← New search

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

Other model years Selected 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.

6 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

194 reports
93,000 miles · Nov 18, 2020
Structure

THE REAR HATCH FAILS TO OPEN IN COLD WEATHER. I HAD TO CLIMB IN THROUGH THE CAR AND OPEN A SMALL HATCH TO OPEN THE LIFT GATE MANUALLY. AFTER I OPENED IT MANUALLY IT WORKED PROPERLY THE REST OF THE DAY. . CONTINUES TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED OVER NIGHT IN COLD WEATHER.

NHTSA ODI #11375205

2,000 miles · Oct 1, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION CONTROL, AND TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LESTER GLENN MAZDA (101 NJ-37 E, TOMS RIVER, NJ 08753, (888)422-5041) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION CONTROL, AND TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LESTER GLENN MAZDA (101 NJ-37 E, TOMS RIVER, NJ 08753, (888)422-5041) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.*DT*JB*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI #11362261

75,000 miles · Sep 27, 2020
Electrical System

ON MANY OCCASIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND I TRY TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, IT DOES NOT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE RADIO AND OTHER ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES AND LIGHTS STAY ON. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS IN PARK.IT HAS PUSH START BUTTON. I HAVE HAD TO TRY REPEADLY TO TURN OFF AND ON TO MANAGE TO TURN IT OFF. …

Read full complaint

ON MANY OCCASIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND I TRY TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, IT DOES NOT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE RADIO AND OTHER ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES AND LIGHTS STAY ON. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS IN PARK.IT HAS PUSH START BUTTON. I HAVE HAD TO TRY REPEADLY TO TURN OFF AND ON TO MANAGE TO TURN IT OFF. IF YOU LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN THIS STATE, IT WILL NOT LOCK AND THE BATTERY WILL DRAIN WHICH THEN BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE. BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT LOCK AND THE VEHICLE CAN GET STOLEN. I HAVE SEEN ONLINE MANY HAVE THIS ISSUE. THE ONLY WAY I AM ABLE TO TURN IT OFF IS TOO HOLD THE SHIFT ON PARK AND PUT PRESSURE SO THE SENSOR WILL GRAB AND PUSH THE POWER BUTTON AT THE SAME TIME. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED THE SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ODI #11361356

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

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2020
Electrical System

WHEN I TRY TO TURN OFF THE CAR, IT REMAINS ON. I THEN HAVE TO SHIFT GEARS TO R THEN BACK TO P AND TURN IT OFF AGAIN TO COMPLETELY SHUT THE CAR OFF. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11352149

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…

Read full complaint

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

Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 2020
Electrical System

AFTER PRESSING THE "ON/OFF" BUTTON, THE CAR WILL NOT SHUT COMPLETELY OFF (RADIO/LIGHTS/ACCESSORIES REMAIN ON). TO RESOLVE, YOU HAVE TO ESSENTIALLY JAM THE SHIFTER BACK AND FORTH, RATHER STRONGLY (OUT OF PARK) BEFORE TRYING TO TURN IT OFF AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS MORE THAN IT DOESN'T AND AT SOME POINT, I AM CONCERNED IT WONT SHUT OFF.…

Read full complaint

AFTER PRESSING THE "ON/OFF" BUTTON, THE CAR WILL NOT SHUT COMPLETELY OFF (RADIO/LIGHTS/ACCESSORIES REMAIN ON). TO RESOLVE, YOU HAVE TO ESSENTIALLY JAM THE SHIFTER BACK AND FORTH, RATHER STRONGLY (OUT OF PARK) BEFORE TRYING TO TURN IT OFF AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS MORE THAN IT DOESN'T AND AT SOME POINT, I AM CONCERNED IT WONT SHUT OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHEN STATIONARY. WHEN LOOKING FOR POSSIBLE REASONS WHY AND SOLUTIONS, THERE ARE A LOT OF MESSAGE BOARDS REVEALING THIS AS AN ISSUE, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN GENERATED. WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO GET A RECALL IN PLACE? THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING UPWARDS OF OVER A YEAR AT LEAST.

NHTSA ODI #11349798

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES WHERE I PUT MY CAR INTO PARK (THEREFORE BEING STATIONARY), PRESS THE BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND THE CAR DOES NOT FULLY SHUT DOWN. IT APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE STEERING SENSOR NOT FULL RECOGNIZING THAT THE CAR IS IN PARK AND THEREFORE NOT SHUTTING OFF THE CAR COMPLETELY. IN O…

Read full complaint

THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES WHERE I PUT MY CAR INTO PARK (THEREFORE BEING STATIONARY), PRESS THE BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND THE CAR DOES NOT FULLY SHUT DOWN. IT APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE STEERING SENSOR NOT FULL RECOGNIZING THAT THE CAR IS IN PARK AND THEREFORE NOT SHUTTING OFF THE CAR COMPLETELY. IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR TO COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, THE CAR HAS TO BE SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO PARK/ACTIVELY TURNING ON AND OFF THE CAR SOMETIMES AS MANY AS 5-6 TIMES IN ORDER FOR IT TO FULLY SHUT DOWN. I HAVE READ DOZENS OF REPORTS OF OTHER MAZDA OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. CARS BEING UNINTENTIONALLY LEFT ON IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO.

NHTSA ODI #11339190

103,000 miles · Jul 2, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

WAS DRIVING WHEN CAR SHUT DOWN FOR A SECOND AND TRACTION CONTROL, TIRE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD NO POWER AND THE REAR TIRES WERE NOT SPINNING. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND ONLY THE TIRE LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT WERE ON AND I HAD POWER. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ANOTHER 30 MILES BEFOR…

Read full complaint

WAS DRIVING WHEN CAR SHUT DOWN FOR A SECOND AND TRACTION CONTROL, TIRE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD NO POWER AND THE REAR TIRES WERE NOT SPINNING. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND ONLY THE TIRE LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT WERE ON AND I HAD POWER. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ANOTHER 30 MILES BEFORE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11337229

144,000 miles · Feb 7, 2020
Electrical System

THIS IS A "PUSH BUTTON" START VEHICLE. WHEN YOU PUSH THE BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS / ACCESSORIES REMAIN ON INSTEAD OF TURNING OFF WITH THE ENGINE. THERE IS NO KEY TO REMOVE SO YOU CANNOT MANUALLY TURN OFF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS / ACCESSORIES. EVEN UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE AND LOCKING IT, THE …

Read full complaint

THIS IS A "PUSH BUTTON" START VEHICLE. WHEN YOU PUSH THE BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS / ACCESSORIES REMAIN ON INSTEAD OF TURNING OFF WITH THE ENGINE. THERE IS NO KEY TO REMOVE SO YOU CANNOT MANUALLY TURN OFF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS / ACCESSORIES. EVEN UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE AND LOCKING IT, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS REMAIN "ON" EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE IS OFF. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE GEAR SHIFT SHOWS PARK. IT SEEMS THAT SOME TYPE OF SENSOR IS NOT PROPERLY COMMUNICATING TO SHUT ITSELF DOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11307650

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.

Go deeper into Mazda CX-5 problems