There are 4 stored owner reports matching the lighting leading-label group for the 2018 Mazda CX-5 in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 4 of 4 matching reports.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)The lighting system on the 2018 Mazda cx-5 base sport model has it so that during the daytime, the low beams continuously run. This and the continuously lighted dashboard make it hard to tell when you need to turn on the headlight/tail lights, since the headlights are always on. These arent even side drls, they are full low-beam lights. I've seen many Mazda cx-5 base models that do not have auto headlights drive around with there without any taillight and makes it dangerous for traffic behind to see the vehicle. Additionally, when others borrow the car, they always never turn on the headlight because there is no indication that anything needed to be turned on unlike older cars where the dashboard is fully black when the headlight/taillight is off.
When driving at night or in diminished lighting, the headlights will turn on but the taillights do not. The taillights will only activate if the headlight switch is moved to the on position. When the headlights activate, it gives the driver the appearance of everything is operating as designed when in fact there are no taillights illuminated.
I AM CONCERNED THAT THE HEADLIGHT GLARE FROM MY 2018 MAZDA CX-5 MANUFACTURED IN NOVEMBER 2107 IS EXCESSIVE FOR ONCOMING VEHICLES. I FREQUENTLY HAVE ONCOMING CARS FLASH THEIR LIGHTS AT ME WHEN DRIVING ON 2 LANE ROADS AT NIGHT. MY VEHICLE HAS THE TECH PACKAGE, WHICH INCLUDES ADAPTIVE LED HEADLIGHTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SELF LEVELING. THE IIHS TESTING OF HEADLIGHTS OF THE 2017 - 2018 MAZDA CHANGED IN MARCH 2018 FROM ACCEPTABLE TO GOOD.
LIMITED TAILLIGHTS. SMALL HALF CIRCLES ON THE CURVED SURFACE OF THE BODY. HARDLY VISIBLE FROM THE REAR. LARGE REFLECTOR ONLY ON LIFT GATE.
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.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.