FACTORY INSTALLED TIRES COMPLETELY WORN AND NEEDING REPLACEMENT AT 16,700 MILES. VEHICLE IS DRIVEN EXCLUSIVELY BY MY 55 YEAR OLD WIFE. *TR
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all CX-5 years →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.
What owners actually said
194 reportsTHE DRIVER AND PASSENGER HEAD RESTRAINTS PUSH MY HEAD FAR TOO FORWARD AND DOWNWARD. BEING ONLY 5', I ADDED A SEAT PAD AND A LUMBAR PAD, STILL NO HELP. I HAVE HAD TO TURN THE HEAD RESTRAINT BACKWARDS RESULTING IN RELIEVE BUT WON'T PROTECT ME IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
WHILE THE BRAKE IS HELD DOWN WITH THE LEFT FOOT AND A SLIGHT PRESSURE IS PUT ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD. IT CAN MOVE ABOUT TWO FEET BEFORE I GET THE BRAKE ON HARD ENOUGH TO STOP THE CAR. IT FEELS AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK HARD FROM BEHIND. THE DEALER HAS LOOKED AT IT TWICE AND SUGGESTED THAT THE B…
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WHILE THE BRAKE IS HELD DOWN WITH THE LEFT FOOT AND A SLIGHT PRESSURE IS PUT ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD. IT CAN MOVE ABOUT TWO FEET BEFORE I GET THE BRAKE ON HARD ENOUGH TO STOP THE CAR. IT FEELS AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK HARD FROM BEHIND. THE DEALER HAS LOOKED AT IT TWICE AND SUGGESTED THAT THE BOG FOR "BREAK OVER GAS" LOGIC SYSTEM IS BEING FOOLED BY THE COMBINED PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE AND GAS AT THE SAME TIME, I.E., IF, WHILE BOTH PEDALS ARE PRESSED, IF THE BRAKE PRESSURE IS SLIGHTLY RELEASED WHILE THE GAS PEDAL IS STILL SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED THE COMPUTER THINKS THE IT HAS TO "CATCH-UP WITH THE GAS PEDAL AND IT SURGES FORWARD. IT HAS HAPPENED FIVE TIMES. IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED WITHOUT BOTH THE BRAKE AND GAS BEING SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLIED. IT BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN IT HAPPENS AT A BUSY STOP SIGNED INTERSECTION WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC, I.E., A PEDESTRIAN COULD BE STRUCK. I TRY TO AVOID THIS USING THIS TECHNIQUE BUT IT IS A HABIT THAT I'M SURE MANY DRIVERS HAVE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE LEFT LANE OF A BUSY LOS ANGELES HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED RESPONDING AND MY SPEED DROPPED RAPIDLY. AT THE SAME TIME, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHTS TURNED ON. IMMEDIATELY, I TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULLED INTO THE RIGHT LANE. UNFORTUNATELY, …
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE LEFT LANE OF A BUSY LOS ANGELES HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED RESPONDING AND MY SPEED DROPPED RAPIDLY. AT THE SAME TIME, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHTS TURNED ON. IMMEDIATELY, I TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULLED INTO THE RIGHT LANE. UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS IN A TUNNEL WITH NO SHOULDER. WHEN THE VEHICLE'S FORWARD MOMENTUM RAN OUT, I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER CRUISING FOR APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET. AFTER MY VEHICLE STOPPED, I WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE AGAIN AND PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, CHECKED ALL TIRES (ALL LOOKED NORMAL), AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ALL OFF AT THIS POINT, AND THE VEHICLE RESPONDED NORMALLY. THIS WAS A DISTURBING AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WILL DESCRIBE IT AT MY 10,000-MILE SERVICE, BUT IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SOLICIT AN ADEQUATE RESPONSE FROM MAZDA. