Showing the 2017 CX-5 Sport. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
26–27 mpgcombined; city 23–24, highway 29–31; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$12,030–$12,490U.S. average; Ohio $10,750–$11,160 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2017 CX-5. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 150 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 CX-5. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Electrical system
44
1
0
1
Unknown or other
35
2
0
0
Engine
16
1
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
15
1
0
0
Service brakes
14
1
0
0
Structure
12
0
0
1
Visibility/wiper
12
0
0
0
Power train
11
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
7
2
0
0
Lane departure
5
1
0
1
Air bags
4
1
0
1
Forward collision avoidance
4
0
0
0
12 more parts
Back over prevention
3
0
0
0
Seats
3
0
0
1
Electronic stability control (ESC)
2
0
0
0
Seat belts
2
0
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
1
0
0
0
Equipment
1
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
1
0
0
0
Fuel system, gasoline
1
0
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
1
0
0
Suspension
1
0
0
0
Tires
1
0
0
0
Visibility
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2017 CX-5 over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2017 CX-5 vehicles equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness. This harness may be routed such that there is insufficient clearance between the harness and the exhaust muffler, allowing the wiring harness to contact the muffler.
Risk: Contact with the muffler may damage the trailer wiring harness, potentially resulting in the trailer lighting being inoperative, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the trailer hitch harness away from the muffler, replacing the harness if it is damaged, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1617K.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 572 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2017 CX-5, the latest on Sep 11, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (180), equipment (178), engine and engine cooling (56), structure (51), equipment adaptive/mobility (46).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2017 CX-5.
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: small sport utility vehicle. EPA greenhouse gas score: 6 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
CX-5 Front-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
24 / 31 / 27
CX-5 4-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
23 / 29 / 26
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data