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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

Service Brakes complaints

24 reports
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106,000 miles · Jul 11, 2019
Service Brakes

PURCHASED USED 2013 MAZDA CX-5 IN DECEMBER 2015. APRIL 2017 HAD REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED DUE TO RUST. SCREECHING BEGAN, AGAIN, END OF JUNE 2019 WHILE DRIVING NORMAL SPEEDS. CONTINUED TO GET WORSE, BRAKING AND NOT BRAKING AT ANY SPEED. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO RUST, WI…

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PURCHASED USED 2013 MAZDA CX-5 IN DECEMBER 2015. APRIL 2017 HAD REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED DUE TO RUST. SCREECHING BEGAN, AGAIN, END OF JUNE 2019 WHILE DRIVING NORMAL SPEEDS. CONTINUED TO GET WORSE, BRAKING AND NOT BRAKING AT ANY SPEED. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO RUST, WITH THE LEFT-SIDE BEING EXTREMELY WORSE THAN THE RIGHT. SAID THE CALIPER MIGHT HAVE GONE BAD. COULDN'T EXPLAIN HOW THIS WOULD HAPPEN IN 2 YEARS. DID NOT MENTION ANY NOTICES FOR THIS FROM MAZDA OR HOW TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #11230933

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2019
Service Brakes

OVER THE LIFETIME OF MY VEHICLE, I HAVE REPLACED MY REAR PADS AND ROTORS THREE TIMES (HAVE ALSO REPLACED FRONT PADS AND ROTORS TWO TIMES DURING THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR). THE MOST TWO RECENT OCCURRENCES WERE IN NOVEMBER 2017 AND APRIL 2019, WHERE BOTH THE REAR BRAKES PADS AND ROTORS WERE COMPLETELY REPLACED BOTH TIMES. THE MILEAG…

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OVER THE LIFETIME OF MY VEHICLE, I HAVE REPLACED MY REAR PADS AND ROTORS THREE TIMES (HAVE ALSO REPLACED FRONT PADS AND ROTORS TWO TIMES DURING THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR). THE MOST TWO RECENT OCCURRENCES WERE IN NOVEMBER 2017 AND APRIL 2019, WHERE BOTH THE REAR BRAKES PADS AND ROTORS WERE COMPLETELY REPLACED BOTH TIMES. THE MILEAGE IN BETWEEN BOTH REPAIRS WAS ONLY 22,326. I HAVE CALLED WITH MY CONCERNS TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY EXPLAIN THAT THERE ARE SO MANY FACTORS THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO SAY WHAT THE ISSUE COULD BE. I TAKE CARE OF MY VEHICLE, IT IS ALWAYS REPAIRED AND SERVICED ON TIME, HAS FREQUENT CAR WASHES, INCLUDING THE WHEEL AND UNDERCARRIAGE AREA. I HAVE AN APPROXIMATE HALF HOUR COMMUTE WITH ONLY HIGHWAY MILES, BECAUSE WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL CAR FOR OUR LOCAL ERRANDS. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF 2013 MAZDA CX-5 OWNERS, NOT JUTS MYSELF, AS I'VE DISCOVERED FROM MANY VEHICLE COMPLAINT BOARDS ONLINE WHO SPEAK OF THE SAME EXACT ISSUE OF HAVING TO CONSTANTLY REPLACE PREMATURELY WORN BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING MORE TO THIS RECURRING ISSUE THAN WHAT I AM ACTUALLY BEING TOLD, AND FEEL AS THOUGH IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED ONCE AND FOR ALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA ODI #11193650

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2018
Service Brakes

I'VE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKES WEARING OUT WAY SOONER THAN ALL OF MY OTHER BRAKES. I FINALLY DECIDED TO LOOK IT UP AND I SEE THAT EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME ISSUE. THEY POSTED A SERVICE BULLETIN A WHILE BACK THAT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF SO NOW IT IS NO LONGER COVERED BUT SOMETHING AS FAR AS MANUFACTURER D…