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE INTERIOR CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ELECTRICAL FUSE PANEL THAT WAS UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE FIRE MELTED THE DASHBOARD AS THE INTERIOR BE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE INTERIOR CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ELECTRICAL FUSE PANEL THAT WAS UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE FIRE MELTED THE DASHBOARD AS THE INTERIOR BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED TO THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT A REGIONAL MANAGER WOULD BE SENT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON THE NJ TURNPIKE, MY CX-5 WAS CRUISING WITH AT 65MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRACTION CONTROL, LOW TIRE PRESSURE, CHECK ENGINE AT LIGHTS WENT OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED AS IF ALL POWER WAS LOST DOWN TO 30 MPH. WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE SIDE. I ASSUMED IT MIGHT BE A TIRE ISSUE BUT…
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DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON THE NJ TURNPIKE, MY CX-5 WAS CRUISING WITH AT 65MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRACTION CONTROL, LOW TIRE PRESSURE, CHECK ENGINE AT LIGHTS WENT OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED AS IF ALL POWER WAS LOST DOWN TO 30 MPH. WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE SIDE. I ASSUMED IT MIGHT BE A TIRE ISSUE BUT ALL TIRES WERE PROPERLY INFLATED. ENGINE AND FLUIDS WERE NOT LEAKING. RESTARTED THE CAR TWICE BUT LIGHTS CONTINUED TO STAY ON. HAD TO CRAWL TO SERVICE EXIT AND CALLED MAZDA. WAITED 45 MINS FOR A TOW TRUCK, WHEN DRIVER CAME I RESTATED THE CAR AND ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. *TR
THIS EVENING I WAS RUNNING 2 ERRANDS LESS THAN 3 MILES FROM HOUSE. AS I DROVE FROM THE FIRST ERRAND AND ARRIVED AT THE SECOND, THE MALFUNCTION INDICATORS ILLUMINATED: HTTP://1.BP.BLOGSPOT.COM/-0A4BJZANA9E/UMF10EMOZJI/AAAAAAAAAHK/AKLXHAHWFSW/S1600/2012-12-11_CX-5.JPG I PARKED AT MY SECOND ERRAND, TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND DECIDE…
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THIS EVENING I WAS RUNNING 2 ERRANDS LESS THAN 3 MILES FROM HOUSE. AS I DROVE FROM THE FIRST ERRAND AND ARRIVED AT THE SECOND, THE MALFUNCTION INDICATORS ILLUMINATED: HTTP://1.BP.BLOGSPOT.COM/-0A4BJZANA9E/UMF10EMOZJI/AAAAAAAAAHK/AKLXHAHWFSW/S1600/2012-12-11_CX-5.JPG I PARKED AT MY SECOND ERRAND, TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND DECIDED TO LET IT SIT. WHEN I CAME BACK AND STARTED IT, ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. WITH THE VEHICLE FULL OF PURCHASES, TEMPERATURE NEAR 30 DEGREES, I OPTED TO TRY AND MAKE IT THE 2.3 MILES HOME. I GOT 2 TRAFFIC LIGHTS WHEN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIT UP AGAIN. THE CX-5 SEEMED TO DRIVE OK, SO I CONTINUED HOME. AS I MADE THE SECOND TO LAST TURN -- ABOUT 1 MILE OUT -- THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INDICATOR BLINKED OUT (NO LONGER SAID 'D'), THEN THE SPEEDOMETER/TACHOMETER/ODOMETER STOPPED REPORTING (ALL READ 0). I MADE IT TO MY DRIVEWAY, BUT WAS UNABLE TO TURN IT OF UNTIL I HELD THE START/STOP BUTTON ABOUT 20 SECONDS UNTIL IT TURNED OFF (THIS WAS THE SOLUTION WHEN I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SMART KEY IN MY PREVIOUS MAZDA). MAZDA INSTALLED A DATA RECORDED IN MY VEHICLE SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, AS THEY CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE PROBLEMS WITH THE SKYACTIVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION I REPORTED DAYS AFTER TAKING DELIVERY IN MAY: HTTP://4.BP.BLOGSPOT.COM/-OOHCDCYEKLY/UMGIMOOUN5I/AAAAAAAAAKO/O_AXHYSUZ74/S1600/IMG_1293.JPG THAT DEVICE SHOULD HOPEFULLY PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION TO THEM. IT WAS TOWED TO MY NEAREST DEALERSHIP, WHOSE SERVICE BAYS IT IS NO STRANGER TO. *TR
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON FRWY, STARTED LOSING POWER FAST. AS IF THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. AT LIGHT, TRACTION LIGHT, STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED TO SIDE OF FRWY TURNED CAR OFF, SAT THERE IN DISBELIEF. I THEN TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON - ONLY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. HAD POWER AS IF NOTHING HAD…
