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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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52,700 miles · Jan 5, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train

DURING A LONG HOLIDAY TRIP, WHILE DRIVING DOWN US 19 AT 65 MPH OVER THE NEW RIVER GORGE BRIDGE THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING / SURGING, WITH RPMS GOING UP AND DOWN, WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND DECELERATED RAPIDLY. THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS) LIGHT WAS ON SOLID AND THE TIRE PRESSURE SYSTEM (TPS) LIGHT WAS FLASHING. …

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DURING A LONG HOLIDAY TRIP, WHILE DRIVING DOWN US 19 AT 65 MPH OVER THE NEW RIVER GORGE BRIDGE THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING / SURGING, WITH RPMS GOING UP AND DOWN, WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND DECELERATED RAPIDLY. THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS) LIGHT WAS ON SOLID AND THE TIRE PRESSURE SYSTEM (TPS) LIGHT WAS FLASHING. WE HAD JUST LEFT A REST AREA AND WERE LESS THAN A MILE DOWN THE ROAD FROM WHERE WE PULLED ONTO THE HIGHWAY, JUST GETTING UP TO SPEED. I MAY HAVE JUST TURNED ON THE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT I CANNOT REMEMBER. THE WEATHER WAS WARM AND DRY. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 52,700 MILES ON IT. I PUT ON THE FLASHERS AND PRAYED THAT MOMENTUM WOULD CARRY ME OVER THE BRIDGE TO WHERE I COULD PULL OFF, THAT THE SEMI-TRACTOR-TRAILER TRUCK BARRELING DOWN ON ME WOULD GET IN THE OTHER LANE SOON, AND THAT NO ONE WOULD REAR END ME. MY MOM AND MY HUSBAND WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME. WE TURNED OFF THE CAR, WALKED AROUND THE OUTSIDE TO LOOK AT THE TIRES, LOOKED THROUGH THE MANUAL, AND TRIED TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I STARTED IT UP AGAIN, THERE WERE NO INDICATORS LIT UP ON THE DASH, AND THE CAR SEEMED TO BE BACK TO NORMAL, SO WE CONTINUED OUR TRIP. SINCE THEN WE HAVE DRIVEN ABOUT 800 MILES AND IT HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN. I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO CONTACT THE DEALER YET.

NHTSA ODI #10818063

1,300 miles · Apr 23, 2015
EnginePower TrainSuspension

PUT MY TRUCK IN GEAR D FOR DRIVE START DRIVING AND AT 5MPH ITS MAKING A NOISE LIKE A STANDARD TRANSMISSION DO WHEN YOU ARE IN THE WRONG GEAR SUCH AS TOO LOW. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS MY RADIO BECAUSE IT WAS SIZZLING AND THE READ OUT THAT THE STATION SHOW WAS NO LONGER SHOWING THE SONG OR ARTIST. SO I SWITCH TO ANOTHER STATION A…

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PUT MY TRUCK IN GEAR D FOR DRIVE START DRIVING AND AT 5MPH ITS MAKING A NOISE LIKE A STANDARD TRANSMISSION DO WHEN YOU ARE IN THE WRONG GEAR SUCH AS TOO LOW. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS MY RADIO BECAUSE IT WAS SIZZLING AND THE READ OUT THAT THE STATION SHOW WAS NO LONGER SHOWING THE SONG OR ARTIST. SO I SWITCH TO ANOTHER STATION AND IS STILL MADE THE SOUND SO I PUT IN A CD AND LISTEN TO IT AND I HAD TO TURN VOLUME UP IN ORDER NOT TO HEAR THE SOUND. THE FASTER I DROVE THE LOUDER IT GOT. I ONLY HAVE 28,000 MILES SO TRANSMISSION SHOULDN'T BE BAD. I HAD AN OIL CHANGE ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO WITH TIRE ROTATION AND FLUIDS CHECKED AND ALL WAS FINE.TAKING IT TO SHOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10712436

23,100 miles · Feb 19, 2015
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-5. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY AS IF IT HAD BEEN REAR ENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,100.

