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2013 Mazda CX-5

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2013 Mazda CX-5 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 133.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

141 reports with mileage · 53 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

58 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2023
Electrical System

The car does not turn off when I put it in park and push the ON/OFF button. I have to start and turn off multiple times and jiggle the gear shift multiple times before it turns off. Sometimes even that doesn't work. Because the car doesn't completely turn off, it runs the battery down which leaves me dangerously stranded. The ca…

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The car does not turn off when I put it in park and push the ON/OFF button. I have to start and turn off multiple times and jiggle the gear shift multiple times before it turns off. Sometimes even that doesn't work. Because the car doesn't completely turn off, it runs the battery down which leaves me dangerously stranded. The car is available for inspection. My safety is put at risk because it drains the battery and leaves me stranded, sometimes in dangerous situations unable to get assistance. I have not taken it to a dealer or service center but have seen MULTIPLE reports of other owners of this same vehicle having the same problem. The problem has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms before the problems started. It started a while ago but I'm not certain of the date. The messages I've read online of it happening to others are from several years ago, so this seems to be a problem that has been ongoing for several years that Mazda has failed to address.

NHTSA ODI #11515272

123,000 miles · May 26, 2022
Electrical System

My car does not turn off when you push the ignition button. I spoke to Mazda's parts manager about this, and his wife had the same issue and the same model and year as my car. He told me that it is the Parking Lever switch. I feel that not being able to turn your car off is a safety issue. I filed a safety issue with my 2013 …

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My car does not turn off when you push the ignition button. I spoke to Mazda's parts manager about this, and his wife had the same issue and the same model and year as my car. He told me that it is the Parking Lever switch. I feel that not being able to turn your car off is a safety issue. I filed a safety issue with my 2013 Mazda CX-5 on May 26, 2022.

NHTSA ODI #11466253

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2022
Electrical System

When you shut the car off the radio and other components do not shut down. You have to start the car back up and put in gear then back in park and shut the car off (sometimes two or three times) to get everything to shut down. This is getting worse over time.

NHTSA ODI #11461904

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2022
Electrical SystemEngine

My car won't shut off! I put it in park and turn it off and the accessories stay on. It is getting worse and worse and has taken up to 7 times of turning it off and on, backing it up and forward before it will just turn off for me. I get scared that it won't turn off. I found this forum online and it seems this is a very common…

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My car won't shut off! I put it in park and turn it off and the accessories stay on. It is getting worse and worse and has taken up to 7 times of turning it off and on, backing it up and forward before it will just turn off for me. I get scared that it won't turn off. I found this forum online and it seems this is a very common problem that is not being addressed by Mazda. https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/Discussion-t49115_ds799849 Not being able to turn my car off is a very big safety risk for me and my 2 year old son.

NHTSA ODI #11456579

100,000 miles · Jan 19, 2022
Electrical System

The contact owns a 2013 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that the PUSH to START button was not able to turn off the vehicle until after several attempts were made, which caused the battery to drain quickly. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failu…

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The contact owns a 2013 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that the PUSH to START button was not able to turn off the vehicle until after several attempts were made, which caused the battery to drain quickly. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and the contact was waiting for a callback. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #11448084

Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2021
Electrical SystemPower Train

My vehicle does not want to turn off when placed in park. The car is fully in the park position, but the start push button is illuminated with a red light. The power is still on, and the car beeps when door is open. I can only get the power to turn off, after repeatedly tapping the gear shift left, towards the P symbol. It is al…

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My vehicle does not want to turn off when placed in park. The car is fully in the park position, but the start push button is illuminated with a red light. The power is still on, and the car beeps when door is open. I can only get the power to turn off, after repeatedly tapping the gear shift left, towards the P symbol. It is already fully seated in the park position, but this finally causes the light to go off and the car turns off. Always hoping the power did not turn back on while away from the car. Is this a fire hazard? I will not park my car in the garage as I am concerned it may overheat the wiring, electrical components, etc...??? I have noticed similar complaints for this vehicle on this website also.

