Mazda CX-5 Common Faults in the UK
KF, 2017–2024 (2022 facelift) — mid-size family SUV. Updated 6 October 2026.
This guide covers the KF, 2017–2024 (2022 facelift) only. Older CX-5 generations have different engines and faults — for one of those, see how to check any car for known faults.
The KF Mazda CX-5 (2017–2024) is one of the more reliable mid-size SUVs sold in the UK, but the dominant 2.2 SkyActiv-D diesel suffers fuel-in-oil dilution and DPF blockage on short urban journeys. Pre-2022 cars also have headlight clouding and dated Mazda Connect infotainment. Best-buy years: 2022–2024 (facelift). Worst: 2018.
Largest DVSA recall for the CX-5: R/2019/187, 70,435 vehicles in the whole recall — Soot may accumulate around the intake shutter valve on the inlet side of the engine. See the 2 DVSA recalls listed for this model.
88.5% of Mazda CX-5s registered 2017–2022 pass the MOT on the day (cars fixed during the test included), 1.6 points above all cars registered in those years (86.9%). These are the cars this guide covers that were 3 to 12 years old when DVSA tested them in 2025, counted from 4,640 DVSA tests; a pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.
Counting every registration year DVSA holds for the Mazda CX-5 (2013–2022), which includes generations this guide does not cover, 83.2% pass on the day (cars fixed during the test included), from 7,514 tests.
Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0), a sample of the 2025 file (about one test in ten, from nine months). Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a pass here (passed on the day); DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. Compared against cars of the same registration years, because pass rates otherwise mostly measure how old a model's surviving fleet is.
See it by registration year and by mileage ↓No asking-price figure is shown: we give the median and middle 80% of asking prices only when at least 10 cars on Autoza qualify — here, Mazda CX-5 cars registered 2017–2024. The road tax line comes from GOV.UK's vehicle tax rate tables (2026/27 rates). The other quick-stats values are indicative editorial estimates aggregated from owner-forum sentiment, recall data and reliability surveys. We do not publish a UK price index, and no figure here should be quoted as one.
Best and worst years to buy
We name a year as a best or worst buy only where the DVSA MOT table further down does not rate it the other way.
The 2022 facelift brought Mazda Connect 2 (wireless CarPlay, far faster screen response), upgraded cabin acoustic insulation, the wider availability of the 2.5 SkyActiv-G petrol with M Hybrid 24V, and updated SkyActiv-D engine management software that reduced the oil-dilution risk on short trips.
2023 and 2024 cars are too new for the DVSA table below, so there is no MOT record behind them yet.
2018 examples — the first full UK model year for the KF — saw the highest count of engine-related owner complaints, including oil leaks, oil consumption, and earliest reports of fuel-in-oil dilution on the 2.2 SkyActiv-D. Pre-update Mazda Connect was already feeling dated.
Known faults — Mazda CX-5 KF, 2017–2024 (2022 facelift)
How to read this list. This model’s DVSA safety recalls are listed in their own section below, largest first, each with DVSA’s reference and vehicle count. Everything else in this list is owner-reported: patterns that come up repeatedly with workshops, owner forums and reliability surveys. Those are worth checking on a viewing, but we hold no count of how many cars have each one, other than any survey share a card itself quotes. Treat an owner-reported item as a question to ask, not a fault this car has.
Engine — 2.2 SkyActiv-D fuel-in-oil dilution
- Symptoms
- Engine oil level rising above max on dipstick; diesel smell on dipstick; reduced oil viscosity; in extreme cases runaway-engine risk
- Years affected
- 2017–2021 (pre-software update); risk persists on any 2.2D used mainly for short urban trips
- Indicative repair (UK)
- £180–£280 oil + filter change at independent specialist; £700+ if injector seals also need replacement
- What to check before buying
- Dipstick at viewing — oil level should be at or below max, not above. Sniff the dipstick for diesel. Ask the seller for the typical journey length: a 2.2D used mostly for sub-9 miles commutes is a red flag regardless of mileage.
DPF — 2.2 SkyActiv-D diesel particulate filter
- Symptoms
- Limp mode; "DPF full" warning; loss of power on hills; failed regeneration cycles
- Years affected
- All 2.2 SkyActiv-D, mileage- and usage-dependent — Typical issue 55,000+ miles when used for short urban journeys
- Indicative repair (UK)
- £600–£1,200 forced regen + cleaning; £1,800–£3,000 DPF replacement
- What to check before buying
- Ask the seller for proof of recent motorway driving. Run a 30-minute mixed-speed test drive with an OBD reader connected (£20 phone tool) — watch DPF soot load. Avoid any car where the DPF has been removed or tampered with: under the DVSA MOT inspection manual (8.2.2.1) a missing or tampered-with DPF is a major defect, which fails the MOT, and GOV.UK says removing one is almost always illegal.
