Vibration felt on highway (2020 CX-5)

[Burkie]

I just purchased a Certified 2020 CX-5 Grand Touring Sept 2024.. One issue I have is intermittent vibration felt in the seat and steering wheel while driving on the highway. It doesn't happen the entire time, just when driving over rippling parts of the highway. The dealership did correct the balance in the wheels but still feeling the vibration. I'm scheduled to bring it back this week for them to figure out what else could be the issue. Any thoughts from the Mazda CX-5 experts on what else could be the issue? Thanks!

 

[N7turbo]

A couple of people have reported needing driveshafts and/or U-joints replaced.

 

[yrwei52]

I just purchased a Certified 2020 CX-5 Grand Touring Sept 2024.. One issue I have is intermittent vibration felt in the seat and steering wheel while driving on the highway. It doesn't happen the entire time, just when driving over rippling parts of the highway. The dealership did correct the balance in the wheels but still feeling the vibration. I'm scheduled to bring it back this week for them to figure out what else could be the issue. Any thoughts from the Mazda CX-5 experts on what else could be the issue? Thanks!

Mileage of the car and what kind of tires do you have? What is the tread depth of the tires?

Sometimes road force balance on tires may be needed depending on what kind of tires do you have.

 

[Burkie]

Hi,
Current mileage is 56,857
Tires were replaced and balanced at 37,694 at Walmart
Brand: Vercelli Strada I 225/55R1999v

Technician notes from yesterday:
Road tested felt tire hope at 35 and smoothed out at higher speeds up to 58 mph. Inspected all tires could try to rebalance and inspect tires on balancer while spinning.

Found LF tire out round and was 1oz out of balance.
LR tire ok 3/4 oz out of balance
RF some tire hope ok balance
RR tire out of round 1oz out of balance
Rebalanced all wheels and did not rotate tires.

I appreciate your expertise on this issue.

 

[Conrad 16.5]

I have a similar experience, but it only happens on one section of highway that I travel regularly.

The road looks fine to the eye, but I get a strange vibration when driving this section of highway, it happens with all my vehicles, except for my motorcycles that is. The CX is most noticeable.

Does your vibration happen on all roads?

Two tires out of round? That would certainly account for the vibration, and this can't be corrected with weights.

Have the tires rotated and see what's what.

 

[Burkie]

Happens on all highways in sections of the highway that have rippling, so I don't feel the vibration throughout the entire drive.
Supposedly the dealership balanced all tires and corrected the weights. Bringing the vehicle back tomorrow for them to figure out what else may be causing the vibration.
My daughter has a 2018 Mitsubishi SUV and doesn't feel vibration in the same areas of the highway that I feel it.

If you're a CX-5 owner (2020) and have this issue, please post your experience. Thanks!

 

[Burkie]

A couple of people have reported needing driveshafts and/or U-joints replaced.

Interesting thanks. Curious if that resolved the vibration.

 

[Burkie]

Mileage of the car and what kind of tires do you have? What is the tread depth of the tires?

Sometimes road force balance on tires may be needed depending on what kind of tires do you have.

My apologies, I replied to your questions in a different thread.

 

[N7turbo]

Interesting thanks. Curious if that resolved the vibration.

It wouldn't be related to this:

Happens on all highways in sections of the highway that have rippling, so I don't feel the vibration throughout the entire drive.

Did you just buy this car? Have you driven one before? They have more road feel than others.

 

[Burkie]

It wouldn't be related to this:


Did you just buy this car? Have you driven one before? They have more road feel than others.

Yes bought it in Sept '24 with 54,589 miles on it. This is my first Mazda. Been a Toyota owner for years. Wanted to try a different make this time around. Now I'm realizing I should have stayed with Toyota. I actually like the CX-5 except for the highway fibrations.

 

[cz5gt]

spotty tires, balance issues, wheel issues .. to name a few. Its not the car its whoever and how they maintained it before

 

[Jmaz]

Forgive me if I'm a bit confused here, but the car has/had a vibration, tires were out of balance/out of round and it only happens on certain types of road but yet somehow it's the fault of the car. What?!!!!

 

[N7turbo]

If the vibrations occur based on vehicle speed, it's a rotating drivetrain part (wheels, tires, shafts).

If the vibrations occur based on engine RPM, it's the engine or transmission, including mounts.

If the ride is fine on smooth road, then it's the way the suspension or tires handle uneven roads.