NHTSA ODI #11430076

100,000 miles · May 26, 2021
Electrical SystemPower Train

The contact owns a 2013 MAZDA CX5. The contact stated while attempting to shut off the vehicle, the vehicle failed to turn off due to the transmission not being fully in PARK. The contact stated that there was an unknown flashing red warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed. The manufacturer was informed of t…

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The contact owns a 2013 MAZDA CX5. The contact stated while attempting to shut off the vehicle, the vehicle failed to turn off due to the transmission not being fully in PARK. The contact stated that there was an unknown flashing red warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and the contact was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #11418634

58,000 miles · May 13, 2021
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

AFTER FIXING THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR NOT FULLY TURNING OFF, THE CAR SUDDENLY DIED IN TRAFFIC AND WOULDN'T RESTART. REPLACING MASS AIR SENSOR, O2 SENSOR, AND PLUGS, THE CAR WILL DIE IN TRAFFIC WHEN COMING TO A STOP, BUT RESTARTS IMMEDIATELY. THE CODE SAYS THIS IS A PCM PROBLEM. INTERNET RESEARCH SAYS THIS IS NOT UNCOM…

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AFTER FIXING THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR NOT FULLY TURNING OFF, THE CAR SUDDENLY DIED IN TRAFFIC AND WOULDN'T RESTART. REPLACING MASS AIR SENSOR, O2 SENSOR, AND PLUGS, THE CAR WILL DIE IN TRAFFIC WHEN COMING TO A STOP, BUT RESTARTS IMMEDIATELY. THE CODE SAYS THIS IS A PCM PROBLEM. INTERNET RESEARCH SAYS THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON RESULTING IN SAFETY RECALLS IN OTHER YEAR MODELS. 2013 SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI #11416480

100,000 miles · Apr 25, 2021
Electrical SystemEngine

THE IGNITION ON MY 2013 MAZDA CX-5 WOULD NOT TURN OFF AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. THE ENGINE WOULD START WITH THE GEARSHIFT LEVER IN PARK, BUT ONCE I DROVE TO A DESTINATION, PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, AND PUT THE GEARSHIFT INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENTIRELY TURN OFF. IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO MANIPULATE T…

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THE IGNITION ON MY 2013 MAZDA CX-5 WOULD NOT TURN OFF AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. THE ENGINE WOULD START WITH THE GEARSHIFT LEVER IN PARK, BUT ONCE I DROVE TO A DESTINATION, PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, AND PUT THE GEARSHIFT INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENTIRELY TURN OFF. IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO MANIPULATE THE GEARSHIFT AROUND TO GET THE CAR TO TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD STILL BE ACTIVE, INCLUDING RADIO, DASH LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, AND OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WOULD ALL REMAIN ON. AFTER CONTACTING A LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN TOWN, A "PARK SAFETY SWITCH" IN THE GEARSHIFT LEVER IS BEING AFFECTED, AND IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AFFECTING MAZDA CX-5 VEHICLES. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY RECALLS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. THANKS TO A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH SUCH AS "MAZDA CX-5 WILL NOT TURN OFF", I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE SEVERAL YOUTUBE VIDEOS, POSTS ON REDDIT AND MAZDA FORUMS DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE. HAVING A VEHICLE WITH AN ISSUE WHERE YOU CANNOT TURN THE CAR OFF BECAUSE THE CAR "THINKS" THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK IS UNSAFE AND A SAFETY HAZARD AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE.

NHTSA ODI #11413749

80,000 miles · Mar 23, 2021
Electrical System

THE SHIFTER POSITION SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE. IT DOES NOT ALWAYS SHUT OFF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHEN THE SHIFTER IS PLACED INTO PARK AND THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, THE RADIO, LIGHTS, ETC, REMAIN ON EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. APPARENTLY IT CAUSED BY A SMALL PART THAT WAS MADE OF RUBBER THAT DRIES O…

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THE SHIFTER POSITION SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE. IT DOES NOT ALWAYS SHUT OFF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHEN THE SHIFTER IS PLACED INTO PARK AND THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, THE RADIO, LIGHTS, ETC, REMAIN ON EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. APPARENTLY IT CAUSED BY A SMALL PART THAT WAS MADE OF RUBBER THAT DRIES OUT AND BREAKS DOWN. IT IS REPLACED BY A PLASTIC PART THAT RESISTS WEAR AND TEAR AND LASTS FAR LONGER. MAZDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART FOR FREE.

NHTSA ODI #11404422

Official recalls

1

16V644000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate

Sep 6, 2016

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 26, 2015, and 2013-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured December 15, 2011, to December 26, 2015. On the affected vehicles, the lift gate support struts may corrode, possibly causing the struts to break and/or the lift gate to drop unexpectedly.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9916H.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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