Injector seal leakage (2.2 SkyActiv-D)
- Symptoms
- Black sooty gunge around top of engine; diesel smell from bonnet area; rough idle on cold start
- Years affected
- 2017–2024 2.2D, more common above 60,000 miles
- Indicative repair (UK)
- £200–£400 per injector seal kit + labour; £800–£1,200 if all four
- What to check before buying
- Pop the bonnet at viewing. Look at the cylinder head around each injector for black carbon staining — clean engine bay is the goal. Stained injectors mean leak in progress.
Headlight clouding (LED / HID lenses)
- Symptoms
- Milky-white or yellowed headlight lenses reducing beam pattern; failed MOT on light output
- Years affected
- Pre-2022 facelift, all trims — Cosmetic — age-related, typically year 4+
- Indicative repair (UK)
- £120–£200 per lamp polish/refurb; £450–£700 per genuine Mazda LED unit replacement
- What to check before buying
- Visual inspection in daylight — lens should be clear, not foggy. Failed MOT on this fault is a common reason owners sell. Ask for last MOT certificate.
Mazda Connect infotainment (pre-2022)
- Symptoms
- Slow screen response; Bluetooth dropouts; CarPlay/Android Auto reconnection issues; rotary controller occasional freeze
- Years affected
- 2017–2021 (Mazda Connect 1.x)
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Free software update at Mazda UK dealer if available; £350+ if head-unit replacement needed
- What to check before buying
- Pair your phone during inspection. Test CarPlay/Android Auto for at least 5 minutes. Check the software version in settings — should be latest update available from Mazda UK.
Front suspension — lower control-arm bushings and top mounts
- Symptoms
- Knocking noise over rough UK surfaces; vague straight-line tracking; uneven inner-edge tyre wear
- Years affected
- All KF — 60,000+ miles, accelerated by potholed UK roads
- Indicative repair (UK)
- £250–£450 bushings; £350–£600 top mounts (pair)
- What to check before buying
- Drive over a rough surface during test drive. Listen for clunks. Inspect inner shoulders of front tyres — uneven wear is a tell.
Rear arch and tailgate surface rust (KF1, coastal UK)
- Symptoms
- Bubbling paint on rear wheel arch lips and lower tailgate
- Years affected
- 2017–2021 (pre-facelift), worst on cars in coastal areas (e.g. the west coast, Scotland, the South West) — Age- and exposure-dependent, typically year 5+
- Indicative repair (UK)
- £350–£700 cosmetic refurb; £1,200+ if metal replacement needed
- What to check before buying
- Run a finger along the inside of rear wheel-arch lips. Check the tailgate seam below the rear window. Salty UK coastal air accelerates this — an inland car is a safer bet.
DVSA safety recalls for the Mazda CX-5, largest first
These are the recalls DVSA lists for this model and its build years: every one of 10,000 or more vehicles, largest first, with DVSA’s own reference and figures. A recall covers only cars built in its dates and within its VIN range — check a particular car by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check. “Critical” here means DVSA’s own notice tells owners not to drive the car until it is fixed. It is never a size: “Large” means DVSA lists 10,000 or more vehicles in the recall.
- Safety recall · R/2019/187Large recall — 70,435 vehicles
Soot may accumulate around the intake shutter valve on the inlet side of the engine
70,435 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 26 January 2012 and 30 June 2018 · recall launched 25 July 2019
- Safety recall · R/2021/435Large recall — 26,974 vehicles
Low pressure fuel pump impeller might become deformed
The impeller in the low-pressure fuel pump may become deformed causing fuel pump failure.
26,974 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 3 April 2018 and 27 October 2018 · recall launched 4 January 2022
Source: DVSA vehicle recalls file (every recall since 1992), published under the Open Government Licence. Where DVSA gives one figure for a recall that covers several models, it is shown as the whole recall’s total.
Mazda CX-5 MOT results by year and mileage
Measured from DVSA’s own MOT test records for tests carried out in 2025, not from owner reports.
