These instructions apply to the Mazda CX-5 Mk2 (KF) 2017-2025.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
The Mazda CX-5 (Mk2/KF, 2017–Present) keeps the hidden instrument-cluster Test Mode of the first generation, and you can open it yourself with no scan tool. Holding the dash trip-reset button while you switch the ignition to ON drops the cluster into a numbered self-test — gauge sweeps, lamp and LCD checks, chimes and live sensor values — giving you a quick, free first look before booking diagnostics.
What Test Mode is and what it shows
The routine runs the KF cluster through a fixed sequence of self-checks, each marked by a code number in the odometer window. Stepping through it lets you confirm:
- Every warning and indicator LED lighting in turn
- The LCD segments, backlight and dash illumination
- Full needle sweeps of the speedometer and tachometer
- Fuel-gauge and engine-temperature gauge sweeps
- Live numeric fuel-sender values and the dash and turn-signal chimes
The cluster is checking its own gauges and the signals it receives, so a needle that refuses to sweep is a cluster fault, while one that sweeps fine but reads wrong on the road points to the sender.
How to enter the hidden diagnostic menu
- Switch the ignition fully OFF.
- Press and hold the trip-reset button on the instrument cluster.
- While holding it, set the ignition to ON. The KF is keyless, so press the START button twice without pressing the brake; do not start the engine.
- Keep the trip button held until TEST appears in the odometer display, then release it.
- Tap the trip button to step through the numbered tests.
Reading the gauges and codes
Each press advances to the next code. Begin with the LED and LCD checks — a dead lamp or missing display segment is a cluster hardware fault. The gauge codes drive the speedometer, tachometer, fuel and temperature needles fully across and back; watch for sticking or lag. Numeric codes report live fuel-sender and input values, the fastest way to separate a faulty gauge from a faulty sender. Record anything abnormal before exiting.
How to exit
Press the START button to quit, or turn the ignition OFF, then cycle back ON for normal use. Nothing you viewed is stored or changed, and the cluster runs normally afterwards.
Frequently Asked Questions
The CX-5 is keyless — how do I reach ON? Hold the trip-reset button and press the START button twice with your foot off the brake. That selects ON, and TEST appears if you keep holding.
Does the facelift CX-5 with the bigger screen still have this? Yes. The KF keeps analogue dials throughout the run, so the gauge self-test and trip-button sequence work on all model years.
Will Test Mode reset my service or oil light? No. It only reads and displays data; the service indicator and trip meters are untouched.
Are these the same as check-engine codes? No. They are cluster-level tests and values. If the engine warning lamp is on, scan the engine ECU with an OBD-II tool.
Why does TEST not appear? You likely reached START rather than ON, or released the trip button too soon. Reach ON only, keep holding, and wait for TEST.
To decode any fault code you record here, visit autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Mazda. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.