NHTSA ODI #10689367

6,000 miles · Feb 19, 2015
Electrical SystemPower Train

DRIVING IN CITY SETTING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE CAR AND AT THE SAME TIME, I FELT THAT THE POWER TRAIN WAS SLIPPING, AND THEN IT GAVE OUT COMPLETELY. PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDDLE AND GOT NO ACCELERATION. TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. STOPPED CAR TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. TRIED TO DRIVE THE CAR…

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DRIVING IN CITY SETTING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE CAR AND AT THE SAME TIME, I FELT THAT THE POWER TRAIN WAS SLIPPING, AND THEN IT GAVE OUT COMPLETELY. PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDDLE AND GOT NO ACCELERATION. TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. STOPPED CAR TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. TRIED TO DRIVE THE CAR, BUT AFTER ABOUT A MILE THE SAME ISSUE AROSE AND THIS TIME THE AT LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER WHERE THEY WORKED ON IT FOR ABOUT A WEEK. AT 34000 MILE THE SAME THINK JUST HAPPENED AGAIN. DRIVING ALONG A COUNTRY ROAD AT ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR IT HAPPENED THE SECOND TIME. HAVING IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR A SECOND TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10684237

30,000 miles · May 19, 2014
Power Train

THIS VEHICLE WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, SUDDENLY TRIED TO ACCELERATE THEN A LOUD THUMP AND JOLT (AS IF SOMEONE RAN INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE). THIS HAPPEND IN FEB 2013 (TWO TIMES) (DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM) THEN AGAIN IN MAY 2014. DEALER STATED SAME PROBLEM IN ANOTHER MODEL AND ALL THEY COULD DO IS UPDATE THE COM…

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THIS VEHICLE WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, SUDDENLY TRIED TO ACCELERATE THEN A LOUD THUMP AND JOLT (AS IF SOMEONE RAN INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE). THIS HAPPEND IN FEB 2013 (TWO TIMES) (DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM) THEN AGAIN IN MAY 2014. DEALER STATED SAME PROBLEM IN ANOTHER MODEL AND ALL THEY COULD DO IS UPDATE THE COMPUTER PROGRAM. THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10592334

10,848 miles · Mar 20, 2014
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING AT 50MPH MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN TO 5MPH. LUCKILY FOR ME NO CARS WERE BEHIND ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE I'M PRETTY SURE I WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED. SOON AFTER THIS HAPPENED I LOOKED AT MY DASH BOARD TO SEE IF ANY WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON BUT THERE WAS NOTHING. SO THEN I CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO A SIDE ST…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 50MPH MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN TO 5MPH. LUCKILY FOR ME NO CARS WERE BEHIND ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE I'M PRETTY SURE I WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED. SOON AFTER THIS HAPPENED I LOOKED AT MY DASH BOARD TO SEE IF ANY WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON BUT THERE WAS NOTHING. SO THEN I CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO A SIDE STREET ALL WHILST PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR WITH NO RESPONSE. ONCE I TURNED ON TO A SIDE STREET AN ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, WHICH I WAS NOT EXPECTING TO HAPPEN. AT THIS POINT I HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES AND PLACED IT ON PARK. AFTER GETTING OVER THE FEAR OF DRIVING MY VEHICLE I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME, BUT NOT WITHOUT HAVING MY VEHICLE DRAMATICALLY SLOW DOWN AGAIN WHILE DRIVING UP MY DRIVEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10573898

66,566 miles · Mar 17, 2014
Power Train

DRIVING WITH CRUISE ON AT APPROX 68MPH, CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS SOLID AMBER, THE TPMS WAS FLASHING AMBER. PULLED TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY, SHUT OFF VEHICLE, RESTARTED AND TCS, TPMS, CEL, AND AT LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. CALLED MAZDA CUST SERV AND DUE TO MILEAGE UNABLE TO TOW - SPENT 2 HRS AT TOP OF HILL ON…

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DRIVING WITH CRUISE ON AT APPROX 68MPH, CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS SOLID AMBER, THE TPMS WAS FLASHING AMBER. PULLED TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY, SHUT OFF VEHICLE, RESTARTED AND TCS, TPMS, CEL, AND AT LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. CALLED MAZDA CUST SERV AND DUE TO MILEAGE UNABLE TO TOW - SPENT 2 HRS AT TOP OF HILL ON SIDE OF HIGHWAY ROAD WAITING ON TOW (PAID OUT OF PERSONAL POCKET). COMPLEMENTARY TOW FROM HOUSE TO DEALERSHIP - TOLD TODAY (3/17) THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND NEEDED REPLACED. DUE TO MILEAGE, WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT MAZDA WOULD HELP COVER COST OF TRANS IF I PAID INSTALL. LOOKING TO BE OUT $1,100+ OF MY OWN MONEY TO GET VEHICLE BACK. THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED 16 MONTHS PRIOR IN NOV, 2012 WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 27,000-ISH MILES ON IT AND NO ISSUES WERE "FOUND" AT THAT TIME. HAVE HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT THE TWO ARE NOT RELATED GIVEN THE FAILURE MODE IN BOTH INSTANCES WAS THE SAME. BASICALLY WISHING I HAD GONE WITH A DIFFERENT MODEL NOW THAT I HAVE READ THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL OTHERS. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT FOR A RECALL - BLOG INDICATES THAT SOME BEING TOLD IT IS A TRANSMISSION VALVE NEEDING REPLACED, SOME NOT HAVING ISSUE FOUND, TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED, ETC. I BELIEVE THIS IS A FAULTY DESIGN AND PUTS CONSUMERS AT RISK IF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATES ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, OR AS ANOTHER HAS REPORTED WHEN THEY WERE IN A TUNNEL. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY BOTH TIMES FOR ME HAVE BEEN ON A LESS-THAN-BUSY HIGHWAY. PLEASE RECALL THIS VEHICLE FOR THE TRANSMISSION!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10572949

