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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

Power Train complaints

38 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2021
Power Train

The contact owns a 2013 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while shifting into the park the electronics failed to turn off. The contact vigorously shifted the gear shifter in several positions for approximately 10 to 15 minutes to turn off electronics. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The contact was concerned ab…

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The contact owns a 2013 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while shifting into the park the electronics failed to turn off. The contact vigorously shifted the gear shifter in several positions for approximately 10 to 15 minutes to turn off electronics. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The contact was concerned about the battery being drained. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where the contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI #11437327

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

104,000 miles · Sep 26, 2020
Power TrainWheels

BOUGHT MY CAR WITH 40K MILES ON IT FROM A MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN AURORA COLORADO IN 2017. I'M AT 106K NOW AND I THOUGHT I NEEDED WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. TURNS OUT IT'S THE DRIVE TRAIN AND A TRANSMISSION FAILING. MY VEHICLE HUMS ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEN I ACCELERATE. THIS ISSUE BEGAN JUST OVER 100K MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11361260

84,000 miles · Aug 17, 2020
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DECELERATING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL WINDING AND GRINDING NOISE DETECTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE REPAIRS ON THE AXLE AND THE MECHANIC WAS INFORMED THAT THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DECELERATING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL WINDING AND GRINDING NOISE DETECTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE REPAIRS ON THE AXLE AND THE MECHANIC WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING AN ABNORMAL WINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANS AXLE BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THAT THE REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA ODI #11349886

40,000 miles · May 15, 2019
Power Train

VEHICLE DOES NOT SHUT OFF WHEN PRESSING THE START/STOP BUTTON DUE TO KNOWN GATE AT SHIFTER ISSUE IN SB 05-007/15. MY VEHICLE WARRANTY EXPIRED DUE TO MILAGE BEFORE THE SB WAS EVEN RELEASED.

NHTSA ODI #11207814

27,000 miles · Oct 9, 2018
EnginePower Train

I BOUGHT THE CAR CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED WITH 20K MILES. AFTER A FEW MONTHS I WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, ONCE THE CROSS TRAFFIC CLEARED I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR JUST GLIDED, IT HAD NO POWER FOR 5 SECONDS. I REPEATEDLY PRESSED THE THE GAS PEDAL BUT NOTHING HAPPENED UNTIL AFTER 5 SECONDS WHEN THE …

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I BOUGHT THE CAR CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED WITH 20K MILES. AFTER A FEW MONTHS I WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, ONCE THE CROSS TRAFFIC CLEARED I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR JUST GLIDED, IT HAD NO POWER FOR 5 SECONDS. I REPEATEDLY PRESSED THE THE GAS PEDAL BUT NOTHING HAPPENED UNTIL AFTER 5 SECONDS WHEN THE REVOLUTIONS INSTANTLY INCREASED TO AROUND 5000 RPM. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED AT AROUND 27,000 MILES. I FIGURED IT WAS A SMALL GLITCH. THROUGH MY 3 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP (PUTTING ON 57,000 MILES) THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. I AM VERY HESITANT WHEN CROSSING INTERSECTIONS AND ATTEMPTING LANE CHANGES. THIS NOW OCCURS AT LEAST TWICE A MONTH WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE OTHER ISSUE OCCURS WHEN I SHIFT FROM PARK/REVERSE TO DRIVE, WHILE ON LEVEL GROUND, THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKS FORWARD AND REVOLUTIONS INCREASE SUDDENLY, WITH MY FOOD EITHER ON THE BRAKE OR AS SOON AS I REMOVE IT BUT BEFORE I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL. ANOTHER ISSUE IS WHILE I'M ACCELERATING, AT 20-25 MPH AS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING FROM EITHER 2 TO 3RD OR 3RD TO 4TH (I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE YET). WHEN TRANSMISSION MISSES THE GEAR CHANGE IT CAUSES THE REVOLUTIONS TO SUDDENLY INCREASE FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND. WHEN THE GEAR IS ENGAGED IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY A CLUNKY SLAMMING SOUND. THIS HAPPENS PRETTY QUICKLY AND HAS NOT YET MADE THE CAR LOSE SPEED OR HANDLING. AFTER 3 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP WITH RECORDED ROUTINE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE COMPLETED AND STANDARD COMMUTER USE OF 60% HIGHWAY AND 40% CITY STYLE DRIVING I DON'T FEEL THE TRANSMISSION AND/OR ENGINE ARE SAFE OR RELIABLE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SINCE IT IS STILL UNDER LIMITED POWER-TRAIN WARRANTY BUT THEY JUST TELL ME THAT IS NORMAL FOR ECONOMY STYLE CARS. I CAN NOT LET MY PARENTS BORROW THE CAR BECAUSE I FEEL THESE ISSUES MIGHT SURPRISE THEM WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND LEAD TO A COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI #11139358

75,000 miles · Sep 25, 2018
Electrical SystemPower Train

WHEN STOPPED AND WITH THE ENGINE AND ALL LIGHTS TURNED OFF, THE CAR WILL DRAIN THE BATTERY AND NOT BE ABLE TO BE STARTED. THIS HAS RESULTED IN BEING STRANDED IN MANY PLACES. IN FACT, I NOW CARRY A RECHARGABLE BATTERY PACK TO KEEP FROM BEING STRANDED ONCE A MONTH.

NHTSA ODI #11131136

120,000 miles · Jun 18, 2018
Power Train

THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN I PUT IT IN PARK. THE ACCESSORIES IE RADIO WON'T TURN OFF AND I AM UNABLE TO LOCK MY CAR AS THE ALARM KEEPS BEEPING THIS MORNING I HAVE A DEAD BATTERY AND SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON RECURRENT PROBLEM MAZDA HAS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT A WEEK.

NHTSA ODI #11102304

92,000 miles · May 8, 2018
Electrical SystemPower Train

WHEN I PRESS THE BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR, THE ACCESSORIES DO NOT TURN OFF. THE RADIO CONTINUES TO PLAY, ETC. I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR AND TURN IT OFF AGAIN. I REPEAT UNTIL THE CAR FINALLY TURNS OFF. I LEAVE THE RADIO ON IN CASE I FORGET AND MY BATTERY RUNS DOWN. FROM RESEARCHING I HAVE FOUND IT IS A BAD SHIFTER POSITION …

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WHEN I PRESS THE BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR, THE ACCESSORIES DO NOT TURN OFF. THE RADIO CONTINUES TO PLAY, ETC. I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR AND TURN IT OFF AGAIN. I REPEAT UNTIL THE CAR FINALLY TURNS OFF. I LEAVE THE RADIO ON IN CASE I FORGET AND MY BATTERY RUNS DOWN. FROM RESEARCHING I HAVE FOUND IT IS A BAD SHIFTER POSITION SWITCH AND EVERYONE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SCAREY MY CAR WAS PARKED AT THE TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11092589

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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