Mazda CX-5 is a suave car that will stand out in the dealership sales yard. Many people have fallen for this small SUV. It is an exemplary car that offers you a grand driving experience. The handling of the car, its responsiveness, and the interior all serve to make the CX-5 exceptional.
Resetting the infotainment system highlights
- Reasons:glitch, dead screen, freezing
- Quick fix:look in manual, pull the fuse, disconnect the battery
- Price forrepair:$0 - $150
- Time forrepair:0.1 - 1 hours
- Howcommon:very common
- DIYrepair:possible
The Mazda CX-5 infotainment screen
The Mazda CX-5 is loaded with great technology, which is evident on the infotainment screen. The 2021 Mazda CX-5 comes with a new infotainment system that is a considerable upgrade from the 2012 model. In your CX-5, you will enjoy the new Mazda Connect interface, upgraded with Mazda Connected Services.
The Mazda Connected Services affords you a Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. This new feature lets you access some vehicle functions remotely. The previous version had a huge 7-inch screen, rivaling many cars in the segment. Mazda went further in the 2021 model and equipped the CX-5 with a gigantic 10.3-inch screen.
The Mazda CX-5 display screen lets you navigate the different infotainment services using voice commands and buttons. The infotainment control buttons are strategically placed on the steering wheel and the dashboard. Mazda has strategically placed a rotary controller and a center console volume knob, making controlling the display screen amazingly easy and fun.
The infotainment screen problems
After reading many customer reviews, you will realize that the Mazda CX-5 infotainment screen has an issue. Even though expert reviews give the car a high score, especially for its performance and the infotainment screen, many users of this car are not happy with the infotainment screen.
Most of the issues reported by car owners are not life-threatening. However, considering the screen's sheer size and how much drivers rely on it, it can be dangerous at times, besides being highly frustrating. Most infotainment issues reported are for CX-5s manufactured between 2017 and 2021.
The infotainment problems affecting the CX-5 have forced owners to replace the display when the car has only covered 50,000 miles. This shows that the infotainment issues affecting this model start when the car is relatively new.
Here are some of the issues many of the CX-5 owners report:
- The navigation will suddenly exit, and this can leave you stranded.
- The system will randomly select buttons just like a laptop might behave when a liquid spills on the keyboard.
- The system will switch between functions on its own. It can change from navigation to radio and then to USB mode in no particular order.
- Beeping sounds
- It is randomly changing radio stations.
- Dialing phone numbers on its own
- The screen can abruptly start rebooting.
- Freezing
- The screen can switch to a night mode display.
How to solve the Mazda CX-5 infotainment issues
The solution to your Mazda's infotainment issues will vary according to the problem at hand and the reason behind the issue. In extreme cases, an owner might be forced to fork out as much as $1,700 to replace the display. Here are some proposed solutions to the infotainment screen going blank or dark.
- Reset the infotainment screen
You can reset the infotainment by yourself, and you won't need to visit a mechanic. Press and hold the volume knob, the NAV button, and the back button for about 10 seconds. Doing this resets the MAZDA CONNECT system.
The reset trick has been said to work on cars with lagging problems and frozen screens. Before doing a system reset on your Mazda CX-5, note that all changes previously done to the infotainment system and radio will be undone.
- Turn off the display
Though this is not a solution to the infotainment malfunctioning, it is a helpful trick that will help you if the display keeps distracting. Press and hold down the volume dial. This will turn off the power to the infotainment and the MAZDA CONNECT system.
This trick can come in handy when the CX-5 shows the wrong navigation map and you opt to use your phone. It also helps when the screen keeps switching between apps or rebooting, distracting you while driving.
- Update the system
The ghost touch on your CX-5 can be annoying and frustrating because all types of buttons are pressed, and the infotainment screen goes crazy. Many CX-5 owners have seen improvement in the infotainment upon updating the system. The cost of the update is around $150.
It would be best if you considered updating the Gracenote media database, which makes listening to music easier and fun. Updating the Gracenote app requires connecting a computer with the car using the USB port on the infotainment. For CX-5 with Mazda Connect version 55.00.650, Mazda advises the owners to visit their local dealership for a CMU update.
- Use an SD card to reset
Some CX-5 owners say they bought an SD with the required updates, which reset the infotainment system when used. There are software and maps SD cards available on eBay. This is not a universally used trick, as it is not from Mazda.
- Disconnect the infotainment display
Just as described earlier, for the drivers who don't mind driving a quiet car, there is the option of disconnecting the power cable to the display. This will require removing the display and cutting some wires in the dashboard. Obviously, this is not a solution many are looking for, but for someone who has tried all tricks to solve a misbehaving screen problem, it is.
What to do when the Mazda CX-5 screen is not working
The Mazda CX-5 infotainment has been stressful for many car owners. This is because Mazda hasn't issued a recall for the problem, yet it seems to affect thousands of drivers. Drivers who have taken their cars to their local dealership note that the problem doesn't really go away.
It is time to reset the system whenever the infotainment starts acting up and going dark on you. If this fails, then you should turn off the screen, especially if you will be driving before you get a chance to visit a dealership. Turning off the infotainment removes the distractions that come with a rebooting screen or a radio switching stations arbitrarily.
Does resetting the infotainment screen of the Mazda CX-5 help?
Most times, the universally accepted resetting of the Mazda CX-5 infotainment system works just fine. This method involves holding down the volume knob and pressing the back and NAV buttons for about 10 seconds. This will reset the MAZDA CONNECT system to default.
The problem with this resetting method is that it only works for some time. But it will reset the system and give you a chance to enjoy the splendor and the magnificence of the 10-inch screen. Remember resetting the infotainment erases many of the changes you had saved. The good thing, however, is that you can reset the system every time it has an issue. But who is ready to be doing this every time while there are tons of cars out there that don't have this issue?
At other times, drivers have taken their CX-5s to their local dealership to have the system reset. The Mazda expert will simply do the above-detailed procedure. There are times when owners of CX-5 have been advised to change a few hardware components of the infotainment to help solve the problem. However, it seems as though the trick works only half the time.
In cases where the infotainment goes completely berserk, the driver is advised to replace the display. This would be an easy option for the drivers, but the cost is steep. Replacing the display will set you back $1,700, which is why drivers inquire whether resetting really helps.
Conclusion
The Mazda CX-5 infotainment issue is a big problem for drivers who happen to be unfortunate enough to experience it. Mazda Company hasn't offered a solution to the problem yet. In its 2021 CX-5, the company did a lot of upgrading on the infotainment. This looks like it is working because fewer car owners report this problem.
Mazda failing to issue a recall for the CX-5 to correct the infotainment nightmare only makes things worse for the victims and the company. Today, buyers buy brands they trust. Mazda can acquire trust through customer experience where a Mazda owner goes back to the car yard and buys another Mazda.
One can also gain confidence in Mazda through referral by a friend or through reading online reviews. In the case of the Mazda CX-5, the online forum users don't seem happy because of the infotainment issue. Mazda failing to address this issue conclusively leaves many CX-5 owners more frustrated.
About the authors
The CarAraC research team is composed of seasoned auto mechanics and automotive industry professionals, including individuals with advanced degrees and certifications in their field. Our team members boast prestigious credentials, reflecting their extensive knowledge and skills. These qualifications include: IMI: Institute of the Motor Industry, ASE-Certified Master Automobile Technicians; Coventry University, Graduate of MA in Automotive Journalism; Politecnico di Torino, Italy, MS Automotive Engineering; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Mechanical University in Skopje; TOC Automotive College; DHA Suffa University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Add comment