18,540 miles · Feb 1, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

CX-5 VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A DANGEROUS LOSS OF ENGINE/TRANSMISSION POWER SHORTLY AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP AT A STOPLIGHT. SEVERAL CONSOLE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INCLUDING AT, TPMS, CEL, & TCS. ANOTHER ACCELERATING VEHICLE DIRECTLY BEHIND CX-5 NARROWLY AVOIDED REAR ENDING THE CX-5. CX-5 SLOWED DOWN TO LOW GEARS/RPMS …

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CX-5 VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A DANGEROUS LOSS OF ENGINE/TRANSMISSION POWER SHORTLY AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP AT A STOPLIGHT. SEVERAL CONSOLE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INCLUDING AT, TPMS, CEL, & TCS. ANOTHER ACCELERATING VEHICLE DIRECTLY BEHIND CX-5 NARROWLY AVOIDED REAR ENDING THE CX-5. CX-5 SLOWED DOWN TO LOW GEARS/RPMS AND CAME TO A FULL STOP. DRIVER TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, AND THEN RE-STARTED IT. ONLY WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WAS THE CEL. VEHICLE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PAST LOW SPEED GEARS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHERE CEL CODES INDICATED SHIFT MALFUNCTION AND SHIFT TIME ERRORS. MAZDA AUTHORIZED REPAIR PROCEDURE INCLUDED REPLACING VALVE BODY AND RESETTING ADAPTIVE DRIVING SYSTEM COMPUTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562519

28,367 miles · Jan 16, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH. IT FELT LIKE CAR HAD DOWNSHIFTED A COUPLE OF GEARS. I LOST FORWARD POWER IN ALL GEARS (ENGINE REVVED, BUT NO POWER TO WHEELS THROUGH TRANSMISSION). FORTUNATELY WE WERE JUST TURNING INTO AN ALLEY, SO WAS ABLE TO PARK CAR OFF A MAIN STREET. FINA…

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THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH. IT FELT LIKE CAR HAD DOWNSHIFTED A COUPLE OF GEARS. I LOST FORWARD POWER IN ALL GEARS (ENGINE REVVED, BUT NO POWER TO WHEELS THROUGH TRANSMISSION). FORTUNATELY WE WERE JUST TURNING INTO AN ALLEY, SO WAS ABLE TO PARK CAR OFF A MAIN STREET. FINALLY WERE ABLE TO GET IT TO GO INTO REVERSE TO PARK IT BRIEFLY. TURNED CAR OFF THEN BACK ON AGAIN AND ALL LIGHTS ON DASH WERE NORMAL AND TRANSMISSION WOULD ENGAGE IN FORWARD GEARS AGAIN. DROVE THE 7 MILES TO MY HOUSE WITH NO PROBLEMS. CALLED DEALER AND THE SHOP SAYS THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM. COULD HAVE BEEN BAD IF THIS HAPPENED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560258

20,100 miles · Nov 29, 2013
EnginePower Train

OUT OF THE BLUE, I STARTED MY VEHICLE TO GO TO WORK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I READ IN THE MANUAL THE GAS LID COULD BE LOOSE, BUT I CHECKED IT AND IT WAS FINE. MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HOOKED IT UP TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, AND THEY SAID IT WAS A MISS IN THE ENGINE, AND HE'D HAVE TO LEAVE IT WIT…

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OUT OF THE BLUE, I STARTED MY VEHICLE TO GO TO WORK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I READ IN THE MANUAL THE GAS LID COULD BE LOOSE, BUT I CHECKED IT AND IT WAS FINE. MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HOOKED IT UP TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, AND THEY SAID IT WAS A MISS IN THE ENGINE, AND HE'D HAVE TO LEAVE IT WITH THEM SO THEIR TECH TEAM TO TRY AND GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. I HAD FELT HESITATIONS BEFORE WHILE COMING UP OUR DRIVEWAY, WHICH IS PRETTY STEEP. IT'S LIKE IT WOULD ALMOST STOP THEN LUNGE FORWARD PRETTY QUICK. IT ALSO HAS FELT LIKE IT WASN'T CHANGING GEARS AT TIMES, LIKE IT NORMALLY WOULD. THIS JUST HAPPENED RANDOMLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10554166

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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