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I'VE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKES WEARING OUT WAY SOONER THAN ALL OF MY OTHER BRAKES. I FINALLY DECIDED TO LOOK IT UP AND I SEE THAT EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME ISSUE. THEY POSTED A SERVICE BULLETIN A WHILE BACK THAT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF SO NOW IT IS NO LONGER COVERED BUT SOMETHING AS FAR AS MANUFACTURER DEFECTS ON THE BRAKES SHOULD BE A RECALL. BRAKES ARE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF DRIVER SAFETY AND I'M REALLY SURPRISED THIS NOT BEEN PUT ON THE RECALL LIST... THE ROTORS START WEARING OUT ALL OF A SUDDEN AND GRINDING OFF ALL OF THE METAL ONTO THE ROAD.... IT HAPPENS SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING... WHEN IT FIRST STARTED IT WAS SUDDEN AND IS CONTINUING EVEN WHEN I AM NOT BREAKING STILL MAKING NOISES.. THIS STARTED HAPPENING WHEN MY CAR WAS UNDER 20000 MILES AND I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT AND I HAVE JUST BEEN GOING AND GETTING THAT ONE ROTOR REPLACED ALONG WITH THE BRAKE PAD BUT THIS IS A REOCCURRING ISSUE... AND MAZDA IS TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY IN FIXING IT

NHTSA ODI #11151755

Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2018
Service Brakes

BRAKES NEEDED REPLACING AT 14,000 AND 17,000 MILES. MAZDA HAS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON THE ISSUE BUT REFUSES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11101892

49,000 miles · Oct 21, 2016
Service BrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-5. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH IN TRAFFIC, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-5. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH IN TRAFFIC, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 49,000.

NHTSA ODI #10917857

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2015
Service Brakes

REAR BRAKES (ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS) PREMATURELY WORN OUT AT ~35K THIS LOOKS LIKE A DESIGN ISSUES AS THERE IS A TSB FOR IT, DO TO RUST FORMATION THAT MAKES THE BRAKE PADS STICK. MAZDA SHOULD HAVE BEEN PRO-ACTIVE. ALL THEY NEEDED TO DO WAS TO REMOVE RUSTED SPOTS AND APPLY SOME GREASE. NOW I HAVE A CASE OPEN WITH MAZDA CUSTOMER…

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REAR BRAKES (ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS) PREMATURELY WORN OUT AT ~35K THIS LOOKS LIKE A DESIGN ISSUES AS THERE IS A TSB FOR IT, DO TO RUST FORMATION THAT MAKES THE BRAKE PADS STICK. MAZDA SHOULD HAVE BEEN PRO-ACTIVE. ALL THEY NEEDED TO DO WAS TO REMOVE RUSTED SPOTS AND APPLY SOME GREASE. NOW I HAVE A CASE OPEN WITH MAZDA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO SEE IF THEY WILL COVER IT AS WARRANTY ITEM.

NHTSA ODI #10808403

60,000 miles · Oct 5, 2015
Service Brakes

WITHOUT ANY ADVANCE WARNING MY REAR BRAKES BEGAN SCREECHING. I AM NOW OPERATING WITH REAR BRAKES THAT ARE METAL ON METAL.I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND HE SAID IT'S NORMAL FOR BRAKES TO WEAR OUT AND IT IS PROBABLY NOT FROM A STUCK CALIPER. THIS BEGAN HAPPENING ONE WEEK AGO D…

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WITHOUT ANY ADVANCE WARNING MY REAR BRAKES BEGAN SCREECHING. I AM NOW OPERATING WITH REAR BRAKES THAT ARE METAL ON METAL.I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND HE SAID IT'S NORMAL FOR BRAKES TO WEAR OUT AND IT IS PROBABLY NOT FROM A STUCK CALIPER. THIS BEGAN HAPPENING ONE WEEK AGO DURING NORMAL USAGE.

NHTSA ODI #10779824

28,000 miles · Sep 20, 2015
Service BrakesUnknown Or OtherWheels

I FIRST STARTED HEARING THIS SCREECHING NOISE BACK IN MAY 2015, AFTER WHICH I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THINKING WHATEVER IT WAS COULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY CAME BACK SAYING THAT IT WAS DUE TO NOT HAVING ANY REAR BRAKE PADS LEFT AND MY ROTORS WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR …

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I FIRST STARTED HEARING THIS SCREECHING NOISE BACK IN MAY 2015, AFTER WHICH I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THINKING WHATEVER IT WAS COULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY CAME BACK SAYING THAT IT WAS DUE TO NOT HAVING ANY REAR BRAKE PADS LEFT AND MY ROTORS WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER FIXING THIS, IN AUGUST 2015, I STARTED TO HEAR THE NOISE AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME NOISE. THIS TIME, THEY STATED THAT IT WAS MY FRONT BRAKE PADS. GOT THIS FIXED AS WELL. NOW IT IS SEPTEMBER, AND I HEAR THE SAME EXACT SCREECHING NOISE AS I HEARD IN MAY. I DECIDED TO HAVE IT CHECKED AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP BUT UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO HOW THE PRIOR DEALERSHIP USED AN AIR IMPACT WRENCH TO PUT ON MY WHEEL LOCKS, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REMOVE THEM. IT ACTUALLY STRIPPED THE KEY AND NOW I AM STUCK WITH ANOTHER PROBLEM TO FIX. WHILE THERE, WE ASKED IF THIS MIGHT BE THE REASON BEHIND THE SCREECHING THAT WE HEAR, BUT THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THE REAR CALIPERS, ETC AND TO FIX IT IF A CUSTOMER COMPLAINS. NOW MY COMPLAINT IS HOW IS A CUSTOMER SUPPOSED TO BE AWARE OF THIS IF IT IS NOT MADE KNOWN TO US...AND INSTEAD, THE DEALERSHIPS TRICK US INTO REPEATEDLY RETURNING TO HAVE IT CHECKED, TAKING TIME OUT OF OUR BUSY WORK SCHEDULES. I ALSO DON'T AGREE WITH AT ONLY 30K, I HAD TO HAVE ALL MY BRAKE PADS CHANGED ALREADY! ALL THE OTHER CARS I'VE HAD, I DID AT AROUND 50K.

NHTSA ODI #10765364

24,450 miles · Sep 12, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON A HIGHWAY IN THE RIGHT-HAND LANE WHEN MY TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR, TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR, LOW OIL INDICATOR, EMERGENCY CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CAR APPEARED TO BE DRIVING NORMALLY SO I DROVE IT TO A NEARBY MEINEKE SHOP WHERE THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS & REPORTED THEY…

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I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON A HIGHWAY IN THE RIGHT-HAND LANE WHEN MY TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR, TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR, LOW OIL INDICATOR, EMERGENCY CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CAR APPEARED TO BE DRIVING NORMALLY SO I DROVE IT TO A NEARBY MEINEKE SHOP WHERE THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS & REPORTED THEY WERE GETTING ERROR CODES P0571 & P02507. THEY FURTHER ADVISED THEY WERE NOT EQUIPPED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND I HAD TO GO TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP - THE CLOSEST WAS 20 MILES AWAY. WHILE ON MY WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP, (AGAIN TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON A HIGHWAY IN THE RIGHT-HAND LANE), EVERY LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES INTO THE TRIP, MY PUSH-TO-START BUTTON STARTED FLASHING YELLOW, I LOST POWER TO THE CAR AND MY BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONSIVE. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I TURNED THE CAR OFF, NOT KNOWING IF IT WOULD TURN BACK ON. I ALLOWED IT TO SIT FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN IT "ON" VIA THE PUSH-TO-START. IT DID TURN ON AND ALLOWED ME TO CONTINUE DRIVING, (THIS TIME IN THE BREAK-DOWN LANE AT 25 MPH WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS FLASHING). I MADE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY NOTED THE CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. DIAGNOSTICS BY THE DEALERSHIP / MY INVOICE REVEAL THE "CAUSE" AS "61 P0302XRX BRAKE SWITCH, R & R 71 W" AND "1 LMIN07*5 MINI LP 7.5 FUSE" WITH A PART NUMBER OF BN7N-66-490. THE ISSUE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AS THE CAR IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD / LESS THAN 25,000 MILES. I WAS ON VACATION 8 HOURS FROM MY HOME WITH THIS HAPPENED. I HAD 2 TEENAGERS IN THE CAR DURING THE FIRST FAILURE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY, REALLY BAD HAD I BEEN TRAVELING IN THE LEFT LANE AS I BELIEVE I WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN AND I LOST THE ABILITY TO BRAKE. THE OUT-OF-STATE DEALERSHIP WAS WONDERFUL; HOWEVER I BELIEVE THIS MAKE/MODEL NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10763283

31,000 miles · Aug 11, 2015
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-5. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE CALIPER, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-5. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE CALIPER, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.

NHTSA ODI #10747884

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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