Verdict
2020 Mazda CX-5: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2020 Mazda CX-5 — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
Middle-of-the-pack complaint volume for SUV.
Owners filed 105 NHTSA complaints — more complaints than 65% of 2020 SUVs. Electrical System leads the reports (28%). No safety recalls on record.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2020 SUVs, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
105
Reports to NHTSA, 2020
Safety recalls
0
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
26
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
More complaints than 65% of 2020 SUVs
The bar is this car's percentile among 2020 SUVs by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Electrical System issues lead owner complaints (28% of 105 reports), followed by unknown or other (17%).
+ 9 more component categories with fewer reports.
Share of all 105 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11366933, ODI 11743236, ODI 11731620, ODI 11720015, ODI 11690851.
Recalls
0 recalls — none issued for this model year as of Jul 2026. Recall records can change as NHTSA publishes new campaigns.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
2020 Mazda CX-5 SUV FWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
2020 Mazda CX-5 SUV AWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CX-5 2WD | 2.5L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 25 | 31 | 28 |
| CX-5 4WD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 24 | 30 | 26 |
| CX-5 4WD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 22 | 27 | 24 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2020 Mazda CX-5: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2020 Mazda CX-5?
Owners filed 105 NHTSA complaints about the 2020 Mazda CX-5 — more complaints than 65% of comparable 2020 SUVs, so it sits toward the weaker end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2020 Mazda CX-5?
The most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (28% of complaints) and unknown or other (17%).
How many recalls does the 2020 Mazda CX-5 have?
No safety recalls are on record for the 2020 Mazda CX-5 as of Jul 2026.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Mazda CX-5 get?
The EPA rates the 2020 Mazda CX-5 between 24 and 28 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.