By registration year
Against all cars registered in the same year, the MOT pass rate for the CX-5 was higher in 1 and level in 9 of the 10 registration years from 2013 to 2022 with enough tests to measure. The widest gap above is 2021 registrations: 93.2% against 90.1%.
Pass rate here: passed on the day, cars fixed during the test included. Rows: every Mazda CX-5 DVSA tested in 2025, by registration year (2013–2022), all engines and fuels together. 2013–2016 registrations are older generations of the CX-5 than this guide covers, shown for comparison; the guide’s own cars start in 2017. A registration year cannot separate two generations exactly when one replaced the other part-way through a year.
| Registered | CX-5 | All cars that year | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022704 tests | 92.3% | 91.2% | +1.1 level |
| 2021573 tests | 93.2% | 90.1% | +3.1 higher |
| 2020588 tests | 89.5% | 88.7% | +0.8 level |
| 20191,020 tests | 88.3% | 86.9% | +1.4 level |
| 20181,019 tests | 86.2% | 84.5% | +1.7 level |
| 2017736 tests | 84.1% | 82.2% | +1.9 level |
| 2016756 tests | 79.0% | 79.4% | −0.4 level |
| 2015745 tests | 73.8% | 76.7% | −2.9 level |
| 2014685 tests | 74.3% | 74.3% | 0.0 level |
| 2013535 tests | 70.7% | 71.9% | −1.2 level |
Only a major or dangerous defect fails an MOT. A minor defect is recorded on the certificate and the car still passes, and an advisory is not a failure at all.
We don’t give a recall count for the Mazda CX-5: whether a recall applies depends on the individual car. Check the one you are looking at by entering its registration on GOV.UK’s vehicle recall checker, and see how to check a car for known faults for the other free checks.
Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0), a sample of the 2025 file (about one test in ten, from nine months) (3,459,000 tests). Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a pass here (passed on the day); DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. Registration years shown are cars 3 to 12 years old when tested; the smallest rests on 535 tests. A gap is called level when it is under one percentage point or inside the 95% sampling margin for that number of tests. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Who this car suits — and who should look elsewhere
Family buyers wanting a premium-feeling Japanese SUV with strong long-term reliability, lower depreciation than German rivals, and a quiet refined cabin (especially post-2022 facelift). Best fit for drivers doing regular motorway miles.
Short-trip city-only drivers buying the 2.2 SkyActiv-D — fuel-in-oil dilution and DPF clogging are use-pattern issues, not luck. Choose the 2.0 / 2.5 SkyActiv-G petrol or look elsewhere. Also not for buyers needing seven seats — CX-5 is strictly five-seat.
Alternatives to consider
If the Mazda CX-5 doesn't suit, these comparable models are worth a look in the UK market:
Mazda CX-5: questions buyers ask
What are the most common faults on a used Mazda CX-5 in the UK?
The KF Mazda CX-5 (2017–2024) is one of the more reliable mid-size SUVs sold in the UK, but the dominant 2.2 SkyActiv-D diesel suffers fuel-in-oil dilution and DPF blockage on short urban journeys. Pre-2022 cars also have headlight clouding and dated Mazda Connect infotainment. Best-buy years: 2022–2024 (facelift). Worst: 2018.
What is the best year to buy a used Mazda CX-5 in the UK?
Best-buy years: 2022, 2023, 2024. The 2022 facelift brought Mazda Connect 2 (wireless CarPlay, far faster screen response), upgraded cabin acoustic insulation, the wider availability of the 2.5 SkyActiv-G petrol with M Hybrid 24V, and updated SkyActiv-D engine management software that reduced the oil-dilution risk on short trips.
What years of Mazda CX-5 should I avoid in the UK?
Worst years: 2018. 2018 examples — the first full UK model year for the KF — saw the highest count of engine-related owner complaints, including oil leaks, oil consumption, and earliest reports of fuel-in-oil dilution on the 2.2 SkyActiv-D. Pre-update Mazda Connect was already feeling dated.
How much does a used Mazda CX-5 cost in the UK in 2026?
This page gives no figure at the moment: Autoza quotes asking prices only when at least 10 qualifying cars are advertised with a price — here, Mazda CX-5 cars registered 2017–2024. Prices vary by mileage, region and trim, so compare several adverts of the same year and mileage band before negotiating.
What is the road tax (VED) on a Mazda CX-5 in the UK?
Annual road tax (VED): £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
What real-world fuel economy does a Mazda CX-5 achieve on UK roads?
