Problems · by component

2020 Mazda CX-5 electrical system problems

31 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2020 Mazda CX-5 cite electrical system, 28% of all 110 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
31
28% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Car stalls and 3 warning lights flash on the dashboard- “front radar sensor system malfunction”, “forward smart city brake support malfunction”, “smart brake system malfunction” and check engine light turns on. Car still drives but gas pedal and brake pedal don’t seem to work as well. Have to pull over, turn engine off and restart. Check engine light still on but other warning lights disappear. Check engine light turns off overnight. Has happened twice in the last month. Concerned about safety as gas and brake pedals seem off until turning the engine off and on again. Concerned about brakes failing. When brought to dealership, warning lights had all turned off and dealership found nothing wrong with car.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 25, 2026Electrical system, Service brakesODI 11773545
“The infotainment display screen on my 2020 Mazda CX-5 has suffered a severe hardware failure resulting in un-commanded inputs, commonly known as "ghost touching." While driving at highway speeds, the touchscreen constantly registers phantom touches. It actively hijacks the vehicle's computer system and cuts out my Apple CarPlay connection during trips. This morning, the ghost touching randomly turned the Apple Maps navigation volume up to the absolute maximum level without warning. This intense, sudden noise causes driver shock and distraction while in motion, creating an immediate risk of a wreck. The vehicle currently has fewer than 29,000 miles.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 10, 2026Electrical systemODI 11743236
“The vehicle infotainment system including the touchscreen display and Connectivity Master Unit malfunctioned. The touchscreen operates without driver input, the system freezes or glitches, audio activates unexpectedly, and phone functions behave erratically. The vehicle and components are available for inspection upon request. While the vehicle was being driven, the system initiated actions without driver input including unintended phone calls including calls to 911, sudden unexpectedly loud radio or audio volume, screen freezing, and loss of navigation. These events caused driver distraction and a startle effect while the vehicle was in motion, increasing safety risk to vehicle occupants and others on the road. The issue is ongoing intermittent and reproducible during normal driving conditions. The vehicle was presented to an authorized dealer multiple times. A software update was performed in an attempt to correct the issue, but the condition continued. The dealer advised that replacement of infotainment components such as the CMU or display may be required. The vehicle has been inspected by an authorized dealer on multiple service visits. The issue was also…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 16, 2026Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11731620
“The Smart Brake Support system malfunctioned while driving. The vehicle began shaking and lost power, requiring excessive throttle to move. The car hesitates and may not accelerate normally, creating a dangerous situation in traffic. Warning lights appeared on the dashboard and the vehicle became unsafe to operate. The issue occurred shortly after purchase and was reproduced multiple times. The dealer inspected the vehicle but refused to provide a written diagnosis or repair timeline. The vehicle is unreliable and poses a risk of sudden loss of control or rear-end collision.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 23, 2026Electrical system, Service brakes, EngineODI 11720015
“I purchased this vehicle as a used car from a dealership. On my way home, the infotainment panel began to shout at top volume that this is the volume that navigation would be set at. The volume was so loud that it was startling, and it continued on until I had to pull over. I contacted the dealer, but they offered no assistance. The car continues to control itself at the panel ferning with the use of android auto so that you can't use your phone GPS for directions. The radio will control itself, changing stations, making loud beeps, and turning the volume up. There is no way to stop this feature because you can't turn the system completely off while the car is on. I can find no way to fix this on my own. I have tried resets, but have seen ample information about other people having this problem online. This does not seem to be an unknown problem and I don't know why there has not been issued a recall because it's very dangerous.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 1, 2025Electrical systemODI 11690851
“The infotainment screen in the vehicle suffers from Phantom/Ghost touching, rending a safety hazard as while following navigation it can act on it's own, becoming a large distraction.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 1, 2025Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11677811

Showing 6 of 31 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.