Mazda CX-5: common problems, best years and what to check
Stylish, well-built family SUV with strong engines. Covers 2012–2024 cars: every popular engine, its known faults with typical UK repair costs, and how each year has held up on Britain's roads.
Updated November 2026 · By the Carnod team · How we build this guide
Is the Mazda CX-5 a good used buy?
Best buy
2017+ KF 2.0 or 2.5 Skyactiv-G
Avoid
Skyactiv-D used for short trips
Who it suits: Families wanting a stylish, premium-feeling SUV.
What's good
- Premium interior (KF)
- Good to drive
- Reliable petrol
- Strong safety
What's not
- Thirsty petrols
- Diesel oil dilution
- Small infotainment (KE)
- Firm ride on 19in wheels
By the numbers
- #103 most common model on UK roads, with about 86k licensed (DfT).
- The biggest surviving year is 2019: 10.0k cars still licensed.
- 2013 cars survive 11% worse than comparable cars — check those harder.
- The most expensive common fault: Oil level rising from DPF regeneration / injector seals (up to £2,500).
Mazda CX-5 common problems by generation and engine
Mazda CX-5 KE (2012–2017) · SUV
How to spot it: 12 plate to 17 plate. Five-point grille and slim headlights.
2.0 Skyactiv-G (PE-VPS, petrol, 2012–2017)
Non-turbo and very durable
- Minor oil weeps£100–£30080k+
2.2 Skyactiv-D (SH-VPTS, diesel, 2012–2017)
Strong but hates short trips
- Oil level rising from DPF regeneration / injector seals£300–£2,500any · Check: Check dipstick isn't over the X mark
Mazda CX-5 KF (2017–) · SUV
How to spot it: 17 plate onwards. Deeper grille and thinner lights; premium interior.
2.0 Skyactiv-G (PE-VPS, petrol, 2017–)
Non-turbo and very durable
- Minor oil weeps£100–£30080k+
2.2 Skyactiv-D (SH-VPTS, diesel, 2017–2022)
Strong but hates short trips
- Oil level rising from DPF regeneration / injector seals£300–£2,500any · Check: Check dipstick isn't over the X mark
Costs are typical UK independent-garage prices including parts and labour. Main dealers usually charge more.
Best and worst Mazda CX-5 years
How many Mazda CX-5s from each year are still licensed today (DfT), coloured by how well that year survives compared with similar cars of the same age.
No year clearly outlasts similar cars. Years that fall off the road faster: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 — check these harder.
Mazda CX-5 MOT pass rate and common failures
First-time pass rate (2025)
Average UK car of the same age
MOT tests analysed (2012+ cars)
Mazda CX-5s pass their MOT first time 2 points more often than the average UK car of the same age (80% vs 79%). Older cars fail more, so we compare like with like.
| First registered | Pass rate | Average UK car that age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 62% | 63% | 100k miles |
| 2013 | 65% | 66% | 100k miles |
| 2014 | 68% | 69% | 93k miles |
| 2015 | 72% | 72% | 85k miles |
| 2016 | 74% | 75% | 77k miles |
| 2017 | 81% | 78% | 67k miles |
| 2018 | 85% | 81% | 55k miles |
| 2019 | 87% | 84% | 46k miles |
| 2020 | 88% | 86% | 37k miles |
| 2021 | 88% | 87% | 32k miles |
| 2022 | 90% | 89% | 25k miles |
Pass rate by fuel
Diesel
Petrol
Fuels differ in age and mileage mix, so treat this as a pattern rather than a like-for-like comparison.
Most common MOT failures
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.05 per 100
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.7 per 100
- Coil spring: fractured or broken2.57 per 100
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.28 per 100
- Tyres: has a cut1.93 per 100
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.87 per 100
- Ball joint excessively worn1.76 per 100
- Headlamp aim: too high1.49 per 100
Most common advisories
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.15 per 100
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick15.07 per 100
- Tyres: has a tear13.4 per 100
- Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened12.82 per 100
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn9.83 per 100
- Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded5.3 per 100
- Suspension arm: corroded and seriously weakened4.53 per 100
- Non-component advisories: Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt4.18 per 100
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results for 2025 (normal car tests). First-time pass counts faults fixed during the test as fails. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Does the Mazda CX-5 have a timing belt or chain?
| Engine | Type | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skyactiv-G/D | chain | durable | £700–£1,300 |
Mazda CX-5 running costs
Road tax (from April 2017)
Road tax (before April 2017)
Insurance groups
Real-world economy
Servicing (independent)
Tyres
Warranty when new
Is the Mazda CX-5 ULEZ compliant?
- Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001.
- Diesel: compliant only if Euro 6 — generally cars first registered from September 2015; earlier diesels pay £12.50 a day in London's ULEZ.
- Same standards apply in Birmingham and Bristol Clean Air Zones (which charge private cars) and Scotland's LEZs in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee (which fine them). Check the exact car on TfL's vehicle checker.
Safety and practicality
Euro NCAP
Boot
Seats
Mazda CX-5 vs rivals
| Model | On UK roads | Insurance | Boot | Best buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda CX-5 | 86k | 18–29 | 506 l | 2017+ KF 2.0 or 2.5 Skyactiv-G |
| Nissan Qashqai | 646k | 13–22 | 430 l | 2018–2021 J11 1.3 DIG-T manual |
| Kia Sportage | 373k | 13–25 | 491 l | 2016–2021 QL 1.6 GDi or 1.7 CRDi; 2022+ HEV |
| Toyota RAV4 | 112k | 27–40 | 580 l | 2019+ XA50 2.5 Hybrid |
| Ford Kuga | 354k | 15–28 | 475 l | 2013–2019 Mk2 2.0 TDCi manual; 2020+ FHEV |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | 316k | 16–30 | 520 l | 2016+ Mk2 2.0 TDI 150 |
What to check when buying a used Mazda CX-5
- Diesel oil level
Mazda CX-5 FAQ
›Is the Mazda CX-5 reliable?
Generally, if you pick the right version. Best buy: 2017+ KF 2.0 or 2.5 Skyactiv-G. Avoid: Skyactiv-D used for short trips.
›What is the Mazda CX-5 MOT pass rate?
80% of Mazda CX-5s passed their MOT first time in 2025 (64,638 tests), better than the 79% average for cars of the same age. The most common failure: brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick.
›What are the most common Mazda CX-5 problems?
The costliest known faults are Oil level rising from DPF regeneration / injector seals; Minor oil weeps. Each one is listed by engine with typical UK repair costs above.
›Does the Mazda CX-5 have a timing belt or chain?
Skyactiv-G/D: chain.
›What is the best year Mazda CX-5 to buy?
By DfT survival data, 2018, 2020, 2021 cars have outlasted comparable cars best. Condition and history still matter more than the year.
›How much does a Mazda CX-5 cost to run?
Real-world economy: 2.0 Skyactiv-G 36–42 mpg; 2.2 Skyactiv-D 45–52 mpg. Insurance groups 18–29. A minor service is about £170–£240 at an independent garage.
›How much is road tax on a Mazda CX-5?
Cars registered from April 2017 pay £200 a year (more if the list price was over £40k). Older cars pay by CO2 band, from £20 to £790.
›Is the Mazda CX-5 ULEZ compliant?
Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001. Diesel: compliant only if Euro 6 — generally cars first registered from September 2015; earlier diesels pay £12.50 a day in London's ULEZ.
How we build this guide
We combine official UK data with what independent garages see most often on this model.
- How many are still on the road: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, by year first used. The survival comparison is against cars of the same age.
- MOT pass rates, failures and mileage: DVSA anonymised MOT results — every normal car MOT in Great Britain for the year, compared with all cars of the same age.
- Road tax: GOV.UK rates from April 2026. ULEZ: TfL and Clean Air Zone emission standards.
- Faults and repair costs: known problems by engine code, priced at typical UK independent-garage rates including parts and labour.
- Insurance groups, mpg, servicing and tyres: typical ranges, not quotes. Your car's exact figures depend on the version and where you live.
This is a buying guide, not a mechanical inspection. A specific car's MOT history tells you far more than any model average — run a free check on it before you go and see it.
Sources: licensed counts and survival from DfT vehicle licensing statistics; road tax from GOV.UK (April 2026 rates). Faults, costs, mpg and insurance groups are typical ranges, not quotes. A guide, not a mechanical inspection.