Typical real-world consumption: 2.2 SkyActiv-D 42–47 mpg real-world; 2.0 SkyActiv-G 31–35 mpg; 2.5 SkyActiv-G 28–33 mpg.
How does a Mazda CX-5 compare to its rivals?
Strong alternatives in the UK: Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Volkswagen Tiguan, Skoda Karoq. Choose based on dealer network in your area, parts availability, and your priorities (running cost vs. cabin quality vs. badge).
Who is the Mazda CX-5 most suitable for?
Family buyers wanting a premium-feeling Japanese SUV with strong long-term reliability, lower depreciation than German rivals, and a quiet refined cabin (especially post-2022 facelift). Best fit for drivers doing regular motorway miles.
Who should NOT buy a Mazda CX-5?
Short-trip city-only drivers buying the 2.2 SkyActiv-D — fuel-in-oil dilution and DPF clogging are use-pattern issues, not luck. Choose the 2.0 / 2.5 SkyActiv-G petrol or look elsewhere. Also not for buyers needing seven seats — CX-5 is strictly five-seat.
Are there safety recalls on the Mazda CX-5?
DVSA lists 2 safety recalls for the Mazda CX-5 that this guide shows or names, the largest first: R/2019/187 (70,435 vehicles in the whole recall, built between 26 January 2012 and 30 June 2018): Soot may accumulate around the intake shutter valve on the inlet side of the engine; R/2021/435 (26,974 vehicles in the whole recall, built between 3 April 2018 and 27 October 2018): Low pressure fuel pump impeller might become deformed. Whether a particular car is affected depends on its build date and VIN, so check its registration on GOV.UK (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy.
Is the Engine — 2.2 SkyActiv-D fuel-in-oil dilution on the Mazda CX-5 a serious problem?
Owner-reported, frequency unknown: Engine — 2.2 SkyActiv-D fuel-in-oil dilution comes up in owner forums and workshop reports for the Mazda CX-5, but how often it happens is not known, so treat it as a question to ask rather than a fault every car has. Symptoms: Engine oil level rising above max on dipstick; diesel smell on dipstick; reduced oil viscosity; in extreme cases runaway-engine risk. Years affected: 2017–2021 (pre-software update); risk persists on any 2.2D used mainly for short urban trips. Indicative repair cost in the UK: £180–£280 oil + filter change at independent specialist; £700+ if injector seals also need replacement. What to check before buying: Dipstick at viewing — oil level should be at or below max, not above. Sniff the dipstick for diesel. Ask the seller for the typical journey length: a 2.2D used mostly for sub-9 miles commutes is a red flag regardless of mileage.
Is the DPF — 2.2 SkyActiv-D diesel particulate filter on the Mazda CX-5 a serious problem?
Owner-reported, frequency unknown: DPF — 2.2 SkyActiv-D diesel particulate filter comes up in owner forums and workshop reports for the Mazda CX-5, but how often it happens is not known, so treat it as a question to ask rather than a fault every car has. Symptoms: Limp mode; "DPF full" warning; loss of power on hills; failed regeneration cycles. Years affected: All 2.2 SkyActiv-D, mileage- and usage-dependent. Typical issue 55,000+ miles when used for short urban journeys. Indicative repair cost in the UK: £600–£1,200 forced regen + cleaning; £1,800–£3,000 DPF replacement. What to check before buying: Ask the seller for proof of recent motorway driving. Run a 30-minute mixed-speed test drive with an OBD reader connected (£20 phone tool) — watch DPF soot load. Avoid any car where the DPF has been removed or tampered with: under the DVSA MOT inspection manual (8.2.2.1) a missing or tampered-with DPF is a major defect, which fails the MOT, and GOV.UK says removing one is almost always illegal.
Check these next
The guide above is about the Mazda CX-5 as a model. These are about the car in front of you.
- Browse Mazda CX-5 listings on AutozaEvery one listed now.
- Check any car by its registrationFree: its MOT history, tax status and any open recall, from a number plate.
- Work out the road tax for the CX-5Vehicle tax (VED) by registration date, CO2 and list price.
- Work out the monthly paymentExamples for a car loan or hire purchase by price, deposit, term and APR.
- What is your CX-5 worth?A price range from dealers' asking prices for comparable cars.
Looking to buy a Mazda CX-5 in the UK?
Search Autoza listings filtered by year, mileage, and region. Every dealer page shows the business name, address and contact details, so you can check the business before you enquire.