Owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the brakes, suspension, and electrical. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2023Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2023 Mazda CX-50: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/2
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/5
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2023's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2023 Mazda CX-50. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 4WD | 27 mpg |
NHTSA complaints for the 2023 Mazda CX-50, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
False automatic emergency braking is the most common report. The car brakes hard with nothing ahead, in one case dropping from 70 to 35 mph on a highway in snow. In stop-and-go traffic, the sudden deceleration has stalled the engine. Other reports describe weak stopping that needs heavy pedal force, rear pads and rotors worn out at 22k miles, and fluid leaking near the front calipers at 47,000 miles. In one crash, the car accelerated into a garage wall with no collision warning or braking assist.
Front lower ball joints and control arms fail in several reports. In the worst cases the joint pulls out of the control arm and the front wheel nearly separates from the car. One ball joint failure at 2077 miles caused a complete loss of control. Other owners hear loud clunks at 5 to 25 mph, or crunching from worn strut bearings at 34,000 miles that a dealer blamed on dirt from light off-road use. In one case, a part shortage kept a control arm repair waiting nearly two months.
Repeated dead batteries lock the car and force entry with the manual key. One owner at 28k miles had five lockouts that two dealers could not fix, and the case ended in a buyback. Liquid or debris that gets into the center console can destroy the command switch underneath and knock out many controls. Towing owners say Mazda's own 4-pin trailer harness flashes the trailer lamps erratically when signaling with the brake applied. They also cite a 1000 lb limit without a brake controller, which Mazda does not sell.
A loose, wobbling steering wheel shows up in two reports. The wheel moves up and down or side to side, and no warning light comes on. A dealer traced one case to a loosened steering wheel bolt at about 75,500 miles. The other appeared at 40,585 miles, months after a crash. Two more owners describe power steering that sticks when turning left between roughly 9 and 11 o'clock. They say it is worse at low speeds and in cold weather.
The rear liftgate opened by itself on a freeway on-ramp in one report, with no button pressed. Another owner sees the hood wobble at all speeds and hears metal clanging from the front. Keyless entry sometimes takes two or three tries to unlock, and auto-lock may not engage when the driver walks away. Fabric lining or insulation also pulls out of the seams between the dash and the pillars on both sides.
Maximum braking kicks in at freeway speed with open road ahead. In one report it happened repeatedly within 2 miles at 60 mph, after a forward camera dirty warning during a snowstorm, with a semi truck in the next lane. Owners also say the system shuts itself off in heavy rain, light moisture, or cold weather, which dealers blame on dirt or fog. In one crash, the car rear-ended a stopped vehicle with no warning and no automatic braking.
Both reports involve crashes with injuries. In one, the car hit a deer at 55 to 60 mph and the airbag did not deploy. The seat belt also failed to hold the occupant, the driver suffered a serious eye injury, and the car was a total loss. The other report describes an airbag that burst and blew an air vent off, filling the cabin with smoke.
Seat upholstery tears early. Owners report rips of about 1 inch on the sides of both front seats, plus fraying along the seams where the vinyl meets the fabric. One owner says Mazda refuses to repair the seams. Another points to similar reports from other CX-50 owners online. Both complaints are about material durability, not seat function.
Excerpts from complaints CX-50 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Vehicle was purchase new, experienced safety concerns front brakes driver and passenger leaking brake fluid near brake calipers no warning lights. Fluid in the reservoir got pretty low. Pending case with Mazda USA. Local dealer stated over the phone was not covered because out of warranty 47,000 miles 2023 CX-50 Turbo mostly highway miles this vehicle was purchased as daily driver.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2024
On 1/14/2026, I was pulling into a parking space in a parking garage when the vehicle abruptly accelerated causing the vehicle to hit the concrete wall in front of me. No braking assist or front collision warning issued. Airbags deployed. The car is currently at Joe Myers Collision Center in Houston, Texas to obtain an estimate for repair. The police did not respond to reported incident. Incident was reported to my insurance company immediately.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2026
Wear of Strut Bearing causing crunching sounds at low speed braking and turning. Dealer reports this is due to dirt and debris getting up there. Vehicle has 34,000 miles (out of warranty due to time) and has had only light use off-road on dirt roads (2 camping trips). Not repairing can cause further damage and failure of suspension components. Vehicle marketed as off-road capable but components not protected properly from dirt/debris from driving off-road.
Filed with NHTSA, August 2025
Shock absorber severe noise driving over road imperfections , lower front ball joint failure full pull through of the joint off of the control arm assembly pulling the cv axle apart and basically having the front wheel more or less completely separate from the body where the vehicle is no longer moveable
Filed with NHTSA, November 2023
If any liquid or debris material enters the console cover area where many controls for the car are located, the “command switch” (as described by the Mazda dealer) underneath is destroyed. Many items are affected as noted above (some of which I could not check off). They have not responded as to whether some type of shield or even tape could be used to prevent this fault.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2024
Turning steering wheel to the left seems to stick somewhat between 9 and 11 o'clock position. It seems more likely happening in cold weather and more obvious at lower speeds.
Filed with NHTSA, February 2025
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2023 has the most owner complaints of the 3 CX-50 years we cover, about 2.1 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2023 is the first model year of the CX-50's first generation (2023–2024). First years of a redesign often carry teething problems that Mazda fixes in later years, so the checks above matter more than usual.
Mazda updated the CX-50 for 2025, so a 2023 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2025 (not on a 2023)
Should you avoid the first year of a redesign? See the 45-car study.
Recall repairs are free at any Mazda dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2022-2023 CX-30 and 2023 CX-50 vehicles. The anti-lock brake system (ABS) Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) may be damaged, which can result in reduced braking ability.
Risk: Reduced braking ability can increase the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the ABS HCU, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 12, 2023. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 5823D.
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2023 CX-50 vehicles equipped with a Mazda Genuine Accessory trailer hitch. The trailer hitch harness may detach and become damaged, which can result in inoperative trailer lights and/or brakes.
Risk: Towing a trailer with inoperative lights or brakes can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will repair the trailer hitch harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2023. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 5723B.
Cars shoppers compare with the Mazda CX-50, with their own 2023 checklists.
2023 owner complaints, side by side
