MazdaCX52018Overview/mazda/cx5/2018/base/

2018 Mazda CX5

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 CX5.

Body SUV

The 2018 Mazda CX5 is a compact SUV built on the automaker’s Skyactiv platform, offering a balance of efficiency and driving dynamics. While it carries zero recalls, owner-reported data shows 114 total complaints, with the engine being the most frequently cited trouble area. This places the model year in a generally reliable position, though the engine-related issues warrant attention for those researching long-term ownership.

Model year20202019201820172016201520142013

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque80-108 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 55D23L · 0 CCA battery, OE oil filter 1WPE14302. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 55D23L · 0 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnFUSEOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215/60R16, P215/50R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter1WPE14302 alt PY0114342
Engine air filterPE07133A0A
Fuel filterPE0113ZE0 alt PE1A13ZE0
Spark plugPE5R18110A
Battery0000800035WB
Front wiper bladesKD2W67330 alt KB7W67330B
Serpentine beltPY0115908 alt PY0115909A
ThermostatP50215171

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Torque lug nuts to 80-108 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts80.0-85.0 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel BoltsAT: 80.0-85.0 ft-lbs, MT: 113.0-118.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts12-14 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts32-47 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs15.0-19.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs15.0-19.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts80-108 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)550 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerMazda
Spark Plug Gap.041-.051 in
Spark Plug Torque12-14 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.03-1.13 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.38 oz
Standard BCI Group Number55D23L
Standard BCI Cranking Performance0 cca
Standard BCI Group Number55D23L

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum58.8 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum70.3 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)33.0 or more after 5 minutes psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)33.0 or more after 5 minutes psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)33.0 or more after 5 minutes
Engine Compression103-128 PSI. 21.8 maximum variation PSI.

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 23-; Rear: 17-
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 68-
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.023; Rear: .310
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishFront: 1.060; Rear: .350
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation.0006
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .002; Rear: .004

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
1110.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Back off 180 degrees, Step 3: 175.0-202.0110 ft. lbs
Rear Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
1110.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Back off 180 degrees, Step 3: 175.0-202.0110 ft. lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 2 stages
127.0-53.0 inch lbs.27–53 in
271.0-97.0 inch lbs.71–97 in
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
144.0-71.0 inch lbs., Step 2: 10.0-13.044–71 in
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 2 stages
127.0-53.0 inch lbs.27–53 in
213.0-16.0
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
120.0-23.0 ft. lbs.20–23 ft. lbs
280.0-100.0
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
120.0-23.0 ft. lbs.20–23 ft. lbs
280.0-100.0
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
120.0-23.0 ft. lbs.20–23 ft. lbs
280.0-100.0
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
167.0-81.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 55 degrees-6567–81 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages
19.5-12.5 ft. lbs.9.5–12.5 ft. lbs
232-34 ft. lbs.32–34 ft. lbs
3Turn 85-95 degrees85–95 degrees
4Turn 85-95
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 3 stages
134.0-40.0 ft. lbs.34–40 ft. lbs
256.0-62.0 ft. lbs.56–62 ft. lbs
380.0-86.0
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Inner bolts

129.0-30.0 ft. lbs.29–30 ft. lbs
2Back off 360.0 degrees360 degrees
318.0-20.0 ft. lbs.18–20 ft. lbs
458.0-63.0 degrees; Outer bolts58–63 degrees
115.0-18.0
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Cap bolts

120.0-30.0 ft. lbs.20–30 ft. lbs
2Back off 360.0 degrees360 degrees
323.0-25.0 ft. lbs.23–25 ft. lbs
458.0-62.0 degrees; Side bolts58–62 degrees
115.0-18.0
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
171.0-106.0 inch lbs., Step 2: 20-2571–106 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 75,000 mi; coolant at 120,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 120,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBody Fasteners (torque) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 22,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 30,000 miFuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect)
Every 37,500 miExhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect)
Every 75,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 180,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2018 Mazda CX5 dominate in one area — the engine, 80 of 114 reports (70%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the engine are also the target of recall 19V-497 on this vehicle — so the single most useful check before buying or servicing one is confirming it was actually performed. 1 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the engine pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
56
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
114
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 114 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine80
Power Train10
Power Train,Engine6
Unknown Or Other4
Engine & Engine Cooling2
Unknown Or Other,Engine2
Fuel/Propulsion System1
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

18V426000Air Bags:Side/WindowReported 25/06/2018

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda CX-5 vehicles. In the event of a side impact or rollover crash, the side curtain air bags may not properly unfold during deployment. As such, these… Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at…

19V497000EngineReported 27/06/2019

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall. Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 56 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SA-041-262026-06-18Electrical SystemThis SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in…
01-008-262026-05-01Power TrainThis bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are…
SA-031-262026-04-30StructureDESCRIPTION Some vehicles may require the replacement of a damaged VIN plate or vehicle…
SA-029-262026-04-21Power TrainThis Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are…
SA-026-262026-04-16EngineThis Service Alert supersedes the previously issued M-Tip(s) listed below. The changes…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific CX5. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2018 CX5 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.