2021 Mazda CX-5 · symptom sheet
Burns oil or oil level rises
- 42owner reports
- 7,500median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report May 11, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
85 of the 147 complaints on this car are about the engine. 42 of those describe oil consumption, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2021 CX-5.
Tick what matches of 42 reports
Oil consumption on other CX-5 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Two different complaints land here. The more common one is an engine that uses oil: owners add a quart between changes, get a low-oil warning, or are told by the dealer that the rate is normal. The other is the opposite, where the oil level climbs and the oil smells of gasoline. Both deserve a proper test, and both are easier to argue with records in hand.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the turbo (7 reports) and the piston rings (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2021 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 5,500 and 20,000 miles, from the 27 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 5 service bulletins or notices for the 2021 Mazda CX-5 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM SSPD5 - WARRANTY EXTENSION - MULTI-MODEL - VALVE STEM SEALS CLASS ACTION In conjunction with a Class Action Settlement, Mazda Motor Corporation has decided to conduct an extension of the Engine powertrain warranty related to excessive oil consumption.
Some vehicles may have a "LOW ENGINE OIL LEVEL" warning message and an engine oil level warning light on in the instrument cluster with DTC P250F:00 stored in memory, and the oil level has actually decreased to near low.
Some vehicles may have a "LOW ENGINE OIL LEVEL" warning message and a CHECK ENGINE light illuminated in the instrument cluster with DTC P250F:00 stored in memory, and the oil level has actually decreased to near low.
Some vehicles may have a "OW ENGINE OIL LEVEL" warning message and a CHECK ENGINE light illuminated in the instrument cluster with DTC P250F:00 stored in memory, and the oil level has actually decreased to near low.
1 more on the 2021 Mazda CX-5 page.
What owners wrote
“The low oil light has come on a total of 3 times already for me and I'm only at 18k miles. I have gotten 4 oil changes already. The 2021 models burn oil like crazy and Mazda has not put out an official recall yet. There's a TSB (01-012/21) and a class action lawsuit (8:22-cv-01055 )”
Filed Apr 5, 2023 · 18,000 miles
“The engine low oil light comes on every ~3000 miles when Mazda recommends an oil change at every 7,500 miles. For some reason this engine eats oil and has consistently reproduced the check engine light every 3k miles. Mazda hasn't issued an official recall but has published a technical service bulletin.”
Filed Mar 8, 2023 · 3,000 miles
“New vehicle at approximately 6,000 miles and again at 9,500 turned on low oil light dashboard. Added one quart oil each time (twice) to restore oil level. Vehicle currently has approximately 10,500 miles. McDonald Mazda West slow to respond to performing warranty service related to TSB 01-012/21. Thank you.”
Filed Nov 18, 2022 · 6,000 miles
“New vehicle at approximately 5,500 miles turned on low oil light dashboard. Added one quart oil each time to restore oil level. Vehicle currently has approximately 7,000 miles. McDonald Mazda West slow to respond to performing warranty service related to TSB 01-012/21. Thank you.”
Filed Nov 18, 2022 · 5,500 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 42 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found