While we can't feel what you're feeling, Mazda doesn't make floaty rides that disconnect you from the road, so keep that in mind.

I recommend driving another one with the same wheel and tire size and see if they are different.

 

[Burkie]

If the vibrations occur based on vehicle speed, it's a rotating drivetrain part (wheels, tires, shafts).

If the vibrations occur based on engine RPM, it's the engine or transmission, including mounts.

If the ride is fine on smooth road, then it's the way the suspension or tires handle uneven roads.

While we can't feel what you're feeling, Mazda doesn't make floaty rides that disconnect you from the road, so keep that in mind.

I recommend driving another one with the same wheel and tire size and see if they are different.

Thanks. The dealership is giving me a loaner while they work on my vehicle. Hopefully it's another CX-5

 

[yrwei52]

Happens on all highways in sections of the highway that have rippling, so I don't feel the vibration throughout the entire drive.

I believe your Vercelli Strada tires could be the reason causing the vibration on certain road surface. Next time try a different or more expensive name brand tires that could resolve this issue. I wouldn’t worry too much about this. After all your 2020 CX-5 with 56,857 miles isn’t a brand new vehicle and you’ll have some imperfections.

Supposedly the dealership balanced all tires and corrected the weights. Bringing the vehicle back tomorrow for them to figure out what else may be causing the vibration.

When you bring back your CX-5, ask for “road force balance”, not just normal spin balance. Not sure if your dealer is checking this problem for free under CPO warranty, but if they charge you, you should go to any good tire stores such as Discount Tire / America’s Tire to resolve the issue.

My daughter has a 2018 Mitsubishi SUV and doesn't feel vibration in the same areas of the highway that I feel it.

This seems to further prove the culprit of your issue is caused by the specific Vercelli Strada tires. Some vibration on certain road surface isn’t a serious problem to cause too much concern. You should pay more attention on oil leak sign at back side of cylinder head on your 2.5L NA with cylinder deactivation although that should be rare. And the CPO warranty is good to have.

 

[Burkie]

I believe your Vercelli Strada tires could be the reason causing the vibration on certain road surface. Next time try a different or more expensive name brand tires that could resolve this issue. I wouldn’t worry too much about this. After all your 2020 CX-5 with 56,857 miles isn’t a brand new vehicle and you’ll have some imperfections.



When you bring back your CX-5, ask for “road force balance”, not just normal spin balance. Not sure if your dealer checking this problem for free under CPO warranty, but if they charge you, you should go to any good tire stores such as Discount Tire / America’s Tire to resolve the issue.



This seems to further prove the culprit of your issue is caused by the specific Vercelli Strada tires. Some vibration on certain road surface isn’t a serious problem to cause too much concern. You should pay more attention on oil leak sign at back side of cylinder head on your 2.5L NA with cylinder deactivation although that should be rare. And the CPO warranty is good to have.

Thank you. The previous owner of the vehicle put those crappy tires on. Not having any other issues with the vehicle. Hopefully I won't experience the oil leak you mentioned. I only buy CPO vehicle but don't trust it 100%
Everyone s response is very helpful, thank you!!

 

[Burkie]

Thank you. The previous owner of the vehicle put those crappy tires on. Not having any other issues with the vehicle. Hopefully I won't experience the oil leak you mentioned. I only buy CPO vehicle but don't trust it 100%
Everyone s response is very helpful, thank you!!

There's alot of expensive tires brands. Is there a particular brand you recommend for the CX-5?

 

[yrwei52]

Thank you. The previous owner of the vehicle put those crappy tires on. Not having any other issues with the vehicle. Hopefully I won't experience the oil leak you mentioned. I only buy CPO vehicle but don't trust it 100%
Everyone s response is very helpful, thank you!!

Can’t blame the previous owner putting on the WalMart tires when he / she decided to get rid of his CX-5. Name brand good tires are very expensive nowadays, nobody would spend over a thousand on tires before he / she sells or trades in the car.

 

[Burkie]

Can’t blame the previous owner putting on the WalMart tires when he / she decided to get rid of his CX-5. Name brand good tires are very expensive nowadays, nobody would spend over a thousand on tires before he / she sells or trades in the car.

I agree. I wouldn't have installed new tires (cheap or not) if I was planning on trading in the vehicle.

 

[RedBaron]

There's alot of expensive tires brands. Is there a particular brand you recommend for the CX-5?

There are a LOT of threads on this. But many members (incl me) have put on Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 tires and are very happy with them.