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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

194 reports
82,000 miles · May 29, 2019
Electrical System

THE ENGINE IS NOT TURNING COMPLETELY OFF WHEN PARKING. YOU PUT THE SHIFTER IN PARK AND PRESS THE STARTER BUTTON OFF, IT IS STAYING ON. THE RADIO AND ANY OTHER ACCESSORIES ARE STAYING ON. I AM HAVING TO RE-START THE VEHICLE MULTIPLE TIMES AND RE-POSITIONING THE SHIFTER IN PARK FOR VEHICLE TO ACTUALLY TURN OFF. IN ADDITION TO DRAI…

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THE ENGINE IS NOT TURNING COMPLETELY OFF WHEN PARKING. YOU PUT THE SHIFTER IN PARK AND PRESS THE STARTER BUTTON OFF, IT IS STAYING ON. THE RADIO AND ANY OTHER ACCESSORIES ARE STAYING ON. I AM HAVING TO RE-START THE VEHICLE MULTIPLE TIMES AND RE-POSITIONING THE SHIFTER IN PARK FOR VEHICLE TO ACTUALLY TURN OFF. IN ADDITION TO DRAINING THE BATTERY, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT OTHER DAMAGE IT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE. ALSO, THERE'S THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING ALONE AND STRANDED SOMEWHERE. IT'S CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT I BELIEVE THEY ARE AWARE OF.

NHTSA ODI #11210538

10 miles · May 21, 2019
Electrical System

THE ELECTRONIC DASHBOARD ON MY 2013 CX5 SPORT IS NOT SHOWING MILES DRIVEN, WHEN THE CAR IN TURNED ON, WHILE BEING DRIVEN, OR STOPPED. ONLY THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS BEING SHOWN. SEE ATTACHED PHOTO.

NHTSA ODI #11208872

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

85,000 miles · Apr 20, 2019
Air BagsSeats

THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED AND IT COST ME 1,000.00 TO REPAIR ,REPLACE SENSOR CAR IS LESS THAN 5YEARS OLD. ALSO THE PAINT CLEAR COAT HAS DETERIORATED BADLY DEALER SAYS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT THE PAINT

NHTSA ODI #11202686

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2019
Unknown Or Other

MY CAR HAD AN ENGINE LIGHT AFTER DRIVING IT FOR 43K MILE. TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALER AND FOUND OUT IT HAS CODE P011A WHICH REQUIRED THE COOLANT SENSORS REPLACEMENT. HAD THE WORK DONE WHICH COST ME ABOUT $600 BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK WITH THE SAME ERROR CODE. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THEIR TOP LEVEL TECHNICIAN AND MANAG…

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MY CAR HAD AN ENGINE LIGHT AFTER DRIVING IT FOR 43K MILE. TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALER AND FOUND OUT IT HAS CODE P011A WHICH REQUIRED THE COOLANT SENSORS REPLACEMENT. HAD THE WORK DONE WHICH COST ME ABOUT $600 BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK WITH THE SAME ERROR CODE. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THEIR TOP LEVEL TECHNICIAN AND MANAGEMENT TEAM IT TURN OUT THE HEATER CORE WAS THE MAIN ISSUE IT WAS A MISSED DIAGNOSTIC. SO NOW THE HEATER CORE IS REQUIRED WHICH WILL COST ME ANOTHER $1800 TO GET IT FIX. IF THE HEATER CORE IS NOT REPLACED THE ENGINE CAN OVER HEAT AND ALSO IF THE HEATER IS TURNED UP, IT CAN SLOWLY COOK OR SUFFOCATE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. WITH THE SAFETY CONCERNS IN MIND I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THERE ARE OTHERS REPORTING SIMILAR ISSUE WITH SEEM TO INDICATE THE HEATER CORE MIGHT BE A DESIGN FLAW OR DEFECT FROM THE START WHICH REQUIRE A REPLACEMENT EVERY 50K MILE.

NHTSA ODI #11195533

44,000 miles · Apr 9, 2019
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-5. WHILE AT AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE FENDER ON THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA CX-5. WHILE AT AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE FENDER ON THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ODI #11195251

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

101,000 miles · Feb 4, 2019
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

CAR ISSUE ON MAY 6TH 2018, I FIRST EXPERIENCED AN ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE NOT FULLY TURNING OFF THE CAR WHILE IN PARK. I HAVE A PUSH BUTTON START ON MY CAR AND AFTER I PUT IT IN PARK, I PRESSED THE PUSH BUTTON TO SHUT IT OFF AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I WANT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS BEEPING AT ME AS IF I DID NOT TURN OFF …

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CAR ISSUE ON MAY 6TH 2018, I FIRST EXPERIENCED AN ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE NOT FULLY TURNING OFF THE CAR WHILE IN PARK. I HAVE A PUSH BUTTON START ON MY CAR AND AFTER I PUT IT IN PARK, I PRESSED THE PUSH BUTTON TO SHUT IT OFF AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I WANT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS BEEPING AT ME AS IF I DID NOT TURN OFF MY CAR. AND THE LIGHT ON THE PUSH BUTTON WAS ORANGE. THE CAR WAS IN A STATE AS IF I WAS USING THE BATTERY BUT DID NOT HAVE MY ENGINE ON OR AC. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, PRESSED THE BUTTON TO TRY TO SHUT IT OFF, AND IT TURNED MY CAR BACK ON THEN I PRESSED THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SHUT IT OFF AND IT WENT BACK TO USING THE BATTERY ONLY. I TRIED MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO SHUT OFF MY VEHICLE AND I STILL COULD NOT. I ATTEMPTED THIS AT LEAST 5 TIMES BEFORE MY VEHICLE FINALLY SHUT OFF. I PUT MY CAR IN PARK, GO TO SHUT OFF MY CAR AND IT WILL NOT FULLY SHUT OFF. I ATTEMPTED TO SHUT IT OFF SEVEN TIMES BEFORE I FINALLY PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE PUT IT IN PARK AND THEN MY CAR SHUT OFF. I CALLED MY MAZDA DEALERSHIP, AND ASK THEM WHAT I WOULD DO IN THE FUTURE TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE. I LOOKED UP ON THE INTERNET, AND THERE'S HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE AND ALL OF THEM SAY THAT MAZDA SAYS THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF THE ISSUE. THEY URGED ME TO COME IN, HAVE MY CAR DIAGNOSED, AND THEN THEY COULD TRY TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. BECAUSE MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, I WOULD BE PAYING FOR SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE A RECALL ISSUE. HOW ARE THERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, BLOGS EVERYWHERE WITH THE SAME ISSUES AS MYSELF AND NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD OF IT? THIS IS NOW HAPPENING TO ME ON A REGULAR BASIS. I LOVE THIS VEHICLE BUT I'M SECONDS AWAY FROM GETTING RID OF IT. I'VE HAD ENOUGH. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI #11174351

60,000 miles · Jan 3, 2019
Unknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, MY GLASS SUNROOF SHATTERED. THERE WAS NOT ANY SORT OF OBJECT THAT FELL THROUGH IT, AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE JUST BEEN FAULTY.

NHTSA ODI #11164746

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

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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