Thanks for the info. So this means that also a car with assembly point in Japan can have this issue. One final question: There was a prior recall for the CX-5 with Cylinder Deactivation. Did you have that recall service performed on your car?

 

Yes, I did that a year ago.
They updated the PCM software.
I love my CX-5 overall. But this issue really make me think twice on buying a Mazda again. Thinking of selling it after I got the car back. I reported the issue to Mazda experience too.

 

That's a bummer, so the PCM update does not protect this issue from happening. I had the PCM update done too but will be on the look-out now for this. Thanks again for sharing your experience.

 

Burning smell, oil seen on ground. Checked oil down 1 quart. Filled it backup checked it again ok, drove it to dealer five miles. The checked it the oil down half a quart they said. Knew exactly what the issue was completely covered. They are replacing the head, no engine light no low oil nothing, no codes either I check myself. Only 16k miles on the car. Hopefully they fix it right? I have another CX-5 with 255k miles with no oil leaks at all!!

 

Please call Mazda customer experience to report this issue. The corporate will not declare a factory recall or mandatory fix if no one reporting this issue. Do your part if you love this Brand and want Mazda to success in the future.

Mazda Customer Experience: +1-800-222-5500, or Online Chat with them.

 

Not only that, if you have an oil leak from a cracked cylinder head, please file a complaint with NHTSA:

Report a Safety Problem | NHTSA

File a complaint with NHTSA if you experienced a vehicle, tire, car seat or equipment safety problem that could be a safety defect.
www.nhtsa.gov
They can force MAZDA to do a recall or other measures to make things right for the owners.

 

Since cylinder deactivation may produce serious problems and offers only a small increase in mileage, I'm wondering if it can be shut off. Anyone know how to do that?

Or am I over-reacting?

Thanks,

Milt Baker, Pompano Beach, FL

 

AFAIK it cannot be turned off unless Mazda rolls out a software update to do it. If this is really the reason for this blown head cylinder issue, I assume that Mazda would have already done so, but according to one forum member there was one batch of bad cylinders and hence, not all vehicles are affected.

 

I have had exactly the same problem, 2018 CX 5 with 66,000 miles. Mazda refused to replace the engine but is going to replace the head. I was not really looking for a rebuild either, Clearly a manufacturing issue but we are getting the run around. So frustrating.

 

You keep posting about pushing Mazda to do a recall for the leaking head problem. Exactly what do you expect them to do about this issue that they're not already doing? According to the automaker, there was a random problem in the cylinder head manufacturing process, which means they have no way of knowing which vehicles will experience the problem. They've been repairing the failed vehicles as they occur, including providing coverage past warranty, as in the other post below. So what else do you think they should they do - replace the head (or engine) on every CD-equipped engine, across all models? I personally would have absolutely no part of that, but it's ludicrous to expect such a thing anyway. And inspecting all CD engines for oil leaks would be just about a complete waste of time as well, because very little of the cylinder head is accessible for examination, even via a endoscope.

And filing complaints with the NHTSA is appropriate when an automaker is not acknowledging/repairing problems, which again is not the case here. So far they have been making the required repairs and have not tried to sweep the problem under the rug. But hey people are going to do what they do, so if you're getting a big kick out of doing this, then by all means full speed ahead.

If I'm understanding this correctly, Mazda is going to repair your engine even though the powertrain warranty has expired, and your complaint is that they're replacing the head instead of installing a new engine. If that's correct then IMO this is in no way 'the runaround' on the part of the automaker, who is only obligated to fully correct the problem (in whatever way they choose). You might want to consider that the automaker is exceeding what's legally required of them, by repairing your vehicle out of warranty. Yes it's unfortunate that this problem affected your vehicle, but $hit happens and the main thing is how it ultimately turns out. So you might just want to take a deep breath and give the head replacement repair a chance to prove itself.

Be advised that I'm no Mazda fanboy (or any other automaker for that matter), and don't normally take their side. And I also have a complete dislike for the CD change to the Skyactiv engines, and most certainly wish they had not stuck us with this CD crap. But what's done is done, and those of us with CD engines just need to hope that Mazda will stand behind their product and continue to make all future repairs on these engines, including out-of-warranty extensions as they have so far been doing.