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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON FRWY, STARTED LOSING POWER FAST. AS IF THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. AT LIGHT, TRACTION LIGHT, STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED TO SIDE OF FRWY TURNED CAR OFF, SAT THERE IN DISBELIEF. I THEN TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON - ONLY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. HAD POWER AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPEN DIAG FOUND CODE P1738, P0847. GALPIN MAZDA CALLED TECH LINE AND THEY WERE TOLD TO PERFORM A REFLASH TO THE PCM. THIS HAPPEN AGAIN ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER. BUT THIS TIME ALL WARNING LIGHTS TURNED OFF AFTER RESTARTING. I WILL MENTION IT ON MY NEXT SERVICE VISIT. *TR
DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL, AND ENGINE LIGHT ALL CAME ON, AND CAR SLOWED DOWN AND IT WAS LIKE IT WASN'T IN GEAR. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART IT FOUR TIME BEFORE ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OFF AND I COULD DRIVE IT AGAIN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED …
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DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL, AND ENGINE LIGHT ALL CAME ON, AND CAR SLOWED DOWN AND IT WAS LIKE IT WASN'T IN GEAR. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART IT FOUR TIME BEFORE ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OFF AND I COULD DRIVE IT AGAIN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON, BUT IN RAN FINE.THIS ALSO HAPPEN ABOUT A MONTH AGO IN TOWN, I ONLY HAD TO SHUT OFF AND RESTART ONCE, AND ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OFF AND ITS BEEN RUNNING FINE SINCE UNTIL YESTERDAY. I'M TAKING IT TO THE DEALER IN THE MORNING. *TR
WHEN DRIVING OVER 40MPH, THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY MAKING ME EXTREMELY DIZZY AND FEELING DISORIENTED. I CAN'T USE THEM AT ALL AND MAKES DRIVING AT THAT SPEED UNSAFE. I BROUGHT IT TO MAZDA TO BE FIXED TWICE ALREADY. THE FIRST TIME, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED AN ISSUE BUT I HAD TO COME BACK BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO SEND THE …
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WHEN DRIVING OVER 40MPH, THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY MAKING ME EXTREMELY DIZZY AND FEELING DISORIENTED. I CAN'T USE THEM AT ALL AND MAKES DRIVING AT THAT SPEED UNSAFE. I BROUGHT IT TO MAZDA TO BE FIXED TWICE ALREADY. THE FIRST TIME, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED AN ISSUE BUT I HAD TO COME BACK BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO SEND THE DEALERSHIP THE PARTS. WHEN THE PARTS WERE IN, THEY TRIED THE FIX AND THEN I WAS TOLD IT DIDN'T RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE FIX WAS TO THE HOOD TO STOP THE HOOD AND MIRRORS FROM SHAKING. APPARENTLY, MAZDA ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND COMING OUT WITH A NEW FIX IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR. ALL MILEAGE SO FAR HAS BEEN ME GOING BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS ISSUE. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ENJOY THE CAR AT ALL AND DEEM IT UNSAFE FOR MYSELF AND MY BABY. I WROTE TO MAZDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RECEIVED A DISGUSTING RESPONSE WHO BEGAN EVERY SENTENCE WITH "UNFORTUNATELY"! "[XXX]"OFFERED $100 IN SERVICE COUPONS FOR THE INCONVENIENCE WITHOUT EXPLAINING WHAT THE ISSUE IS AND HOW THEY ATTEMPT TO FIX IT. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN MAZDA FOR MANY REASONS...NUMBER ONE BEING ADVERTISING THE CAR FOR SAFETY FEATURES WHEN CLEARLY IT ISN'T. THEY NEED TO LOOK AT THIS VERY SERIOUSLY AND COME UP WITH A FIX TRIED AND TESTED FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL PASSENGERS. IF I HAD TO GO THROUGH A PURCHASING EXERCISE AGAIN, I SURELY WILL NOT BE BUYING MAZDA PRODUCTS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Official recalls
116V644000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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