There are 7 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2015 Mazda CX-5in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
On Feb. 9, 2023, I started my vehicle and lots of warning indicators lit up the dash of my well-maintained vehicle. Check Engine, ABS, TPMS, SBCS to name some of the warning lights. When I took my car to the dealer, they told me the left front wheel speed sensor had mechanical failure and would need to be replaced. Said the car's antilock brakes wouldn't work without it being replaced. My car also has the automatic brakes to prevent collision and stability control systems which are dependent on wheel speed sensors' function. My vehicle mileage was 59307 when I took it to the dealer. Over $600 repair bill.
I was on my way home going down a windy back road going about 45 mph. there was a jeep in front of me and the mail truck was in front of them. the mail truck went to slow down and take a right onto a different road and as the jeep slowed down i applied my breaks and there was no response. this was not the first time this had happened in this vehicle but this time i panicked and i had to cut my wheel into the persons front yard to the right of us as i was continuously picking my foot up and slamming it down on the break and there was no response my car was just speeding up. i ended up going into the road that the mail truck was taking a right on and i hit the front of his truck and went flying into the woods and the trees were what stopped me. i now live with constant nerve pain everyday from this and suffer with a compressed lower back fracture that limits me daily from many things. before this incident i had issues with the breaks and acceleration twice. i had taken it to mazda and they fixed my “break switch” ? obviously that wasn’t the problem.
AFTER THE REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED THERE WAS A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE WHEN FIRST DRIVING UNTIL THE CAR WARMED UP. IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN FIRST REPLACED IN THE SUMMER BUT WHEN IT GOT COLDER IT GOT WORSE. TURNED OUT TO BE THE SAME CALIPER ISSUE THAT WAS RECALLED IN PREVIOUS MODELS BUT NO RECALL FOR THE CX-5
I WAS TRYING TO PARK MY VEHICLE IN A SOCCER FIELD PARKING LOT. AS I SLOWLY TURNING RIGHT INTO MY SPOT AT ABOUT 3-5MPH, MY FOOT WAS LIGHTLY DEPRESSED ON BRAKE PEDAL AND ABOUT TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY MADE A VERY LOUD ENGINE SOUND (MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOT ON THE GAS PEDAL) AS THE ENGINE REV UP FOR ABOUT A SECOND OR TWO THEN ACCELERATED FORWARD JUMPING THE CURB AND HIT A BIG FENCE POLE WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT SPED UP FROM 3MPH TO 30MPH AND I HAD NO TIME TO REACT. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BADLY DESTROYED AND THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED. THE CAR WAS FIVE YEARS OLD AND ABOUT 75K MILES. IT IS VERY SAFETY CONCERNING AND SHOULD BE SERIOUSLY LOOK INTO. *DT *AS
THE FRONT BRAKES ON MY CAR WOULD NOT PASS PA STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE OF SEVERE RUST ON THE PISTON SIDE OF BOTH FRONT ROTORS. THE OUTER SURFACES OF THE ROTORS WERE FINE. ALL OF THE PADS WERE AT 50% FOR WEAR. THE VEHICLE IS THREE YEARS OLD, BOUGHT NEW, AND HAS 38,000 MILES OF MIXED DRIVING. THE DEALER CONTACTED THE MAZDA DISTRICT MANAGER AND HE REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND CONSIDERED WHAT I HAD AS NORMAL WEAR. I REPLACED THE ROTORS AND PADS MYSELF AND WAS SURPRISED AT THE IMPROVEMENT IN STOPPING DISTANCE. SINCE THIS WAS HAPPENING OVER TIME, I WAS NOT AWARE OF MY LOSS IN BRAKING. AFTER I REPLACED MY BRAKES AND PERSONALLY CALLED MICHAEL KONZEL, THE MAZDA DISTRICT MANAGER, HE TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS CONSIDERED NORMAL AND NOT A MAZDA ISSUE. I OFFERED TO SEND HIM PICTURES, BUT HE SAID THAT HE DID NOT NEED THEM. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME, BUT DRIVEN DAILY.
BRAKING I WOULD HAVE A BRAKING ISSUE EVERY TIME I DRIVE OVER A LITTLE INDENTATION (A HORIZONTAL LINE THAT IS SLIGHTLY ON THE ROAD USED FOR A WATER PASSAGE). WHEN I DRIVE OVER THE WATER PASSAGE MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND EVEN THOUGHT I STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD, IT WOULD JUST KEEP GOING AND YOU CAN FEEL THE BRAKES JUST SLIPPING OFF THE BRAKE PAD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I HAVE A BRAKING ISSUE. WHEN I BRAKE MY CAR AT LOW SPEED, I RARELY HAVE ANY ISSUE AND MY BRAKE WORKS WELL. BUT IF I DRIVE AT A HIGHER SPEED (>55MPH) AND BRAKE RELATIVELY FAST, I WILL FEEL LIKE MY FOOT IS PUSHING ON BOTH BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS, AND MY CAR WILL NOT SLOW DOWN AS IT'S SUPPOSED TO. IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT FORCE OF FRICTION BETWEEN THE BRAKE PADS AND DRUMS. THE FEELING OF BRAKING IS NOT SMOOTH EITHER AS IF I WAS PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME. I ALMOST HIT THE CARS BEFORE ME TWICE. THIS ISSUE CAN BE RESOLVED WITH QUICK BRAKE PEDAL RELIEF AND SUBSEQUENT STEPPING ON AGAIN. I MAY NEED TO REPEAT THIS EFFORT SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT WORKS NORMALLY. I BELIEVE THERE IS SOME MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH IT. I DRIVE VERY CAREFULLY ON HIGH WAY NOW.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026