on and overheated. I took it to the same local dealer, who replaced the coolant control valve & related components. In November 2024 I received a "Warranty Extension Program" letter from Mazda about the same fail-safe thermostat problem. I believe this is relevant and related to...

I started to smell a burning smell while I was driving and noticed smoke coming from under the hood along with the burning smell. When I parked the car I noticed a bunch of oil leaking from under the car. I took the car to get checked out and there was oil all under the bottom of the car and it was confirmed that there was a very bad oil leak which occurred due to a crack in the cylinder head. No check engine lights or any indication of this issue aside from discovering the burning smell, smoke from under the hood, and a significant amount of oil underneath the car. The car hasn’t been driven in a month because of this issue. When you turn the car on you can hear a ticking sound coming from under the hood. The bad part is there was no indication. A 2019...

This car has less than 37,000 miles on it it has significant oil leaks from the valve cover gasket, it’s timing cover gasket and now it had been determined it has a cracked cylinder head. This was covered by 3 Service alerts with the cracked cylinder head being SA-031/21. None of the dealers notified us of the issue when serviced Galpin Mazda and New Century Mazda. But Big O Tires did. The two oil leak gasket repairs cost over $1600. The car is 8 months past warranty. The car is burning oil when driven. Due to the leak and the smoke particles and smell enter the cabin. The engine smokes when shut down instill it cold down. The smoke particles in the cabin are dangerous. The engine oil light appeared in late November (my daughter’s car, she is away at college). We found out the depth of the oil leak...

The 2019 has a creaked cylinder with 40000 miles on it. This is a problem with that has been happening. We are 4 months out of the warranty with May 2024.

Brought 2019 Cx-5 to local dealer with complaint of strong smell and smoke coming from hood. Cracked cylinder head at only 21k miles. Known flaw for this particular make and model. Only 6 months out of warranty. Mazda refuses to make it right and only extended warranty for turbo engines. Mazda needs to make this right for ALL engines with this issue.

My Mazda CX-5 was found to have a cracked cylinder in the engine and was profusely leaking oil. When I spoke to the dealership they denied seeing this regularly, however, upon doing research on reddit, it is found to be more pronounced than indicated. There was no known cause indicated, however, on reddit it appears that the original casting done in Mexico maybe the culprit because it is so thin and causes it to crack between 40-50k miles. There is no other sign or warnings, besides an obscene amount of oil leaking. The failure of this could cause the engine to fail while driving. This is a significant risk.

Vehicle has 40k after a oil change noticed oil spots on pavement took it back to the garage that did the task, was told that the leak was near cylinder #2. Called Mazda customer service and was informed that my warranty expired in May of 2024. my mechanic called Mazda parts to get the price of cylinder head and was told that they had a run on cylinder heads due to defective heads coming from the Factory, SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE MAZDA.

The head gasket cover is leaking leading to a great deal of smoke. The car should not be driven per my mechanic due to risk of fire

I have 115k miles on my 2019 CX5. Never has any issues. Now all of a sudden I have a cracked cylinder head leaking oil. I was smelling smoke but mot seeing it. I took into dealership they noticed oil dripping thus why smell. Its a $4500-5000 job. I cannot afford this. This should not happen at this kind of mileage. My warranty just expired too. Mazda needs to cover these type of repairs

The vehicle starting stalling, check engine light would come on, and the vehicle would slipped into “limp mode” while traveling on the freeway. I was amount in two auto collisions because of the vehicle slowing down in the middle of the highway. The problem started in August 2023 and was towed to the dealer on one occasions and towed to my home on another occasion. The dealer ran a diagnostic and said it was the brand new battery I had installed and then the catalytic converter. After repairing both; the vehicle proceeded to not drive over 30 miles per hour. The dealer said it was the engine and then said it was something else. I’ve expressed that the symptoms are those more aligned to the PCM issue recalled on 2019. A actual diagnostic report from Auto Zone supports this. The vehicle has also been inspected by another Mazda dealer and...